Fca US LLC

Chrysler Group LLC

Mark C Azzaretti

Brian Edward Beechie

Mark J Duty

Bruce K Geist

Donald F Schmanski

Thomas F Wentworth

Gregory A Sbroglia

James C Savage

Marc H Sullivan

Changwei Cao

Daniel L Brown

Donald R Hughes

Charles Bienenstein

In-Soo Suh

The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain. The present disclosure can also apply to launch devices in Dual Clutch Transmissions and Electronically-controlled Manual Transmissions.

Systems and methods for detecting and reducing high driveline torsional levels in automobile transmissions

Methods and systems are described to automatically lock and unlock a front axle disconnect mechanism in an all-wheel drive (AWD) system responsive to driving conditions to reduce parasitic losses and increase fuel efficiency. A control algorithm is described which automatically determines whether the front axle disconnect mechanism should lock or unlock responsive to various sensor readings throughout the vehicle. The sensor readings relate to the driving conditions. Advantageously, the present disclosure automatically decides the best mode for optimum fuel economy while safely responding to driving conditions, and therefore removes the requirement for a driver to select the operating mode.

Methods and systems for controlling an axle disconnect device for an all-wheel drive vehicle

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Mark C Azzaretti