Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gerald T Fattic

William J Vukovich

Daniel W Stahura

David S Dennis

William J Ricketts

Thanh Ho

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a multi-speed automatic transmission, and an electric machine operable in a motoring mode and a generating mode. A compound planetary gear set operatively couples the engine, transmission and electric machine. The electric machine is operable during periods of vehicle launch to provide a reaction torque for the planetary gearset such that torque is supplied to the input of the transmission and the reaction torque energy is converted to electrical energy for storage in a vehicle battery pack battery. The method employs a combination of open loop torque control and closed loop speed controls responsive to rotational parameters of the vehicle drivetrain including engine speed, electric machine rotor speed and transmission input speed to control the generator torque of the electric machine to thereby produce the reaction torque for accelerating the vehicle and for producing electrical power during the vehicle launch.

Regenerative vehicle launch

An optical sensor has a gap for a toothed modulator wheel and accurately aligned optical fibers on either side of the gap. The fibers form a U-shape to allow compact sensor design. The sensor is fabricated by inserting a single optical fiber in a mold and supporting the fiber in a U-shape such that the bottom of the U bend includes a straight portion. A thermosetting material is molded around the fiber to form a body and encapsulsate the fiber. A gap is formed by excluding or removing the resin from the region of the straight portion. A part of the straight portion of the fiber at the gap is removed so that the remaining spaced ends are inherently aligned across the gap.

Optical sensor and method of making same

Apparatus for sensing the timing of peak combustion pressure in an internal combustion engine includes a capacitive piezoelectric element adapted for flexure in response to variations in combustion chamber pressure and connected in parallel with a first resistance, a constant current generator connected to establish a predetermined voltage across the first resistance and thereby across the piezoelectric element when the capacitance of the latter remains constant, a second resistance, a source of the predetermined voltage, and an operational amplifier effective to compare the voltage across the piezoelectric element with the predetermined voltage and source or sink current through the second resistance to maintain the predetermined voltage across the piezoelectric element. The output voltage of the operational amplifier is an analog of the current through the second resistance and thus of the rate of change of capacitance of the piezoelectric element. The crankshaft angle after ignition at which this voltage crosses the predetermined reference corresponds to the timing of peak combustion pressure. In order to reduce noise in the 6 to 9 kilohertz range, the first and second resistances may be reduced, the second resistance bypassed at high frequencies and the output voltage amplified with low pass filtering.

Peak combustion pressure timing detector for internal combustion engine

In a transmission mechanism having an actuator member which is movable to adjust the speed ratio of the transmission, the rate of movement of the actuator member is controlled to provide a desired overall response function. When the ratio error is less than a reference value, the actuator rate of movement is controlled as a function of speed ratio such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces stable response. When the ratio error is at or greater than the reference value, the actuator rate of movement is controlled as a function of ratio error such that the overall rate of change of ratio produces fast response consistant with driveability.

Continuously variable transmission ratio control system

A fault indicator for a motor vehicle battery charging system of the type in which a diode-rectified alternating current generator supplies charging current to the vehicle battery and supplies other loads on the vehicle. The fault indicator is capable of detecting certain faults in the diode-rectified alternator and is capable of detecting certain faults in the generator voltage regulating system. The fault indicator system utilizes current difference operational amplifiers, one of which is connected to detect sharp negative voltage transitions caused by certain faults in the system. The fault indicator also has Zener diodes connected to provide an indication of faults that cause abnormally low or high voltage outputs of the diode-rectified alternator such as an open or shorted voltage regulator. The signal indicator utilized is a light emitting diode and the fault indicator circuit is arranged so as to cause continuous illumination of the light emitting diode under certain fault conditions and a blinking of the light emitting diode during other fault conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Anderson, IN, United States of America

Gerald T Fattic