Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Other

Brandon R Masterson

Marvin Paul Kraska

Walter Joseph Ortmann

Mark Steven Yamazaki

Dan Colvin

Daniel Scott Colvin

Andrew John Silveri

Francis Thomas Connolly

Ming Lang Kuang

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Bernard D Nefcy

Walt Joseph Ortmann

Kathleen Ellen Bailey

Steve Reeves

Steven Yellin Schondorf

William Paul Perkins

Todd Mccullough

David Richens Brigham

Ryan Abraham McGee

Xiaoyong Wang

Ihab S Soliman

Reid Alan Baldwin

Derek Hartl

Qing Wang

Anthony Mark Phillips

Scott Howard Gaboury

Deepak Aswani

Alan Robert Dona

Shawn Midlam-Mohler

Christopher Michael Kava

Deepa Ramaswamy

Kimberly Trice

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, battery, electric machine, and controller. The engine is configured to propel the vehicle. The electric machine is configured to draw energy from the battery to propel the vehicle and to recharge the battery during regenerative braking. The controller is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a nominal vehicle operation mode and depletion of a battery charge to a nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine. The controller further is programmed to, in response to operation of the electric machine to propel the vehicle while the vehicle is in a reserve vehicle operation mode and depletion of the battery charge to a reserve value that is greater than the nominal value, terminate operation of the electric machine and propel the vehicle via the engine.

Hybrid vehicle and battery depletion control system for a hybrid vehicle

A vehicle includes a motor positioned between an engine and a driveline connected to a vehicle wheel, and a controller. The controller controls engine torque and maintains motor torque during wheel torque and driveline component torque reversals to limit a vehicle output torque rate of change through a lash region associated with a range of driveline torque ratios. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle includes controlling engine torque to a specified profile and maintaining motor torque at a generally constant value during at least one of wheel torque and driveline component torque reversals to limit a vehicle output torque rate of change through a lash region associated with a range of driveline torque ratios.

Driveline lash control method during driver tip-in/out

The disclosed system and method changes a traction torque request in a vehicle powertrain with a driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal. A desired transfer function parameter in a powertrain control module is chosen by the driver to obtain a desired functional relationship between a traction torque request or a power plant torque request and accelerator pedal position.

System and method for obtaining an adjustable accelerator pedal response in a vehicle powertrain

A vehicle may include a transmission having an electric machine, an engine, and a controller. The engine may be selectively coupled with the transmission via a disconnect clutch. The controller may be programmed to, in response to an anticipated engine start request, command a disconnect clutch pre-stroke to couple the engine to the transmission prior to an actual engine start request while operating the vehicle in electric mode.

Vehicle disconnect clutch pre-stroke strategy

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine selectively coupled to one another via a clutch. In one mode of operation, the vehicle can be propelled by only the electric machine while the engine is off. When additional torque is required from the engine, at least one controller transmits an engine start request. In order to start the engine, the clutch can be prestroked such that it fills with pressure prior to the engine to start the engine. While the vehicle is on, at least one controller is programmed to prestroke the clutch prior to the engine start request based at least upon the electric machine and the engine generating substantially zero torque. This reduces the overall engine start time.

Prestroking engine disconnect clutch in a hybrid vehicle

A powertrain includes a countershaft, a gearset including a sun gear, a carrier connected to an engine, a ring gear releasably held against rotation and connectable to the countershaft, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and ring gear, an electric machine connected to the sun gear and connectable to the countershaft, and a second electric machine driveably connected to the countershaft.

Multi-mode powersplit powertrain for electric vehicle

An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle using a vehicle power steering system and a vehicle traction motor to move the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid to charge a vehicle traction battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments may be made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.

Auto-seek electrical connection for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid electric vehicle has a traction motor, a driveline connected to a vehicle wheel, and a controller. The controller is configured to control motor torque through a region surrounding vehicle wheel torque reversal, control driveline input torque during torque reversal of driveline output torque to limit rate of change of driveline output torque, and control motor torque during a torque reversal of at least one driveline component to limit rate of change of the torque applied to the driveline component. A method for controlling a vehicle having a traction motor includes controlling the traction motor torque through a region surrounding a vehicle wheel torque reversal, controlling driveline input torque during torque reversal of driveline output torque to limit rate of change of output torque, and controlling traction motor torque during a torque reversal of a powertrain component to limit rate of change of the torque applied to the component.

A method for controlling vehicle creep includes controlling motor speed to produce the desired creep speed, if desired creep speed exceeds vehicle speed; controlling motor torque to produce the desired wheel torque, if desired wheel torque exceeds actual wheel torque; and controlling motor torque to decelerate the vehicle to creep speed, if vehicle speed is decreasing and exceeds the desired speed.

Controlling vehicle creep

A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a starter motor, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and at least one clutch disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, various parameters are controlled to ensure a smooth engine start wherein driveline torque disturbances are minimized. The starter motor is used to crank the engine upon an engine start request, thereby eliminating the need to transfer torque from the motor/generator to the engine. This helps to further reduce torque disturbances in the driveline when the engine is started.

Vehicle and method for controlling engine start in a vehicle

A method and a system for controlling a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has first and second propulsion devices. The vehicle determines a calculated decline in state of charge (SOC) for a charge depleting mode for a battery coupled to the first propulsion device. The vehicle is operated to achieve the calculated decline in SOC. The vehicle operates the second propulsion device for at least a predetermined time after the second propulsion device is turned on during the charge depleting mode.

Vehicle battery state of charge hold function and energy management

An auto-seek operating mode for an electric vehicle adjusts the vehicle in a direction transverse to a vehicle central axis using a vehicle power steering system and using a motor and a battery to advance the vehicle toward a target connector for a utility power grid for charging the battery. If needed, vertical vehicle position adjustments are made using a controllable vehicle suspension system.

A trailer connection assist system includes a towing vehicle having a hitch receiver, a trailer having a trailer hitch, a system controller, a position sensor provided on the hitch receiver and the trailer hitch and communicating with the system controller, a vehicle motor of the towing vehicle interfacing with the system controller, vehicle wheels of the towing vehicle interfacing with the vehicle motor and a steering system connected to the system controller and the vehicle wheels and adapted to steer the vehicle wheels. The system controller is adapted to operate the vehicle motor and the steering system responsive to input from the position sensor. A method of aligning a hitch with a hitch receiver provided on a towing vehicle is also disclosed.

Trailer connection assist system

A method and system for limiting a fast transient in an engine in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The predicted fuel loss percentage is calculated from an inferred air-fuel ratio (inferred lambda). The rate limit term is calculated from a measured air-fuel ratio (measured lambda) and an engine torque command change rate. The predicted fuel loss percentage and the rate limit term are inputs into a calibration table to determine an engine power rate limit and an engine torque rate limit. An engine torque command is limited using the engine torque rate limit to control a fast engine torque transient for an engine. An engine power command is limited using the engine power rate limit to control the fast engine power transient for the engine.

Engine transient mitigation for hybrid vehicles

A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a starter motor, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and at least one clutch disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels. When an engine start is requested, various parameters are controlled to ensure a smooth engine start wherein driveline torque disturbances are minimized. The starter motor is used to crank the engine at the lowest engine speeds when the engine-required torque is the highest. This reduces the amount of torque necessary to be supplied from the motor/generator, and further helps to reduce torque disturbances in the driveline. If the motor/generator is producing torque to propel the vehicle at the time the engine start is requested, a launch clutch or one or more transmission clutches can be controlled to provide slip between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels to further reduce torque disturbances in the driveline.

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Dexter, MI, United States of America

Brandon R Masterson