Method and apparatus for controlling engine operation in a multi-mode powertrain system

1. A method for operating a powertrain system including a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and an output member in one of a plurality of transmission ranges, the method comprising:

in response to a command to disable one of the torque machines, converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines to zero and converging minimum and maximum engine torque system constraints to a single engine torque command in response to the minimum and maximum torque capacity limits of the one of the torque machines and an output torque request; and

controlling torque output from the engine including employing a fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request, and maintaining torque output from the one of the torque machines at zero.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling torque output from the engine including employing the fast engine actuator comprises controlling the engine at a spark advance that differs from MBT-spark advance when the engine is configured as a spark-ignition internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling torque output from the engine including employing the fast engine actuator comprises controlling the engine at a fuel injection timing that differs from an optimal fuel injection timing when the engine is configured as a compression-ignition internal combustion engine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command to disable one of the torque machines comprises a command to operate the transmission in a neutral range.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command to disable one of the torque machines comprises a command to reduce torque output from the torque machine to zero torque output.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling torque output from the engine including employing the fast engine actuator comprises maintaining a speed control reserve by controlling a slow engine actuator in response to a maximum engine torque capacity when operating the engine at MBT-spark advance.

7. A method for operating a powertrain system including a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, a torque machine configured to generate tractive torque and an output member, the method comprising:

in response to a command to generate a derated torque output from the torque machine, converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the torque machine to the derated torque output; and

controlling engine operation in response to the minimum and maximum torque capacity limits of the torque machine and an output torque request, and maintaining torque output from the torque machine at the derated torque output.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein controlling the engine operation in response to the output torque request comprises controlling torque output from the engine including employing a fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the engine operation in response to the output torque request comprises controlling the engine at a spark advance that differs from MBT-spark advance when the engine is configured as a spark-ignition internal combustion engine.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising maintaining a speed control reserve by controlling a slow engine actuator in response to a maximum engine torque capacity when operating the engine at MBT-spark advance.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein controlling torque output from the engine including employing the fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request comprises controlling the engine at a fuel injection timing that differs from an optimal fuel injection timing when the engine is configured as a compression-ignition internal combustion engine.

12. A method for operating a powertrain system including a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and an output member in one of a plurality of transmission ranges, the method comprising:

in response to a command to reduce torque output from one of the torque machines configured to generate tractive torque, converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines to a preferred state and converging minimum and maximum engine torque system constraints to a single engine torque command in response to the minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines and an output torque request; and

controlling torque output from the engine including employing a fast engine actuator to control the engine in response to the output torque request.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the command to reduce torque output from one of the torque machines configured to generate tractive torque is in response to a derated torque capacity of the torque machine.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines to the preferred state comprises converging minimum and maximum torque capacities of the one of the torque machines in response to the derated torque capacity of the torque machine.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling torque output from the engine including employing the fast engine actuator comprises controlling the engine at a spark advance that differs from MBT-spark advance when the engine is configured as a spark-ignition internal combustion engine.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising maintaining a speed control reserve by controlling a slow engine actuator in response to a maximum engine torque capacity when operating the engine at MBT-spark advance.