# US 2017/0282903 A1 · Vehicle and method for controlling rotary electric machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282903 A1 - Document ID: US20170282903A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/438,763 - Filed: 2017-02-22 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yoichi YAMASHIRO; Shinji MIKAMI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282903A1 ## CPC - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} - B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators - B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand - F02N 11/0811: {using a timer} - F02N 11/101: {for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement} - B60W 2050/0215: {Sensor drifts or sensor failures} - B60W 2510/083: Torque - B60W 2510/087: Temperature - B60W 2710/086: Power - F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators - F02N 2200/042: Starter torque - F02N 2200/045: Starter temperature or parameters related to it - F02N 2300/2011: Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y10S 903/906: Motor or generator - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A vehicle includes a rotary electric machine, an internal combustion engine, a temperature sensor, and a limiter. The rotary electric machine generates power to move the vehicle. The internal combustion engine is started by the rotary electric machine to generate power to move the vehicle. The temperature sensor detects temperature of the rotary electric machine or of a drive circuit for the rotary electric machine. The limiter restricts the power generated by the rotary electric machine if the temperature is higher than a first threshold temperature. The start prohibitor prohibits the rotary electric machine from starting the internal combustion engine if the temperature is higher than a second threshold temperature which is higher than the first threshold temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a rotary electric machine that drives the vehicle; an internal combustion engine that is started using the rotary electric machine in response to a request to start the internal combustion engine; a temperature sensor that detects temperature of the rotary electric machine or temperature of a drive circuit for the rotary electric machine; an output limiter that limits output of the rotary electric machine if a detected temperature obtained by the temperature sensor exceeds a first threshold temperature; and a start prohibitor that prohibits starting of the internal combustion engine using the rotary electric machine if the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold temperature that is higher than the first threshold temperature after the output of the rotary electric machine is limited. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second threshold temperature is set such that the detected temperature does not reach an upper temperature limit of the rotary electric machine or the drive circuit even if the internal combustion engine is started once when the detected temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature but is lower than the second threshold temperature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein if the temperature sensor fails, starting of the internal combustion engine using the rotary electric machine is permitted after a predetermined period necessary for the temperature to decrease to a temperature at which starting of the internal combustion engine is permitted passes since driving torque of the rotary electric machine becomes zero. ### Claim 4 A vehicle comprising: a rotary electric machine to generate power to move the vehicle; an internal combustion engine to be started by the rotary electric machine to generate power to move the vehicle; a temperature sensor to detect temperature of the rotary electric machine or of a drive circuit for the rotary electric machine; a limiter to restrict the power generated by the rotary electric machine if the temperature is higher than a first threshold temperature; and a start prohibitor to prohibit the rotary electric machine from starting the internal combustion engine if the temperature is higher than a second threshold temperature which is higher than the first threshold temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the second threshold temperature is set such that the temperature does not reach an upper temperature limit of the rotary electric machine or the drive circuit even if the internal combustion engine is started once when the temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature but is lower than the second threshold temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein if the temperature sensor fails, starting of the internal combustion engine using the rotary electric machine is permitted after a predetermined period necessary for the temperature to decrease to a temperature at which starting of the internal combustion engine is permitted passes since driving torque of the rotary electric machine becomes zero. ### Claim 7 A method for controlling a rotary electric machine to generate power to move a vehicle which includes an internal combustion engine to be started by the rotary electric machine to generate power to move the vehicle, the method comprising: detecting temperature of the rotary electric machine or of a drive circuit for the rotary electric machine; restricting the power generated by the rotary electric machine if the temperature is higher than a first threshold temperature; and prohibiting the rotary electric machine from starting the internal combustion engine if the temperature is higher than a second threshold temperature which is higher than the first threshold temperature.