Method of compensating torque at cylinder switching on a DOD engine with electric parallel hybrid

• US 20050164826A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Albertson, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,232,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/28 Control for reducing torsional vibrations, e.g. at acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method for managing torque in a hybrid electric vehicle uses a displacement on demand (DOD) internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric machine and a battery. The method includes smoothing disturbances in ICE torque during a DOD transition using the electric machine.

Claims

1. A method for managing torque in a hybrid electric vehicle with a displacement on demand (DOD) internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric machine and a battery, comprising:

operating the ICE in an activated mode;

transitioning the ICE from the activated mode to a deactivated mode; and

smoothing disturbances in ICE torque during the deactivation transition using the electric machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises generating electricity from excess ICE torque when the ICE torque is greater than a desired torque.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing the electricity in the battery.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises using the electric machine to supply torque when the ICE torque is less than a desired torque.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transitioning the ICE from the deactivated mode to the activated mode; and

smoothing disturbances in ICE torque during the reactivation transition using the electric machine.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises using the electric machine to supply torque when the ICE torque is less than a desired torque.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises generating electricity from excess ICE torque when the ICE torque is greater than a desired torque.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the electricity is stored in the battery.

A method for managing torque in a hybrid electric vehicle with a displacement on demand (DOD) internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric machine and a battery, comprising:

operating the ICE in a deactivated mode;

transitioning the ICE from the deactivated mode to an activated mode; and

smoothing disturbances in ICE torque during the reactivation transition using the electric machine.

9. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises using the electric machine to supply torque when the ICE torque is less than a desired torque.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises using the electric machine to generate electricity from excess ICE torque when the ICE torque is greater than a desired torque.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

transitioning the ICE from the activated mode to the deactivated mode; and

smoothing disturbances in ICE torque during the deactivation transition using the electric machine.

11. The method of claim 11 wherein the electricity is stored in the battery.

13. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances in ICE torque comprises using the electric machine to supply torque when the ICE torque is less than a desired torque.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of smoothing disturbances comprises using the electric machine to generate electricity from excess ICE torque when the ICE torque is greater than a desired torque.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the electricity is stored in the battery.

17. A torque management system for a hybrid electric vehicle with a displacement on demand (DOD) internal combustion engine (ICE) that operates in activated and deactivated modes, comprising:

an electric machine; and

a torque management module that smoothes disturbances in ICE torque using the electric machine during DOD mode transitions.

18. A torque management system of claim 17 wherein the torque management module smoothes disturbances during transitions from the deactivated mode to the activated mode.

19. A torque management system of claim 18 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to generate torque when the displacement on demand ICE first transitions to the activated mode.

20. A torque management system of claim 17 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to smooth disturbances during transitions from the activated mode to the deactivated mode.

21. The torque management system of claim 20 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to generate torque shortly after the displacement on demand ICE enters the deactivated mode.

22. The torque management system of claim 20 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to generate electricity from ICE torque when the ICE enters the deactivated mode.

23. The torque management system of claim 18 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to generate electricity from ICE torque shortly after entering the activated mode.

24. A torque management system of claim 17 further comprising:

an inverter that is connected to the electric machine; and

at least one battery that is connected to the inverter.

25. A torque management system of claim 24 wherein the battery can be at least one of lead acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, and lithium polymer batteries.

26. A torque management system of claim 17 wherein the torque management module commands the electric machine to smooth disturbances in ICE torque when the ICE torque is not equal to a desired torque.