Granted Patent B2

US 7,024,299 · App. 11/112,216 · Granted Apr 4, 2006

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. Method for determining output torque limits in a vehicular powertrain comprising an engine, an electrically variable transmission including at least one electric motor, an electrical storage device and a driveline, said engine operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an input thereof, said driveline operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an output thereof, comprising:

determining a feasible motor torque operating space;

determining a first set of output torque limits within the feasible motor torque operating space based upon predetermined motor torque limits and predetermined engine torque limits;

determining a second set of output torque limits within the feasible motor torque operating space based upon predetermined electrical storage device power limits and said predetermined motor torque limits;

determining a third set of output torque limits within the feasible motor torque operating space based upon said predetermined electrical storage device power limits and said predetermined engine torque limits; and

determining overall output torque limits of the powertrain as the most constrained of output torques from the first, second and third sets of output torque limits.

2. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 1 wherein the feasible motor torque operating space is determined to provide torque capacity reservation in said at least one electric motor.

3. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

determining input torque limits as the most constrained of input torques corresponding to said predetermined engine torque limits and said predetermined motor torque limits,

wherein said first set of output torque limits are determined as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said predetermined motor torque limits.

4. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second set of output torque limits are determined as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said predetermined electrical storage device power limits at said predetermined motor torque limits and output torques corresponding to said predetermined motor torque limits within said predetermined electrical storage device power limits.

5. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

determining input torque limits as the most constrained of input torques corresponding to said predetermined engine torque limits and said predetermined motor torque limits,

wherein said third set of output torque limits are determined as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said predetermined electrical storage device power limits at said input torque limits and output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said predetermined motor torque limits within said predetermined electrical storage device power limits.

6. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 3 wherein said third set of output torque limits are determined as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said predetermined electrical storage device power limits at said input torque limits and output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said predetermined motor torque limits within said predetermined electrical storage device power limits.

7. Method for determining output torque limits in a vehicular powertrain comprising an engine, an electrically variable transmission including at least one electric motor, an electrical storage device and a driveline, said engine operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an input thereof, said driveline operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an output thereof, comprising:

determining electrical storage device power limits;

determining motor torque limits;

determining engine torque limits;

determining input torque limits as the most constrained of input torques corresponding to said engine torque limits and said motor torque limits;

determining a first set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said motor torque limits;

determining a second set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said electrical storage device power limits at said motor torque limits and output torques corresponding to said motor torque limits within said electrical storage device power limits;

determining a third set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said electrical storage device power limits at said input torque limits and output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said motor torque limits within said electrical storage device power limits; and

determining overall output torque limits of the powertrain as the most constrained of output torques from the first, second and third sets of output torque limits.

8. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 7 wherein the engine torque limits are determined in accordance with a set of engine operating parameters.

9. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 8 wherein the engine torque limits are determined from stored data sets in a controller.

10. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 8 wherein the engine torque limits are determined in real-time in a controller.

11. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 7 wherein the motor torque limits are determined in accordance with a set of motor operating parameters.

12. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 11 wherein the motor torque limits are determined from stored data sets in a controller.

13. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 7 wherein the electrical storage device power limits are determined in accordance with a set of electrical storage device parameters.

14. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 13 wherein the electrical storage device power limits are determined based on stored data sets in a controller.

15. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 7 wherein the motor torque limits are determined to provide a reservation of torque capacity in said at least one electric motor.

16. Method for determining output torque limits in a vehicular powertrain comprising an engine, an electrically variable transmission including at least one electric motor, an electrical storage device and a driveline, said engine operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an input thereof, said driveline operatively coupled to the electrically variable transmission at an output thereof, comprising:

determining least constrained motor limited input torques corresponding to predetermined motor torque limits;

determining engine limited input torques corresponding to predetermined engine torque limits;

selecting input torque limits as the most constrained of the motor limited input torques and engine limited input torques;

determining a first set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said input torque limits and said predetermined motor torque limits;

determining a second set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to predetermined electrical storage device power limits at said predetermined motor torque limits and output torques corresponding to said predetermined motor torque limits within said predetermined electrical storage device power limits;

determining a third set of output torque limits as the least constrained of output torques corresponding to said predetermined electrical storage device power limits at said input torque limits and output torques corresponding to said input torque limits at said predetermined motor torque limits within said predetermined electrical storage device power limits; and

determining overall output torque limits of the powertrain as the most constrained of output torques from the first, second and third sets of output torque limits.

17. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 16 wherein the predetermined engine torque limits are determined in accordance with a set of engine operating parameters.

18. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 17 wherein the predetermined engine torque limits are determined from stored data sets in a controller.

19. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 17 wherein the predetermined engine torque limits are determined in real-time in a controller.

20. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 16 wherein the predetermined motor torque limits are determined in accordance with a set of motor operating parameters.

21. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 20 wherein the predetermined motor torque limits are determined from stored data sets in a controller.

22. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 16 wherein the predetermined electrical storage device power limits are determined in accordance with a set of electrical storage device parameters.

23. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 22 wherein the predetermined electrical storage device power limits are determined based on stored data sets in a controller.

24. The method for determining output torque limits as claimed in claim 16 wherein the predetermined motor torque limits are determined to provide a reservation of torque capacity in said at least one electric motor.

Assignments (27)