IP Library Granted Patent US 8,540,606
Granted Patent B2
US 8,540,606 · App. 12/621,823 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

System and method for controlling engine torque

Inventors: Michael Livshiz (Ann Arbor, MI); Jeffrey M. Kaiser (Highland, MI); Ronald W. Van Diepen (Ann Arbor, MI)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,540,606
App. No.
12/621,823
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An engine control system for a vehicle includes a power request determination module, a desired speed determination module, and a torque control module. The power request determination module determines a power request for an engine based on a request from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle. The desired speed determination module determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter of the engine, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip. The torque control module determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request and controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque.

Claims (34)

1. An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a power request determination module that determines a power request for an engine based on input from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle;

a desired speed determination module that determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip; and

a torque control module that determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request, and that controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the state of the clutch is one of an unlocked state, a controlled slip state and a locked state.

3. The engine control system of claim 2 , wherein when the clutch is in the unlocked state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on a predetermined function of the turbine speed and the power request.

4. The engine control system of claim 3 , wherein the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on a lookup table relating desired engine speed to turbine speed and power request.

5. The engine control system of claim 2 , wherein when the clutch is in the controlled slip state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the first amount of clutch slip.

6. The engine control system of claim 2 , wherein when the clutch is in the locked state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the second amount of clutch slip, wherein the second amount of clutch slip is less than the first amount of clutch slip.

7. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the input from the driver is based on a position of an accelerator.

8. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine speed is filtered.

9. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the state of the clutch is based on a pressure applied to the clutch.

10. The engine control system of claim 1 , wherein the torque control module controls the torque output of the engine by controlling at least one of air, fuel, and spark supplied to the engine.

11. A method, comprising:

determining a power request for an engine based on input from a driver of a vehicle and a speed of the vehicle;

determining a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip;

determining a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request; and

controlling torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the state of the clutch is one of an unlocked state, a controlled slip state and a locked state.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining the desired engine speed based on a predetermined function of the turbine speed and the power request when the clutch is in the unlocked state.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining the desired engine speed based on a lookup table relating desired engine speed to turbine speed and power request.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the first amount of clutch slip when the clutch is in the controlled slip state.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the second amount of clutch slip when the clutch is in the locked state, wherein the second amount of clutch slip is less than the first amount of clutch slip.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input from the driver is based on a position of an accelerator.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

filtering the turbine speed.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining the state of the clutch based on a pressure applied to the clutch.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

controlling the torque output of the engine by controlling at least one of air, fuel, and spark supplied to the engine.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0299 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0555 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0136 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025246/0234 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023990/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023989/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2009
From: LIVSHIZ, MICHAEL; KAISER, JEFFREY M.; VAN DIEPEN, RONALD W.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023569/0567 →
Continuity (1)
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