Granted Patent B2

US 7,670,253 · App. 11/688,318 · Granted Mar 2, 2010

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. Article of manufacture, comprising a storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for effecting a method to off-load torque to a torque transfer device of a transmission, said torque transmitted from one of a plurality of torque-generative devices, the computer program comprising:

code for determining a commanded output torque of the transmission;

code for preferentially transmitting a first motive torque from a first subset of the torque-generative devices to the transmission;

code for preferentially transmitting a supplemental motive torque to the transmission substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first motive torque, said supplemental motive torque transmitted from an oncoming torque-transfer device; and,

code for adjusting torque transmitted from a second subset of the torque-generative devices by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the code for preferentially transmitting the first motive torque from the first subset of torque-generative devices to the transmission further comprises said first motive torque substantially equal to the commanded output torque of the transmission.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 2 , wherein said first motive torque is limited by torque-generative capacity of the first subset of torque-generative devices.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3 , wherein the first subset of torque-generative devices comprises first and second electrical machines.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the code for preferentially transmitting the supplemental motive torque to the transmission substantially equal to the difference between the commanded output torque and the first motive torque further comprises said supplemental motive torque transmitted from an oncoming torque-transfer device.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 5 , further comprising: said supplemental motive torque limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming torque-transfer device.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the code for preferentially transmitting supplemental motive torque to the transmission transmitted from the oncoming torque-transfer device further comprises:

code for increasing a torque capacity of a second torque-transfer device; and,

code for increasing a reactive torque of the second torque-transfer device.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the code for increasing torque capacity of the second torque-transfer device comprises code for actuating a clutch control solenoid operable to actuate the second torque transfer device.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the code for adjusting torque transmitted from the second subset of the plurality of torque-generative devices by the amount substantially equal to the difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques comprises code for reducing torque transmitted from an internal combustion engine operably connected to the transmission.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , further comprising code for reducing fuel delivered to the internal combustion engine.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9 , further comprising code for retarding timing of spark ignition to the internal combustion engine.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the code for adjusting torque transmitted from the second subset of the plurality of torque-generative devices by the amount substantially equal to the difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques comprises code for increasing torque transmitted from an internal combustion engine operably connected to the transmission.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12 , wherein the code for determining the commanded output torque of the transmission comprises code for monitoring an operator demand for power.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein each of the torque-generative devices is operable to independently supply motive torque to the transmission.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission comprises a transmission comprising four torque-transfer devices operative to control the transmission in operating ranges of at least four fixed-gear modes and two modes.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the transmission is operable to provide motive torque to a driveline of a vehicle.

18. Method to off-load torque to a torque transfer device of a transmission, said torque transmitted from one of a plurality of torque-generative devices to the transmission, comprising:

determining a commanded output torque of the transmission;

preferentially transmitting a first motive torque to the transmission from a first subset of torque-generative devices;

preferentially transmitting a supplemental motive torque to the transmission substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first motive torque, said supplemental motive torque transmitted from an oncoming torque-transfer device; and,

adjusting torque transmitted from a second subset of the torque-generative devices by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising limiting said first motive torque from the first subset of torque-generative devices by a torque-generative capacity thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the preferentially transmitting the supplemental motive torque to the transmission transmitted from the oncoming torque-transfer device further comprises:

increasing torque capacity of a second torque-transfer device; and,

increasing a reactive torque of the second torque-transfer device.

21. Control system for a powertrain comprising a plurality of torque-generative devices and a transmission device, the transmission device having a plurality of torque-transfer devices to effect a method to offload torque transmitted through one of the torque-transfer devices, the controller operable to:

determine a commanded output torque;

preferentially control a first subset of the torque-generative devices to transmit a first motive torque to the transmission substantially equal to the commanded output torque, said first motive torque limited by a torque capacity of the first subset of torque-generative devices;

preferentially control an oncoming torque-transfer device to effect transmission of a supplemental motive torque to the transmission, said supplemental motive torque substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first motive torque, said supplemental motive torque limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming torque-transfer device; and,

adjust output torque transmitted from a second subset of the torque-generative devices by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

22. The control system of claim 21 , wherein the controller is operable a shift in the transmission from a first fixed gear to a second fixed gear.

23. The control system of claim 21 , further comprising the controller operable to determine the first motive torque, the supplemental motive torque, and the adjusted output torque substantially simultaneously.

Assignments (12)

Continuity (1)