# US 9,518,508 B2 · Control device of a hybrid vehicle and method for operating same

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- Number: US 9,518,508 B2
- Document ID: US9518508B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/361,309
- Filed: 2012-11-05
- Published: 2014-10-23
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-08
- Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
- Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
- Inventors: Werner Wolfgang; Thea Schlueter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518508B2

## CPC

- F02B 63/04: for electric generators
- B60K 6/48: Parallel type
- B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings
- B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)}
- B60W 30/181: {Preparing for stopping}
- F02N 11/0818: {Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode}
- B60K 2006/268: {Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor}
- B60W 30/18027: {Drive off, accelerating from standstill}
- B60W 2510/0676: Engine temperature
- B60W 2510/087: Temperature
- B60W 2510/244: Charge state
- B60W 2540/16: Ratio selector position
- B60W 2555/20: Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
- F02B 63/044: {the engine-generator unit being placed on a frame or in an housing}
- F02B 75/16: Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines (F02B75/26 takes precedence)
- F02B 77/13: Acoustic insulation
- F02B 2063/045: {Frames for generator-engine sets}
- F02N 11/006: {using a plurality of electric motors}
- F02N 11/04: the motors being associated with current generators
- F02N 11/0862: {characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery}
- F02N 2200/023: Engine temperature
- F02N 2200/045: Starter temperature or parameters related to it
- F02N 2200/0802: Transmission state, e.g. gear ratio or neutral state
- F02N 2200/122: Atmospheric temperature
- F02N 2300/2002: using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- 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

## Abstract

A control device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. A clutch is connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. An automatic or automated transmission is connected between the hybrid drive unit and a drive output. When the hybrid vehicle has been driving and comes to a standstill with its internal combustion engine stopped, the control device automatically determines, on the one hand, a starting mode for the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine when the hybrid vehicle is at rest, and the control device, on the other hand, automatically changes at least the transmission and the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine of the hybrid drive unit to a condition appropriate for the starting mode determined by emitting appropriate control signals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control device (11) for a hybrid vehicle which has a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit (1) comprising an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric machine (3), and a first clutch (6) that is connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3),
either an automatic or an automated transmission (5) that is connected between the hybrid drive unit (1) and a drive output (4),
the control device communicates with the transmission and the first clutch, and at least one of an engine temperature sensor, an electric machine temperature sensor, and a further temperature sensor, the transmission and the first clutch being controllable by control signals emitted by the control device such that when the hybrid vehicle becomes stationary after driving and immediately after the internal combustion engine (2) stops running, the control device (11) automatically determines an engine starting mode for subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine (2),
the engine starting mode is a direct start by the electric machine, an impulse start by the electric machine or a start by a starter motor, and is determined as a function of at least one of a temperature of the electric machine (3), and a state of charge of an energy accumulator (10) that communicates with the starter motor (8), and the control device emits appropriate control signals to at least the transmission and the first clutch for re-starting the internal combustion engine based on the determined engine starting mode, and immediately after the internal combustion engine (2) stops running, the control device (11) automatically changing at least the transmission (5) and the first clutch (6) to a condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, and the internal combustion engine is re-started according to the determined engine starting mode,
either at a same time as or immediately after determining the engine starting mode for the internal combustion engine (2), the control device automatically changes at least the transmission (5) and the first clutch (6), that is connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3), to the condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, so that the transmission (5) and the first clutch (6) are already in the condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, prior to an event that initiates the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine,
the clutch and the transmission are immediately set in the condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, after the internal combustion engine stops running and prior to the event that initiates the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine, such that the clutch is controlled to be either completely disengaged or completely engaged depending on the determined engine-starting mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1, wherein a selector lever of the transmission communicates with the control device and the control device automatically determines the engine starting mode as a function of a position of the selector lever (15) of the transmission (5), and
recognizing accelerator pedal actuation as the event that initiates the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine according to the determined engine starting mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the control device determines the engine starting mode that uses the starter motor (8), the control device automatically completely disengages the first clutch (6) that is connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3) of the hybrid drive unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The control device according to claim 3, wherein the control device also at least one of automatically engages a gear in the transmission (5) and engages a second clutch (7) that is connected between the electric machine (3) and the transmission (5).

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The control device according to claim 3, wherein the control device also automatically shifts the transmission (5) to neutral.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the control device automatically determines the engine starting mode that uses the electric machine (3) to start the internal combustion engine, the control device at least one of automatically shifts the transmission (5) to neutral and automatically disengages a second clutch (7) that is connected between the electric machine (3) and the transmission (5).

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The control device according to claim 6, wherein when the control device determines, as the engine starting mode, the direct start via the electric machine, the control device automatically completely engages the first clutch (6) that is connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3) of the hybrid drive unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The control device according to claim 6, wherein when the control device determines, as the engine starting mode, the impulse start via the electric machine, the control unit first automatically completely disengages the first clutch (6) connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3), and then, to start the internal combustion engine, the control device only automatically engages the first clutch again once the electric machine accelerates to a defined rotation speed.

### Claim 9

A method of operating a hybrid vehicle having a hybrid drive unit that comprises an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, a clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine and either an automatic or an automated transmission, and a control device that communicates with the transmission, the clutch and at least one of an engine temperature sensor, an electric machine temperature sensor and a further temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
stopping driving of the hybrid vehicle and terminating running of the internal combustion engine,
when the hybrid vehicle becomes stationary and the internal combustion engine stops running, automatically determining, with the control device, an engine starting mode for a subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine, the determined engine starting mode is either a direct start by the electric machine, an impulse start by the electric machine or a start by a starter motor, based on a temperature of the electric machine, and a state of charge of an energy accumulator that communicates with the starter motor,
automatically changing, with the control device, at least the transmission and the clutch, connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, to a condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, and the transmission and the clutch being automatically changed to the condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode either at a same time as or immediately after automatically determining the engine starting mode for the internal combustion engine and prior to an event that initiates the re-starting of the internal combustion engine, and the clutch being changed so as to be either completely disengaged or completely engaged depending on the determined engine starting mode,
recognizing the event that initiates the re-starting of the internal combustion engine, subsequent to the automatic changing of at least the transmission and the clutch to the condition appropriate for the determined engine starting mode, and
initiating the re-starting of the internal combustion engine according to determined engine starting mode.

### Claim 10

A method of operating a hybrid vehicle having a hybrid drive unit which has a drive-train including a hybrid drive unit (1) with an internal combustion engine (2) and an electric machine (3), a first clutch (6) is connected between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric machine (3) and either an automatic or an automated transmission (5) is connected between the hybrid drive unit (1) and a drive output (4), and a control device that communicates with the transmission, the first clutch and at least one of an engine temperature sensor, an electric temperature sensor and a further temperature sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
terminating running of the internal combustion engine and bringing the hybrid vehicle to a stop;
automatically selecting, with the control device (11), an engine starting mode from engine starting modes consisting of a direct start by the electric machine, an impulse start by the electric machine and a start by a starter motor when the hybrid vehicle becomes stationary and immediately after the internal combustion engine (2) stops running, and the determined engine starting mode being used for subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine (2);
selecting the engine starting mode based on at least one of a temperature of the electric machine and a state of charge of an energy accumulator that communicates with the starter motor;
automatically adjusting, with the control device, at least the transmission (5) and the first clutch (6) operating conditions that are appropriate for implementing the determined engine starting mode by emitting, via the control device (11), appropriate control signals to at least the transmission (5) and the first clutch (6), at least the transmission and the first clutch operating conditions being automatically adjusted before the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine is initiated, such that the first clutch is either fully disengaged or fully engaged depending on the determined engine starting mode; and
initiating the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine, according to the determined engine starting mode, following the automatic adjustment of at least the transmission and the first clutch operating conditions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of either automatically shifting the transmission to neutral or automatically disengaging a second clutch that is located between the transmission and the drive output with the control device, if the determined engine starting mode is either the direct start by the electric machine or the impulse start by the electric machine.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of automatically disengaging the first clutch and engaging a gear in the transmission with the control device, if the determined engine starting mode is the start by the starter motor, and
recognizing accelerator pedal actuation as a demand for initiating the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine according to the determined engine starting mode.