MOTOR TORQUE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH AUDIBLE NOISE FOR A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM

• US 20110015813A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Munukur, Rama, McGrogan, Sean W., Tamai, Goro
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 acoustic
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• 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 operating a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring operation of the torque machine, and limiting the motor torque output from the torque machine to a maximum allowable motor torque that is associated with an acceptable audible noise level when the motor speed of the torque machine is within a motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise.

Claims

1. Method for operating a hybrid powertrain system including a torque machine configured to transfer torque to an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring motor torque output from the torque machine and the motor speed of the torque machine; and

limiting the motor torque output from the torque machine to a maximum allowable motor torque associated with an acceptable audible noise level when the motor speed of the torque machine is within a motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a state of an audible noise parameter corresponding to the motor torque output from the torque machine and the motor speed of the torque machine;

time-integrating the state of the audible noise parameter when the motor speed of the torque machine is within the motor speed range associated with the objectionable audible noise; and

wherein limiting the motor torque output from the torque machine to the maximum allowable motor torque associated with the acceptable audible noise level when the motor speed of the torque machine is within the motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise is effected when the time-integrated audible noise parameter exceeds a threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting an elapsed period of time the torque machine operates within the motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise; and

wherein limiting the motor torque output from the torque machine to the maximum allowable motor torque associated with the acceptable audible noise level when the motor speed of the torque machine is within the motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise is effected when the predicted elapsed period of time exceeds a threshold.

4. Method for operating a hybrid powertrain system including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission configured to transfer power among the input member and the electric machine and an output member, the method comprising:

identifying a range of motor speeds of the electric machine associated with an audible noise level above a threshold;

commanding a motor torque output from the electric machine responsive to an operator torque request;

monitoring the motor speed of the electric machine;

determining an audible noise level associated with the motor torque output from the electric machine and the motor speed of the electric machine;

time-integrating the audible noise level associated with the motor torque output from the electric machine and the motor speed of the electric machine when the motor speed of the electric machine is within the identified range of motor speeds of the electric machine associated with the audible noise level above the threshold; and

controlling electric power flow to the electric machine to limit the motor torque output to a maximum allowable motor torque output associated with a preferred audible noise level at the motor speed of the electric machine when the time-integrated audible noise level associated with the motor speed of the electric machine exceeds a threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

predicting an elapsed period of time the electric machine operates within the motor speed range associated with objectionable audible noise; and

wherein controlling electric power flow to the electric machine to limit the motor torque output to the maximum allowable motor torque output associated with the preferred audible noise level at the motor speed of the electric machine when the time-integrated audible noise level associated with the motor speed of the electric machine exceeds a threshold is effected when the predicted elapsed period of time exceeds a threshold.

6. Method for operating a hybrid powertrain system including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission configured to transfer power between the input member and the torque machine and an output member, the method comprising:

identifying a range of motor speeds for the electric machine associated with a noise level above a threshold noise level;

commanding a motor torque output from the electric machine responsive to an operator torque request;

monitoring motor speed of the electric machine;

limiting the motor torque output from the electric machine to a maximum allowable motor torque associated with the threshold noise level when the motor speed of the electric machine is within the range of motor speeds for the electric machine associated with the noise level above the threshold noise level.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a state of an audible noise parameter corresponding to the motor torque output from the electric machine and the motor speed of the electric machine;

time-integrating the state of the audible noise parameter when the motor speed of the electric machine is within the motor speed range associated with the threshold noise level; and

wherein limiting the motor torque output from the electric machine to the maximum allowable motor torque associated with the threshold noise level when the motor speed of the electric machine is within the range of motor speeds for the electric machine associated with the noise level above the threshold noise level is effected when the time-integrated state of the audible noise parameter exceeds an integration threshold.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

predicting an elapsed period of time the electric machine operates within the motor speed range associated with the threshold noise level; and

wherein limiting the motor torque output from the electric machine to the maximum allowable motor torque associated with the threshold noise level when the motor speed of the electric machine is within the range of motor speeds for the electric machine associated with the noise level above the threshold noise level is effected when the predicted elapsed period of time exceeds a time threshold.