21034results about "Hybrid vehicles" patented technology

A forced discharge mechanism for a storage battery for forcibly establishing conduction between a pair of power transport paths that are respectively connected to a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the storage battery includes an electric resistor for establishing conduction between the power transport paths, and the electric resistor is movable due to a buoyant force of liquid that has entered.

One or more embodiments may include a trip planning system for planning a trip based on the charge of an electric vehicle battery. The trip planning system may include one or more computers located remotely from an electric vehicle which may have one or more battery packs for powering the electric vehicle. The computer(s) may be configured to receive geographic parameters defining a trip and a battery charge status of the one or more electric vehicle battery packs. The computer(s) may be further configured to determine that the trip cannot be completed based on the battery charge status. The computer(s) may additionally be configured to present a battery charge requirement for completing the trip.

A system for charging a battery within an at least partially electric vehicle. The system includes a charging device wherein the charging device configured to electrically connect to the at least partially electric vehicle and charge at least one battery by a predetermined amount. The system also includes a network configured to determine the location of the charging device.

A preferred input torque for a hybrid powertrain is determined within a solution space of feasible input torques in accordance with a plurality of powertrain system constraints that results in a minimum overall powertrain system loss. System power losses and battery utilization costs are calculated at feasible input torques and a solution for the input torque corresponding to the minimum total powertrain system loss is converged upon to determine the preferred input torque.

The present application relates to a charging station operable in a charging cycle for charging an electric vehicle. The charging station has a key-activated controller for controlling the charging cycle. The application also relates to a key for operating the charging station. Furthermore, the application relates to a charging station having an interface for connecting the charging station to a data network. The application also relates to a charging station having a socket for receiving a plug and a key-operated locking mechanism for locking a plug in said socket. A frangible panel movable between an open position and a closed position may be provided. A processor may be provided for generating data to impose a financial charge on an individual for using the charging station. The application also relates to methods of operating a charging station including the steps of obtaining user identification data; supplying electricity to a charging socket; and generating data for levying a financial charge on the user.

An electric vehicle charger determines the presence of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle is in proximity to the charger. Validation of account data associated with the electric vehicle occurs over a network. A docking interface on the charger aligns to a receptacle on the electric vehicle. The docking interface and the receptacle are coupled when the docking interface is within a predetermined distance to the receptacle. The charger supplies power to the electric vehicle.

An automatic recharging docking station for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles in which standardized uniform charging stations are positioned in public parking facilities, private parking facilities, rest stops, or the like, and by means of a retractable vehicle probe, allow the owner / user of the vehicle to attach to the charging station and recharge the batteries or storage cells of the vehicle while the owner / user is at work, shopping, or otherwise not requiring the use of the vehicle. The particular vehicle and vehicle probe would have an encrypted identification means so that its identity would be recorded when it connected to a particular recharging station, regardless of which electrical jurisdiction that charging station was located, such that the respective electric utility companies or other entity would be able to identify and bill the owner / user for the quantity of electricity drawn during a specified time period.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

A method of providing closed-loop control of power flowing into and out of an energy storage system (ESS), wherein the ESS comprises a battery is provided. The method may be implemented as a computer control algorithm for determining the charge and discharge limits for the ESS in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), wherein the ESS comprises a battery pack or array. The method comprises determining charge and discharge power limits during each of a plurality of control loops, comparing these limits during each of the plurality of control loops, and providing a charge power limit output and a discharge power limit output for use in a subsequent control loop which are based upon the charge power limit and the discharge power limit. The charge power limit output and discharge power limit output are set equal to the discharge power limit and charge power limit, respectively, when the discharge power limit is greater than the charge power limit; and are selected from the group consisting of the charge power limit, the discharge power limit and zero when the discharge power limit is less than or equal to the charge power limit.

Preferred operating points for a vehicle powertrain including an engine and a transmission are determined in accordance with a comprehensive operational mapping of input and output conditions and corresponding aggregate system losses corresponding to engine and transmission losses. In a hybrid transmission application, additional losses from motors and batteries are aggregated into the system losses and battery constraints are considered in determining preferred operating points. Preferred operating points are provided in one or more sets of minimized data for on-vehicle implementation.

This invention relates to a power module for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle including an integrated converter having a rectifier changing AC to DC, a DC / DC converter changing from a first voltage to a second voltage, and a battery storing electrical energy. The integrated converter operates in three modes 1) AC plug-in charging mode, 2) boost mode supplying power from the battery to the electrical bus and 3) buck mode supplying power from the electrical bus to the battery. The integrated converter utilizes the same single inductor during each of the three operating modes to reduce cost and weight of the system.

A method and apparatus for determining a preferred operating range for a plurality of torque-generative devices is provided. Each device is operable to provide motive torque to a transmission. The invention includes defining a first and a second operating range in a first operating space. The first operating range and the second operating range are mathematically transformed to a second operating space. The preferred operating range is defined in the second operating space based upon the transformed first operating range and the transformed second operating range. The first operating range is defined based upon torque output for each of the torque-generative devices. The second operating range is defined based upon output of an electrical energy storage device operable to provide electrical energy to each of the torque-generative devices.

A method for recharging an electric storage battery in the charging system of an electric vehicle from an electric utility power grid includes determining the length of time required to recharge the battery, determining the desired time when the recharge is to be completed, transmitting to the electric power utility the length of time required to recharge the battery and the desired time, and recharging the battery from the utility grid during a period when projected load demand is lower than peak demand and ending no later than the desired time.

A vehicular charging system is provided that may be deployed on a vehicle configured to be charged from an external power source. The vehicular charging system comprises a battery assembly and a timer coupled to the battery assembly. The timer is configured to electrically couple the external power source to the battery assembly to commence charging the battery assembly at a predetermined charge initialization time.

A control apparatus for a powertrain system comprising an engine and two electrical machines operably coupled to a two-mode compound-split electro-mechanical transmission is provided. It includes a system controller and two motor control processors. The system controller communicates with the motor control processors via two high speed communications buses and directly-linked serial peripheral interface buses. The motor control processors control flow of electrical power between the electrical machines and an electrical energy storage device. A second control device is operable to control the engine, preferably to control torque output. The internal combustion engine preferably has a crank position sensor which is signally connected to a dedicated input to the second control device and to a dedicated input to the system controller of the first control device.

A hydraulic pump powering system includes a mobile vehicle, a first electric current generator device, and one or more electric pump motors. The mobile vehicle has first and second prime movers. The first electric current generator device is disposed onboard the mobile vehicle and is configured to be mechanically coupled with the first prime mover to convert movement created by the first prime mover into first electric current. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current to power a hydraulic pump. The second prime mover is configured to generate movement that is converted into a propulsive force that propels the mobile vehicle. The one or more electric pump motors are configured to receive the first electric current in order to power the hydraulic pump to pump a fluid into a pumping location located off-board the mobile vehicle.

A method for controlling the cranking of an engine of a vehicle powertrain system having a rechargeable energy storage system that is adapted to provide electric power to an electric machine, wherein the system is adapted to exit from the engine crank state as a function of an output voltage of the energy storage system to the electric machine during the crank state, if the output voltage is less than a crank undervoltage threshold for a predetermined crank time. According to the method, the crank undervoltage threshold is a function of the number of failed start attempts, generally decreasing as a function of the number of failed start attempts. The predetermined crank time is a function of a magnitude of a difference between the output voltage and the crank undervoltage threshold.

An electrically variable transmission has a pair of clutches and a first mode when the first clutch is applied and the second clutch released, a second mode when the second clutch is applied and the first clutch released, and a fixed-ratio mode when both clutches are applied. Upshifts and downshifts out of fixed-ratio are accomplished in accordance with a control based upon shift confidence factors determined in accordance with proportional and derivative input speed error quantities. Additional authority limits are placed upon the shift confidence factors in accordance with output speed derivative quantities. Additional override downshift control is provided in accordance with additional input speed condition determinations.

Hydraulic fill and drain of a clutch chamber is controlled with a blocking valve and a trim valve. The blocking valve selectively provides pressurized fluid to the trim valve which in turn selectively provides the pressurized fluid to the clutch chamber. Exhausting of the clutch chamber is effected through one of two alternate paths utilizing deactivation of one of the trim and blocking valves. Back up exhausting of the clutch chamber is effected through the other of the alternative paths. Such system allows for determination of valve failures and continued operation until such failures can be rectified.

The invention comprises a method and apparatus to monitor operation of an electrically-actuated hydraulic pump selectively operative to supply pressurized fluid to a hydraulic circuit for a transmission device operably connected to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. It includes monitoring vehicle operation and passively and intrusively monitoring hydraulic circuit pressure. The hydraulic pump is functioning properly when the monitored pressure in the hydraulic circuit exceeds a threshold. A fault related to the hydraulic circuit is identified when the monitored pressure in the hydraulic circuit does not exceed the threshold.

A control system is provided to effect a method to control torque output from a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission during gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged. It includes a computer program which controls transmission operation. A predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device is determined. Torque output from torque-generative devices device is controlled. Torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device is controlled, and limited based upon available battery power. Actuation of the oncoming torque-transfer device is preferably based upon a temperature of the device during the shifting event. The temperature during the shifting event is determined based upon a rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission and an elapsed time to shift.

A method and an apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes. The method comprises controlling the flow control devices of the electro-hydraulic control circuit, and monitoring a plurality of pressure monitoring devices in the electro-hydraulic control circuit. A fault is identified in the electro-hydraulic control circuit when a signal output of one of the pressure monitoring devices does not correspond to an expected signal output for the pressure monitoring device after an elapsed time period.

Driveline lash and clunk are controlled in a powertrain system having multiple torque-generative and torque control devices using a multivariable feedback control approach to provide active driveline damping. Control parameters used by a state estimator are different, depending on whether the driveline lash is taken up or is currently slack. When the estimated driveline axle torque is not substantially zero, the nominal parameters for transmission mode or gear are used in the state estimator. When the estimated axle torque is substantially zero, the parameters are switched to neutral parameters, the lash estimator indicates neutral lash state, and angle of lash is tracked until it accumulates an expected amount of lash in the driveline. During a lash transition time, active damping controls the driveline component speeds so that the effect of lash take-up is minimized. After lash take-up occurs, desired axle torque is used by the system.

A method of operating a vehicle powertrain system comprising an electric motor and transmission where the electric motor is operably and selectively coupled to the transmission and adapted to provide an output torque contribution thereto, and the electric motor has a predetermined maximum motor output torque and a predetermined minimum motor output torque which are used to determine a range of permissible control points for at least one transmission control parameter. The method includes establishing a motor torque reserve by performing at least one of decreasing the predetermined maximum motor output torque to a maximum reserved motor output torque and increasing the minimum motor output torque to a minimum reserved motor output torque, wherein the maximum reserved motor output torque and the minimum reserved motor output torque are used in place of the predetermined maximum motor output torque and the predetermined minimum motor output torque, respectively, to determine the range of permissible control points for the at least one transmission control parameter. The motor torque reserve may include a static motor torque reserve, a dynamic motor torque reserve, or a combination of both static and dynamic torque reserves. The dynamic torque reserve may include a predictive dynamic reserve, a reactive dynamic reserve, or a combination of a predictive reserve and a reactive reserve or reserves.

A system for charging a multiplicity of commuter EVs without dependence on the power grid is provided, using the EV batteries themselves as distributed off grid storage for all EVs connected to the system. The EV charging system comprises low cost solar modules and an intelligent charge management system capable of a providing flexible charge rate to EVs based on user demand, that is decoupled from the grid and thus does not add to peak power demands. Only a low capacity grid connection is provided for backup, and buffer solar panels may be provided for load balancing. Excessive solar energy is fed into the grid during times of low demand at the charging stations, such as on weekends.

The state estimator provides parametric estimates for operating states not readily measurable with production powertrain and driveline hardware, such as real-time torque values of axles and dampers. This facilitates implementation of torque oscillation damping control schemes which use multivariable feedback. A control parameter is estimated for a powertrain system having multiple torque-generative devices operably connected to a transmission device having a torque output to a driveline. This includes establishing a plurality of equations operable to estimate the control parameter and other operating parameters based upon torque inputs. The operating parameters comprise operating speeds of the powertrain system and driveline. The operating parameters that comprise operating speeds of the powertrain system and driveline are determined. Coefficients of the plurality of equations are adjusted based upon the operating speeds of the powertrain system.

A method and system to off-load motive torque from a clutch to execute a transmission shift is provided. The powertrain includes torque-generative devices operably connected to a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. The method includes determining a commanded output torque, and a shift command. A first torque is transmitted by electrical motors, and is limited by their torque capacities. A supplemental motive torque is transmitted from an oncoming clutch. The supplemental motive torque is limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming clutch. Output torque of an internal combustion engine to the transmission is adjusted by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain / driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.