Back to results
US 8,798,833 B2Granted
Vehicle and method for controlling vehicle
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHidetoshi Kusumi, Sumikazu Syamoto, Kazumasa Arai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle is provided with a battery, a motor configured to generate the driving force of the vehicle by using electric power stored in the battery, a charger configured to supply the battery with electric power outputted from a power source outside the vehicle, and an ECU configured to control the charged state of the battery when the battery is charged. The ECU calculates an index value indicating the charged state of the battery, and sets the control range of the index value. When a predetermined condition relating to the deterioration of the battery is satisfied, the ECU raises the upper limit value of the index value.
Claims10
A vehicle, comprising:
- a power storage device configured to be rechargeable;
- an electric motor configured to generate driving force for driving said vehicle by using electric power stored in said storage device;
- a charging mechanism configured to supply electric power output from a power source outside said vehicle to said power storage device;
- and
- a controller configured to control state of charge of said power storage device when said power storage device is charged,
- said controller including
- a state estimating unit configured to calculate an index value indicating said state of charge, and
- a setting unit configured to increase an upper limit value of said index value when prescribed condition related to deterioration of said power storage device is satisfied, and to set amount of change of said upper limit value such that said upper limit value is lower than a prescribed value, wherein
- said setting unit is capable of switching between a first mode having said prescribed value set as said upper limit value and a second mode allowing adjustment of said upper limit value, and sets said amount of change such that possible distance of travel of said vehicle becomes a target distance or longer and said upper limit value is lower than said prescribed value, in said second mode,
- the vehicle further comprising:
- a command generating unit configured to switch between generation of a command to extend a useable period of said power storage device and stopping of generation of said command, by a manual operation;
- wherein
- said setting unit selects said second mode from said first and second modes when said command generating unit generates said command, and selects said first mode from said first and second modes when said command generating unit stops generation of said command.
10 more elements
A method of controlling a vehicle, wherein
- said vehicle includes
- a power storage device configured to be rechargeable,
- an electric motor configured to generate driving force for driving said vehicle by using electric power stored in said storage device,
- a charging mechanism configured to supply electric power output from a power source outside said vehicle to said power storage device,
- a controller configured to control state of charge of said power storage device when said power storage device is charged, and
- a command generating unit configured to switch between generation of a command to extend a useable period of said power storage device and stopping of generation of said command, by manual operation;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- calculating an index value indicating said state of charge;
- and
- increasing an upper limit value of said index value when prescribed condition related to deterioration of said power storage device is satisfied, wherein
- at said step of increasing said upper limit value, an amount of change of said upper limit value is set such that said upper limit value is lower than a prescribed value,
- said method further comprising the step of
- selecting one of a first mode having said prescribed value set as said upper limit value and a second mode allowing adjustment of said upper limit value;
- wherein
- at said step of increasing said upper limit value, said amount of change is set such that possible distance of travel of said vehicle becomes a target distance or longer and said upper limit value is lower than a prescribed value, when said second mode is selected,
- at said selecting step, said second mode is selected from said first and second modes when said command generating unit generates said command, and said first mode is selected from said first and second modes when said command generating unit stops generation of said command.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.