Granted Patent B2

US 8,224,539 · App. 12/251,462 · Granted Jul 17, 2012

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. Method for controlling a vehicular powertrain system including an engine coupled to a transmission operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states to transfer power between the engine and an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

monitoring barometric pressure and engine input speed to the transmission;

determining an achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the transmission based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed; and

selecting a preferred one of the operating range states for the transmission and a preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a preferred engine input speed and a preferred engine state at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining a preferred engine state comprises selecting one of all-cylinder operating state and a cylinder deactivation operating state.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining a preferred engine state comprises selecting one of a fueled state and a fuel cutoff state.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the preferred one of the operating range states for the transmission and the preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power comprises:

executing searches of candidate engine operating points that are within the achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the transmission for each of the operating range states and are responsive to the operator torque request;

determining power costs for each of the candidate engine operating points for each of the operating range states; and

selecting a preferred engine operating point and a preferred operating range state, wherein the preferred engine operating point and the preferred operating range state comprise the candidate engine operating point and the corresponding operating range state corresponding to a minimum of said power costs.

6. Method for controlling a powertrain system including a hybrid transmission operative in one of a plurality of operating range states to transfer power between an engine and a torque machine and an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

monitoring barometric pressure and engine input speed to the hybrid transmission;

determining an achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the hybrid transmission based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed; and

determining a preferred operating range state for the hybrid transmission and a preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising controlling executing a shift to the preferred operating range state based upon the range of input power transferable from the engine to the hybrid transmission determined based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the transmission at the preferred operating range state.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling executing a shift to the preferred operating range state based upon the range of input power transferable from the engine to the transmission determined based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting a preferred operating range state comprising one of a fixed gear and a continuously variable operating range state.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining a preferred engine input speed and a preferred engine state at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining a preferred engine state comprises selecting one of an all-cylinder operating state and a cylinder deactivation operating state.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining a preferred engine state comprises selecting one of a including one of a fueled state and a fuel cutoff state.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining a preferred operating range state for the hybrid transmission and a preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power comprises:

executing searches of candidate engine operating points that are within the achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the hybrid transmission for candidate operating range states;

determining power costs for operating the transmission for each candidate engine operating point for each candidate operating range state;

selecting a preferred engine operating point for each of the candidate operating range states comprising the candidate engine operating point having a minimum power cost; and

selecting a preferred operating range state comprising the candidate operating range state corresponding to the preferred engine operating point having a minimum power cost.

15. Method for controlling a powertrain system including a hybrid transmission operative in one of a plurality of operating range states to transfer power between an engine and a torque machine and an output member, the method comprising:

monitoring an operator torque request;

monitoring barometric pressure and engine input speed to the hybrid transmission;

determining an achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the hybrid transmission based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed;

determining a preferred operating range state for the hybrid transmission and a preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power; and

executing a shift to the preferred operating range state based upon the range of input power transferable from the engine to the hybrid transmission determined based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed.

Assignments (17)