Method for controlling an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A method for controlling torque of a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the method comprising:
- indicating when the powertrain torque is substantially zero;
in response to said indication, correcting an output signal of the torque sensor; and
controlling the powertrain torque in response to said corrected torque sensor output signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is presented for controlling powertrain torque by minimizing the error between the actual powertrain torque (as read by the torque sensor) and the desired powertrain torque (as requested by the vehicle driver). Since torque sensors are known to drift under certain conditions, such as high ambient temperature, the output of the torque sensor is adjusted by an offset value. This offset value is determined by reading the torque sensor output when the speed ratio (engine speed/turbine speed) is substantially unity, and the net torque at the torque converter is substantially zero. This adjusted output is then filtered to avoid abrupt fluctuations in the powertrain torque, and used to improve powertrain control so that better drive feel and increased fuel economy can be achieved.
36 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for controlling torque of a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the method comprising:
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indicating when the powertrain torque is substantially zero;
in response to said indication, correcting an output signal of the torque sensor; and
controlling the powertrain torque in response to said corrected torque sensor output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling torque of a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the powertrain having a torque converter, the method comprising:
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indicating when speed ratio across the torque converter is substantially unity;
in response to said indication, correcting an output signal of the torque sensor; and
controlling the powertrain torque in response to said corrected torque sensor output signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling torque of a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the powertrain having a torque converter, the method comprising:
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indicating when the powertrain is in a neutral idle state;
in response to said indication, correcting an output signal of the torque sensor; and
controlling the powertrain torque in response to said corrected torque sensor output signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling torque of a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the powertrain having a torque converter, the method comprising:
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determining desired powertrain torque based on an operator command;
indicating when speed ratio across the torque converter is substantially unity;
in response to said indication, correcting an output signal of the torque sensor;
filtering said corrected powertrain torque sensor output signal; and
controlling said powertrain in response to said filtered corrected powertrain torque sensor output signal and said desired powertrain torque. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for use with a powertrain coupled to a torque sensor, the powertrain having a torque converter, said computer medium comprising;
code for determining desired powertrain torque based on operator command;
code for indicating when speed ratio across the torque converter is substantially unity;
code for correcting an output signal of the torque sensor in response to such indication;
code for filtering said corrected torque sensor output signal; and
code for controlling the powertrain torque in response to said filtered corrected torque sensor output signal and said desired powertrain torque.
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Specification