The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1997
Sumikazu Shamoto, Nagoya, JP;
Kaoru Kubo, Aichi-ken, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
In a power output apparatus 10, a complex motor 30 includes a stator 32, a rotor 34 linked with a crankshaft 56 of an engine 50, and a rotor 36 linked with a drive shaft 22, wherein the stator 32 and the rotor 34 constitute a first motor MG1 constructed as an induction motor and the stator 32 and the rotor 36 constitute a second motor MG2 constructed as an induction motor. A driving circuit 92 regulates the frequency of an exciting electric current to be flown through three-phase coils 38 of the stator 32 within a range between the frequency of the rotor 34 and the frequency of the rotor 36. This procedure enables the first motor MG1 and the second motor MG2 to function respectively as a generator and a motor. Electromagnetic energy regenerated by the first motor MG1 is supplied to the second motor MG2 not via the driving circuit 92 but directly from the stator 32. Compared with a system for driving a motor via a driving circuit, such as an inverter, the structure of the present invention enhances the energy efficiency of the power output apparatus 10 and reduces the size of the whole power output apparatus 10.