Driveline clutch variable clutch capacity reapply, shaping and lash management

1. Method to control a clutch device, within a transmission, selectively coupling an internal combustion engine to a driveline, comprising:

in response to an engine autostart event, controlling slip of the clutch device, comprising:

adjusting a commanded fill pressure to the clutch device to a first predetermined magnitude that exceeds a pressure threshold until the clutch device is filled;

decreasing the commanded fill pressure from the first predetermined magnitude to a second predetermined magnitude below the pressure threshold; and

when a transmission input speed achieves a desired first transmission input speed, adjusting the commanded fill pressure in accordance with a first ramping profile and in accordance with a subsequent second ramping profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure threshold indicates a magnitude of required actual fill pressure within the clutch device for torque capacity at the clutch device to occur.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the commanded fill pressure to the clutch device to the first predetermined magnitude comprises:

increasing the commanded fill pressure to the first predetermined magnitude from a previously commanded fill pressure after a period of time has elapsed since initiating the controlled slip event, wherein the previously commanded fill pressure is effective to establish a neutral state between the engine and the driveline.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clutch device is filled when an actual fill pressure within the clutch device achieves the first predetermined magnitude.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during adjusting the commanded fill pressure in accordance with the first ramping profile and in accordance with the subsequent second ramping profile:

monitoring a magnitude clutch slip of the clutch device;

if a difference between the magnitude of clutch slip and a magnitude of allowed clutch slip is at least a slip threshold, setting a flag condition; and

detecting a fault condition if the flag condition is set at least a predetermined number of times during a drive cycle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine autostart event comprises a variable clutch capacity autostart event.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the variable clutch capacity autostart event includes a non-driver induced autostart event that is not a result of an operator input.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commanded fill pressure is maintained at the second predetermined magnitude until the transmission input speed achieves the desired first transmission input speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmission input speed corresponds to a turbine speed of a torque converter transferring torque between the engine and the transmission.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the commanded fill pressure in accordance with the first ramping profile and in accordance with the subsequent second ramping profile comprises:

increasing the commanded fill pressure from the second predetermined magnitude in accordance with the first ramping profile until oncoming torque capacity at the clutch device is detected; and

subsequent to the detected oncoming torque capacity, increasing the commanded fill pressure in accordance with the second ramping profile prior to clutch device application.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a magnitude of actual fill pressure within the clutch device is at least the pressure threshold when the oncoming torque capacity at the clutch device is detected.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first ramping profile comprises a predetermined slope resulting in the oncoming torque capacity being detected at a desired second transmission input speed.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein increasing the commanded fill pressure in accordance with the second ramping profile further comprises:

monitoring a magnitude of slip across the clutch device;

comparing the magnitude of slip to an activation threshold; and

applying the clutch device when the magnitude of clutch slip is less than the activation threshold.

14. Method to control hydraulic fluid provided to a clutch device within a transmission selectively coupling the engine to a driveline, comprising:

in response to a variable clutch capacity autostart event of the engine:

adjusting a commanded fill pressure to the clutch device to a filling magnitude that exceeds a pressure threshold, and maintaining the filling magnitude for a predetermined period of time until an actual fill pressure within the clutch device achieves the filling magnitude;

when the actual fill pressure achieves the filling magnitude, decreasing the commanded fill pressure from the filling magnitude to a slip initiating magnitude below the pressure threshold, and maintaining the slip initiating magnitude until a transmission input speed achieves a desired first transmission input speed;

initiating a slipping phase in response to the transmission input speed achieving the desired first transmission input speed, the slipping phase comprising:

increasing the commanded fill pressure from the slip initiating magnitude in accordance with a first ramping profile until oncoming torque capacity at the clutch device is detected, and

subsequent to the detected oncoming torque capacity, increasing the commanded fill pressure in accordance with a second ramping profile prior to clutch device application.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pressure threshold corresponds to an actual fill pressure within the clutch device for torque capacity at the clutch device to occur.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined period of time that the commanded fill pressure is maintained at the filling magnitude comprises a filling phase based on a volume model of the clutch device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein engine speed is stabilized at a desired engine idle speed during the slipping phase.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein a magnitude of actual fill pressure within the clutch device is at least the pressure threshold when the oncoming torque capacity at the clutch device is detected.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first ramping profile comprises a predetermined slope selected such that the detected oncoming torque capacity occurs at the desired second transmission input speed.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the variable clutch capacity autostart event of the engine includes a non-driver induced autostart event that is not a result of an operator input.