Torque control system and torque control method for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,602,164 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yoshiaki, Sano, Walters, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Estremsky, Sherry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Tisha D.
• Application Number:
  US09/985,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 477/107, 477/109, 477/5, 477/6, 477/8, 477/13, 477/17, 477/20, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.6, 180/65.7
• US Class Current: 477/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 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 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0241 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 : Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0433 : by torque supply with an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

When the engine torque starts decreasing prior to disengagement of a clutch, the motor torque realMT is controlled to compensate for the deficiency in the engine torque tpsET due to the decrease in the engine torque. Further, the motor torque realMT is controlled to compensate for a deficiency in the engine torque tpsET after engagement of the clutch until increasing of the throttle opening is completed. By controlling the motor torque as such, the reduction in the engine torque tpsET can be compensated for by the motor torque realMT not only when the clutch is being disengaged but also prior to the disengagement of the clutch and after engagement thereof, thus preventing fluctuation in acceleration of the vehicle due to the increase and decrease in torque.

Claims

1. A torque control system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

engine torque control means for controlling a torque of said engine;

shift control means for performing a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while the engine torque is being temporarily varied by said engine torque control means;

accelerator control input detecting means for detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

depression amount corresponding engine torque estimating means for estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

actual engine torque estimating means for estimating an actual engine torque; and

motor torque control means for controlling torque of said motor, said motor torque control means including,

first control means for controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state, and

second torque control means for increasing the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque as the estimated actual engine torque is decreased prior to disengagement of said clutch for performing the gear shift operation, and

third torque control means for decreasing the torque of said motor based on the difference as the estimated actual engine torque is increased prior to engagement of said clutch after performing the gear shift operation.

2. A torque control system for a hybrid system according to claim 1, wherein said engine torque control means includes,

engine torque correcting means for decreasing a rate of change in the estimated actual engine torque when the torque of said motor controlled by one of said first torque control means and said second torque control means does not follow the change in the engine torque during the gear shift operation.

3. A torque control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said engine torque control means further includes,

target engine torque setting means for setting a target engine torque for use during the gear shift operation, and

engine torque change rate changing means for changing a changing rate of said set target engine torque based on increase and decrease in the engine torque.

4. A torque control system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

engine torque control means for controlling a torque of said engine;

shift control means for performing a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and, disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while the engine torque is being temporarily varied by said engine torque control means;

accelerator control input detecting means for detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

depression amount corresponding engine torque estimating means for estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

actual engine torque estimating means for estimating an actual engine torque;

motor torque control means for controlling torque of said motor, said motor torque control means including,

first control means for controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state, and

second torque control means for controlling the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque when said clutch is in at least one of a state prior to disengagement and after engagement;

actual motor torque detecting means for detecting an actual motor torque; and

necessary motor torque detecting means for detecting a required motor torque based on the detected actual motor torque and the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque,

wherein said engine torque change rate changing means includes,

first correcting means for increasing the rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is greater than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is decreasing, and

second correcting means for decreasing the rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is smaller than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is decreasing.

5. A torque control system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

engine torque control means for controlling a torque of said engine;

shift control means for performing a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while the engine torque is being temporarily varied by said engine torque control means;

accelerator control input detecting means for detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

depression amount corresponding engine torque estimating means for estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

actual engine torque estimating means for estimating an actual engine torque;

motor torque control means for controlling torque of said motor, said motor torque control means including,

first control means for controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state, and

second torque control means for controlling the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque when said clutch is in at least one of a state prior to disengagement and after engagement;

actual motor torque detecting means for detecting an actual motor torque; and

necessary motor torque detecting means for detecting a required motor torque based on the detected actual motor torque and the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque,

wherein said engine torque change rate changing means includes,

first correcting means for decreasing the rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is larger than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is increasing, and

second correcting means for increasing the rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is smaller than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is increasing.

6. A torque control method for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

providing an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

providing a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

providing a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

estimating an actual engine torque;

initiating a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while varying the engine torque;

controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state;

increasing the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque as the estimated actual engine torque is decreased prior to disengagement of said clutch for performing the gear shift operation; and

decreasing the torque of said motor based on the difference as the estimated actual engine torque is increased prior to engagement of said clutch after performing the gear shift operation.

7. The torque control method according to claim 6, further comprising:

correcting a rate of change in the engine torque to decrease if one of the motor torque in one of the step of controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the step of controlling the torque of said motor based on the difference does not follow changes in the engine torque during the gear shift operation.

8. The torque control method according to claim 6, further comprising:

setting a target engine torque when shifting gears; and

changing the rate of change in the engine torque to the set target engine torque based on increase and decrease in the engine torque.

9. A torque control method for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

providing an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

providing a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

providing a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

estimating an actual engine torque;

initiating a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while varying the engine torque;

controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state;

controlling the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque when said clutch is in at least one of a state prior to disengagement and after engagement;

detecting an actual motor torque;

detecting a required motor torque based on the detected actual motor torque and the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque;

increasing a rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is greater than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is decreasing; and

decreasing the rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is smaller than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is decreasing.

10. A torque control method for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

providing an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources of the vehicle;

providing a clutch connected to an output side of said engine;

providing a transmission connected to an output side of said clutch;

detecting a depression amount of an accelerator pedal by a driver;

estimating a depression amount corresponding engine torque that corresponds to the detected depression amount;

estimating an actual engine torque;

initiating a gear shift operation by selectively engaging and disengaging said clutch and selectively shifting gears of said transmission while varying the engine torque;

controlling a torque of said motor based on the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque while said clutch is in a totally disengaged state; and

controlling the torque of said motor based on a difference between the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque and the estimated actual engine torque when said clutch is in at least one of a state prior to disengagement and after engagement;

detecting an actual motor torque;

detecting a required motor torque based on the detected actual motor torque and the estimated depression amount corresponding engine torque;

decreasing a rate of change in the engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is smaller than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is increasing; and

increasing the rate of change in engine torque when the detected actual motor torque is smaller than the detected required motor torque while the engine torque is increasing.