Granted Patent B2

US 8,000,866 · App. 12/251,424 · Granted Aug 16, 2011

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. Method for controlling an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission operative to transfer power between the engine and a second torque machine and an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

commanding operation of the hybrid transmission in a continuously variable operating range state;

determining engine commands comprising a first engine torque request and a second engine torque request based upon the operator torque request and the operation of the hybrid transmission;

determining an engine torque constraint comprising a maximum engine torque based upon a capacity of the hybrid transmission to react the engine torque; and

controlling engine operation based upon the first engine torque request only when the second engine torque request exceeds the engine torque constraint.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the engine operation based upon the second engine torque request when the second engine torque request is less than the engine torque constraint.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring an acceleration rate of the input member; and

determining the maximum engine torque based upon the acceleration rate of the input member and the capacity of the hybrid transmission to react the engine torque.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling engine spark advance timing to achieve the first torque request when the second engine torque request exceeds the engine torque constraint.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling engine fuel injection timing to achieve the first torque request when the second engine torque request exceeds the engine torque constraint.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second engine torque request comprises a preferred engine torque determined based upon engine operation.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising limiting the capacity of the hybrid transmission to react the engine torque input based upon a reactive torque limit across an applied clutch of the hybrid transmission.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining the capacity of the hybrid transmission to react the engine torque input based upon power limits of the second power generating device.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising

monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal;

determining an immediate accelerator output torque and a net immediate output torque based upon the operator inputs to the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal; and

determining the engine torque constraints comprising the maximum engine torque based upon the immediate accelerator output torque and a net immediate output torque.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising

monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal;

determining a predicted accelerator output torque and a net predicted output torque based upon the operator inputs to the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal; and

determining the first engine torque request and the second engine torque request based upon the predicted accelerator output torque and a net predicted output torque.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an engine response type based upon the first and the second engine torque requests and the engine torque constraint comprising the maximum engine torque;

setting the engine response type to an active response only when the second engine torque request is outside the engine torque constraint; and

controlling the engine operation based upon the first engine torque request only when the engine response type is an active response.

12. Method for controlling an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission operative to transfer power between the input member and a second torque machine and an output member, the hybrid transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

commanding a shift from a first fixed gear to a second fixed gear;

shifting operation of the hybrid transmission to a continuously variable operating range state and determining a preferred acceleration rate for the input member;

determining maximum and minimum input torque constraints to the hybrid transmission based upon a preferred acceleration rate for the input member;

determining maximum and minimum engine torque constraints based upon the maximum and minimum input torque constraints;

determining engine commands comprising a first engine torque request and a second engine torque request based upon the operator torque request; and

controlling engine operation based upon the first engine torque request only when the second engine torque request violates one of the maximum and minimum engine torque constraints.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining the maximum and minimum input torque constraints to the hybrid transmission based upon a preferred acceleration rate for the input member and a capacity of the hybrid transmission to react the input torque.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

connecting the second torque machine to an energy storage device; and

determining the capacity of the transmission to react the input torque based upon power limits of the energy storage device connected to the second torque machine.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining the capacity of the transmission device to react the input torque based upon limitations of reactive torque across an applied clutch of the transmission device.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising controlling the second torque machine to generate power storable in the energy storage device based upon the first engine torque request.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting a preferred engine state comprising one of a full fuel state and a fuel cutoff state and one of an all-cylinder state and a cylinder deactivation state.

18. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission, the hybrid transmission operative to transfer power between the input member and first and second torque machines and an output member, the first and second torque machines connected to an energy storage device and the hybrid transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states, the method comprising:

commanding a shift in the hybrid transmission to a continuously variable operating range state;

determining a preferred acceleration rate for the input member;

determining maximum and minimum input torque constraints to the hybrid transmission based upon a preferred acceleration rate for the input member;

determining maximum and minimum engine torque constraints based upon the maximum and minimum input torque constraints;

determining engine commands comprising a first engine torque request and a second engine torque request based upon the operator torque request;

controlling operation of the engine based upon the first engine torque request only when the second engine torque request violates the maximum and minimum engine torque constraints; and

controlling operation of the first and second torque machines to generate power storable in the energy storage device based upon the preferred acceleration rate for the input member.

Assignments (19)