Driveline shift quality in variable valve engine equipped drivelines

• US 20070032340A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Fund II A LP, Cedar Fund II B LP, Cedar Fund II LP, Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company), Plenus III Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hrovat, Davor, Kraska, Marvin, Gibson, Alex, Kolmanovsky, Ilya, McCallum, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,462,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0437 by using electrical signals F16H61/0403 and F16H61/061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 for smoothing gear shifts

Abstract

In one example, a method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle is provided, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve. The method includes changing gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change.

Claims

1. A method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve, the method comprising:

changing gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and

increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes valve timing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes a number of valves operating in a cylinder.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes enabling all valves of a cylinder thereby reinstituting combustion in the cylinder.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said torque is decreased by retarding spark timing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said torque is decreased by changing valve timing of the electrically actuated cylinder valve.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said torque is decreased by closing a throttle valve.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said torque is decreased by reducing a number of cylinders carrying out combustion.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said increasing engine torque during said torque phase of said gear change includes coordinated adjusting of valve timing of an electrically actuated intake valve and moving of a throttle plate.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said coordinated adjusting involves first reducing intake valve opening timing to reduce engine torque until reaching a minimum valve opening amount, and then further reducing a number of cylinders carrying out combustion along with adjustment of the throttle.

11. A method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve, the method comprising:

modifying a number of strokes in a cycle of a cylinder having said electrically actuated cylinder valve;

changing gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and

increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes valve timing.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes a number of valves operating in a cylinder.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve includes enabling all valves of a cylinder thereby reinstituting combustion in the cylinder.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said torque is decreased by retarding spark timing.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said torque is decreased by closing a throttle valve.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said torque is decreased by reducing a number of cylinders carrying out combustion.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said increasing engine torque during said torque phase of said gear change includes coordinated adjusting of valve timing of an electrically actuated intake valve and moving of a throttle plate.

19. A powertrain system for a passenger vehicle traveling on the road, comprising:

an engine, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve;

an automatic transmission;

a torque converter coupled between the engine and the automatic transmission; and

a controller configured to change gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and

increase engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change, wherein changing operation is adjusted based on an amount of slip across the torque converter.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said controller is further configured to provide an increasing transmission input torque gradient during the torque phase, and a torque decrease during the inertia phase coupled with corresponding control of on-coming and off-going clutch timing and capacity.