Method for operating a powertrain system to control engine stabilization

• US 8,229,633 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• 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 Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Heap, Anthony H., Brunssen, Wilfried, Thompson, Scott J
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein A.
• Application Number:
  US12/254,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701 54- 55
• US Class Current: 701/55
• 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 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• 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 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

An engine is selectively operative in one of a plurality of engine states to transfer torque to an input member of a hybrid transmission. The hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member to generate an output torque in response to an operator torque request. A method for controlling the engine includes monitoring the operator torque request, determining operating power costs associated with a plurality of candidate engine states in response to the operator torque request, determining transition costs for transitioning the engine from a present engine state to each of the candidate engine states, determining stabilization costs for operating the engine in the present engine state and subsequently operating the engine in each of the candidate engine states, and selecting a preferred engine state based upon the operating power costs, the transition costs, and the stabilization costs for the plurality of engine states.

Claims

1. Method for controlling an engine selectively operative in one of a plurality of engine states to transfer torque to an input member of a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission operative to transfer torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member to generate an output torque in response to an operator torque request, the method comprising:

monitoring the operator torque request;

determining operating power costs associated with a plurality of candidate engine states in response to the operator torque request;

determining transition costs for transitioning the engine from a present engine state to each of the candidate engine states;

determining stabilization costs for operating the engine in the present engine state and subsequently operating the engine in each of the candidate engine states; and

selecting a preferred engine state based upon the operating power costs, the transition costs, and the stabilization costs for the plurality of engine states.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining operating power costs for operating the engine at one of the candidate engine states to generate an input torque and determining associated operating power costs for operating the hybrid transmission to generate an output torque responsive to the operator torque request.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising determining the operating power costs for operating the engine in the candidate engine state based upon engine fuel consumption level at the generated input torque at the candidate engine state and powertrain energy consumption associated with operating the hybrid transmission to generate the output torque responsive to the operator torque request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the preferred engine state comprises selecting the candidate engine state that minimizes a combination of the operating power costs, the transition costs, and the stabilization costs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning the engine to operate at the preferred engine state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the candidate engine state comprises one of a fueled, all-cylinder state, a fuel cutoff, all-cylinder state, a fueled, cylinder deactivation state and a fuel cutoff, cylinder deactivation state.

7. Method for controlling an engine selectively operative in one of a plurality of engine states to transfer torque to an input member of a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission operative to transfer torque between the input member and first and second electric machines and an output member to transmit an output torque to a driveline responsive to an operator torque request, the method comprising:

monitoring the operator torque request;

determining powertrain operating power costs associated with a plurality of candidate engine states in response to the operator torque request;

determining transition costs for transitioning the engine from a present engine state to each of the candidate engine states;

determining stabilization costs for operating the engine in the present engine state and subsequently operating the engine in each of the candidate engine states; and

selecting one of the candidate engine states based upon the operating power costs, the transition costs, and the stabilization costs for the plurality of engine states.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining operating power costs for operating the engine at one of the candidate engine states to generate an input torque and determining associated operating power costs for operating the first and second electric machines to transmit motor torque to the hybrid transmission to generate an output torque responsive to the operator torque request.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising determining the operating power costs for operating the engine in the candidate engine state based upon engine fuel consumption level at the generated input torque at the candidate engine state and powertrain energy consumption for operating the hybrid transmission to generate the output torque responsive to the operator torque request.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the candidate engine state that minimizes a combination of the operating power costs, the transition costs, and the stabilization costs.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising transitioning the engine to operate at the preferred engine state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the candidate engine state comprises one of a fueled, all-cylinder state, a fuel cutoff, all-cylinder state, a fueled, cylinder deactivation state and a fuel cutoff, cylinder deactivation state.