Patent ID: 9597979
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Claim:
1. A method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain including an internal combustion engine, an electric device selectively coupled to the internal combustion engine, and at least one energy storage device selectively coupled to the electric device, the method comprising: selecting one of either a boost operating mode or a regenerative operating mode for the electric device with a hybrid system controller; calculating an operating efficiency of the electric device with the hybrid system controller; comparing the operating efficiency of the electric device to an upper Motor-generator-inverter (MGI) efficiency threshold, with the hybrid system controller, to determine if the operating efficiency of the electric device is equal to or greater than the upper MGI efficiency threshold, or if the operating efficiency of the electric device is less than the upper MGI efficiency threshold, when the boost operating mode is selected; controlling the electric device, with the hybrid system controller, to operate the electric device in the boost operating mode when the operating efficiency of the electric device is equal to or greater than the upper MGI efficiency threshold, wherein the electric device draws electrical power from the at least one energy storage device for generating torque for the internal combustion engine; comparing the operating efficiency of the electric device to a lower MGI efficiency threshold, with the hybrid system controller, to determine if the operating efficiency of the electric device is equal to or greater than the lower MGI efficiency threshold, or if the operating efficiency of the electric device is less than the lower MGI efficiency threshold, when the regenerative operating mode is selected; and controlling the electric device, with the hybrid system controller, to operate the electric device in the regenerative operating mode when the operating efficiency of the electric device is equal to or greater than the lower MGI efficiency threshold, wherein the electric device receives torque from the internal combustion engine for generating electricity for charging the at least one energy storage device when operating in the regenerative operating mode.