IP Library Granted Patent US 8,801,567
Granted Patent B2
US 8,801,567 · App. 13/398,993 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Method and apparatus for executing an asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift in a hybrid transmission

Inventors: Besim Demirovic (Troy, MI); Pinaki Gupta (Wixom, MI); Lawrence A. Kaminsky (White Lake, MI); Ali K. Naqvi (White Lake, MI); Anthony H. Heap (Ann Arbor, MI); Jy-Jen F. Sah (West Bloomfield, MI)
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,801,567
App. No.
13/398,993
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid transmission includes first and second electric machines. A method for operating the hybrid transmission in response to a command to execute a shift from an initial continuously variable mode to a target continuously variable mode includes increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in the target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in the initial continuously variable mode. Upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, torque outputs of the first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch are controlled to synchronize the oncoming clutch. Upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, the torque for the oncoming clutch is increased and the transmission is operated in the target continuously variable mode.

Claims (64)

1. Method for operating a hybrid transmission including first and second electric machines in response to a command to execute a shift from an initial continuously variable mode to a target continuously variable mode, comprising:

increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in the target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in the initial continuously variable mode;

upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, controlling torque outputs of the first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch to synchronize the oncoming clutch; and

upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch and operating the transmission in the target continuously variable mode, wherein increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch occurs at a rate and a magnitude equivalent to the rate and magnitude of decreasing the torque of the off-going clutch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch and correspondingly decreasing the torque of the off-going clutch comprises controlling the torque of the oncoming clutch to generate a transmission output torque responsive to an output torque request.

3. Method for operating a hybrid transmission including first and second electric machines in response to a command to execute a shift from an initial continuously variable mode to a target continuously variable mode, comprising:

increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in the target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in the initial continuously variable mode;

upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, controlling torque outputs of the first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch to synchronize the oncoming clutch; and

upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch and operating the transmission in the target continuously variable mode, wherein increasing torque of the oncoming clutch and correspondingly decreasing the torque of the off-going clutch comprises determining torque of the oncoming clutch in accordance with the following relationship:

[

Ta

Tb

Tcr

2

]

=

[

B

]

·

[

Tc

1

_estimate

To_dsrd

NiDot

NoDot

Ni

Nc

]

wherein Ta is a torque command for the first electric machine,

Tb is a torque command for the second electric machine,

Tcr 2 is clutch reactive torque of the off-going clutch,

Tc 1 _estimate is an estimate of the torque of the oncoming clutch,

To_Dsrd is the output torque request,

Ni_dot is rotational acceleration of an input member of the hybrid transmission,

No_dot is acceleration of an output member of the hybrid transmission,

Ni is rotational speed of the input member,

Nc is a clutch synchronization speed of the oncoming clutch, and

B is a 3×6 matrix of system-specific scalar values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said shift is commanded in response to an output torque request comprising an operator braking request.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said shift is commanded in response to an output torque request comprising a deceleration event.

6. Method for operating a hybrid transmission configured to operate in one of two continuously variable modes, comprising:

monitoring entrance criteria for executing an asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift in the hybrid transmission; and

executing the asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift in response to a command to shift the hybrid transmission from an initial continuously variable mode to a target continuously variable mode when the entrance criteria are satisfied;

wherein the asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift comprises:

increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in the target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in the initial continuously variable mode;

upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, controlling torque outputs of first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch to synchronize the oncoming clutch; and

upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch and operating in the target continuously variable mode, wherein increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch occurs at a rate and a magnitude equivalent to the rate and magnitude of decreasing the torque of the off-going clutch.

7. The method of claim 6 :

wherein monitoring entrance criteria comprises monitoring transmission temperature; and

wherein entrance criteria are satisfied when the transmission temperature is greater than a threshold temperature.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch comprises controlling the torque of the oncoming clutch to generate a transmission output torque responsive to an output torque request.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said shift is commanded in response to an output torque request comprising an operator braking request.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said shift is commanded in response to an output torque request comprising a deceleration event.

11. Method for operating a hybrid transmission including first and second electric machines and a control module configured to execute an asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift, comprising:

increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in a target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in an initial continuously variable mode including controlling the torque of the oncoming clutch to control magnitude of the output torque of the electrically-variable transmission, wherein increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch occurs at a rate and a magnitude equivalent to the rate and magnitude of decreasing the torque of the off-going clutch;

upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, controlling torque outputs of the first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch to synchronize the oncoming clutch and to respond to an output torque request; and

upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, increasing the torque of the oncoming clutch and operating in the target continuously variable mode in response to the output torque request.

Assignments (4)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 9, 2020
From: GENERAL MOTORS GLOBAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 053731/0009 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0415 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2013
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030694/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2012
From: DEMIROVIC, BESIM; GUPTA, PINAKI; KAMINSKY, LAWRENCE A.; NAQVI, ALI K.; HEAP, ANTHONY H.; SAH, JY-JEN F.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 027722/0266 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130217536A1 · Aug 22, 2013