Chrysler Group LLC

Chrysler Corporation

Gary Binienda

Hussein A Dourra

Valentin Botosan

John W Degeorge

Gary K Lowe

Javed Dada

Fadi S Kanafani

Ali M Mourtada

Laszlo Hideg

Peter G Hartman

Mark R Champine

Harish Sivasubramanian

A system for controlling a torque converter clutch in a vehicle powertrain includes a controller having an input for receiving powertrain operating parameter information. The controller is configured to determine a torque converter speed ratio based on the powertrain operating parameter information and to compare the speed ratio to a specified speed ratio limit. The controller is further configured to determine a target torque converter slip when the speed ratio exceeds or meets or exceeds the specified speed ratio limit; to compare the target slip with a desired slip value based on an vehicle noise, vibration or harshness (NVH) limit; and to control torque transmission of the torque converter clutch based on comparison of the target slip and the desired slip value. A method for controlling a torque converter clutch is also provided.

Torque converter clutch control

A modification to the manual valve of an automatic transmission is provided which improves the shift quality of the automatic transmission when the transmission is shifted from a drive gear to either Park or Neutral. More particularly, the invention provides a control orifice which regulates the release of hydraulic fluid from one or more clutch circuits such that pressure to one or more clutches is gradually released. The gradual release of pressure form the one or more clutches provides an improved shift quality. In alternate embodiments, the present invention provides a further modification to an automatic transmission which allows the control orifice to be circumvented in situations where a rapid swap of pressure from on clutch control solenoid to another is required.

Automatic transmission with improved shift quality

A method of determining a fill volume of a clutch of an automatic transmission. A clutch fill sequence is observed from measurement of fluid pressure applied to the clutch, wherein the sequence may include a initial rise, a plateau, and a final rise. A fill end time may be identified as corresponding to an intersection of a forward extrapolated portion of the plateau and a backward extrapolated portion of the final rise.

Determining clutch fill volume in an automatic transmission

A system for monitoring performance of a fuel system in a vehicle includes a plurality of sensing modules that periodically sense data from a plurality of control systems in the vehicle during a predetermined evaluation period. The system includes a control module that analyzes the data after the evaluation period, generates performance ratings for the control systems based on the data, generates a set of values for the performance of the fuel system based on the performance ratings and a plurality of predetermined fuzzy logic rules, and generates a control signal based on a numerical analysis of the set of values. The system includes an indicator module that indicates in real time whether the performance of the fuel system conforms to a designed performance of the vehicle based on the control signal.

Fuel system performance monitor

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Gary Binienda