Method for stabilization of mode and fixed gear for a hybrid powertrain system

• US 8,260,511 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2007
• 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., Kim, Kee Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US12/234,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,445 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/51, 701/54, 701/55, 477/107, 477/119, 180/65.21
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 10/105 of electric type
• 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 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• 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 mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and a current engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a powertrain system including an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states, wherein a control module performs method comprising:

determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state;

determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state;

determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and potential transmission operating range states and engine states;

preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state; and

selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state based upon said preferability factors.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said preferability factors associated with the potential transmission operating range states and engine states include new desired preferability factors associated with transmission operating range states and engine states.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state occurs as the result of selection of the lowest numerical value present in said new desired preferability factors.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state occurs as the result of selection of the highest numerical value present in said new desired preferability factors associated with transmission operating range states and engine states.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein one of the preferability factors present in the new desired preferability factors is used in providing information to a shift execution module.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising periodically repeating the method of claim 1 to provide successive iterations.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said shift execution module provides numerical values for the current transmission operating range states and engine states in successive iterations.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising periodically repeating the method of claim 1 to provide successive iterations.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state utilizes new desired preferability factors associated with transmission operating range states and engine states from a previous iteration.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said preferability factors are arranged in an array.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said preferability factors are selected from a matrix.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one numerical value present in said preferability factors associated with said current transmission operating range state and engine state and said potential transmission operating range states and engine states change over time in response to a changing vehicle operating condition.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein determining preferability factors includes combining the preferability factors associated with said current transmission operating range state and engine state, and the preferability factors associated with the desired transmission operating range state and engine state.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said preferability factors are sets of preferability factors, which include one preferability factor for every possible transmission operating range state.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said preferability factors are selected so that said transmission operates at any efficiency level in the range of between about 60% and about 95%, including all percentages and ranges of percentages therebetween, as determined on the basis of power into said transmission versus power out of the transmission.