Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kenneth Frederick

Justin Badger

Floyd Cadwell

Shunsuke Okubo

Robert Hurley

Paul Stephen Bryan

Ming Lang Kuang

Carol Louise Okubo

Christopher Adam Ochocinski

Matthew D Smith

Christopher Michael Kava

Kenneth James Miller

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Ryan Abraham McGee

Dale Scott Crombez

Xiaoyong Wang

Ryan J Skaff

Scott James Thompson

Qing Wang

Christopher Alan Lear

Jimmy Kapadia

Craig Lechlitner

Yu Liu

Mohamad Mansour

Christopher Ochocincski

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are configured to simultaneously generate power in a hybrid mode. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand decreasing to less than a first threshold while the vehicle is operating in the hybrid mode, shutdown the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand decreasing to less than the first threshold and an operator input to extend the hybrid mode, override shutting down the engine.

Hybrid vehicle engine start/stop system

Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, the spark ignition engine is prevented from exceeding a threshold engine load when the engine is supplying power to an electric machine so that engine emissions may be reduced.

Methods and system for operating an engine

A vehicle includes a transmission having an electric machine, a park ring fixedly coupled to the electric machine, and a parking pawl engageable with the park ring to hold the park ring stationary when the transmission is in PARK. A vehicle is programmed to, responsive to a request to shift from PARK, command disengagement of the parking pawl and concurrently command a torque to the electric machine to counteract driveline torque on the park ring.

Method and system for disengaging parking pawl in hybrid transmission

Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, a threshold temperature at which the spark ignition engine may be automatically stopped is adjusted according to an amount of soot that is stored in the particulate filter.

Methods and system for automatically stopping an engine

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are each configured to generate power. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a power demand exceeding a first threshold while the electric machine is generating power alone, start the engine. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the power demand exceeding the first threshold and an operator input to suppress an engine startup, override starting the engine for a predetermined period of time.

Methods and systems are provided for enhancing reverse driving torque in a powersplit hybrid electric vehicle powertrain. In one example, a method may include accelerating an engine via a generator functioning as a motor, any number of times, to provide an engine braking torque that may increase a reverse driving torque to enable the vehicle to be propelled in reverse at a vehicle speed above a threshold vehicle speed. In this way, reverse gradability may be improved and customer satisfaction increased.

Systems and methods for controlling a hybrid electric powertrain

A hybrid electric power-split vehicle, equipped with a continuously variable transmission coupling an electric motor/generator (EM) with a combustion engine (CE), includes systems and methods that reduce possible resonant noise and vibration during CE startup, by improved EM control, to generate compensating EM torque to counter act such possible resonant noise and vibration. The systems and methods include predetermined baseline CE operating condition (OC) cranking torque profiles stored as OC grids (SOCGs). A start profile is generated from selected cranking torque SOCGs, and also from selected historical start OCGs (HOCGs) of prior engine and/or CE starts, which include prior start noise and vibration metrics along with prior start OCs and related parameters. The start profile is calibrated using a blend factor that is generated from comparisons of SOCGs, and utilized to generate a feed-forward torque signal that adjusts EM torque to reduce the startup noise and vibration resonances.

HEV engine start vibration reduction system

A system and method for controlling a vehicle includes controlling a vehicle according to a first mode in response to a calculated likelihood exceeding a threshold likelihood, and controlling the vehicle according to a second mode otherwise. The calculated likelihood corresponds to the likelihood that the vehicle is within a threshold distance of a current drive cycle final destination. The calculated likelihood is derived from geolocation data collected from geolocation systems in at least one vehicle across a plurality of vehicle drive cycles.

Enhanced electric drive mode having predicted destinations to reduce engine starts

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide power to traction wheels, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to the engine being off and a power request exceeding an engine-start threshold, delay an engine start when vehicle speed is below a predetermined value. Delaying an engine start may include providing an engine-start-threshold offset. The offset decreases as vehicle speed increases. The engine is started when the power request exceeds a sum of the engine-start threshold and the engine-start-threshold offset.

Method for increasing electric operation in hybrid electric vehicles

A vehicle coasting control system for a vehicle having a prime mover includes an accelerator pedal positional throughout an accelerator pedal position range; a vehicle controller interfacing with the accelerator pedal, the vehicle controller adapted to control operating speeds of the prime mover of the vehicle corresponding to positions, respectively, of the accelerator pedal within the accelerator pedal position range; and the vehicle controller is adapted to operate the prime mover at idle when the accelerator pedal is positioned at a coast zone within the accelerator pedal position range. A vehicle coasting control method is also disclosed.

Vehicle coasting control system and method

Location information may be used to adjust the engine start/stop characteristics of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in order to increase the amount of electric vehicle (EV) mode driving, particularly near a destination in which an ignition-off event may occur. Common ignition-off locations may be learned and stored in a database along with the number of ignition-off occurrences associated with each learned location. The vehicle may calculate current distance to a nearest ignition-off location stored in the database using positioning system coordinates and may determine whether to adjust one or more engine pull-ups based at least in part on the distance and the corresponding number of ignition-off occurrences.

System and method for controlling a vehicle

A hybrid vehicle and method of control are disclosed. An internal combustion engine and at least one traction motor are operated such that the combined output torque corresponds to one of a plurality of output torque functions, each output torque function having a distinct output torque at a maximum value of accelerator pedal position for an associated vehicle speed. The output torque function is selected based on a virtual gear number. The virtual gear number varies in response to driver activation of shift selectors or automatically in response to changes in vehicle speed.

Hybrid vehicle and associated output torque control method

A method for controlling a demand for engine power in a control for an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle with power-split characteristics. Following transitions from acceleration or deceleration operating modes to a steady-state operating mode, power demand excursions from road-load power are attenuated or avoided by filtering the power demand using a filter constant that changes within battery power constraints as a function of a normalized driver demand for power at traction wheels for the vehicle.

Engine power demand load-leveling for a hybrid electric vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for raising the speed of a hybrid electric vehicle operating in an electric-only mode. During conditions when the vehicle is driven only by an electric motor, vehicle speed may be raised by spinning the engine unfueled using power from a system battery, while adjusting valve operation to reduce engine pumping losses. In this way, vehicle speed may be raised more efficiently and without damaging rotating transmission components.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Kenneth Frederick