POWERTRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150151737A1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Darnell, Paul, Birch, John, Rudman, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,011,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• 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 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 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0012 Feedforward or open loop systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/084 Torque change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0672 Torque change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a powertrain control system (1) for a vehicle. The powertrain control system (1) includes a torque limit calculator (47) for generating a torque control signal based (57) on one or more vehicle operating parameters. A torque request module (43) is provided for generating a torque request signal (45) and a torque control module (7) controls the torque applied by the powertrain. The torque control module (7) is configured to receive the torque request signal (45) from the torque request module (43) and the torque control signal (57) from the torque limit calculator (47) and to control the torque applied by the powertrain in dependence on the torque request signal (45) and the torque control signal (57). The present invention also relates to a control system; and a method of operating a powertrain control system.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a torque limit calculator configured to generate a torque control signal based on one or more vehicle operating parameters;

a torque request module configured to generate a torque request signal; and

a torque control module configured to control a torque applied by a powertrain, the torque control module configured to receive the torque request signal from the torque request module and the torque control signal from the torque limit calculator and to control the torque applied by the powertrain in dependence on the torque request signal and the torque control signal.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque limit calculator is provided in a vehicle module.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque request module receives the torque control signal from the torque limit calculator, the torque request module configured to adjust the torque request signal in dependence on the torque control signal.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque control signal is configured to limit a rate of change in the applied torque and/or limit the applied torque.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the torque control module is operable to limit the rate of change of the applied torque and/or limit the applied torque based on said torque control signal.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque limit calculator is provided in an anti-lock brake system module.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque request module is configured to generate the torque request signal based on a driver torque demand signal and/or a cruise control torque demand signal.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque control module is configured to control at least one electric drive motor and/or an internal combustion engine.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the torque control module is an inverter configured to control said at least one electric drive motor.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque control module has a higher integrity rating than the torque request module.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the torque limit calculator is provided in a further module, wherein the torque control module has a higher integrity rating than the torque request module, and wherein the further module has an integrity rating equal to or higher than that of the torque control module.

12. A motor vehicle having the control system of claim 1.

13. A method of operating a powertrain system comprising a powertrain and a controller, the method comprising:

generating a torque control signal based on one or more vehicle operating parameters and outputting the torque control signal to the controller;

generating a torque request signal and outputting the torque request signal to the controller; and

operating the controller to control the torque applied by the powertrain based on the torque control signal and the torque request signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the torque control signal defines a limit to a rate of change in the applied torque and/or a limit to the applied torque.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of at least one electric drive motor.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the torque request signal is based on a driver torque demand signal and/or a cruise control torque demand signal.

17. A control system for a vehicle, the control system comprising:

a torque limit calculator module configured to generate a torque control signal based on one or more defined vehicle operating parameters;

a torque request module configured to generate a torque request signal; and

a torque control module configured to control torque applied by a powertrain of the vehicle, the torque control module configured to receive the torque request signal from the torque request module and the torque control signal from the torque limit calculator module and to automatically control the torque applied by the powertrain in dependence on the torque request signal and the torque control signal.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the torque control signal is configured to limit a rate of change in the applied torque and/or limit the applied torque.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein the torque control module is operable to limit the rate of change of the applied torque and/or limit the applied torque based on said torque control signal.

20. The control system of claim 17, wherein the torque limit calculator module is provided in an anti-lock brake system module of the vehicle.