Patent ID: 8020650
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method for sustaining auxiliary power generation aboard a mild hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having an engine, a low-voltage (LV) auxiliary battery, a high-voltage (HV) energy storage system (ESS), at least one auxiliary system powered by the LV auxiliary battery, an auxiliary power module (APM), and a set of capacitors positioned within an HV bus circuit of the HEV, the method comprising: detecting a predetermined high-voltage (HV) electrical fault condition aboard the HEV; determining an operating state of the engine; and automatically executing one of a first and a second default limp-home mode in response to the HV electrical fault condition; wherein each of the first and second default limp-home modes corresponds to a different operating state of the engine, and wherein each default limp-home mode sustains auxiliary power generation to thereby continuously energize the at least one auxiliary system during the predetermined HV electrical fault condition, and wherein executing the second limp-home mode includes selectively controlling a flow of electrical power through the APM to thereby charge the set of capacitors to a threshold voltage level.