Patent Description:
The invention relates to a road vehicle and to a corresponding control method.

The invention finds advantageous application in a hybrid road vehicle, to which explicit reference will be made in the description below without because of this losing generality.

A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion heat engine, which transmits a torque to the drive wheels by means of a drivetrain provided with a transmission, and at least one electric machine, which is electrically connected to a power storage system and is mechanically connected to the drive wheels.

The electric system of a hybrid vehicle comprises an electric circuit with a high voltage (in relative terms, it could also have a nominal voltage of mere <NUM> Volts) and a high power, to which the electric machine is connected; the high-voltage electric system comprises a storage device (provided with at least one pack of chemical batteries) and a two-way electronic DC-AC power converter, which, on the direct current side, is connected to the storage device and, on the alternating current side, is connected to the electric machine and fulfils the function of controlling the electric machine.

The electric system of a hybrid vehicle further comprises an electric circuit with a low voltage (having a nominal voltage of <NUM> Volts) and a low power, to which all auxiliary electric services (for instance, the control units, the infotainment system, the anti-theft system, the passenger compartment lighting system, the outer lights, the electric starter motor of the heat engine. ) are connected. Generally speaking, the low-voltage electric circuit is provided with a storage device of its own (provided with one single electric battery, which is relatively heavy and largesized) having a high inrush current (power) needed to supply (for a few seconds) the electric starter motor of the heat engine. Furthermore, an electronic DC-DC power converter is generally provided, which connects the low-voltage electric circuit and the high-voltage electric circuit to one another in order to transfer power from the high-voltage electric circuit to the low-voltage electric circuit or even vice versa in case on-board management strategies allow for it.

In order to try and reduce the weight and the size of the low-voltage electric circuit, the storage device of the low-voltage electric circuit can be eliminated and the electric power that can be delivered by the electronic DC-DC power converter can be increased; however, with this design solution, the total weight saved turns out to be modest (while the total manufacturing costs significantly increase), as the nominal power of the electronic DC-DC power converter must increase from approximately <NUM> kW (needed to supply all the electrical loads during the normal running of the vehicle) to more than <NUM> kW (needed by the electric starter motor during the few instants in which it initiates the engine's operation).

Furthermore, when the storage device of the low-voltage electric circuit is eliminated, the electronic DC-DC power converter needs to always remain active, even when the vehicle is parked, so as to supply the necessary power to the electrical loads that always need to be powered (typically, the anti-theft system, which is always active when the vehicle is parked, and the infotainment system, which could dialogue with the owner of the vehicle from a distance or with a remote assistance centre when the vehicle is parked). As a consequence, the electronic DC-DC power converter is continuously stressed (namely, it needs to work <NUM>/<NUM>) and, hence, it requires a more expensive designing in order to be able to stand continuously operating for an adequately long amount of time (taking into account the fact that the minimum life of a vehicle is at least ten years).

Patent applications <CIT> and <CIT> disclose solutions for a cold start of an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a road vehicle and a corresponding control method, which do not suffer from the drawbacks discussed above and, at the same time, can be manufactured and carried out in a straightforward and low-cost manner.

According to the invention, there are provided a road vehicle and a corresponding control method as claimed in the appended claims.

The appended claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention and form an integral part of the description.

In <FIG>, number <NUM> indicates, as a whole, a hybrid road vehicle, which is provided with two front wheels <NUM> and two rear drive wheels <NUM>, which receive the torque from a hybrid powertrain system <NUM>.

The hybrid powertrain system <NUM> comprises an internal combustion engine <NUM>, which is arranged in a front position and is provided with a crankshaft <NUM>, a drivetrain <NUM>, which transmits the torque generated by the internal combustion engine <NUM> to the rear drive wheels <NUM>, and an electric machine <NUM>, which is mechanically connected to the drivetrain <NUM> and is reversible (i.e. it can work both as an electric motor, absorbing electrical energy and generating a mechanical torque, and as an electric generator, absorbing mechanical energy and generating electrical energy).

The drivetrain <NUM> comprises a drive shaft <NUM>, which, on one side, is angularly integral to the crankshaft <NUM> and, on the other side, is mechanically connected to a transmission <NUM>, which is arranged in a rear position and transmits the motion to the rear drive wheels <NUM> by means of two axle shafts <NUM>, which receive the motion from a differential <NUM>.

The electric machine <NUM> is mechanically connected to the transmission <NUM> and is controlled by an AC/DC electronic power converter <NUM> (namely, an "inverter"), which is connected to a power storage system <NUM> provided with chemical batteries. In this application the DC-AC electronic power converter <NUM> is a two-way power converter and comprises a direct current side, which is connected to the storage system <NUM>, and a three-phase alternating current side, which is connected to the electric machine <NUM>.

According to <FIG>, the road vehicle <NUM> is provided with an electric system <NUM>, which comprises an electric circuit <NUM> with a high voltage (in relative terms) and a high power having a nominal voltage of <NUM> Volts and an electric circuit <NUM> with a low voltage and a low power having a nominal voltage of <NUM> Volts. It should be pointed out that the electric circuit <NUM> is defined "high-voltage" circuit because it has a nominal voltage (<NUM> Volts) which is greater than the nominal voltage (<NUM> Volts) of the electric circuit <NUM>, namely the definition "high voltage" should be interpreted as concerning the sole electric system <NUM> and with reference to the electric circuit <NUM> having a nominal voltage of <NUM> Volts.

The high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> comprises the storage system <NUM> and the AC/DC electronic power converter <NUM>, which, on one side, is connected to the storage system <NUM> and, on the opposite side, is connected to the electric machine <NUM> (namely, to the stator windings of the electric machine <NUM>).

The low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> comprises a plurality of electrical loads, each absorbing power for its own operation. In particular, the electrical loads comprise (high-priority) continuous electrical loads, which have a modest absorption of power and must be constantly supplied with power regardless of the use of the road vehicle <NUM> (namely, they must constantly be supplied with power even when the road vehicle <NUM> is parked) and (low-priority) occasional electrical loads, which must be supplied with power only when the road vehicle <NUM> is being used and, often, only for limited amounts of time.

The (high-priority) continuous electrical loads comprise, for example, an alarm system <NUM> and an infotainment system <NUM>; obviously, further continuous electrical loads other than the ones mentioned above can be provided, such as, for example, electronic control units which, in case of interruption of the supply of power, generate, when they are re-started, an error message (namely, those electronic control units which, despite being capable of operating in standby and low-energy mode, always need to be powered with continuity or otherwise generate errors when they are re-started). On the other hand, the occasional electrical loads comprise, for example, an electric starter motor <NUM> (which obviously has the same nominal voltage as the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>, since it is directly connected to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>), a passenger compartment lighting system <NUM>, the outer lights <NUM>, an air conditioning system (not shown), the different electronic control units (not shown); obviously, further occasional electrical loads other than the ones mentioned above can be provided.

The electric system <NUM> comprises a electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>, which connects the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> and the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to one another in order to transfer power from the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> (or even vice versa in case on-board management strategies allow for it). The low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> comprises a power storage system <NUM> of its own, which is external to (independent of) the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>. The storage system <NUM> obviously also has the same nominal voltage as the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>, since it is directly connected to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> and, hence, the storage system <NUM> has the same nominal voltage as the electric starter motor <NUM>. In other words, the storage system <NUM> is directly connected to the electric starter motor <NUM> without the interposition of any kind of conversion device and is designed to directly supply power to the electric starter motor <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, the storage system <NUM> comprises an electrically operated protection contactor <NUM> (namely, which can remotely be controlled through an electric actuator), which is arranged in series to the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM>. The protection contactor <NUM> is normally kept open and is closed only when power has to be exchanged with the storage system <NUM>.

A control unit <NUM> is provided, which, among other things, controls the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> and the protection contactor <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to detect a turned-on condition of the road vehicle <NUM> (namely, when the driver "turns on" the road vehicle <NUM>, thus making it ready for the start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, by turning an ignition key or by pressing a start button).

Furthermore, the control unit <NUM> is configured to detect a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, namely a condition in which the internal combustion engine <NUM> is "cold" and turned off (hence, is in the most difficult conditions for it to be started). For example, the control unit <NUM> is configured to determine a temperature of a cooling liquid of the internal combustion engine <NUM> and to detect a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM> when the temperature of the cooling liquid is below a predetermined threshold value.

The control unit <NUM> is configured, when the internal combustion engine <NUM> is off, to keep the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> deactivated so as not to transfer power to be at least partially supplied to the electric starter motor <NUM> from the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> in the absence of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>. In other words, when the road vehicle <NUM> is turned on (the so-called "KEY ON" condition) and the internal combustion engine <NUM> is "hot" (i.e. in the absence of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>), the control unit <NUM> keeps the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> deactivated so as not to transfer power from the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>. Indeed, when the internal combustion engine <NUM> is "hot" (i.e. in the absence of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>), the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> is perfectly capable of supplying the electric starter motor <NUM> with all the electrical power (energy) needed for a quick and safe start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> is configured, when the internal combustion engine <NUM> is off, to activate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> so as to transfer power to be at least partially supplied to the electric starter motor <NUM> from the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> in case of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>. In other words, when the road vehicle <NUM> is turned on (the so-called "KEY ON" condition) and the internal combustion engine <NUM> is "cold" (i.e. in case of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>), the control unit <NUM> activates the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> so as to transfer power to be at least partially supplied to the electric starter motor <NUM> from the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>. Indeed, when the internal combustion engine <NUM> is "cold" (i.e. in case of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>), the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> could not be capable of supplying the electric starter motor <NUM> with all the electrical power (energy) needed for a quick and safe start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>; therefore, the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> "helps" the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> by supplying (through the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>) additional electrical power (energy) to be at least partially supplied to the electric starter motor <NUM>, which ensures a quick and safe start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to determine a level of charge of the storage system <NUM> and, hence, to activate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> in case of a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM> only if the level of charge of the storage system <NUM> exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In other words, in case of a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> "helps" the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> only if the storage system <NUM> has an appropriate (namely, not too high) level of charge.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to deactivate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> as soon as the internal combustion engine <NUM> is started. In other words, as soon as the internal combustion engine <NUM> is started, no additional electrical power (energy) has to be supplied any longer to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> and, hence, the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> is deactivated so as not to further discharge, with no actual need, the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to activate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> in case of a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, only in the moment in which a start of the internal combustion engine <NUM> a is actually activated (requested, started). In other words, the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> supplies electrical power (energy) to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> only when the electric starter motor <NUM> is absorbing (or starts to absorb) electrical power (energy).

According to an alternative embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to activate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> in case of a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM> a as soon as a turned-on condition of the road vehicle <NUM> is detected. In other words, the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> supplies electrical power (energy) to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> even before the electric starter motor <NUM> starts to absorb electrical power (energy). In this case, the control unit <NUM> is configured to deactivate the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM> after a predetermined amount of time (for instance, ten seconds) has elapsed since the road vehicle <NUM> was turned on without requests for a start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to close the protection contactor <NUM> of the storage system <NUM> in case of a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM> as soon as a turned-on condition of the road vehicle <NUM> is detected.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit <NUM> is configured to open the protection contactor <NUM> of the storage system <NUM> after a predetermined amount of time (for instance, <NUM>-<NUM> seconds) has elapsed since the protection contactor <NUM> was closed without requests for a start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> comprises the electric machine <NUM>, which can also serve as generator, and, therefore, is capable of autonomously charging (namely, independently of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>) its own storage system <NUM>; in this embodiment, the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> generally regularly (continuously) supplies power to the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> through the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>.

Owing to the above it is evident that, in the absence of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, the power needed for the electric started motor <NUM> is only and exclusively supplied by the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> (hence, the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> does not supply power to the electric starter motor <NUM> through the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>).

In the alternative embodiment shown in <FIG>, the road vehicle <NUM> is not a hybrid vehicle, the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> does not comprise the electric machine <NUM>, which can also serve as generator, and, therefore, is not capable of autonomously charging (namely, independently of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>) its own storage system <NUM>; in this embodiment, the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> (obviously connected to an electric generator operated by the crankshaft <NUM> of the internal combustion engine <NUM>) regularly (continuously) supplies power to the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> through the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> is used, for example, to continuously power relevant electrical loads, such as, for example, electric actuators of active suspensions.

The nominal voltage of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> generally always is <NUM> Volts, since this value is the only worldwide standard for automotive applications; on the other hand, the nominal voltage of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> could be different from <NUM> Volts (generally greater than <NUM> Volts, up to different hundreds of Volts or even a thousand Volts).

The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, without for this reason going beyond the scope of protection of the invention.

The road vehicle <NUM> described above has numerous advantages.

First of all, in the road vehicle <NUM> disclosed above, the dimensions and the weight of the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> can significantly be reduced; this result is obtained thanks to the possibility of downsizing the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> because, in case of need (namely, in case of a cold start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>), the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> is "helped" by the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> through the electronic DC-DC power converter <NUM>.

In this way, in the road vehicle <NUM> disclosed above, a quick and safe start of the internal combustion engine <NUM> can always be performed, even in case of a cold start.

In other words, in the road vehicle disclosed above <NUM>, the traditional low-voltage electric circuit <NUM> is integrated with the storage system <NUM> of the high-voltage electric circuit <NUM> so as to have them work together in order to obtain an optimization of the management of the electrical power, which always ensures ideal performances, even in case of downsizing of the storage system <NUM> of the low-voltage electric circuit <NUM>. Indeed, in case of a cold start of the internal combustion engine <NUM>, the storage system <NUM> of the electric circuit <NUM> supplies additional electrical power (energy) to the electric starter motor <NUM> and this additional electrical power (energy) leads to a reduction of the start time (which also translates into an improvement of the start noise).

Claim 1:
A road vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
an internal combustion engine (<NUM>);
an electric starter motor (<NUM>), which is coupled to the internal combustion engine (<NUM>) and can be operated to start the internal combustion engine (<NUM>);
a high-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) provided with a first storage system (<NUM>);
a low-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) provided with a second storage system (<NUM>), which has the same nominal voltage as the electric starter motor (<NUM>) and is directly connected to the electric starter motor (<NUM>) to directly supply power to the electric starter motor (<NUM>) without the interposition of any conversion device;
an electronic DC-DC power converter (<NUM>), which connects the low-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) and the high-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) to one another to transfer power from the high-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) to the low-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to detect a turned-on condition of the road vehicle (<NUM>) and to detect a cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine (<NUM>);
wherein, in the absence of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine (<NUM>), the power to be supplied to the electric starter motor (<NUM>) is only and exclusively provided by the second storage system (<NUM>);
the road vehicle (<NUM>) is characterized in that the control unit (<NUM>) is configured, in the presence of a turned-on condition of the road vehicle (<NUM>) and when the internal combustion engine (<NUM>) is off, to activate the electronic DC-DC power converter (<NUM>) so as to transfer power to be at least partially supplied to the electric starter motor (<NUM>) from the high-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) to the low-voltage electric circuit (<NUM>) only in case of the cold-start condition of the internal combustion engine (<NUM>).