Torque reversal reduction strategy for a hybrid vehicle

• US 6,600,980 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: DeMurry, Thomas Lee, Kraska, Marvin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/065,216
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 477/15, 477/2, 477/5, 477/3, 477/4, 477/166, 701/1, 701/22, 701/36, 701/51, 701/53, 701/54, 701/55, 701/61, 180/65-- 6, 192/85.AA, 192/86, 192/103.R
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 2050/0012 Feedforward or open loop systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

This invention provides a strategy and system for an hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that is not equipped with a hydraulic torque converter wherein a generator motor is utilized to maintain engine rotational velocity during up-shifting of the vehicle transmission in situations where the throttle of the engine is released. This invention can reduce undesirable torque reversals during up-shifting of the vehicle transmission in such situations where the throttle of the engine is released. A controller is adapted to control the generator is supplied with data output by detectors that monitor the rotational velocity of said engine and the gear ratio of the transmission. The controller is programmed to command the generator to maintain the rotational velocity of said engine above a preselected threshold during up-shifting of the transmission.

Claims

1. A hybrid motor vehicle having an engine and a generator motor and being driven via a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios, selectively using said engine and said motor as power sources, comprising:

said generator motor operatively connected to said engine;

a controller adapted to control said generator motor;

detectors providing vehicle system input data to said controller representing data for a rotational velocity of said engine and data for a gear ratio of said transmission; and

said controller being programmed to command said generator motor to maintain the rotational velocity of said engine above a preselected threshold during up-shifting of said transmission.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in a closed loop mode.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in an open loop mode using look-up tables.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle system input data further comprises:

throttle position data;

vehicle speed data; and

generator motor rotational velocity data.

5. A method of operating a hybrid motor vehicle having an engine and a generator motor, said vehicle driven via a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios and selectively using said engine and said motor as power sources, said vehicle further comprising a generator motor operatively connected to said engine, a controller adapted to control said generator motor, detectors providing system input data to said controller representing data for a rotational velocity of said engine and data for a gear ratio of said transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring and processing the vehicle system input data regarding data for an engine rotational velocity and data for a gear ratio of said transmission to cause said controller to monitor up-shifting of said transmission; and

commanding said generator motor to maintain the rotational velocity of said engine above a preselected threshold during the up-shifting of said transmission thereby minimizing negative torque deceleration of said vehicle.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in a closed loop mode.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in an open loop mode using look-up tables.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle system input data further comprises:

throttle position data;

vehicle speed data; and

generator motor rotational velocity data.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in a closed loop mode.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein said controller is programmed to operate in an open loop mode using look-up tables.

9. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer readable storage device; and

a plurality of strategies in computer readable format embodied in said computer readable storage device for directing a computer to control the steps of monitoring and processing vehicle system input data regarding an engine rotational velocity and a gear ratio of a transmission to cause said computer to monitor up-shifting of said transmission, and

commanding a generator motor to maintain the rotational velocity of said engine above a preselected threshold during the up-shifting of said transmission thereby minimizing negative torque deceleration of a vehicle.

10. The article of manufacture according to claim 9, wherein said vehicle system input data further comprises:

throttle position data;

vehicle speed data; and

generator motor rotational velocity data.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said vehicle system input data further comprises:

throttle position data;

vehicle speed data; and

generator motor rotational velocity data.

11. A system for controlling engine rotational velocity during transmission up-shifts in an hybrid motor vehicle having an engine and a motor and being driven via a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios, selectively using said engine and said motor as power sources, comprising:

a generator motor operatively connected to said engine;

a controller adapted to control said generator motor;

detectors providing vehicle system input data to said controller representing a rotational velocity of said engine and a gear ratio of said transmission; and

said controller being programmed to command said generator motor to maintain the rotational velocity of said engine above a preselected threshold during up-shifting of said transmission.