Adjusting clutch slip based on sensed parameter of transmission shaft to control NVH level in vehicle powertrain

• US 8,882,636 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Fujii, Yuji, Yanakiev, Diana, Kucharski, Joseph F., Kapas, Nimrod, Gibson, Alexander O'Connor, Lee, Seung-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US13/685,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 477/79, 477/80, 477/174, 477/175, 477/176, 701/67
• US Class Current: 477/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/026 of lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0241 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle powertrain includes a transmission and a clutch. The slip of the clutch is adjusted to a target where a magnitude of a sensed parameter of a shaft of the transmission corresponds to a desired noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) level in the powertrain. The sensed parameter of the transmission shaft may be one of acceleration, speed, and torque of the transmission shaft. The transmission shaft may be one of the input shaft and output shaft of the transmission.

Claims

1. A method for a powertrain having a transmission and a clutch, comprising:

obtaining a NVH level in the powertrain based on a magnitude of a sensed parameter of a shaft of the transmission from a database having respective NVH level and parameter magnitude pairs;

obtaining a clutch slip target corresponding to a desired NVH level from a database having respective clutch slip and desired NVH level pairs;

adjusting slip of the clutch to the target.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft is one of acceleration, speed, and torque of the transmission shaft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein:

the transmission shaft is one of the input shaft and the output shaft.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the magnitude of the sensed parameter is one of peak-to-peak change, half peak-to-peak change, and root-mean-square value of the sensed parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sensing the parameter of the transmission shaft as the slip of the clutch is adjusted to thereby provide a closed-loop control of the transmission shaft.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the desired NVH level in the powertrain depends on an operating condition of the powertrain such that the target of the slip of the clutch varies based on the operating condition of the powertrain.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the target of the slip of the clutch is subject to an upper limit and a lower limit.

8. A system for a powertrain having a transmission and a clutch, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a parameter of a shaft of the transmission;

a database having a respective noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) level indication for each of a plurality of magnitudes of the parameter of the transmission shaft, the database further having a respective clutch slip target for each of a plurality of desired NVH levels; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the database and configured to obtain from the database an indication of the NVH level in the powertrain based on a magnitude of the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft, obtain from the database the clutch slip target corresponding to a selected desired NVH level, and adjust slip of the clutch to the target in which a magnitude of the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft corresponds to the selected desired NVH level in the powertrain.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft is one of acceleration, speed, and torque of the transmission shaft; and

the magnitude of the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft is one of peak-to-peak change, half peak-to-peak change, and root-mean-square value of the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft and the clutch is connected to the input shaft of the transmission, wherein:

the transmission shaft is one of the input shaft and the output shaft.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having a transmission and a clutch;

a sensor for sensing a parameter of a shaft of the transmission;

a database having a respective noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) level indication for each of a plurality of magnitudes of the parameter of the transmission shaft, the database further having a respective clutch slip target for each of a plurality of desired NVH levels; and

a controller configured to obtain from the database an indication of the NVH level in the powertrain based on a magnitude of the sensed parameter of the transmission shaft, obtain from the database the clutch slip target corresponding to a selected desired NVH level, and adjust slip of the clutch to the target in which a magnitude of a sensed parameter of the shaft of the transmission corresponds to the selected desired NVH level in the powertrain.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising:

an engine;

wherein the shaft of the transmission is an input shaft of the transmission and the clutch is connected between the engine and the input shaft of the transmission.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein:

the clutch is one of a bypass clutch of a torque converter and an input clutch on a dual clutch arrangement.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein:

the powertrain is a hybrid powertrain further having an engine and a motor connected to the transmission, wherein the shaft of the transmission is an input shaft of the transmission and the clutch is one of a disconnect clutch connected between the engine and the motor and a bypass clutch connected to the input shaft of the transmission.