Torque control system for a hybrid vehicle with an automatic transmission

• US 6,616,569 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Tamai, Goro, Kridner, Kenneth Robert, Hoang, Tony T., Downs, Robert Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US09/872,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20020179047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• 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 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/503 Battery correction, i.e. corrections as a function of the state of the battery, its output or its type
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1506 : with particular means during starting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/186 : Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0031 : using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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

A method of controlling a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, the method including providing an internal combustion engine, providing a motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, providing an automatic transmission operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, and actuating the motor generator to a certain speed to restart the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an internal combustion engine;

providing a motor generator operatively coupled to said internal combustion engine;

providing an automatic transmission operatively coupled to said internal combustion engine; and

actuating said motor generator to a certain speed to prime said automatic transmission.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of starting said internal combustion engine after said automatic transmission is primed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the position of a throttle plate in a throttle body.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the position of an accelerator pedal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a brake pedal actuation using brake pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

decelerating the vehicle to a drop-to-neutral speed by placing said automatic transmission in a low gear;

maintaining a coasting condition by freewheeling said automatic transmission;

decelerating under said coasting condition; and

restarting said internal combustion engine using said motor generator when said accelerator pedal is depressed or said brake pedal is released.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

starting said internal combustion engine; and

controlling the torque of said internal combustion engine to blend with the torque of said motor-generator, whereby driveability of the hybrid vehicle is controlled.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of controlling the torque of said internal combustion engine to blend with the torque of said motor generator comprises:

monitoring a throttle position for said internal combustion engine;

monitoring an accelerator pedal position;

monitoring brake pressure;

controlling fuel injectors;

controlling spark advance and retard;

controlling said throttle position; and

controlling torque converter clutch application.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of monitoring a brake light switch.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of priming said automatic transmission comprises actuating a torque converter coupled to said automatic transmission to allow the transfer of torque through said torque converter to said automatic transmission.

12. The hybrid vehicle powertrain system of claim 10 wherein said controller is electrically coupled to said throttle position sensor, said pedal position sensor, and said manifold pressure sensor.

11. A hybrid vehicle powertrain system comprising:

an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft;

an automatic transmission having a torque converter coupled to said crankshaft;

a motor generator coupled to said crankshaft;

a throttle position sensor for detecting the position of a throttle plate operatively coupled to said internal combustion engine;

a pedal position sensor for detecting the position of an accelerator pedal located within the hybrid vehicle;

a manifold pressure sensor located in said internal combustion engine; and

at least one controller for controlling said internal combustion engine and said motor-generator, said controller including software to control said motor-generator to actuate said torque converter.

13. The hybrid vehicle powertrain system of claim 11 wherein said software in said controller controls said motor generator and said internal combustion engine with respect to said throttle position sensor, said pedal position sensor, and said manifold pressure sensor.

14. The hybrid vehicle powertrain system of claim 11 wherein said throttle plate is actuated by an electric motor.

15. The hybrid vehicle powertrain system of claim 11 further comprising:

a motor-generator controller controlling said motor generator; and

an engine controller for controlling said internal combustion engine.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of measuring a brake release value to determine when to actuate said motor generator.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of actuating said internal combustion engine by actuating said motor generator comprises generating a torque command to said motor generator sufficient to break said internal combustion engine loose from friction.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of measuring the speed of a crankshaft of said internal combustion engine.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of starting said internal combustion method comprises phasing in fuel and spark control for said internal combustion engine as torque for said motor generator is reduced.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of starting said internal combustion method comprises:

measuring the manifold pressure of said internal combustion engine;

measuring the position of an accelerator pedal;

measuring the position of a throttle plate operatively coupled to said internal combustion engine;

controlling said throttle plate position at impending engine crankshaft rotation;

measuring the speed of said internal combustion engine;

sequentially firing fuel injectors in response to a measured engine speed;

controlling spark retard as a function of measured manifold pressure; and

controlling said throttle plate position as a function of the firing of said fuel injectors.

16. A method of starting a hybrid vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, the method comprising:

providing an internal combustion engine in the hybrid vehicle;

providing a motor generator coupled to said internal combustion engine;

providing an automatic transmission having a torque converter coupled to said internal combustion engine;

actuating said internal combustion engine by actuating said motor generator, whereby said torque converter is actuated and primed; and

starting said internal combustion engine.