Hybrid Vehicle Drive Control for Motor Heat and Torque Balance

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing drive controllers for hybrid vehicles limit motor torque to prevent overheating, which leads to engine-driven traveling and lower fuel efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A drive controller for hybrid vehicles that includes a temperature detection unit, an environment information acquiring unit, a power consumption calculation unit, and a vehicle control unit. This system detects the motor temperature and traveling environment, calculates power consumption in different sections of the path, and adjusts the output torque of the electric motor to change the drive ratio of the engine, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the torque of the motor is limited to avoid overheating, then the motor temperature is controlled, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to switching to engine-driven traveling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor temperatureVSAvoidfuel efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling of the motor before gradient-climbing sections by reducing motor torque output in advance. This proactive approach lowers motor temperature before high-load operations, preventing overheating during gradient climbing without requiring engine-driven traveling, thus maintaining fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts motor torque output based on real-time motor temperature and predicted traveling conditions. By continuously adapting torque limits according to actual operating conditions and upcoming path characteristics, the system optimizes the balance between motor temperature control and fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If the torque of the motor is limited to avoid overheating, then the motor temperature is controlled, but gradient-climbing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor temperatureVSAvoidgradient-climbing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling of the motor before gradient-climbing sections by reducing motor torque output in advance. This proactive approach lowers motor temperature before high-load operations, preventing overheating during gradient climbing without requiring engine-driven traveling, thus maintaining fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts motor torque output based on real-time motor temperature and predicted traveling conditions. By continuously adapting torque limits according to actual operating conditions and upcoming path characteristics, the system optimizes the balance between motor temperature control and fuel efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution improves fuel efficiency by dynamically adjusting the drive ratio of the engine based on the traveling path, reducing overheating risks, and enhancing the vehicle's gradient-climbing capability.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of the electric motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 2

The motor generates heat during driving due to copper loss, iron loss, or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCopper loss heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

The motor generates heat during driving due to copper loss, iron loss, or the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIron loss heating: Hysteresis

Data Source

PatentUS12202465B2Drive controller of hybrid vehicle, and drive controlling method for hybrid vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

A driver controller of a hybrid vehicle driven by using an electric motor and an engine that is an internal combustion engine. The drive controller can include a storage unit, a temperature detection unit, an environment information acquiring unit, a power consumption calculation unit, and a vehicle control unit. The storage unit can include a power consumption rate map and a power consumption difference threshold map. The environment information acquiring unit can refer to the power consumption difference threshold map to determine power consumption difference thresholds. The power consumption calculation unit can refer to the power consumption rate map to calculate power consumption of the electric motor. The power consumption difference threshold can be a criterion for changing a drive ratio of the vehicle.