ASSOCIATION OF TORQUE REQUESTING MODULES IN A COORDINATED TORQUE ARCHITECTURE

• US 20090024263A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Folkerts, Charles H., Livshiz, Michael, Chynoweth, Scott J., Whitney, Christopher E., Stroh, David J., Wozniak, Leonard G., Simon, Robert C. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,195,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/069 Engine braking signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 : Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/22 : by keeping a torque reserve, i.e. with temporarily reduced drive train or engine efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 : Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0225 : in relation with the gear ratio or shift lever position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 : With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A powertrain control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of axle torque request modules that generate respective axle torque requests based on respective performance criteria of a vehicle, an axle torque arbitration module that generates a net axle torque request based on the plurality of axle torque requests, a plurality of propulsion torque request modules that generate respective propulsion torque requests based on respective performance criteria of an engine of the vehicle, a propulsion torque arbitration module that determines a net engine torque request based on the net axle torque request and the plurality of propulsion torque requests, and a propulsion torque control module that controls a plurality of actuators based on the net engine torque request such that the engine produces an output torque in accordance with the net engine torque request.

Claims

1. A powertrain control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of axle torque request modules that generate respective axle torque requests based on respective performance criteria of a vehicle;

an axle torque arbitration module that generates a net axle torque request based on the plurality of axle torque requests;

a plurality of propulsion torque request modules that generate respective propulsion torque requests based on respective performance criteria of an engine of the vehicle;

a propulsion torque arbitration module that determines a net engine torque request based on the net axle torque request and the plurality of propulsion torque requests; and

a propulsion torque control module that controls a plurality of actuators based on the net engine torque request such that the engine produces an output torque in accordance with the net engine torque request.

2. The powertrain control system of claim 1 further comprising an axle-to-propulsion torque conversion module that converts the net axle torque request to a propulsion torque request based on at least one of an axle gear ratio, a tire diameter, and a transmission gear ratio.

3. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of axle torque request modules includes a cruise control torque request module that generates one of the axle torque requests based on a cruise control set speed of the vehicle.

4. The powertrain control system of claim 3 further comprising an adaptive cruise control torque request module that communicates an axle torque correction to the cruise control request module based on an environment of the vehicle.

5. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of axle torque request modules includes a traction/drag control module that generates one of the axle torque requests based on slip between a tire of the vehicle and a road surface.

6. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of axle torque request modules includes a vehicle over-speed protection module that generates one of the axle torque requests based on a predetermined speed limit of the vehicle.

7. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of axle torque request modules includes at least one of a brake torque management module that generates one of the axle torque requests based on brake torque that is provided by brakes of the vehicle and a stability control module that generates one of the axle torque requests based on a yaw rate of the vehicle.

8. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes a stall prevention module that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on a minimum torque that is needed to keep the engine running.

9. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes an engine crank and stop module that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on whether the engine is newly assembled.

10. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes an engine capacity protection module that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on a predetermined catalyst temperature limit.

11. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes a transmission torque request module that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on transmission gear shifts.

12. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes a engine over-speed protection module that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on a predetermined maximum engine RPM.

13. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules includes an engine idle speed control that generates one of the propulsion torque requests based on a desired idle speed for the engine.

14. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of propulsion torque request modules include reserve torque request modules that generate respective ones of the propulsion torque requests based on torque that will be needed from the engine to compensate for an impending load change on the engine.

15. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the reserve torque request modules include an air conditioning compressor torque compensation module that generates a respective one of the propulsion torque requests based on torque that will be needed from the engine to compensate for an impending load change due to an air conditioning compressor clutch engaging and disengaging.

16. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the reserve torque request modules include a catalyst light off module that generates a respective one of the propulsion torque requests to change an exhaust gas temperature of the engine.

17. The powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle and the powertrain control system further comprises a hybrid control module that that determines how much torque of the net axle torque request is to be provided by an electric motor.

18. A method of operating a powertrain control system for a vehicle, comprising:

generating axle torque requests based on respective performance criteria of a vehicle;

generating a net axle torque request based on the axle torque requests;

generating propulsion torque requests based on respective performance criteria of an engine of the vehicle;

determining a net engine torque request based on the net axle torque request and the propulsion torque requests; and

controlling a plurality of actuators based on the net engine torque request such that an engine produces an output torque in accordance with the net engine torque request.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising converting the net axle torque request to a propulsion torque request based on at least one of an axle gear ratio, a tire diameter, a transmission gear ratio, and a torque converter gain.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the propulsion torque requests is based on a predetermined catalyst temperature limit.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the propulsion torque requests is based on transmission gear shifts.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the propulsion torque requests is based on a predetermined maximum engine RPM.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the propulsion torque requests is based on torque that will be needed from the engine to compensate for an impending load change on the engine.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising determining how much torque of the net axle torque request is to be provided by an electric motor.