Engine-motor hybrid vehicle control apparatus and method having engine performance Lessening compensation

A control apparatus for an engine-motor hybrid vehicle having an engine, a power transmission device including a first rotary electric machine connected with an output shaft of the engine and determining a number of rotations of the engine and a second rotary electric machine connected with an output shaft of the vehicle and determining a driving force of the vehicle, and an electricity storage device for supplying an electric power to the first and second rotary electric machines and receiving the electric power therefrom, the control apparatus comprising:

• means for calculating a vehicle driving torque demand value based on information of operation of an accelerator pedal, a braking pedal, and a shift lever;
• means for calculating a vehicle driving power demand value based on the vehicle driving torque demand value and a vehicle speed;
• means for calculating a charge/discharge power demand value based on a storage state of the electricity storage device;
• means for calculating an engine power demand value based on the vehicle driving power demand value and the charge/discharge power demand value;
• means for calculating an engine speed demand value based on the engine power demand value and a stored characteristic of the engine;
• means for calculating a first torque demand value to be generated by the first rotary electric machine based on the engine speed demand value;
• means for calculating a second torque demand value to be generated by the second rotary electric machine based on the first torque demand value and the vehicle driving torque demand value;
• means for controlling the first and second rotary electric machines, based on the first and second torque demand values, respectively;
• means for setting a learning variable learnable for each of the operation regions, the operation regions being specified by an operation state variable including the vehicle driving torque and at least one of the vehicle speed and the number of rotations of the output shaft of the engine;
• means for determining a power state amount indicating a predetermined power state of the engine including a charge/discharge power when a predetermined vehicle operation condition regarded as a steady operation state establishes, and updating the learning variable of the operation region selected according to a value of the operation state variable, based on the power state amount;
• means for correcting the engine power demand value or the vehicle driving power demand value based on the learning variable;
• and
• means for controlling the engine power based on the corrected engine power demand value.

A control method for an engine-motor hybrid vehicle having an engine, a power transmission device including an electric motor connected between the engine and wheels, and a storage electricity storage device for supplying an electric power to the motor and receiving the electric power therefrom, the control method comprising the steps of:

• detecting whether a vehicle is traveling under a predetermined steady state;
• detecting an imbalance of charge and discharge of the storage electricity storage device;
• detecting a lessening of an engine performance from a maximum performance efficiency point when the detected imbalance is outside of a predetermined range;
• and
• changing an engine control based on a detection result of the lessening detecting step.

A control apparatus for an engine-motor hybrid vehicle having an engine, a power transmission device including a rotary electric machine converting at least a part of the engine power thereof into an electric power and generating at one part of a driving power of the vehicle, and an electricity storage device for supplying an electric power to the rotary electric machine and receiving the electric power therefrom, the control apparatus comprising:

• means for detecting operation state data of the vehicle;
• means for determining a vehicle driving power demand value for driving the vehicle based on the operation state data;
• means for detecting remaining capacity data of a remaining capacity of the electricity storage device;
• means for determining charge and discharge control amounts of the electricity storage device such that the remaining capacity of the electricity storage device falls within a predetermined range based on the remaining capacity data;
• means for controlling the engine to generate an engine power satisfying the vehicle driving power demand value and the charge and discharge control amounts;
• and
• means for altering charge and discharge control amounts in a direction in which a voltage change is restrained, when the operation state changes in such a manner that an excess voltage change occurs in the electricity storage device.

A control apparatus for an engine-motor hybrid vehicle comprising:

• an engine having an output shaft;
• an electricity storage device;
• a power transmission device for transmitting an energy between the engine and the electricity storage device as well as a drive shaft of the vehicle, the power transmission device having an input shaft and an output shaft;
• and
• an electronic control unit for controlling the power transmission device,
• wherein the power transmission device includes:
• a first rotary electric machine having a first rotor mechanically connected with the output shaft of the engine through the input shaft of the power transmission device, and a second rotor connected with the first rotor such that an electromagnetic energy is transmitted between the second rotor and the first rotor and mechanically connected with the output shaft of the power transmission device, the first rotary electric machine transmitting an energy between the engine and the electricity storage device;
• a second rotary electric machine having a rotor mechanically connected with the output shaft of the power transmission device and transmitting an electromagnetic energy between the electricity storage device and the output shaft of the power transmission device;
• a connection mechanism connecting the output shaft of the engine with the input shaft of the power transmission device while allowing a slight relative rotary motion;
• and
• a rotation restraining mechanism restraining the input shaft of the power transmission device.

A control apparatus for an engine-motor hybrid vehicle comprising:

• an engine having an output shaft;
• an electricity storage device;
• a power transmission device for transmitting an energy between the engine and the electricity storage device as well as a drive shaft of the vehicle, the power transmission device having an input shaft and an output shaft;
• and
• an electronic control unit for controlling the power transmission device,
• wherein the power transmission device includes:
• a first rotary electric machine having a first rotor mechanically connected with the output shaft of the engine through the input shaft of the power transmission device;
• and
• a second rotor connected with the first rotor such that an electromagnetic energy is transmitted between the second rotor and the first rotor and mechanically connected with the output shaft of the power transmission device, the first rotary electric machine transmitting an energy between the engine and the electricity storage device;
• a second rotary electric machine having a rotor mechanically connected with the output shaft of the power transmission device and transmitting an electromagnetic energy between the electricity storage device and the output shaft of the power transmission device;
• and
• a rotation restraining mechanism fixing the output shaft of the engine or the input shaft of the power transmission device unrotatably, and
• wherein the control unit restrains the output shaft of the engine or the input shaft of the power transmission device unrotatably by driving the rotation restraining mechanism when the vehicle moves in reverse.