Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Steve Liggins

Matthew Hancock

Simon Message

Paul Malcolm Darnell

Dan Dennehy

David Armstrong

Jason Walters

Riccardo Fracchia

Andy Mould

Richard Kirkman

Manoj Lao

Manoj Lad

Geoff Hannis

A controller for a motor vehicle powertrain, the controller being configured to control the amount of torque generated by each of a plurality of drive torque sources, each drive torque source being coupled via a respective torque transfer arrangement to a respective group of one or more wheels, the controller being configured to cause a first of the drive torque sources, during acceleration, deceleration and substantially constant speed operation, substantially continually to apply a drive torque to a first group of one or more wheels to which the first drive torque source is coupled acting in a first direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and causes a second of the drive torque sources, during acceleration, deceleration and substantially constant speed operation, substantially continually to apply a drive torque to a second group of one or more wheels to which the second drive torque source is coupled, the direction of drive torque applied to the second group being in a second direction opposite the first such that a net drive torque applied to the first and second group in combination corresponds substantially to a predetermined drive torque demand value, the predetermined torque demand value being determined at least in part by reference to a torque demand signal received by the controller.

Controller for a motor vehicle and method

The present application describes a method of controlling a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain including an electric propulsion system, an engine and a drivetrain that is configurable in a low-range mode or a high-range mode. The method comprises determining whether the low-range mode for the drivetrain is selected, determining whether an electric mode for the powertrain is selected, and inhibiting operation of the engine if both the low-range mode and the electric mode are selected.

Method of controlling a hybrid vehicle

A controller for a motor vehicle powertrain, the controller being configured to control the amount of torque generated by each of a plurality of drive torque sources in order to generate a net torque corresponding to a predetermined torque demand value, the predetermined torque demand value being determined at least in part by reference to a torque demand signal received by the controller, each drive torque source being coupled via a respective torque transfer arrangement to a respective group of one or more wheels, the controller being configured to cause at least one drive torque source to generate positive or negative torque in dependence on the predetermined torque demand value and to cause the drive torque source to undergo a torque reversal operation in which the direction of torque generated by the at least one drive torque sources changes from one direction to the other, the controller being configured wherein, during a torque reversal operation, the controller limits the rate of change of torque generated by the at least one of the plurality of drive torque sources as the amount of torque generated passes through zero and attempts to compensate for the reduction in rate of change of torque by a corresponding change in the amount of torque generated by one or more other of the plurality of drive torque sources.

The present invention relates to a vehicle recovery system () for a vehicle having at least one driven wheel. The vehicle recovery system () is operable to self-recover the vehicle from terrain having a deformable surface affording insufficient traction at the at least one driven wheel to mobilise the vehicle. A recovery controller () is provided to maintain at least substantially continuous rotation of said at least one driven wheel at a target recovery speed or within a target recovery speed range to increase the available traction at each driven wheel. The present invention also relates to a vehicle having a vehicle recovery system ().

Vehicle recovery system

A controller is provided for a parallel hybrid electric vehicle. The vehicle powertrain includes an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by an energy storage device, and an electric generator driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage device. The controller receives one or more signals indicative of one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated; receives a signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; and causes the engine and electric propulsion motor to deliver drive torque to one or more wheels to drive the vehicle. The controller causes the powertrain to operate in a parallel powertrain mode, where the amount of torque delivered by the electric propulsion motor is determined by the controller in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque and the one or more signals indicative of the one or more operating modes.

Hybrid electric vehicle controller and method

The invention relates to a controller for a hybrid electric vehicle having an engine, electric propulsion means powered by energy storage means and electric generator means operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage means, the controller being operable to: receive a signal indicative of a required hybrid driving mode; receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the energy storage means; determine which of a plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation at a given moment, the powertrain operating modes including an engine charging mode in which the engine drives the generator means to recharge the energy storage means and an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion means is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle; and cause the powertrain to assume the appropriate powertrain operating mode and the required hybrid driving mode, wherein the controller is operable to determine which of the plurality of powertrain operating modes is appropriate for vehicle operation in dependence at least in part on the signal indicative of the instant state of charge of the energy storage means and a reference value of state of charge, the controller being operable to set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the signal indicative of the required hybrid driving mode.

A system for providing a scale () of electrical charge of a vehicle battery and a hybrid vehicle comprising such a system comprises a scale () of state of charge of the vehicle battery. The scale () comprises minimum () and maximum () parameters and a controller to select the minimum () and maximum () parameters if the scale () in dependence on a battery usage parameter dependent on at least one of a mode of operation of the vehicle, a state of charge of the battery and a state of health of the battery. A display () for indicating an amount consists of the scale () and an indicator () movable with respect to the scale (). Different scales () are provided for different purposes, and are changeable without altering the instant position of the indicator (). The display () may indicate the state of charge of a battery of the hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine and motor/generator, different scales () having maxima () corresponding to different nominal or optimum states of charge.

State of charge indication

A hybrid electric vehicle is capable of direct drive by internal combustion engine, electric motor, or both. In order to provide a consistent overrun response, a torque controller determines an appropriate deceleration characteristic according to, for example, transmission speed ratio, vehicle gradient and vehicle mass, and commands the electric motor and the engine to contribute a negative torque which meets the required deceleration characteristic. A 'tip' function modifies the characteristic in the event of a change commanded by the vehicle driver, for example a change of speed ratio.

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Coventry, United Kingdom

Steve Liggins