Vehicle hybrid drive system control apparatus adapted to reduce transmission input torque upon transmission shifting, by using engine and/or motor/generator

• US 5,951,614 A
• Filed: 06/05/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tabata, Atsushi, Ibaraki, Ryuji, Taga, Yutaka, Hata, Hiroshi, Mikami, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ZANELLI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/868,753
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/53, 701/54, 701/56, 701/59, 180/65.2, 477/2, 477/3, 477/102, 477/115
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• 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 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1022 Input torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling a vehicle hybrid drive system having a transmission disposed between a vehicle drive wheel and an assembly of an engine and a motor/generator, the apparatus including a torque reduction control device for reducing an input torque of the transmission during a shifting action of the transmission, wherein the torque reduction control device includes a first torque reducing device for reducing the input torque by controlling the engine, a second torque reducing device for reducing the input torque by controlling the motor/generator, and a torque reduction mode selecting device for enabling the first torque reducing device and/or the second torque reducing device to operate to reduce the input torque, according to a predetermined selecting condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a hybrid drive system of a motor vehicle having an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, a motor/generator, and a transmission disposed between a drive wheel of the vehicle and an assembly of said engine and said motor/generator, said apparatus comprising torque reduction control means for reducing an input torque of said transmission during a shifting action of said transmission, when a predetermined torque reducing condition is satisfied, said apparatus being characterized in that said torque reduction control means comprises:

first torque reducing means for reducing said input torque of said transmission by controlling said engine;

second torque reducing means for reducing said input torque of said transmission by controlling said motor/generator; and

torque reduction mode selecting means for enabling at least one of said first and second torque reducing means to operate to reduce said input torque, according to a predetermined selecting condition.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction control means reduces said input torque of said transmission during an inertia phase of a shift-up action as said shifting action of said transmission.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction control means reduces said input torque of said transmission during a shift-down action as said shifting action of said transmission.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction control means reduces said input torque of said transmission upon occurrence of an overshoot of an input speed of said transmission during a clutch-to-clutch shifting action of said transmission which is effected by engaging one of two coupling devices while releasing the other of said two coupling devices.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first torque reducing means reduces said input torque of said transmission by effecting a retard control of spark advance of said engine.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second torque reducing means reduces said input torque of said transmission by one of reducing a forward rotation torque of said motor/generator, giving a reverse rotation torque to said motor/generator, and giving a regenerative braking torque to said motor/generator.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said torque reduction mode selecting means enables one of said first torque reducing means and said second torque reducing means to operate, according to said predetermined selecting condition.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction mode selecting means selects one of a first torque reduction mode wherein said first torque reducing means is enabled to operate, a second torque reduction mode wherein said second torque reducing means is enabled to operate, and a third torque reduction mode in which said first and second torque reducing means are enabled to operate.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction mode selecting means determines whether each of said engine and said motor/generator is operable to reduce said input torque of said transmission, and selects said at least one of said first and second torque reducing means to be enabled to operate, depending upon whether each of said engine and said motor/generator is operable.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said torque reduction mode selecting means determines whether said motor/generator is operable to reduce said input torque of said transmission, said torque reduction mode selecting means enabling said second torque reducing means when said motor/generator is operable, and enabling said first torque reducing means when said motor/generator is not operable.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque reduction control means determines an amount of reduction of said input torque of said transmission depending upon operating states of said engine and said motor/generator.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said torque reduction control means determines said amount of reduction of said input torque depending upon a currently established one of operation modes of said hybrid drive system, said operation modes including a motor drive mode in which said motor/generator is operated as a drive power source for driving the motor vehicle, an engine drive mode in which said engine is operated as said drive power source, and an engine.motor drive mode in which both said engine and said motor/generator are operated as said drive power source.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising learning compensation means for effecting learning compensation of a physical value which influences said shifting action of said transmission, said learning compensation means being provided for each of a plurality of torque reduction modes at least one of which is selected by said torque reduction mode selecting means according to said predetermined selecting condition, to enable at least one of said first and second torque reducing means to operate to reduce said input torque of said transmission.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said physical value consists of a hydraulic pressure applied to a coupling device for achieving said shifting action of said transmission, said learning compensation means determining said hydraulic pressure as said physical value by learning compensation.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said torque reduction control means controls an amount of reduction of said input torque of said transmission in a feedback fashion such that said shifting action is performed so as to meet a predetermined condition, said learning compensation means effecting learning compensation of said hydraulic pressure on the basis of the amount of reduction of said input torque by feedback control by said torque reduction control means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of torque reduction modes consist of a first torque reduction mode wherein said first torque reducing means is enabled to operate, a second torque reduction mode wherein said second torque reducing means is enabled to operate, and a third torque reduction mode in which said first and second torque reducing means are enabled to operate.