Hybrid electric vehicle with variable displacement engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChinu P. Bhavsar, Joanne T. Woestman, Prabhakar B. Patil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid electric vehicle 10 having a propulsion system 12 which integrates a motor-generator 14 and a variable displacement internal combustion engine 16. Motor-generator 14 and engine 16 are each operatively coupled to drive train 17 of vehicle 10, and cooperatively power vehicle 10.
Claims16
A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:
- determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;
- comparing the demanded torque to a first torque threshold;
- partitioning the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold;
- comparing the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the engine torque is non-zero;
- and
- determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine when the engine torque is non-zero, the number of operating cylinders being based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.
A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:
- determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;
- comparing an amount of charge in the electrical storage device to a predetermined value, the predetermined value being based on the demanded torque;
- comparing the demanded torque to a first torque threshold when the amount of charge is above the predetermined value;
- partitioning the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold;
- comparing the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the amount of charge is not above the predetermined value;
- and
- determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.
A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:
- determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;
- comparing an amount of charge in the electrical storage device to a predetermined value, the predetermined value being based on the demanded torque;
- allocating all of the torque to the engine when the amount of charge of the electrical storage device is not above the predetermined value;
- comparing the demanded torque to a torque threshold;
- determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the torque threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.