17079results about "Engine controllers" patented technology

A preferred input torque for a hybrid powertrain is determined within a solution space of feasible input torques in accordance with a plurality of powertrain system constraints that results in a minimum overall powertrain system loss. System power losses and battery utilization costs are calculated at feasible input torques and a solution for the input torque corresponding to the minimum total powertrain system loss is converged upon to determine the preferred input torque.

A hybrid propulsion system (100) for use in road vehicle operations, which propulsion system includes a power splitting mechanical transmission (108), suitably a three shaft epicyclic gearbox (117, 118, 119), for coupling to a tailshaft (115) of the vehicle; a first drive unit (105) arranged for regenerative operation and coupled to the power splitting mechanical transmission (108); a second drive unit (110) arranged for regenerative operation and coupled, independently of said first drive unit, to the power splitting mechanical transmission (108); a non-regenerative third drive unit (113) for coupling, in parallel to said power splitting mechanical transmission, to the tailshaft; and a propulsion control system (122) for coordinating operation of the drive units in accordance with a plurality of predetermined modes corresponding to a drive cycle of the vehicle. Two forms of the invention are disclosed, being suited to non-transit and transit operations, respectively. Methods for the optimal control of the hybrid propulsion system of each form of the invention are also disclosed.

A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

A fault-tolerant gear selector lever position apparatus is described. Included is a first sensor operable to detect each position, and a second sensor operable to detect subsets of the positions. A first controller monitors the second sensor, and a second controller monitors the first sensor. The second controller identifies and communicates one of the positions to the first controller, and the first controller validates the position and communicates the position to a control system. The lever is applicable to a power transmission device. Each sensor preferably comprises digital encoding sensor; the first sensor generates a unique signal for each position, and the second sensor generates a unique signal for each subset of the positions, preferably a unique signal for each of Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Forward Drive. The controllers identify faults in the sensors, and communicate and act accordingly.

A control apparatus for a powertrain system comprising an engine and two electrical machines operably coupled to a two-mode compound-split electro-mechanical transmission is provided. It includes a system controller and two motor control processors. The system controller communicates with the motor control processors via two high speed communications buses and directly-linked serial peripheral interface buses. The motor control processors control flow of electrical power between the electrical machines and an electrical energy storage device. A second control device is operable to control the engine, preferably to control torque output. The internal combustion engine preferably has a crank position sensor which is signally connected to a dedicated input to the second control device and to a dedicated input to the system controller of the first control device.

A method and apparatus to control an electro-mechanical transmission during a shift event, including identifying a fault in an off-going clutch, is provided. The method includes deactivating an off-going torque-transfer clutch, monitoring slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch, and limiting a change in operation of an electrical machine operatively connected to the transmission until the slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch exceeds a threshold. Limiting a change in operation of the electrical machine comprises limiting an output torque of the electrical machine, comprising limiting a time-rate change in the output torque and limiting a magnitude of the output torque. The limit of the change Is discontinued when the slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch exceeds the threshold.

A method for determining output torque limits of a powertrain including an electrically variable transmission relies upon a model of the electrically variable transmission. Transmission operating space is defined by electric machine torque constraints, engine torque constraints and battery power constraints. Output torque limits are determined at the limits of the transmission operating space.

The information available to a driver of a vehicle is greatly expanded using wireless communications (e.g., using Bluetooth wireless communication devices). In one embodiment, information regarding an adjacent vehicle such as a brake light, a turn light, speed, distance, direction, etc., is transmitted from one vehicle to a nearby or adjacent other vehicle. The received information is used in any appropriate manner, such as causing the receiving vehicle to change vehicle speed or brake, to turn to avoid a collision, etc. In a second embodiment, roadside wireless transceivers collect information regarding passing vehicles, and central database is compiled relating to a traffic conditions. The traffic condition information can be passed back to the passing vehicles for appropriate use, e.g., causing the driver to slow down, or even causing a navigation device in the receiving vehicle to manually prompt for or automatically recalculate a best route to an intended destination. In yet another embodiment, broadcast transmitters can be established at signs and other significant locations transmitting information to passing vehicles. The broadcast information may be as simple as indicating the existence of the sign, or depending upon the range of the particular wireless transmitter, the existence of a particular sign, bump in road, curve, etc., can be forewarned far in advance of when the driver will actually see the relevant object. Alternatively, the broadcast information may be quite detailed, e.g., containing a detailed itemization and directions to a large number of gas stations, restaurants, etc., reachable from a particular exit from a highway.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating electrical power from multiple vehicles powered by fuel cells while the vehicles are parked in a parking lot. A plurality of spaced-apart electrical receptacles are provided for receiving an electric cable for connection to a parked vehicle for electrically connecting the fuel cell in each of the parked vehicles to the plurality of electrical receptacles. An electric power grid is electrically connected to the plurality of electrical receptacles for transferring D.C. electrical power from the fuel cells in the parked vehicles to the electric power grid. At least one electric power collection station is electrically connected to the electric power grid for collecting at a common point the D.C. electric power in the electric power grid. In addition, at least one inverter is electrically connected to the electric power collection station for converting the D.C. electric power to A.C. electric power. Apparatus is provided for supplying the A.C. electric power to a load or a utility grid.

A control system is provided to effect a method to control torque output from a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission during gear-to-gear shifting event when an off-going torque-transfer device is disengaged. It includes a computer program which controls transmission operation. A predetermined preferred torque output from the transmission device is determined. Torque output from torque-generative devices device is controlled. Torque transmitted across a selectively actuated torque transfer device is controlled, and limited based upon available battery power. Actuation of the oncoming torque-transfer device is preferably based upon a temperature of the device during the shifting event. The temperature during the shifting event is determined based upon a rotational speed of an input shaft to the transmission and an elapsed time to shift.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a drive motor which adds power to power generated by the engine in a superimposed manner to assist the engine. A power control unit includes: a fourth rotor sensor as a vehicle speed sensor which detects vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle; an accelerator sensor which detects an amount of accelerator operation; and an ECU having an assist map which determines an output command reference value for the drive motor based on the vehicle speed and the amount of accelerator operation. The ECU outputs, to the drive motor, a corrected output command value which is calculated by adding an additional value corresponding to a rate of change in the amount of accelerator operation, to the output command reference value obtained from the assist map.

A method and an apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes. The method comprises controlling the flow control devices of the electro-hydraulic control circuit, and monitoring a plurality of pressure monitoring devices in the electro-hydraulic control circuit. A fault is identified in the electro-hydraulic control circuit when a signal output of one of the pressure monitoring devices does not correspond to an expected signal output for the pressure monitoring device after an elapsed time period.

An information center provides a control program which is usable by a vehicle within its effective area. The control program may be transmitted to a vehicle in conjunction with the effective area through a broadcast antenna. According to the detected result of the current location, a control apparatus on a vehicle applies a control program to device control when the current location sites within the effective area. The vehicle can take possession of a control program fits to a region at any places to which it moves and can utilize those. It is possible to substitute an effective period for the effective area.

A method of operating a vehicle powertrain system comprising an electric motor and transmission where the electric motor is operably and selectively coupled to the transmission and adapted to provide an output torque contribution thereto, and the electric motor has a predetermined maximum motor output torque and a predetermined minimum motor output torque which are used to determine a range of permissible control points for at least one transmission control parameter. The method includes establishing a motor torque reserve by performing at least one of decreasing the predetermined maximum motor output torque to a maximum reserved motor output torque and increasing the minimum motor output torque to a minimum reserved motor output torque, wherein the maximum reserved motor output torque and the minimum reserved motor output torque are used in place of the predetermined maximum motor output torque and the predetermined minimum motor output torque, respectively, to determine the range of permissible control points for the at least one transmission control parameter. The motor torque reserve may include a static motor torque reserve, a dynamic motor torque reserve, or a combination of both static and dynamic torque reserves. The dynamic torque reserve may include a predictive dynamic reserve, a reactive dynamic reserve, or a combination of a predictive reserve and a reactive reserve or reserves.

A method and system to off-load motive torque from a clutch to execute a transmission shift is provided. The powertrain includes torque-generative devices operably connected to a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. The method includes determining a commanded output torque, and a shift command. A first torque is transmitted by electrical motors, and is limited by their torque capacities. A supplemental motive torque is transmitted from an oncoming clutch. The supplemental motive torque is limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming clutch. Output torque of an internal combustion engine to the transmission is adjusted by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.

A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain / driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

A method for regulating or controlling the transmission ratio of an automatic power-branched transmission. Power is transmitted through a shaft driven by an engine, a variable speed drive, a gear transmission, a driven shaft, and at least two control clutches. The variable speed drive and the gear transmission are connected to each other in such a way that the regulating range of the variable speed drive is traversed in one direction within a first range of transmission ratios, and is traversed in the opposite direction within a second range of transmission ratios during traversing of the entire range of transmission ratios. The shifting strategies result in reduced wear of the endless belt device and allow for comfortable changing between the transmission ratio ranges.

The powertrain of a six-speed powertrain and a hydraulic control system includes a main shift section of first and second single pinion planetary gearsets, in which a first planet carrier is fixedly connected to a second ring gear. The powertrain also includes a first ring gear fixedly connected to a second planet carrier, and a first sun gear. The second planet carrier, and a second sun gear are variably connected to an input shaft through first, second, and third clutches, respectively. A connecting member connecting the first ring gear and the second planet carrier is variably connected to a housing through a first brake and a first one-way clutch. The second sun gear being variably connected to the housing by a second brake. The powertrain also includes a secondary shift section realized through a third single pinion planetary gearset, in which a third sun gear is connected to a third planet carrier via a fourth clutch, and is also connected to the housing through a third brake and a second one-way clutch.

A method for determining output torque limits of a powertrain including an electrically variable transmission relies upon a model of the electrically variable transmission. Transmission operating space is defined by combined electric machine torque constraints and engine torque constraints. Output torque limits are determined at the limits of the transmission operating space.

One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle including a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes a hydraulic motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the PTO and an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the hydraulic motor. The electric motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO. The hydraulic motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO.

A hybrid vehicle includes a powertrain having a retarded diesel engine, an electric machine and energy storage system. The engine and motor are operatively coupled through one or more planetary gearsets and selective coupling paths in accordance with application and release of various torque transfer devices to a drivetrain via an output. Regenerative and retarded engine braking are coordinated to provide priority to energy return to an energy storage system in accordance with predetermined power flow limits.

A method and apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical torque transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes, and operative to transmit torque input from a plurality of torque-generative devices. The transmission device includes a hydraulic circuit and is operative in one of a plurality of operating modes by selective actuation of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated torque-transfer clutches. The method comprises monitoring pressures in the hydraulic circuit, and restricting operation of the transmission when any one of the monitored hydraulic pressures does not correspond to an expected pressure thereat. Presence of a fault is verified during the restricted operation.

A continuously variable transmission is mounted on a vehicle capable of selecting plural drive modes and changes a target engine speed between drive modes. A pulley ratio is controlled by a motor. An ECU for transmission control includes a calculation section which outputs a target engine speed as a function of throttle opening and vehicle speed, and a motor control value determination section which outputs a control value for controlling the motor based on the target engine speed and an actual engine speed. In a case where, when a drive mode is selected, the current target engine speed changes by an amount exceeding a predetermined judgment value according to vehicle speed, the motor control value determination section updates the current target engine speed in a stepwise manner. The resulting configuration reduces a shift shock caused by a drive mode change.

A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation.

A control scheme is provided for stopping an internal combustion engine of a hybrid powertrain during ongoing vehicle operation. The method, executed as program code in an article of manufacture comprises the following steps in the sequence set forth. First, engine operation is controlled to stop firing the engine. A damper clutch is controlled to lock rotation of the engine and the electro-mechanical transmission. Torque outputs from the first and second electrical machines are then selectively controlled to reduce engine speed. Torque outputs from the first and second electrical machines are then selectively controlled to stop rotation of the engine substantially near a predetermined crank position.

A controllable selectable one-way clutch is provided for use within a hybrid transmission. The clutch comprises an outer and inner race, and a first and second selector plate. A transmission motor controller synchronizes the speeds of the races to facilitate application and release of the clutch, and a transmission controller communicates a signal to the clutch for re-positioning of the plates to apply and release the clutch. The clutch has three operational modes, including freewheeling and holding torque in one direction or both directions. A method is also provided for applying a selectable one-way clutch in a vehicle having a hybrid transmission with a motor controller and a transmission controller, including synchronizing the clutch speed using the motor controller, detecting the direction of the race speed difference, communicating the race speed difference to the transmission controller, and selecting between the clutch operational modes in response to the detected speed difference.

A method of remotely performing a vehicle autostart function when starting a vehicle engine. A vehicle may be associated with a handheld communication device (HCD) using a vehicle mobile application (e.g., on the HCD). Using the application, a configuration of at least one vehicle function and autostart criteria may be received. The auto-start criteria may define a geographic area. It may be determined that the vehicle and the HCD are located within the geographic area at a time when it is desirable to autostart the vehicle. Weather data may be determined for the geographic area at that time. The vehicle's engine may be autostarted and at least one vehicle autostart function may be performed.