Method to control vehicular powertrain by monitoring map preview information

• US 8,095,290 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Smyth, John Gary, Kuo, Tang-Wei, Chang, Man-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US12/184,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 701/102, 701/202, 701/56, 701/51, 701/22, 701/25, 701/110, 701/115
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0622 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/3052 the mode being the stratified charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3035 a mode being the premixed charge compression-ignition mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3076 with special conditions for selecting a mode of combustion, e.g. for starting, for diagnosing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine includes monitoring map preview information, determining a projected vehicle path based upon the map preview information, determining likely engine operation demands along the projected vehicle path, wherein the likely engine operation demands include likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads, determining selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operating demand, and executing engine operation based upon the selectable engine operating modes.

Claims

1. Method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine, comprising:

monitoring map preview information;

determining a projected vehicle path based upon said map preview information;

determining likely engine operation demands along said projected vehicle path, wherein said likely engine operation demands includes likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads;

determining selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operation demand; and

executing engine operation based upon said selectable engine operating modes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and determining likely operating characteristics of said operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in a pre-mixed charge compression ignition mode and determining likely operating characteristics of said operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in a stratified charge spark ignition direct-injection mode and determining likely operating characteristics of said operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in a hybrid powertrain electric machine boost mode and determining likely operating characteristics of said operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in an active fuel management mode including deactivating combustion within a cylinder of said engine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes determining whether said engine can operate in an emission control mode utilizing measures to reduce combustion temperatures.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a hybrid powertrain control strategy based upon map preview information;

and

wherein said determining selectable engine operating modes includes integrating said selectable engine operating modes with said hybrid powertrain control strategy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring map preview information comprises monitoring static road features including at least one of road slope, road curvature, road surface type, road classification, posted speed limits, population density, and construction zone location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring map preview information comprises monitoring real-time conditions including at least one of traffic patterns including rush hour patterns or scheduled event traffic;

reported traffic congestion including congestion information accessible through wireless networks, vehicle to vehicle communication or vehicle to infrastructure communications; and

traffic signal status information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring map preview information comprises monitoring probabilistic data including probabilistic data related to at least one of traffic signal status, traffic congestion, and operator behavior.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing engine operation based upon said selectable engine operating modes comprises balancing likely operating characteristics of the selectable engine operating modes including at least fuel efficiency and emissions.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring map preview information comprises projecting a likely vehicle route of travel based upon at least one of a vehicle driving pattern, a specific operator driving pattern, a registered schedule, an electronic planner calendar, and a specifically designated destination.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said executing engine operation based upon said selectable engine operating modes comprises balancing likely operating characteristics of the selectable engine operating modes throughout said likely vehicle route of travel.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said balancing likely operating characteristics of the selectable engine operating modes includes evaluating operating characteristics including at least fuel efficiency and emissions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said balancing likely operating characteristics of the selectable engine operating modes further includes at least one of drivability and performance.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said balancing likely operating characteristics of the selectable engine operating modes includes utilizing a certainty factor based upon analysis of said likely vehicle route of travel.

18. Method of operating a vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine, comprising:

monitoring map preview information;

determining a likely vehicle route of travel based upon said map preview information;

determining likely engine operation demands at periodic points along said likely vehicle route of travel, wherein said likely engine operation demands includes likely required engine speeds and likely required engine loads;

determining operating characteristics of selectable engine operating modes at each likely engine operation demand; and

formulating an engine control schedule by balancing said operating characteristics through said likely vehicle route of travel.

19. Method of operating a hybrid vehicular powertrain including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and an electromechanical transmission selectively operating to meet powertrain operation demands, comprising:

monitoring map preview information;

determining a likely vehicle route of travel based upon said map preview information;

determining likely powertrain operation demands along said likely vehicle route of travel, wherein said likely powertrain operation demands includes likely required powertrain speeds and likely required powertrain loads;

determining operating characteristics of selectable engine operating modes available along said likely vehicle route of travel;

balancing said operating characteristics of said selectable engine operating modes and potential energy utilization by said electric machine based upon said likely vehicle route of travel; and

formulating a hybrid powertrain control strategy based upon said balancing.