A regenerative braking decision system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) which enables an electric vehicle to be directed to a charging station by using the distance information of the closest charging station and the driving range of the vehicle and a regenerative braking system to be used, in the event that the electric vehicle batteries (3) drop below a certain level.

Description

[0001] A REGENERATIVE BRAKING DECISION SYSTEM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a system which enables an electric vehicle to be directed to a charging station by using the distance information of the closest charging station and the driving range of the vehicle and a regenerative braking system to be used, in the event that electric vehicle batteries drop below a certain level.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Regenerative braking systems are used in order to charge the battery by moving the electric motors in reverse. Upon the driver puts on the brakes and takes his / her foot off the gas pedal, the motor changes the direction and transfers the energy it obtains to the batteries. Regenerative braking systems are located on the front and rear wheels of the vehicles and they consist of an actuator, a brake control circuit and a power system. Regenerative braking systems used today have a manual on- off feature and do not have an automatic adjustment and decision feature. And this causes the vehicle comfort to be affected negatively, particularly in low battery and ramp conditions. For this reason, today there is a need for solutions that will enable a regenerative braking system to be put into use depending on the vehicle’s battery state.

[0006] The International patent document no. WO2012067836A1, an application in the state of the art, discloses a system for applying a regenerative braking when a vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined high-speed threshold value. In the system of the said invention, systems and methods for stabilizing a hybrid electric vehicle towing a trailer are mentioned. The stabilization system determines a direction of rotation and a speed of the hybrid electric vehicle and compares the speed of a hybrid electric vehicle to a predetermined low speed threshold value and a predetermined high speed threshold value. The stabilization system instructs the regenerative braking system to brake at least one wheel when the speed is less than or equal to the predetermined low speed threshold value and instructs it to brake at least one wheel opposite the direction of rotation.

[0007] The United States patent document no. US2022340040A1, another application in the state of the art, discloses a system for managing a state of charge of a hybrid vehicle battery using an electronically controlled automatic transmission. In the system of the said invention, electrical energy is provided to a hybrid system for storage at the battery of the hybrid system. A first state of charge of the battery of the hybrid system is determined. Upon determining that the first state of charge is within a predetermined upper range, a determination is made as to whether to increase the energy supplied to one or more hybrid vehicle components. Electrical energy is typically recuperated during a regeneration event such as a vehicle coast down event or a braking event, to regenerate energy utilizing the vehicle’s kinetic energy. During a regeneration event, hybrid vehicles convert a portion of the vehicle’s kinetic energy to electrical energy by applying negative torque using an electric machine. The regenerated electrical energy is stored at a battery within the hybrid system and used to increase the drivable range of the vehicle or to power vehicle accessories. Upon determining that the battery’s state of charge is within a predetermined lower range, it is provided to reduce the energy supplied to one or more hybrid vehicle components.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] An objective of the present invention is to realize a system which enables the comparison of the closest charging station and the driving range of the vehicle in the event that electric vehicle batteries drop below a certain level, the vehicle to go to the charging station in the event that the vehicle’s driving range is greater than its distance to the closest charging station, and a regenerative braking system to be used in order to charge the battery in the event that the vehicle’s driving range is less than its distance to the closest charging station.

[0010] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0011] “A Regenerative Braking Decision System” realized to fulfil the objective of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the inventive regenerative braking decision system.

[0013] The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0014] 1. System

[0015] 2. Electric motor

[0016] 3. Battery

[0017] 4. Control unit

[0018] N: Navigation system

[0019] The inventive system (1) for deciding whether to use a regenerative braking system or not depending on the battery state of the electric vehicle comprises: at least one electric motor (2) which enables the movement of an electric vehicle and generates power upon it operates in reverse; at least one battery (3) which enables the storage of the energy required for the operation of the electric motor (2) and is charged upon the electric motor (2) operates in reverse; and at least one control unit (4) which is configured to control the state of the battery (3) of the electric vehicle continuously, to calculate a driving range according to the state of the battery, to be triggered upon the battery (3) drops below a certain level, to establish communication with a navigation system (N) over any communication protocol, to calculate the distance information to the closest charging station together with the location information of the vehicle over the communication established, to enable the vehicle to be directed to the charging station in the event that the calculated driving range of the vehicle is greater than its distance to the closest charging station, to put the regenerative braking system into use by triggering the electric motor (2) in order that the battery (3) is charged in the event that the driving range of the vehicle is less than its distance to the closest charging station.

[0020] The electric motor (2) included in the inventive system (1) is managed and controlled by the control unit (4), and is configured to move the vehicle by its movement in the normal direction and charge the battery (3) by using regenerative braking by its movement in the reverse direction.

[0021] The battery (3) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to be in communication with the control unit (4) and share the instant charge level over this communication established. The control unit (4) decides on either the vehicle goes to the closest charging station or charge the battery (3) by means of regenerative braking, in the event that the charge level drops below a predetermined level.

[0022] The control unit (4) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to establish communication with the electric motor (2) and the battery (3), to learn the level of the battery (3) continuously over the communication established with the battery (3), to calculate a driving range based on the level of the battery (3), and to put the regenerative braking system into use according to the driving range over the communication established with the electric motor (2). The control unit (4) is configured to establish communication with a navigation system (N) that is built- in on the vehicle or run on external servers over any communication protocol, and enables the calculation of the distance of the vehicle to the closest charging station by using the location information of the vehicle in the event that the battery (3) drops below a certain level. The control unit (4) is configured to enable the creation of a route to the charging station on the navigation system (N) and to direct it to the closest charging station, in the event that the driving range calculated according to the battery (3) state of the vehicle is greater than the distance calculated to the charging station. The control unit (4) is configured to turn on the recovery mode of the electric motor (2) of the vehicle or to enable the currently operating mode to continue operating and the increase of the driving range by charging the battery (3) of the vehicle via regenerative braking, in the event that the driving range calculated according to the battery (3) state of the vehicle is less than the distance calculated to the charging station. Thereby, it is automatically decided by the control unit (4) whether the regenerative braking system will put be into use or continue it operation.

[0023] With the inventive system (1), the regenerative braking system is put into use in cases where the battery (3) level of the vehicle is low and it is not possible for the vehicle to reach the closest charging station. On the other hand, it is ensured that the vehicle is directed to the charging station by means of the route created in the navigation system (N) in order not to compromise the comfort of the vehicle, in cases where the battery (3) level of the vehicle is low but it can reach the closest charging station.

[0024] Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Regenerative Braking Decision System (1)”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (1) for deciding whether to use a regenerative braking system or not depending on the battery state of the electric vehicle; characterized by: at least one electric motor (2) which enables the movement of an electric vehicle and generates power upon it operates in reverse; at least one battery (3) which enables the storage of the energy required for the operation of the electric motor (2) and is charged upon the electric motor (2) operates in reverse; and at least one control unit (4) which is configured to control the state of the battery (3) of the electric vehicle continuously, to calculate a driving range according to the state of the battery, to be triggered upon the battery (3) drops below a certain level, to establish communication with a navigation system (N) over any communication protocol, to calculate the distance information to the closest charging station together with the location information of the vehicle over the communication established, to enable the vehicle to be directed to the charging station in the event that the calculated driving range of the vehicle is greater than its distance to the closest charging station, to put the regenerative braking into use system by triggering the electric motor (2) in order that the battery (3) is charged in the event that the driving range of the vehicle is less than its distance to the closest charging station.

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the electric motor(2) which is managed and controlled by the control unit (4), and is configured to move the vehicle by its movement in the normal direction and charge the battery(3) by using regenerative braking by its movement in the reverse direction.

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the battery (3) which is configured to be in communication with the control unit (4) and share the instant charge level over this communication established.

4. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (4) which is configured to establish communication with the electric motor (2) and the battery (3), to learn the level of the battery (3) continuously over the communication established with the battery (3), to calculate a driving range based on the level of the battery (3), and to put the regenerative braking system into use according to the driving range over the communication established with the electric motor (2).

5. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (4) which configured to establish communication with a navigation system (N) that is built-in on the vehicle or run on external servers over any communication protocol, and enables the calculation of the distance of the vehicle to the closest charging station by using the location information of the vehicle in the event that the battery (3) drops below a certain level.

6. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (4) which is to enable the creation of a route to the charging station on the navigation system (N) and to direct it to the closest charging station, in the event that the driving range calculated according to the battery (3) state of the vehicle is greater than the distance calculated to the charging station.

7. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the control unit (4) which is configured to turn on the recovery mode of the electric motor (2) of the vehicle or to enable the currently operating mode to continue operating and the increase of the driving range by charging the battery (3) of the vehicle via regenerative braking, in the event that the driving range calculated according to the battery (3) state of the vehicle is less than the distance calculated to the charging station.

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