Driven wheel torque estimation systems and methods

• US 8,532,890 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wellenkotter, Kurt Alfred, Li, Dongxu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAZZARA, ANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/293,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/30 Wheel torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/023 Clutch engagement rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• 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

Abstract

A wheel position determination module determines first and second wheel positions based on first and second signals generated using first and second wheel speed sensors. The first and second wheel speed sensors generate the first and second signals based on rotation of driven wheels of the vehicle, respectively. The wheel position determination module determines third and fourth wheel positions based on third and fourth signals generated using third and fourth wheel speed sensors. The third and fourth wheel speed sensors generate the third and fourth signals based on rotation of other wheels of the vehicle, respectively. A first average determination module determines a first average of the first and second wheel positions. A second average determination module determines a second average of the third and fourth wheel positions. An estimation module selectively generates an estimate of torque at the driven wheels based on the first and second averages.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

a wheel position determination module;

that determines first and second wheel positions based on first and second signals generated using first and second wheel speed sensors,

wherein the first and second wheel speed sensors generate the first and second signals based on rotation of driven wheels of the vehicle, respectively; and

that determines third and fourth wheel positions based on third and fourth signals generated using third and fourth wheel speed sensors,

wherein the third and fourth wheel speed sensors generate the third and fourth signals based on rotation of other wheels of the vehicle, respectively;

a first average determination module that determines a first average wheel position based on the first and second wheel positions;

a second average determination module that determines a second average wheel position based on the third and fourth wheel positions;

an estimation module that selectively generates an estimate of torque at the driven wheels based on the first and second average wheel positions; and

a control module that selectively adjusts at least one operating parameter of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the estimation module generates the estimate of the torque further based on a torque conversion coefficient.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the estimation module sets the estimate of the torque equal to a product of the torque conversion coefficient and a difference between the first and second average wheel positions.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enabling/disabling module that disables the estimation module when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed,

wherein the predetermined speed is greater than zero.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a wheel speed determination module that determines first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel positions, respectively; and

a vehicle speed determination module that determines the vehicle speed based on at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enabling/disabling module that disables the estimation module when a wheel slip is greater than a predetermined value,

wherein the predetermined value is greater than zero.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a wheel speed determination module that determines first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel positions, respectively; and

a wheel slip determination module that determines the wheel slip based on at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module selectively adjusts at least one operating parameter of an engine of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module selectively adjusts at least one operating parameter of a transmission of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module selectively adjusts a clutch pressure based on the estimate of the torque.

11. A method for a vehicle, comprising:

determining, using a wheel position determination module, first and second wheel positions based on first and second signals generated using first and second wheel speed sensors,

wherein the first and second wheel speed sensors generate the first and second signals based on rotation of driven wheels of the vehicle, respectively;

determining, using the wheel position determination module, third and fourth wheel positions based on third and fourth signals generated using third and fourth wheel speed sensors,

wherein the third and fourth wheel speed sensors generate the third and fourth signals based on rotation of other wheels of the vehicle, respectively;

determining, using a first average determination module, a first average wheel position based on the first and second wheel positions;

determining, using a second average determination module, a second average wheel position based on the third and fourth wheel positions;

selectively generating, using an estimation module, an estimate of torque at the driven wheels based on the first and second average wheel positions; and

selectively adjusting, using a control module, at least one operating parameter of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising generating the estimate of the torque further based on a torque conversion coefficient.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising setting the estimate of the torque equal to a product of the torque conversion coefficient and a difference between the first and second average wheel positions.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising disabling the selectively generating the estimate when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed,

wherein the predetermined speed is greater than zero.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel positions, respectively; and

determining the vehicle speed based on at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising disabling the selectively generating the estimate when a wheel slip is greater than a predetermined value,

wherein the predetermined value is greater than zero.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds based on the first, second, third, and fourth wheel positions, respectively; and

determining the wheel slip based on at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth wheel speeds.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively adjusting at least one operating parameter of an engine of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively adjusting at least one operating parameter of a transmission of the vehicle based on the estimate of the torque.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively adjusting a clutch pressure based on the estimate of the torque.