METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING

• US 20130297157A1
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Doering, Jeffrey Allen, Reed, Dennis Craig, Gibson, Alex O'Connor, Lee, Seung-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• 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 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/14 in conjunction with braking regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/203 related or induced by the clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0275 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine is couple to a transmission in response to a transmission upshift to reduce transmission output shaft torque disturbances.

Claims

1. A method for shifting a transmission, comprising:

coupling an engine to a transmission in response to a request to upshift the transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, where the engine is not coupled to the transmission prior to the request to upshift the transmission, where the transmission is in a moving vehicle and in a forward drive gear, and where the vehicle continues to move and where the transmission is upshifted to a higher gear.

3. The method of claim 1, where the engine is coupled to the transmission via a driveline disconnect clutch positioned in a driveline between the engine and a torque converter.

4. The method of claim 1, where the engine is coupled to the transmission during an inertia phase of the upshift.

5. The method of claim 1, where the engine is coupled to the transmission after release of an off-going clutch is initiated during the upshift.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising starting the engine when engine speed reaches a threshold speed.

7. The method of claim 1, where the transmission is an automatic transmission, and where input torque to the automatic transmission is reduced during the upshift.

8. A method for shifting a transmission, comprising:

reducing input torque to a transmission in response to a transmission upshift request via selectively coupling an engine to an input shaft of the transmission, the engine not coupled to the transmission prior to the transmission upshift request.

9. The method of claim 8, where the engine is coupled to the transmission via a driveline disconnect clutch.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a torque converter in a driveline positioned between the engine and the transmission.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising increasing or decreasing torque of a driveline integrated starter/generator during the upshift.

12. The method of claim 11, where torque from the driveline integrated starter/generator is increased to hold an impeller speed of a torque converter greater than a threshold speed.

13. The method of claim 8, where engine rotation is stopped prior to the transmission upshift request.

14. A hybrid vehicle system, comprising:

an engine;

a dual mass flywheel including a first side mechanically coupled to the engine;

a driveline disconnect clutch mechanically including a first side coupled to a second side of the dual mass flywheel;

a driveline integrated starter/generator (DISG) including a first side coupled to a second side of the driveline disconnect clutch and a second side;

a transmission coupled to the DISG; and

a controller including non-transitory instructions executable to initiate a transmission shift request and to couple the engine to the transmission in response to the transmission shift request.

15. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 14, further comprising a torque converter located in a driveline between the transmission and the DISG.

16. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 14, further comprising additional instructions to start the engine.

17. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 16, further comprising additional instructions to couple the engine to the transmission via the driveline disconnect clutch.

18. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 14, further comprising additional instructions to increase DISG torque in response to the transmission upshift request.

19. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 14, further comprising additional instructions to reduce DISG torque in response to the transmission upshift request.

20. The hybrid vehicle system of claim 14, further comprising additional instructions to accelerate the engine to a desired cranking speed.