EP-4011678-B1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTPUT

EP4011678B1EP 4011678 B1EP4011678 B1EP 4011678B1EP-4011678-B1

Inventors

HAUGEN, DAVID M.
Kendrick, Phillip A.
Allinger, Wesley E.
Ericksen, Everet Owen
KLAWER, Paul
NEGISHI, NOBUHIKO
FLETCHER, THOMAS L.
SMITH, JASON
BROWN IV, WILLIAM O.
BORGERS, Bjoem

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20211206

Claims (11)

A method for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output, said method comprising: obtaining electric vehicle data; obtaining user-related data; receiving input from at least one sensor; (1515, 15135) and utilizing a controller (15139) to evaluate said electric vehicle data, said user-related data, and said input from said at least one sensor, and automatically tailor an output power curve of said electric motor (151MI) to improve performance for said electric vehicle for a given rate of conservation of a battery (151BI) provided source of power according to the following: (i) wherein said controller controls a plurality of switches (1104,1106,1108) between said electric motor and said battery provided source of power, wherein said battery provided source of power comprises a single battery (151B) which is capable of generating a plurality of output waveforms and said electric motor comprises a single electric motor, (151M) wherein said plurality of switches will allow said controller to control a power output of said electric motor by switchably providing said plurality of output waveforms to the single electric motor; or (ii) wherein said electric motor comprises a plurality of electric motors, (151M1, 151M2, 151M3) said controller utilizing a plurality of switches between said plurality of electric motors and said battery provided source of power to control a power output of one or more of said plurality of said electric motors; or (iii) wherein said electric motor comprises at least one electric motor and said battery provided source of power comprises a plurality of batteries, (151B1, 151B, 151B2) said controller utilizing a plurality of switches between said at least one electric motor and said plurality of batteries to control a power output of said at least one electric motor; wherein said obtaining said electric vehicle data comprises: a size of said electric motor, a size of said battery, an amperage of said battery, and a voltage of said battery; wherein said obtaining said electric vehicle data further comprises: monitoring the performance of said battery while said electric vehicle is operating; obtaining at least one updated set of data for said battery based on said monitoring; and automatically updating said tailored output power curve of said electric motor to obtain said improved performance for said electric vehicle for said given rate of conservation of said battery based on said at least one updated set of data for said battery.
The method of Claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of: an inclinometer, a pitch sensor, a user's mobile device, an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, and a forward looking sensor.
The method of Claim 1 or 2, further comprising: obtaining route information; and utilizing said controller to evaluate said electric vehicle data, said user-related data, said input from said at least one sensor, and said route information to automatically tailor said output power curve of said electric motor to obtain said improved performance for said electric vehicle for said given rate of conservation of said battery power.
The method of any preceding Claim, propulsion power for said electric vehicle generated by the electric motor and by the user of the electric vehicle turning a crank of said electric vehicle, the method further comprising: setting an assist threshold based on a wattage input generated by a user turning a crank on said electric vehicle; monitoring a wattage input generated by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle; determining that said assist threshold has been met by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle; and utilizing said controller to increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor when said assist threshold has been met by said user; and optionally further comprising: determining that said assist threshold is no longer being met by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle; and utilizing said controller to decrease said level of assistance provided by said electric motor.
The method of any preceding Claim, propulsion power for said electric vehicle generated by the electric motor and by the user of the electric vehicle turning a crank of said electric vehicle, the method further comprising: determining, based on said input received from said sensor, that said electric vehicle is ascending a hill; and utilizing said controller to automatically increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor; and/or: determining, based on said input received from said sensor, that said electric vehicle is going around a corner and has slowed down while going around said corner; and utilizing said controller to automatically increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor as said electric vehicle exits said corner until said electric vehicle has returned to a pre-corner speed.
The method of any preceding Claim, further comprising: determining, based on said input received from said sensor, that said electric vehicle is in a freefall condition; determining a forward ground speed of said electric vehicle; and utilizing said controller to automatically adjust a level of assistance provided by said electric motor such that a drive wheel is rotating at a speed that is equivalent to a rotational speed said drive wheel would be moving if said electric vehicle was moving forward across said ground at said determined forward ground speed.
A system for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output, said system comprising: an input to receive data about said electric vehicle; an input to receive a user-related data; at least one sensor (1515,15135) to generate sensor information; and a controller (15139) to evaluate said data about said electric vehicle, said user-related data, and said sensor information from said at least one sensor, and adapted to automatically tailor an output power curve for an electric motor (151MI) to improve performance for said electric vehicle based on a given rate of conservation of a battery (151BI) provided source of power according to the following: (i) said controller adapted to control a plurality of switches (1104,1106,1108) between said electric motor and said battery provided source of power, wherein said battery provided source of power comprises a single battery (151B) which is capable of generating a plurality of output waveforms and said electric motor comprises a single electric motor, (151M) wherein said plurality of switches will allow said controller to control a power output of said electric motor by switchably providing said plurality of output waveforms to the single electric motor; or (ii) wherein said electric motor comprises a plurality of electric motors, (151M1, 151M2, 151M3) said controller adapted to utilize a plurality of switches between said plurality of electric motors and said battery provided source of power to control a power output of one or more of said plurality of said electric motors; or (iii) wherein said electric motor comprises at one electric motor and said battery provided source of power comprises a plurality of batteries, (151B1, 151B, 151B2) said controller adapted to utilize a plurality of switches between said at least one electric motor and said plurality of batteries to control a power output of said at least one electric motor; wherein said data about said electric vehicle comprises: a size of said electric motor, a size of said battery, an amperage of said battery, and a voltage of said battery; wherein said data about said electric vehicle further comprises: at least one updated set of data for said battery while said electric vehicle is in operation; and said controller to automatically update said tailored output power curve of said electric motor to obtain said improved performance for said electric vehicle for said given rate of conservation of said battery based on said at least one updated set of data for said battery.
The system of Claim 7, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of: an inclinometer, a pitch sensor, a user's mobile device, an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, and a forward looking sensor.
The system of Claim 7 or 8, propulsion power for said electric vehicle generated by the electric motor and by the user of the electric vehicle turning a crank of said electric vehicle, the method further comprising: an assist threshold based on a wattage input generated by a user turning a crank on said electric vehicle; a monitor to monitor a wattage input generated by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle and determine that said assist threshold has been met; and said controller to increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor when said monitor has determined that said assist threshold has been met; and optionally further comprising: said monitor to monitor said wattage input generated by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle and determine that said assist threshold is no longer being met; and said controller to decrease said level of assistance provided by said electric motor when said monitor has determined that said assist threshold is no longer being met.
An electric vehicle (15150) comprising a system as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9.
An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electric vehicle is an All-Electric (EV) vehicle, a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), a Hybrid vehicle, a Plug-in Hybrid vehicle, an e-bike (including but not limited to, Type 1 (Pedal Assist), Type 2 (Throttle Only), and Type 3 (Pedal Assist 28 miles per hour (mph)), a scooter, a motorcycle, a car, a truck, a watercraft, a snow machine, a 3-4 wheeled vehicle, a multi-wheeled vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a utility task vehicle (UTV) or "side-by-side", or an aircraft.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/121,795 filed on December 4, 2020. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present technology relate generally a vehicle having an electric motor. BACKGROUND An electric vehicle typically includes a battery and an electric motor. Typically, a particular combination of a battery and an electric motor is selected to provide a specific amount of power or torque for the electric vehicle. As electric vehicles become more widely adopted and find increased use in various environments and activities, conventional battery and electric motor combinations may not provide an appropriate power source. US 2011/276216 A1, US 2019/300105 A1 each discloses method and system for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output, said method comprising: obtaining electric vehicle data; obtaining user-related data; receiving input from at least one sensor; and utilizing a controller to evaluate said electric vehicle data, said user-related data, and said input from said at least one sensor, and automatically tailor an output power curve of said electric motor to improve performance for said electric vehicle for a given rate of conservation of a battery provided source of power. SUMMARY Hereafter embodiments refer to embodiments of the disclosure. The invention is defined in the appended claims. According to some embodiments of the disclosure there is provided a method for controlling an electric vehicle's electric motor output. The method may comprise obtaining electric vehicle data. The method may further comprise obtaining user-related data. The method may further comprise receiving input from at least one sensor. The method may further comprise utilizing a controller to evaluate said electric vehicle data, said user-related data, and said input from said at least one sensor. The method may further comprise automatically tailoring an output power curve of an electronic motor to improve performance for said electric vehicle for a given rate of conservation of a battery provided source of power. In some aspects, and as used anywhere herein, improved performance may mean best performance for said electric vehicle. In an embodiment said at least one sensor may be selected from a group of sensors consisting of: an inclinometer, a pitch sensor, a user's mobile device, an accelerometer, a pressure sensor, and a forward looking sensor. In an embodiment said obtaining said electric vehicle data may comprise obtaining a size of said electric motor, a size of said battery, an amperage of said battery, and a voltage of said battery. In an embodiment said obtaining said electric vehicle data may further comprise monitoring said performance of said battery while said electric vehicle is operating. The obtaining may further comprise obtaining at least one updated set of data for said battery based on said monitoring. The obtaining may further comprise automatically updating said tailored output power curve of said electronic motor to obtain said improved performance for said electric vehicle for said given rate of conservation of said battery based on said at least one updated set of data for said battery. In an embodiment the method may further comprise obtaining route information. The method may further comprise utilizing said controller to evaluate said electric vehicle data, said user-related data, said input from said at least one sensor, and said route information to automatically tailor said output power curve of said electronic motor to obtain said improved performance for said electric vehicle for said given rate of conservation of said battery power. In an embodiment the method may further comprise setting an assist threshold based on a wattage input generated by a user turning a crank on said electric vehicle. The method may further comprise monitoring a wattage input generated by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle. The method may further comprise determining that said assist threshold has been met by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle. The method may further comprise utilizing said controller to increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor when said assist threshold has been met by said user. In an embodiment the method may further comprise determining that said assist threshold is no longer being met by said user turning said crank on said electric vehicle. The method may further comprise utilizing said controller to decrease said level of assistance provided by said electric motor. In an embodiment the method may further comprise determining, based on said input received from said sensor, that said electric vehicle is ascending a hill. The method may further comprise utilizing said controller to automatically increase a level of assistance provided by said electric motor. In an embodiment the method may further comprise determining, based on sa