Granted Patent B2

US 8,067,908 · App. 12/255,815 · Granted Nov 29, 2011

Abstract

Claims (60)

1. Method for controlling a powertrain system operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of power actuators and an output member to generate an output torque, the power actuators connected to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system;

determining an electric power limit for output power of the energy storage device;

selectively enabling electric power boost based upon the operating conditions of the powertrain system; and

increasing the electric power limit when electric power boost is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selectively disabling electric power boost based upon the operating conditions of the powertrain system; and

decreasing the electric power limit when electric power boost is disabled.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining an output torque of the output member based upon the electric power limit.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a set of output torque constraints based upon the electric power limit, and

determining an output torque of the output member based upon the output torque constraints.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system including at least one of a state of charge of the energy storage device, an engine torque, an engine capacity limit, an engine state, an engine starting cycle operation, and an engine stopping cycle operation; and

enabling electric power boost based upon at least one of the state of charge of the energy storage device, the engine state, the engine torque, the engine starting cycle, and the engine stopping cycle.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether a state of charge of the energy storage device is greater than a threshold state of charge; and

enabling electric power boost when the state of charge of the energy storage device is greater than the threshold state of charge.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an engine state as a cylinder deactivation state; and

enabling electric power boost when the engine state is the cylinder deactivation state.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether an engine torque is greater than a threshold torque; and

enabling electric power boost when the engine torque is greater than the threshold torque.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling electric power boost; and

increasing the electric power limit when the electric power boost is enabled.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electric power limit is ramped up over time at a calibrated ramp up rate when electric power boost is enabled.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disabling electric power boost; and

decreasing the electric power limit when the electric power boost is disabled.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electric power limit is ramped down over time at a calibrated ramp down rate based upon the output speed of the output member.

13. Method for managing electric power in a powertrain system comprising an energy storage device, an engine, a second torque generating device and a transmission device operative to transfer power among an output member, the engine and the second torque generating device, the second torque generating device electrically coupled to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system;

providing a maximum electric power limit and a minimum electric power limit;

selectively enabling and disabling electric power boost based on the operating conditions of the powertrain system; and

modifying the electric power limit by one of boosting the electric power limit when electric power boost is enabled and pinching the electric power limit when the electric power boost is disabled.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining a set of output torque constraints based upon the electric power limit; and

determining an output torque of the output member based upon the output torque constraints.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system including at least one of a state of charge of the energy storage device, an engine torque, an engine capacity limit, an engine state, an engine starting cycle operation, and an engine stopping cycle operation; and

enabling electric power boost based upon at least one of the state of charge of the energy storage device, the engine state, the engine torque, the engine starting cycle, and the engine stopping cycle.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining whether a state of charge of the energy storage device is greater than a threshold state of charge; and

enabling electric power boost when the state of charge of the energy storage device is greater than the threshold state of charge.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining an engine state as a cylinder deactivation state; and

enabling electric power boost when the engine state is the cylinder deactivation state.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining whether an input torque from an engine is greater than a threshold input torque; and

enabling electric power boost when the input torque from the engine is greater than the threshold input torque.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

enabling electric power boost; and

increasing the electric power limit when the electric power boost is enabled, wherein the electric power limit is ramped up over time at a calibrated ramp up rate when electric power boost is enabled.

20. Method for managing electric power in a powertrain system comprising an energy storage device, an engine, a second torque generating device and a transmission device operative to transfer power among an output member, the engine and the second torque generating device, the second torque generating device electrically coupled to an energy storage device, the method comprising:

providing a maximum electric power limit and a minimum electric power limit;

monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system including at least one of a state of charge of the energy storage device, an engine torque, an engine capacity limit, an engine state, an engine starting cycle operation, and an engine stopping cycle operation;

enabling electric power boost based upon at least one of the state of charge of the energy storage device, the engine state, the engine torque, the engine starting cycle, and the engine stopping cycle; and

increasing the electric power limit when electric power boost is enabled.

Assignments (17)