Synchronous shift execution for hybrid transmission

• US 7,908,063 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sah, Jy-Jen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US11/417,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701 51- 52, 701 55- 62, 701/64, 477 3- 8, 477 14- 17, 180 651- 657
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• 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 10/115 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 20/40 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 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/025 Slip change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 : Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 : with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 : Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 : with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2041 : with four engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 : using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 : with orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided to execute synchronous shifting in a powertrain system having multiple torque-generative devices each operable to independently supply motive torque to the transmission device. The exemplary transmission device comprises a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. Operation includes operating in an initial fixed gear ratio, operating the transmission in a mode operation, and, operating the transmission in a final fixed gear ratio. The control system reduces reactive torque of a clutch activating the initial gear, and deactivates the first torque-transfer device when the reactive torque is less than a predetermined value. It determines that speed of an input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of the second torque-transfer device, and actuates the second torque-transfer device.

Claims

1. Article of manufacture, comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for effecting a method to execute a shift in a transmission of a powertrain system, the powertrain system comprising a plurality of torque-generative devices operable to supply motive torque to the transmission device, the transmission device comprising a plurality of gears and a plurality of torque-transfer devices, wherein torque is transmitted between the transmission device and an output shaft through actuation of at least one of the torque-transfer devices, the computer program comprising:

code for operating the transmission in an initial fixed ratio operation including actuation of a first torque-transfer device and a second torque-transfer device;

code for reducing reactive torque of the first torque-transfer device;

code for deactivating the first torque-transfer device when the reactive torque of the first torque-transfer device is less than a predetermined value;

code for operating the transmission in a mode operation including actuation of the second torque-transfer device;

code for determining rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of a third torque-transfer device when operating the transmission in the mode operation; and

code for actuating the third torque-transfer device when the rotational speed of the input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with the rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device to operate the transmission in a final fixed ratio operation, including actuation of the second torque-transfer device and the third torque-transfer device.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein code for actuating the third torque-transfer device further comprises:

code for increasing torque capacity of the third torque-transfer device; and

code for increasing a reactive torque of the third torque-transfer device.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein code for increasing torque capacity of the third torque-transfer device comprises:

code for commanding fluid flow through a hydraulic system to actuate the third torque-transfer device at a time prior to a time when the rotational speed of the input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with the rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein code for commanding fluid flow through the hydraulic system to actuate the third torque-transfer device at a time prior to a time when the rotational speed of the input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device comprises:

code for monitoring rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device; and

code for determining an elapsed period of time when the rotational speed of the input shaft is to be substantially synchronized with rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device based upon a change in rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein the code for increasing torque capacity of the second torque-transfer device comprises actuating a clutch control solenoid configured to actuate the second torque transfer device.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of torque-generative devices configured to supply motive torque to the transmission device comprises a first and a second electric motor.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein code for reducing reactive torque of a first torque-transfer device comprises:

code for transmitting a magnitude of motive torque to the transmission from the first and the second electric motors substantially equal to the reactive torque of the first torque-transfer device to maintain an output shaft torque; and

code for reducing torque capacity of the first torque transfer device to a torque value that is less than a predetermined reactive torque value.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6 further comprising:

code for reducing the magnitude of motive torque to the transmission from the first and second electric motors subsequent to actuating the third torque-transfer device.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the predetermined reactive torque value comprises a torque value substantially equal to a nil torque value.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the shift from the initial fixed ratio operation to the final fixed ratio operation in the transmission is predicated upon a change in operator demand for output torque.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the shift from an initial gear to a final gear in the transmission is predicated upon a change in external conditions.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the shift from an initial gear to a final gear in the transmission is predicated upon a change in powertrain torque demand resulting from a controller command to change operating mode of one of the torque-generative devices between an electrical energy generating mode and a torque generating mode when the one of the torque-generative devices comprises a motor/generator.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of torque-generative devices configured to supply motive torque to the transmission device comprises a first and a second electrical motor/generator.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the plurality of torque-generative devices configured to supply motive torque to the transmission device further comprises an internal combustion engine operably connected to the input shaft.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein each of the torque-generative devices is configured to independently supply motive torque to the transmission device.

16. Method to execute a shift from an initial gear to a final gear in a transmission of a powertrain system, the powertrain system comprising a plurality of torque-generative devices each operable to supply motive torque to the transmission device, the transmission device comprising a plurality of gears and a plurality of torque-transfer devices, wherein torque is transmitted between the transmission device and an output shaft through actuation of at least one of the plurality of torque-transfer devices, comprising:

operating the transmission in an initial fixed ratio operation gear including actuation of a first torque-transfer device and a second torque-transfer device;

reducing reactive torque of the first torque-transfer device;

deactivating the first torque-transfer device when the reactive torque of the first torque-transfer device is less than a predetermined value;

operating the transmission in a mode operation including actuation of the second torque-transfer device;

determining rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of a third torque-transfer device when operating the transmission in the mode operation; and

actuating the third torque-transfer device when the rotational speed of the input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with the rotational speed of the third torque-transfer device to operate the transmission in a final fixed ratio operation, including actuation of the second torque-transfer device and the third torque-transfer device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transitioning from the initial fixed gear ratio to the mode operation when the reactive torque of the first torque-transfer devices actuating the initial fixed gear ratio is less than a predetermined reactive torque value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transitioning from the initial fixed gear ratio to the mode operation comprises deactivating the first torque-transfer device having the reactive torque less than the predetermined reactive torque value.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined reactive torque value comprises a torque value substantially equal to a nil torque value.