IP Library Granted Patent US 9,440,540
Granted Patent B2
US 9,440,540 · App. 14/410,745 · Granted Sep 13, 2016

Electric vehicle and control method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,440,540
App. No.
14/410,745
Granted
Sep 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric vehicle includes an electric motor outputting regenerative torque to a drive shaft connected to an axle shaft, a hydraulic brake providing braking force for the vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a regeneration coordination switch in which at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor is gradually switched to the braking force from the hydraulic brake. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a vibration suppression control that restrains vibration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to increase frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is performed, as compared to frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is not being performed.

Claims (13)

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

an electric motor configured to output regenerative torque to a drive shaft connected to driving wheels;

a hydraulic brake configured to provide braking force for the electric vehicle; and

an electronic control unit configured to execute a regeneration coordination switch in which at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor is gradually switched to the braking force from the hydraulic brake,

the electronic control unit being configured to execute a vibration suppression control that restrains vibration of the vehicle, and

the electronic control unit being configured to increase frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is performed, as compared to frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is not being performed.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to execute the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is being performed.

3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to execute the vibration suppression control when fluctuation of the regenerative torque or fluctuation of a drive torque that acts on the drive shaft is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to execute the vibration suppression control regardless of fluctuation of the regenerative torque or fluctuation of a drive torque that acts on the drive shaft, when the regeneration coordination switch is being performed.

5. A control method for an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including an electric motor, a hydraulic brake, and an electric control unit, the control method comprising:

outputting regenerative torque from the electric motor to a drive shaft connected to driving wheels;

providing braking force for the vehicle by the hydraulic brake; and

increasing frequency of restraining vibration of the vehicle, by the electric control unit, when switching at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor to the braking force from a hydraulic brake, as compared to frequency of restraining vibration of the vehicle when not switching the regenerative torque to the braking force.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2014
From: YAMAMOTO, MASAYA; SETA, ITARU
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034576/0432 →