Method and apparatus to determine a preferred output torque in mode and fixed gear operation with clutch torque constraints for a hybrid powertrain system

• US 8,285,462 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), FCA US 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., Hsieh, Tung-Ming, Wu, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US12/254,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 2510/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/184 Preventing damage resulting from overload or excessive wear of the driveline
• 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 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches. The torque machines are operative to transfer power from an energy storage device. A method for controlling the hybrid transmission includes operating the hybrid transmission in one of the operating range states, determining a first set of internal system constraints on output torque transferred to the output member, determining a second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member, and determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the first set of internal system constraints and the second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member.

Claims

1. Method for controlling a hybrid transmission operative to transfer torque between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches, the torque machines operative to transfer power from an energy storage device, wherein a control module performs the following steps:

operating the hybrid transmission in one of the operating range states;

determining a first set of internal system constraints on output torque transferred to the output member;

determining a second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member; and

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the first set of internal system constraints and the second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member;

wherein determining the first set of internal system constraints on output torque comprises determining system constraints that exhibit a linear change in the output torque corresponding to a linear change in one of the constraints and

wherein the linear torque constraints comprise minimum and maximum clutch reactive torques for applied torque transfer clutches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second set of internal system constraints on output torque comprises determining system constraints that exhibit a non-linear change in the output torque corresponding to a linear change in one of the constraints.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the non-linear system constraints comprise available power from the energy storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

inducing an external system constraint upon the output torque transferred to the output member; and

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the first set of internal system constraints and the second set of internal system constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member and is responsive to the external system constraint.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the external system constraint is determined based upon an operator torque request.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining a preferred output torque that minimizes power transferred from the energy storage device to the torque machines and is achievable within the allowable output torque range.

7. Method for controlling a hybrid transmission operative to transfer torque between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches, the torque machines operative to transfer power from an energy storage device, the method comprising:

applying torque transfer clutches and operating the hybrid transmission in one of the operating range states;

determining clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, motor torque ranges of the torque machines, and power transferred from the energy storage device;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the motor torque ranges of the torque machines;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the power transferred from the energy storage device;

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, the motor torque ranges of the torque machines, and the power transferred from the energy storage device; and

controlling output torque from the transmission based upon the allowable output torque range.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inducing a constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the induced constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches; and

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, the motor torque ranges of the torque machines, the power transferred from the energy storage device, and the induced constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining an operator torque request; and

controlling the output torque from the transmission that is achievable within the allowable output torque range, is responsive to the operator torque request and minimizes the power transferred from the energy storage device to the torque machines.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inducing a constraint on the motor torque range of one of the torque motors;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the induced constraint on the motor torque range of one of the torque motors; and

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, the motor torque ranges of the torque machines, the power transferred from the energy storage device, and the induced constraint on the motor torque range of one of the torque motors.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining an operator torque request; and

controlling the output torque from the transmission that is achievable within the allowable output torque range, is responsive to the operator torque request and minimizes the power transferred from the energy storage device to the torque machines.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inducing a constraint on the power transferred from the energy storage device;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the induced constraint on the power transferred from the energy storage device; and

determining an allowable output torque range that is achievable within the constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, the motor torque ranges of the torque machines, the power transferred from the energy storage device, and the induced constraint on the power transferred from the energy storage device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining an operator torque request; and

controlling the output torque from the transmission that is achievable within the allowable output torque range, is responsive to the operator torque request and minimizes the power transferred from the energy storage device to the torque machines.

14. Method for controlling a hybrid transmission operative to transfer torque between an input member and first and second torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches, the torque machines operative to transfer power from an energy storage device, the method comprising:

determining an operator torque request;

determining clutch reactive torque ranges of applied clutches, motor torque ranges of the torque machines, and power transferred from the energy storage device;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the motor torque ranges of the torque machines;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the power transferred from the energy storage device;

inducing a constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches;

determining constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the induced constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches;

determining an allowable output torque that is achievable within the constraints on the output torque transferred to the output member based upon the clutch reactive torque ranges of the applied clutches, the motor torque ranges of the torque machines, the power transferred from the energy storage device, and the induced constraint on the clutch reactive torque range of one of the applied clutches; and

controlling the motor torques of the torque machines based upon the allowable output torque.