IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,766,477
Granted Patent B2
US 10,766,477 · App. 15/952,589 · Granted Sep 8, 2020

Vehicle and control method for vehicle

Inventors: Takashi Kohno (Tokai, JP); Kenta Kumazaki (Anjo, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60W20/13B60W10/06B60W10/08B60W20/12B60W30/143B60W30/16B60W2510/0638B60W2510/083B60W2510/244B60W2552/00B60W2710/0644B60W2710/083B60W2720/106B60W2754/30Y02T10/52Y02T10/6286Y10S903/93
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,766,477
App. No.
15/952,589
Granted
Sep 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic control unit is configured to make an engine start-up threshold at a time of second operation control smaller than an engine start-up threshold at a time of first operation control. Therefore, the engine stop time at the time of the first operation control can be made long. In consequence, the vehicle efficiency can be enhanced in a vehicle in which the first operation control and the second operation control can be selectively performed.

Claims (24)

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a first rotary machine configured to output a driving torque;

a battery configured to be charged by a motive power of the engine and supply an electric power to the first rotary machine; and

an electronic control unit configured to:

selectively perform: a first operation control of causing the vehicle to run based on a driver's driving operation; and a second operation control of automatically setting a target running state based on at least one of map information and road information and automatically carrying out acceleration or deceleration based on the target running state,

while the engine is stopped, start the engine when the engine is stopped and a value representing a state of charge of the battery falls below an engine start threshold; and

set the engine start threshold during the second operation control to be smaller than the engine start threshold during the first operation control.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to, during the second operation control, start the engine when the driving torque of the first rotary machine is smaller than an upper limit of the driving torque of the first rotary machine for the first operation control.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to perform the second operation control by automatically carrying out steering and the acceleration or the deceleration based on the target running state.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to set the target running state by setting at least one of a target vehicle speed, a target vehicle-to-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle, and a target spot in the map information.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second rotary machine that generates an electric power with which the battery is charged by the motive power of the engine and that rotationally drives the engine by an electric power supplied from the battery in starting up the engine,

wherein the first rotary machine is configured to output the driving torque by the electric power supplied from the battery.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotary machine has a function as a generator that generates the electric power with which the battery is charged by the motive power of the engine, a function as a starter that rotationally drives the engine by the electric power supplied from the battery in starting up the engine, and a function as an electric motor that outputs the driving torque by the electric power supplied from the battery.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the second operation control includes unmanned operation control and manned operation control, the unmanned operation control being operation control according to unmanned running for automatically carrying out the acceleration or the deceleration with no passenger in the vehicle, and the manned operation control being operation control according to manned running for automatically carrying out the acceleration or the deceleration with at least one passenger in the vehicle,

the electronic control unit is configured to selectively perform the unmanned operation control and the manned operation control, and

the electronic control unit is configured to make the engine start upstart threshold at a time of the unmanned operation control smaller than the engine start upstart threshold at a time of the manned operation control.

8. A control method for a vehicle that includes an engine, a first rotary machine configured to output a driving torque, a battery configured to be charged by a motive power of the engine and configured to supply an electric power to the first rotary machine, and an electronic control unit, the control method comprising:

performing, by the electronic control unit, a first operation control of causing the vehicle to run based on a driver's driving operation;

performing, by the electronic control unit, second operation control of automatically setting a target running state based on at least one of map information and road information and automatically carrying out acceleration or deceleration based on the target running state;

while the engine is stopped, starting, by the electronic control unit, the engine when a value representing a state of charge of the battery falls below an engine start threshold; and

setting, by the electronic control unit, the engine start threshold during the second operation control to be smaller than the engine start threshold during the first operation control.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2018
From: KOHNO, TAKASHI; KUMAZAKI, KENTA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 045946/0278 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-082408 · Apr 18, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180297580A1 · Oct 18, 2018