Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Michael Glenn Fodor

Hongtei Eric Tseng

Davor Hrovat

Yuji Fujii

Davorin David Hrovat

Christopher John Teslak

Gregory Michael Pietron

Diana Yanakiev

Seung-Hoon Lee

Matthew John Shelton

Hong Jiang

Mitch McConnell

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Jason Meyer

Bradley Dean Riedle

Kevin Ruybal

Eric A Luehrsen

Daniel Joseph Dunn

Don Perlick

Kenneth James Miller

Xiaoyong Wang

Eric Hongtei Tseng

Patrick Joseph Curran

Jahan Asgari

John Loring Yester

Ian Oldknow

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Adam Nathan Banker

Dennis C Reed

Walter Joseph Ortmann

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Hai Yu

Zhengyu Dai

Urs Christen

Todd Anthony Rumpsa

Peter Simeon Lazarevski

Joseph Jay Torres

Jose Velazquez Alcantar

Peter Douglas Kuechler

Jonathan Sullivan

John H Tanzer

Charles Bannon

Jahanbakhsh Asgari

Seung Hoon Lee

Chunlin Liu

Mitchell McConnell

A vehicle includes a first axle having a first electric machine, a second axle having a second electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in a user-selected four-wheel drive mode, command a first torque to the first electric machine based on a driver-demanded torque and a speed of the second axle, and command a second torque to the second electric machine based on a comparison of the driver-demanded torque and the first torque and further based on a speed of the first axle.

All-wheel drive electric vehicle with simulated axle lock

A control system and method for controlling a multiple gear ratio automatic transmission in a powertrain for an automatic transmission having pressure activated fiction torque elements to effect gear ratio upshifts. The friction torque elements are synchronously engaged and released during a torque phase of an upshift event as torque from a torque source is increased while allowing the off-going friction elements to slip, followed by an inertia phase during which torque from a torque source is modulated. A perceptible transmission output torque reduction during an upshift is avoided. Measured torque values are used during a torque phase of the upshift to correct an estimated oncoming friction element target torque so that transient torque disturbances at an oncoming clutch are avoided and torque transients at the output shaft are reduced.

Clutch torque trajectory correction to provide torque hole filling during a ratio upshift

A vehicle system and method for remote start operation in the vehicle system are provided. The method includes responsive to receiving a remote start request and while the vehicle is stationary, automatically engaging a wheel-arresting device coupled to a wheel in the vehicle. The method also includes when an electronically actuated clutch is automatically disengaged and subsequent to the automatic engagement of the wheel-arresting device, implementing remote start operation in an engine, where the wheel-arresting device is distinct from a secondary vehicle brake.

Vehicle system and method for remote start operation

A vehicle includes an powerplant, a manual transmission, and a clutch. A vehicle controller is programmed to automatically control operation of the clutch allowing the driver to shift gears by just operating the gear shifter. The vehicle also includes an input allowing the driver to override the controller and operate the clutch. The input is located on the gear shifter and is in electric communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to, inter alia, command the clutch to reduce clutch capacity responsive to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating grasping of the shifter.

Manual transmission with electric clutch

An electric machine and internal combustion engine are coordinated to provide traction control for an automotive vehicle. A propulsive torque limit is set by a controller during a loss of traction. When the machine torque limit is greater than the propulsive torque limit, the engine is pulled down. When the machine torque is less than the propulsive torque limit, the engine is pulled up. The controller coordinates the pulled up engine with the machine such that the engine is subordinated to the machine.

Traction control for a hybrid electric powertrain

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, the engine is started and coupled to the driveline via closing a clutch of a dual clutch transmission. Speed of the engine and clutch pressure are controlled to reduce driveline torque disturbances and provide a desired wheel torque.

Methods and systems for a hybrid vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for adapting a pressure to torque transfer function of a clutch of a dual clutch transmission. In one example, a method includes operating a first clutch of the dual clutch transmission at a selected capacity to change a speed of a first transmission input shaft to a desired speed, adjusting values of a torque transfer function of the first clutch based on a rate of the speed change, and maintaining driver demanded wheel torque during the adjusting via controlling torque output of an electric motor positioned in the driveline. In this way, the method may be used to adapt both positive and negative torque transfer functions.

Systems and methods for dual clutch transmission clutch adaptation in a hybrid vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting clutch pressures and electric machine torques as a function of a stability metric threshold(s) in order to balance performance and charging of an onboard energy storage device. In one example, a method includes during an upshift of a transmission from a first gear to a second gear, adjusting a clutch pressure of the transmission to adjust slippage of a clutch in response to a vehicle stability control parameter exceeding a threshold. In this way, torque delivered to a transmission output shaft may be reduced, which may increase vehicle stability.

Methods and systems for operating a driveline of a hybrid engine powertrain

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, torque output from the engine and the electric machine is adjusted to provide controlled vehicle side slip during cornering by a vehicle.

Methods and system providing vehicle drift

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle driveline where the vehicle driveline does not include a torque converter. In one example, a method comprises controlling a capacity of a clutch configured to transmit torque between an engine and a transmission, and an output of an electric motor positioned in a driveline of the hybrid vehicle during a vehicle launch to emulate a performance of a torque converter positioned in the driveline of the vehicle. In this way, vehicle launch maneuvers may be conducted for vehicles that are equipped with a clutch and an electric motor, such that said launch maneuvers mimic those of a vehicle with a torque converter, which may improve customer satisfaction and improve engine efficiency.

Systems and methods for hybrid vehicle launch

A control system and method for controlling a multiple gear ratio automatic transmission in a powertrain for an automatic transmission having pressure activated friction torque elements to effect gear ratio upshifts. The friction torque elements are synchronously engaged and released during a torque phase of an upshift event as torque from a torque source is increased while allowing the off-going friction elements to slip, followed by an inertia phase during which torque from a torque source is modulated. A perceptible transmission output torque reduction during an upshift is avoided. Measured torque values are used during a torque phase of the upshift to correct an estimated oncoming friction element target torque so that transient torque disturbances at an oncoming clutch are avoided and torque transients at the output shaft are reduced.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a manual transmission are presented. In one example, a clutch actuator that responds to a position of a manual operated clutch pedal is adjusted to operate a clutch so that the vehicle may be stopped, while the engine is running or not, without the driver applying the clutch pedal.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle with a manual shift transmission

Readings of multiple sensors are utilized to estimate transmission output, which is used as a feedback signal to control the torque capacity of a transmission clutch. Some sensor readings, such as transmission output speed, are used to compute an input vector. Then, a current state vector is computed as a linear function of the previous state vector and the input vector. One of the values in the state vector is shaft twist, which is proportional to transmission output torque. Various other sensor readings, including wheel speed, are used to correct for noise. Wheel speed signals are received with a delay. To accommodate this delay, the state vector is expanded to include estimates of wheel speed at various past points in time. An accelerometer reading is used at very low speeds at which the wheel speed sensor and transmission output speed sensor are unreliable.

Output torque control method

Systems and methods for improving transmission gear shifting of a hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods may allow transmission input shaft torque to be lowered to levels where driveline torque disturbances may be reduced even though the driveline has a larger inertia. In one example, driveline torque may be reduced via retarding spark timing.

Methods and system for improving hybrid transmission gear shifting

The rate of change of transmission output torque is computed based on the differential speeds of the axles and of the transmission output shaft adjusting for final drive ratio. The speed of the axle is measured by an anti-lock braking system and communicated to the transmission controller over a communications bus. To compensate for the delay introduced by the communications bus, a shift register delays the signal from the transmission output shaft speed sensor. The resulting estimate of rate of change of transmission output torque may be used directly to control the torque capacity of one or more transmission clutches. Additionally, the resulting estimate may be combined with an independent output torque estimate to yield a more accurate output torque estimate.

Vehicle adapted to control clutch torque based on relative speed data

Growing community of inventors

Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Michael Glenn Fodor