SYSTEM AND METHOD TO CONTROL A SWITCHABLE POWERTRAIN MOUNT
First Claim
1. A mount assembly for coupling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain assembly and a vehicle chassis, the mount assembly comprising:
- at least one switchable mount operable in at least an engine off-idle mode;
a plurality of vehicle sensors operatively connected to the powertrain assembly, with said sensors comprising at least an accelerator position sensor, a gear selector position sensor, and a battery state of charge sensor; and
a controller for receiving and processing inputs from said plurality of sensors, with said controller commanding said mount assembly to remain in the engine off-idle mode in the event that the sensed rate of change of accelerator position, the sensed gear selector position, and the sensed battery state of charge indicate an operator demand which can be satisfied without use of the vehicle'"'"'s engine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A strategy controls alternate anti-vibration modes in a switchable powertrain mount using vehicle operational status sensors and pre-selected thresholds. The switchable mount modes can include engine off-idle and an idle mode. Vehicle sensors and pre-selected thresholds can determine whether the engine is off-idle, or running in idle mode, whether the engine will likely remain in idle mode. From these determinations, the controller can command the switchable mount to engine idle mode when the controller determines the engine is in idle mode and will likely remain in idle mode. The switching means for the switchable mount can use a three-way vacuum solenoid valve (VSV), or a mechanical or electrical switch. In the case of the VSV configuration, the VSV is communicatively attached to the controller, a vacuum line connects the VSV to the switchable mount, and a second vacuum line connects the VSV to an engine intake manifold.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A mount assembly for coupling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain assembly and a vehicle chassis, the mount assembly comprising:
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at least one switchable mount operable in at least an engine off-idle mode;
a plurality of vehicle sensors operatively connected to the powertrain assembly, with said sensors comprising at least an accelerator position sensor, a gear selector position sensor, and a battery state of charge sensor; and
a controller for receiving and processing inputs from said plurality of sensors, with said controller commanding said mount assembly to remain in the engine off-idle mode in the event that the sensed rate of change of accelerator position, the sensed gear selector position, and the sensed battery state of charge indicate an operator demand which can be satisfied without use of the vehicle'"'"'s engine.
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2. A system for controlling a powertrain mount incorporated in a hybrid electric vehicle, the system having a digital processor with a memory containing an algorithm that responds to a plurality of vehicle operating parameters to achieve a powertrain mount control that comprises the steps of:
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sensing accelerator position and determining the rate of change of accelerator position;
determining gear selector position;
determining the state of charge of the vehicle'"'"'s traction battery;
using the previously determined rate of change of accelerator position, as well as the gear selector position and battery state of charge to determine whether the vehicle'"'"'s engine should be started to satisfy driver demand; and
commanding a powertrain mount to remain in an off-idle position in the event that driver demand may be satisfied without starting the engine.
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3. A method for controlling a powertrain mount incorporated in a hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine, using a system having a digital processor with a memory containing an algorithm that responds to a plurality of vehicle operating parameters to achieve a powertrain mount control, with said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing accelerator position and determining the rate of change of accelerator position;
determining gear selector position;
determining the state of charge of the vehicle'"'"'s traction battery;
using the previously determined rate of change of accelerator position, as well as the gear selector position and battery state of charge to determine whether the vehicle'"'"'s engine should be started to satisfy driver demand; and
commanding a powertrain mount to remain in an off-idle mode in the event that driver demand may be satisfied without starting the engine. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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Specification