1. A method for controlling regenerative braking in a hybrid electric vehicle having an energy-storage device, a motorgenerator configured to receive energy from and supply energy to the energy-storage device, and to retard the vehicle via the regenerative braking, and a controller arranged to control the regenerative braking, the method comprising:
receiving a regenerative braking request;
detecting whether the energy-storage device is between a first predetermined state of charge and a second predetermined state of charge, wherein the energy-storage device is configured to selectively store energy up to the first predetermined state of charge and release the stored energy down to the second predetermined state of charge;
retarding the vehicle via the motorgenerator and directing electrical energy from the regenerative braking to an energy dissipating device configured to dissipate energy from the regenerative braking when the energy-storage device is at or above the first predetermined state of charge and also when the energy-storage device is at or below the second predetermined state of charge; and
retarding the vehicle via the motorgenerator and directing electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the energy-storage device when the energy-storage device is between the first predetermined state of charge and the second predetermined state of charge.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of a heating element for the energy-storage device and a heating and ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a friction braking system configured to retard the vehicle, and wherein said retarding the vehicle via the motorgenerator is accomplished in combination with the friction braking system to vary a degree of vehicle retardation.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said retarding the vehicle via the motorgenerator in combination with the friction braking system is regulated by the controller according to a predetermined schedule.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle additionally includes an internal combustion engine configured to selectively propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of an engine-block heater and a catalyst pre-heater for an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, and said directing electrical energy from the regenerative braking to at least one of the engine-block heater and the catalyst pre-heater is accomplished when the engine is shut-off.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a fuel-cell configured to propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is a heater for the fuel-cell, and said directing electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the heater for the fuel-cell is accomplished when the fuel-cell is shut-off.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a plug-in type having an electrical plug, such that the energy-storage device is capable of being recharged by connecting the plug to an external electrical power source.
8. A system for controlling regenerative braking in a hybrid electric vehicle having a motorgenerator configured to retard the vehicle via the regenerative braking, the system comprising:
an energy-storage device configured to receive energy from and supply energy to the motorgenerator and selectively store energy up to a first predetermined state of charge and release the stored energy down to a second predetermined state of charge;
an energy dissipating device configured to dissipate energy from the regenerative braking; and
a controller configured to:
receive a regenerative braking request;
detect whether the energy-storage device is between the first predetermined state of charge and the second predetermined state of charge;
retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator and direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to an energy dissipating device configured to dissipate energy from the regenerative braking when the energy-storage device is at or above the first predetermined state of charge and also when the energy-storage device is at or below the second predetermined state of charge; and
retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator and direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the energy-storage device when the energy-storage device is between the first predetermined state of charge and the second predetermined state of charge.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of a heating element for the energy-storage device and a heating and ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a friction braking system configured to retard the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator in combination with the friction braking system to vary a degree of vehicle retardation.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator in combination with the friction braking system according to a predetermined schedule.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle additionally includes an internal combustion engine configured to selectively propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of an engine-block heater and a catalyst pre-heater for an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, and the controller is configured to direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to at least one of the engine-block heater and the catalyst pre-heater when the engine is shut-off.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a fuel-cell configured to propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is a heater for the fuel-cell, and the controller is configured to direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the heater for the fuel-cell when the fuel-cell is shut-off.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a plug-in type having an electrical plug, such that the energy-storage device is capable of being recharged by connecting the plug to an external electrical power source.
15. A hybrid electric vehicle employing a regenerative braking system, the regenerative braking system comprising:
an energy-storage device configured to selectively store energy up to a first predetermined state of charge and release the stored energy down to a second predetermined state of charge;
a motorgenerator configured to receive energy from and supply energy to the energy-storage device, and to retard the vehicle via the regenerative braking;
an energy dissipating device configured to dissipate energy from the regenerative braking; and
a controller configured to:
receive a regenerative braking request;
detect whether the energy-storage device is between the first predetermined state of charge and the second predetermined state of charge;
retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator and direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to an energy dissipating device configured to dissipate energy from the regenerative braking when the energy-storage device is at or above the first predetermined state of charge and also when the energy-storage device is at or below the second predetermined state of charge; and
retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator and direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the energy-storage device when the energy-storage device is between the first predetermined state of charge and the second predetermined state of charge.
16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of a heating element for the energy-storage device and a heating and ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a friction braking system configured to retard the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to retard the vehicle via the motorgenerator in combination with the friction braking system according to a predetermined schedule to vary a degree of vehicle retardation.
18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle additionally includes an internal combustion engine configured to selectively propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is at least one of an engine-block heater and a catalyst pre-heater for an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, and the controller is configured to direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to at least one of the engine-block heater and the catalyst pre-heater when the engine is shut-off.
19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the vehicle additionally includes a fuel-cell configured to propel the vehicle and capable of being shut-off, wherein the energy dissipating device is a heater for the fuel-cell, and the controller is configured to direct electrical energy from the regenerative braking to the heater for the fuel-cell when the fuel-cell is shut-off.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is a plug-in type having an electrical plug, such that the energy-storage device is capable of being recharged by connecting the plug to an external electrical power source.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A capacitive type sensor comprising:
an insulating substrate;
first and second electrodes mounted on the insulating substrate to face each other; and
a gas sensitive film provided between the first and second electrodes and supported by the insulating substrate;
wherein the gas sensitive film has a linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 2\xd710\u22125 per degree centigrade;
wherein the first and second electrodes have a linear thermal expansion coefficient which is substantially the same as the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating substrate and which is not more than 1\xd710\u22125 per degree centigrade;
wherein said first and second electrodes each have a thickness from 1 \u03bcm to 11 \u03bcm, inclusive; and
wherein a face-to-face distance between said first and second electrodes is from 0.5 \u03bcm to 5 \u03bcm, inclusive.
2. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 1, wherein the gas sensitive film is a water vapor sensitive film, and a capacitance of the capacitive type sensor varies in accordance with an amount of water vapor absorbed by the water vapor sensitive film.
3. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein:
the insulating substrate consists essentially of a material that is selected from the group consisting of glass, quartz, silicon, ceramics, and sapphire,
the water vapor sensitive film consists essentially of a material that is selected from the group consisting of a crosslinked polymer material, and an organic polymer material, and
the first and second electrodes each consists essentially of a material that is selected from the group consisting of Si, Sic, GaAs, and polysilicon.
4. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, further comprising:
an upper water vapor sensitive film provided on the first and second electrodes and the water vapor sensitive film;
wherein a shielding film is provided in the upper water vapor sensitive film.
5. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein the first and second electrodes are joined to the surface of the insulating substrate.
6. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 5, wherein the first and second electrodes are formed by subjecting an electrically conductive substrate, joined to the insulating substrate, to polishing or etching.
7. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein
the first electrode comprises a first electrode body and a plurality of first comb-electrode portions extending from the first electrode body;
the second electrode comprises a second electrode body and a plurality of second comb-electrode portions extending from the second electrode body;
the first and second comb-electrode portions are alternately disposed with a predetermined face-to-face distance therebetween; and
the water vapor sensitive film is disposed between and in contact with the first and second comb-electrode portions, and forms a plurality of vertically arranged capacitors with the first and second comb-electrode portions.
8. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 7, further comprising an upper water vapor sensitive film provided on the first and second electrodes and the water vapor sensitive film,
wherein a shielding film is provided in the upper water vapor sensitive film above and near the first and second comb-electrode portions.
9. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein:
the first electrode comprises a first electrode body, a first straight electrode portion extending from the first electrode body, and a plurality of first annular electrode portions extending from the first straight electrode portion;
the second electrode comprises a second electrode body, a second straight electrode portion extending from the second electrode body, and a plurality of second annular portions extending from the second straight electrode portion;
the first and second annular electrode portions are coaxially and alternately disposed with a predetermined face-to-face distance therebetween; and
the water vapor sensitive film is disposed between and in contact with the first and second annular electrode portions, and forms a plurality of vertically arranged capacitors with first and second annular electrode portions.
10. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein:
the first electrode comprises a first electrode body, at least one first straight electrode portion extending from the first electrode body, and a plurality of first toothed electrode portions extending perpendicularly from the at least one first straight electrode portion;
the second electrode comprises a second electrode body, a plurality of second straight electrode portions extending from the second electrode body, and a plurality of second toothed electrode portions extending perpendicularly from each of the second straight electrode portions;
adjacent ones of the first straight electrode portion, the first toothed electrode portions, the second straight electrode portions, and second toothed electrode portions are disposed to face one another with a predetermined face-to-face distance; and
the water vapor sensitive film is disposed between and in contact with adjacent portions of the first straight electrode portion, the first toothed electrode portions, the second straight electrode portions, and second toothed electrode portions, and forms a plurality of vertically arranged capacitors with the adjacent portions.
11. The capacitive type sensor according to claim 2, wherein:
the first electrode comprises a first electrode body, and a lower electrode portion which extends from the first electrode body and which includes a plurality of first toothed electrode portions disposed at equal intervals;
the first toothed electrode portions extend upward perpendicularly from an upper face of the lower electrode portion to form lower comb electrodes;
the second electrode includes a second electrode body and an upper electrode portion extending from the second electrode body;
the upper electrode portion includes an upper wall having a plurality of second toothed electrode portions disposed at equal intervals, and side walls fixed at bottom faces thereof to the insulating substrate;
the second toothed electrode portions extend downward perpendicular from the upper wall of the upper electrode portion to form upper comb electrodes;
the upper comb electrodes and the lower comb electrodes are disposed to face one another with a predetermined face-to-face distance therebetween; and
the water vapor sensitive film is disposed between and in contact with the upper and lower comb electrodes, and forms a plurality of vertically arranged capacitors with the upper and lower comb electrodes.