US 8,387,730 B2 · Method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle

Abstract

A method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The motor is operably configured to deliver mechanical power through an automatic transmission to at least one vehicle drive wheel to cause an acceleration of the vehicle. The method involves coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque to the engine for starting the engine, and causing the automatic transmission to change gear ratio to a target gear ratio associated with the reduced rotational speed while causing the motor to decelerate, the motor being operable to deliver increased torque at the reduced rotational speed, thereby generally maintaining the acceleration of the vehicle.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A method for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor generating a driving torque, the driving torque being coupled through an automatic transmission to deliver the driving torque to at least one vehicle drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle to cause acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the method comprising:

coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thereby causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed over a motor deceleration time period in response to receiving a control signal from a controller;
and
during said motor deceleration time period, producing a shift signal at the controller to cause the automatic transmission to upshift gear ratio to a target gear ratio that is operable to continue to deliver the driving torque at said reduced rotational speed of the motor thereby maintaining the acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the motor being operable at said reduced rotational speed to generate increased torque to provide a starting torque for starting the engine while continuing to deliver the driving torque.

An apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor generating a driving torque, the driving torque being coupled through an automatic transmission to deliver the driving torque to at least one drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle to cause acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;
means for coupling the engine to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thereby causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed over a motor deceleration time period, said means for coupling the engine to the motor being responsive to receiving a control signal from the controller;
and
said controller being operably configured to produce a shift signal during said motor deceleration time period, said shift signal being operable to cause the automatic transmission to upshift gear ratio to a target gear ratio that is operable to continue to deliver the driving torque at said reduced rotational speed of the motor, the motor being operable to generate increased torque at said reduced rotational speed to provide a starting torque for starting the engine while continuing to deliver the driving torque.

1 more element

An apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle being driven by an electric motor generating a driving torque, the driving torque being coupled through an automatic transmission to deliver the driving torque to at least one drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle of the hybrid vehicle to cause acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the apparatus comprising a controller operably configured to:

cause the engine to be coupled to the motor to cause an inertial load on the motor thus causing the motor to decelerate to a reduced rotational speed over a motor deceleration time period in response to a control signal produced by the controller;
and
produce a shift signal during said motor deceleration time period, said shift signal being operable to cause the automatic transmission to upshift gear ratio to a target gear ratio that is operable to continue to deliver the driving torque at said reduced rotational speed of the motor thereby maintaining the acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, the motor being operable at said reduced rotational speed to generate increased torque to provide a starting torque for starting the engine while continuing to deliver the driving torque.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39