Patent ID: 6561296
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover; means for determining a required power generation quantity; and a control unit for, in cases where the electric device is required to operate as the generator, alternately setting a power-generation execution term and a power-generation suspension term and for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator so as to substantially equalize a mean quantity of actual power generation by the electric device to the required power generation quantity, wherein during the power-generation execution term, the electric device operates as the generator and provides a power generation quantity greater than the mean quantity, and during the power-generation suspension term, operation of the electric device as the generator is suspended, wherein said power-generation execution term and said power-generation suspension term define a duty cycle for respectively enabling and disabling the generator and a sum of the power-generation execution term and the power-generation suspension term is equal to 1 second or shorter.