Predictive powertrain control using powertrain history and GPS data

• US 8,972,090 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Weslati, Feisel, Krupadanam, Ashish A
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/778,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/1, 701/51, 701/400, 903/930
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A method and powertrain apparatus that predicts a route of travel for a vehicle and uses historical powertrain loads and speeds for the predicted route of travel to optimize at least one powertrain operation for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle powertrain, said method comprising using a controller for:

(1) determining a present location of the vehicle using a GPS;

(2) predicting a route of travel for the vehicle from the present location based on the current day and time;

(3) identifying historical GPS points within the predicted route of travel that are traveled after the present location of the vehicle based on matching days and times, the historical GPS points including battery charging locations;

(4) when all historical GPS points within the predicted route of travel are identified, retrieving historical powertrain loads and speeds from a memory for the predicted route of travel and the identified historical GPS points;

(5) optimizing a powertrain operation of the vehicle for the predicted route of travel and the identified historical GPS points based on the retrieved historical powertrain loads and speeds; and

(6) updating the present location of the vehicle and repeating steps (2) through (6).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimized powertrain operation comprises one of shift scheduling and battery control.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the present location of the vehicle further comprises recording the present location with a time stamp.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording present powertrain speed and load with a time stamp to be used as part of the powertrain'"'"'s history.

5. A powertrain apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a controller adapted to;

(1) determine a present location of the vehicle;

(2) predict a route of travel for the vehicle from the present location based on the current day and time;

(3) identify historical GPS points within the predicted route of travel that are traveled after the present location of the vehicle based on matching days and times, the historical GPS points including battery charging locations;

(4) when all historical GPS points within the predicted route of travel are identified, retrieve historical powertrain loads and speeds for the predicted route of travel and the identified historical GPS points;

(5) optimize a powertrain operation of the vehicle for the predicted route of travel and the identified historical GPS points based on the retrieved historical powertrain loads and speeds; and

(6) update the present location of the vehicle and repeat steps (2) through (6).

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the optimized powertrain operation comprises one of shift scheduling and battery control.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller records the present location with a time stamp.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the present location is a GPS location.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller further records present powertrain speed and load with a time stamp to be used as part of the powertrain'"'"'s history.