Method for controlling a powertrain system based upon energy storage device temperature

• US 8,112,206 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Heap, Anthony H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US12/253,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,206 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/54, 701/22, 477/181
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 2240/486 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0022 Gains, weighting coefficients or weighting functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 : Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/04 : Monitoring the functioning of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 : Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/102 : the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/104 : Power split variators with one end of the CVT connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/106 : with switching means to provide two variator modes or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, determining an output power from the energy storage device associated with the candidate powertrain system operating point, determining a power loss for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point, and determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point associated with the power loss and based upon the temperature of the energy storage device.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member, the torque machine connected to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device;

evaluating each of a plurality of candidate transmission operating range states including evaluating candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points to determine operating costs for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate transmission operating range states in response to an operator torque request, including determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device;

selecting a preferred engine state and a preferred engine operating point for each of the candidate transmission operating range states, wherein the preferred engine state and the preferred engine operating point achieve a minimum operating cost for operating the powertrain system at the candidate transmission operating range state in response to the operator torque request,

selecting a preferred transmission operating range state comprising the one of the candidate transmission operating range states associated with a minimum of the minimum operating costs for operating the powertrain system; and

controlling operation of the powertrain system in the preferred transmission operating range state at the associated preferred engine state and preferred engine operating point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device comprises monitoring temperatures at multiple locations within the energy storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device comprises:

determining a cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device; and

determining an operating cost based upon the temperature of the energy storage device by multiplying the cost modifier value by output power from the energy storage device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a preferred temperature range for the energy storage device; and

determining the cost modifier value based on a proximity of the temperature of the energy storage device to the preferred temperature range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate engine states include a fueled, all-cylinder engine state, a fuel-cutoff deactivation engine state, an fuel-cutoff all-cylinder engine state, and a fuel-cutoff cylinder deactivation engine state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate transmission operating range states include a fixed gear operating range state and a continuously variable operating range state.

7. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and first and second electric machines and an output member, the first and second electric machines connected to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device;

evaluating each of a plurality of candidate transmission operating range states including evaluating candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points to determine operating costs for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate transmission operating range states in response to an operator torque request, including determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device;

selecting a preferred engine state and a preferred engine operating point for each of the candidate transmission operating range states, wherein the preferred engine state and the preferred engine operating point achieve a minimum operating cost for operating the powertrain system at the candidate transmission operating range state in response to the operator torque request;

selecting a preferred transmission operating range state comprising the one of the candidate transmission operating range states associated with a minimum of the minimum operating costs for operating the powertrain system; and

controlling operation of the powertrain system in the preferred transmission operating range state at the associated preferred engine state and preferred engine operating point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device comprises monitoring temperatures at multiple locations within the energy storage device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device comprises:

determining a cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device; and

determining the operating cost by multiplying the cost modifier value and an energy storage device output power.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a preferred temperature range for the energy storage device; and

determining the cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device in relation to the preferred temperature range.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the candidate engine operating points comprise at least one of a candidate engine speed, a candidate engine torque, and a candidate engine power.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the candidate engine operating point comprises engine torque when the candidate transmission operating range state comprises a fixed-gear mode.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the candidate engine operating point comprises engine power and engine speed when the candidate transmission operating range state comprises a continuously variable mode.