Appeal No. 2004-0058
Application No. 09/728,518
the dashboard. This command will cause process controller 52 to automatically
operate the hybrid system in highway mode according to the logic shown in FIG.
3.
In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, all of which are flow charts, blocks framed with double
lines are manual operations performed by the driver, while blocks framed with
single lines are automatic operations performed by process controller 52.
As shown in FIG. 3, after the driver manually selects highway mode the
process controller 52 will ascertain that engine mode is not set, or cancel it if it is,
and that the speed of motor 22 as sensed by speed monitor 56 is above 1000
RPM. It will then read the charge level of battery 24 as sensed by charge level
sensor 66. If the battery is above a selected level, for example 70%, the process
controller will stop the combustion engine 28 if it is running and disengage
electric clutch 30 if it is engaged. Optionally it may be preferred not to stop the
combustion engine but to slow it down to idle speed, and of course disengage
the electric clutch. The process controller 52 will direct the signal from the
accelerator potentiometer 80 to the motor controller 60. This will give the driver
direct control of the speed of motor 22, so that he or she may drive in the same
way as when using urban mode. The combustion engine will be shut off or idled,
the electric clutch will be disengaged, and the electric motor 22 will drive the car,
powered by batteries 24.
Every five minutes, or at some other selected time interval, the process
controller will read the battery charge and when it drops below the selected level,
which may be about 70%, the combustion engine 28 will be started if it is
stopped, or brought up to speed if it is idling. The process controller starts the
engine by opening solenoid fuel valve 48 and closing starter solenoid 42. Engine
starter 40 will crank the engine until it starts, which will be indicated when engine
speed monitor 54 reads a selected speed, for example 500 RPM. Starter
solenoid 42 will then be opened and engine starter 40 will cease cranking. When
the engine is running, the process controller can control its speed by sending a
variable voltage speed signal to servo speed control 50. The process controller
52 can stop the engine 28 when that is desired by closing solenoid fuel valve 48.
It should be understood that a solenoid fuel valve is used as a means of stopping
a diesel engine, and that if some other type of engine were used, a different
control might be used. For example, an ignition switch might be used with a
gasoline engine.
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