Methods and system for operating a hybrid vehicle in cruise control mode

• US 10,155,512 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gibson, Alexander O'Connor, McCallum, James William Loch, Nedorezov, Felix, Wang, Xiaoyong, Shelton, Matthew John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US15/376,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20170088123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/00 Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/021 Clutch engagement state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/105 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 : Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/143 : Speed control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/91 : Battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/112 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/48 : Vibration dampers, e.g. dual mass flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing driveline mode change busyness for a hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods may delay a driveline mode change in response to a time since a change from a first desired vehicle speed to a second vehicle speed, or alternatively, driveline mode changes may be initiated in response to an estimated time to change from the first desired vehicle speed to the second desired vehicle speed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

starting a stopped engine and closing a driveline disconnect clutch via a controller in response to an estimated time to change from a present vehicle speed to a new vehicle speed being greater than a predetermined amount of time during a closed-loop vehicle speed control mode.

2. The method of claim 1, where the new vehicle speed is greater than the present vehicle speed, and further comprising delaying a change in propulsion sources via delaying actuation of the driveline disconnect clutch mechanically coupled to the engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator.

3. The method of claim 1, where the new vehicle speed is less than the present vehicle speed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising shifting a transmission to a new gear in response to the estimated time to change from the present vehicle speed to the new vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 1, where the closed-loop vehicle speed control mode adjusts vehicle speed based on a difference between a desired vehicle speed and an actual vehicle speed.

6. The method of claim 1, where the closed-loop vehicle speed control mode includes a proportional/integral controller.

7. The method of claim 1, where the driveline disconnect clutch is mechanically coupled to the engine and a driveline integrated starter/generator, and wherein the engine is in a hybrid vehicle.