METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER ACTUATORS IN A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM

• US 20090118081A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Heap, Anthony H., Cawthorne, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• 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 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 : Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1022 : Input torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 : Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/102 : the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/104 : Power split variators with one end of the CVT connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 : with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• 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 method for controlling a powertrain system includes controlling a first power actuator based upon a set of power constraints for the first power actuator. The method further includes controlling a second power actuator based upon the set of power constraints for the second power actuator.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a powertrain system comprising a plurality of power actuators, a transmission device and an energy storage device, the transmission device operative to transfer power between the power actuators and an output member to generate an output torque, the method comprising:

determining an operator request for power from the output member;

determining a first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a set of power constraints for a first power actuator based upon the first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a set of power constraints for a second power actuator based upon the second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

controlling the first power actuator based upon the set of power constraints for the first power actuator; and

controlling the second power actuator based upon the set of power constraints for the second power actuator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a preferred power level for operating the first power actuator based upon the operator request for power;

determining a first battery output power value based upon the preferred power level for operating the first power actuator and the operator request for power; and

determining the first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device based upon the first battery output power value.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a preferred power level for operating the second power actuator based upon the operator request for power;

determining a second battery output power value based upon the preferred power level for operating the second power actuator and the operator request for power; and

determining the second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device based upon the second battery output power value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring output power of the energy storage device; and

determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator based upon the first and second sets of electric power constraints for the energy storage device and the output power of the energy storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a voltage of the energy storage device;

providing a set of voltage limits for the energy storage device; and

determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator based upon the set of voltage limits for the energy storage device and the voltage of the energy storage device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator comprises:

determining a first set of electric power limits for the energy storage device;

determining a second set of electric power limits for the energy storage device;

determining a set of intermediate power constraints for the energy storage device based upon the battery power, the first set of electric power limits and the second set of electric power limits; and

determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator based upon the set of intermediate power constraints, the first and second sets of electric power constraints, the voltage of the energy storage device, and the set of voltage limits.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator and the set of power constraints for the second power actuator comprises determining a set of torque constraints for the first power actuator and a set of torque constraints for the second power actuator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator comprises determining a set of input torque constraints for constraining input torque from an engine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an engine torque request;

determining a first battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the engine torque request; and

determining the set of input torque constraints based upon the first battery output power value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising controlling engine torque based upon the set of input torque constraints.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of power constraints for the first power actuator comprises determining a set of output torque constraints for constraining the output torque of the output member and constraining a motor torque of an electric machine based upon the set of output torque constraints.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a preferred output torque for the output member;

determining a motor torque request for the electric machine based upon the preferred output torque;

calculating a first battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the preferred output torque; and

determining the set of output torque constraints for constraining the output torque based upon the first battery output power value.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the motor torque of the electric machine based upon the set of output torque constraints.

14. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine, an electric machine, a transmission device and an energy storage device, the transmission device operative to transfer power between the engine, the electric machine, and an output member to generate an output torque, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

monitoring output power of the energy storage device;

determining a first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a set of torque constraints for the engine based upon the first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device; and

determining a set of torque constraints for the electric machine based upon the second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a preferred input torque from the engine to the transmission device based upon the operator torque request;

determining a first battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the preferred input torque and the operator torque request; and

determining the first set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device based upon the first battery output power value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a preferred motor torque for operating the electric machine based upon the operator torque request;

determining a second battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the preferred motor torque and the operator torque request; and

determining the second set of electric power constraints for the energy storage device based upon the second battery output power value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining an engine torque request;

determining the first battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the engine torque request; and

determining the set of torque constraints for the engine based upon the first battery output power value.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling engine torque based upon the set of torque constraints for the engine.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising

determining a preferred output torque for the output member;

determining a motor torque request for the electric machine based upon the preferred output torque;

calculating a first battery output power value for the energy storage device based upon the preferred output torque; and

determining a set of output torque constraints for constraining the output torque based the first battery output power value.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling the motor torque of the electric machine based upon the set of output torque constraints.

21. A method for controlling a powertrain system comprising a plurality of power actuators, a transmission device and an energy storage device, the transmission device operative to transfer power between the power actuators and an output member to generate an output torque, the method comprising:

monitoring output power of the energy storage device;

determining a first set of power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a set of torque constraints for the first power actuator based upon the first set of power constraints for the energy storage device;

determining a second set of power constraints for the energy storage device; and

determining a set of torque constraints for the second power actuator based upon the second set of power constraints for the energy storage device.