Granted Patent B2

US 8,112,206 · App. 12/253,991 · Granted Feb 7, 2012

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member, the torque machine connected to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device;

evaluating each of a plurality of candidate transmission operating range states including evaluating candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points to determine operating costs for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate transmission operating range states in response to an operator torque request, including determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device;

selecting a preferred engine state and a preferred engine operating point for each of the candidate transmission operating range states, wherein the preferred engine state and the preferred engine operating point achieve a minimum operating cost for operating the powertrain system at the candidate transmission operating range state in response to the operator torque request,

selecting a preferred transmission operating range state comprising the one of the candidate transmission operating range states associated with a minimum of the minimum operating costs for operating the powertrain system; and

controlling operation of the powertrain system in the preferred transmission operating range state at the associated preferred engine state and preferred engine operating point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device comprises monitoring temperatures at multiple locations within the energy storage device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device comprises:

determining a cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device; and

determining an operating cost based upon the temperature of the energy storage device by multiplying the cost modifier value by output power from the energy storage device.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining a preferred temperature range for the energy storage device; and

determining the cost modifier value based on a proximity of the temperature of the energy storage device to the preferred temperature range.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the candidate engine states include a fueled, all-cylinder engine state, a fuel-cutoff deactivation engine state, an fuel-cutoff all-cylinder engine state, and a fuel-cutoff cylinder deactivation engine state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the candidate transmission operating range states include a fixed gear operating range state and a continuously variable operating range state.

7. Method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and first and second electric machines and an output member, the first and second electric machines connected to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device;

evaluating each of a plurality of candidate transmission operating range states including evaluating candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points to determine operating costs for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate transmission operating range states in response to an operator torque request, including determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device;

selecting a preferred engine state and a preferred engine operating point for each of the candidate transmission operating range states, wherein the preferred engine state and the preferred engine operating point achieve a minimum operating cost for operating the powertrain system at the candidate transmission operating range state in response to the operator torque request;

selecting a preferred transmission operating range state comprising the one of the candidate transmission operating range states associated with a minimum of the minimum operating costs for operating the powertrain system; and

controlling operation of the powertrain system in the preferred transmission operating range state at the associated preferred engine state and preferred engine operating point.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device comprises monitoring temperatures at multiple locations within the energy storage device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate engine states and candidate engine operating points at each of the candidate transmission operating range states based upon the temperature of the energy storage device comprises:

determining a cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device; and

determining the operating cost by multiplying the cost modifier value and an energy storage device output power.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining a preferred temperature range for the energy storage device; and

determining the cost modifier value based on the temperature of the energy storage device in relation to the preferred temperature range.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the candidate engine operating points comprise at least one of a candidate engine speed, a candidate engine torque, and a candidate engine power.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the candidate engine operating point comprises engine torque when the candidate transmission operating range state comprises a fixed-gear mode.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the candidate engine operating point comprises engine power and engine speed when the candidate transmission operating range state comprises a continuously variable mode.

Assignments (17)