Patent ID: 8209103
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A hybrid vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft and outputs power; an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine and to an axle of said hybrid vehicle and transmits at least part of output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle through input and output of electric power and mechanical power; a motor configured to output power to drive said hybrid vehicle; an accumulator unit that inputs and outputs electric power from and to the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and the motor; a noise level detection module configured to detect a level of driving-related noise which is background noise associated with operation of the hybrid vehicle excluding engine noise; a driving force demand setting unit configured to set a driving force demand required to drive said hybrid vehicle; an operation restriction setting module configured to set an operation restriction to be imposed on operation of the internal combustion engine, based on the detected noise level, so as to increase a torque with an increase in the detected noise level in an operation area in which a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is not higher than a preset reference rotation speed; and a control module configured to control the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism, and the motor to operate the internal combustion engine with the imposed operation restriction and to drive said hybrid vehicle with a driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand.