Hybrid Vehicle Electric Range Calculation Across Switching Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid vehicles face challenges in accurately calculating travel distance by electric driving using onboard battery power, especially when switching control modes during travel, as distances traveled before switching control is initiated may not be properly accounted for.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid vehicle system that includes an electric motor, power storage device, engine, and controller, which calculates two travel distances using execution history: one for electric driving when the engine is stopped and another for when it is not, allowing for accurate distance calculation by adding travel distances during periods until switching control is started.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If switching control is executed based on travel situations, then electric traveling efficiency is improved, but accurate calculation of travel distance by electric driving becomes difficult due to periods when switching control is not executed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric traveling efficiencyVSAvoidtravel distance calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing execution history data before switching control periods and preparing calculation frameworks in advance. This allows the system to quickly resume accurate distance calculations after the IG switch is turned on, without losing track of electric traveling distance that occurred during the control non-execution period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring and storing execution history of switching control, and using this historical data to correct and refine travel distance calculations. The calculated distances are fed back to provide information about switching control effects, enabling continuous improvement of calculation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the IG switch is turned off and then on, then system stop and restart operations are enabled, but travel distance during the period until switching control is restated is not counted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stop and restart capabilityVSAvoidtravel distance information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and stores essential execution history data (travel distance, mode information, timing) into persistent storage before the IG switch is turned off. This separation of critical data from the running control system ensures that travel distance information is preserved even when the control system is stopped or restarted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of execution history data and stores them in memory or storage devices that persist across system restarts. This copying mechanism ensures that travel distance information is not lost during IG switch operations, and the original data can be restored and continued from where it left off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3992007B1Hybrid vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3992007B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3992007B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3992007B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A hybrid vehicle that accurately calculates the travel distance by electric driving using electric power from an onboard battery in the case where a switching control is performed according to the driving situations and in the case where the switching control is not performed.