Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Samuel Melville Glauber

Bradley Dean Riedle

Corey James Blue

Akshay Bichkar

Timothy Fedullo

Scott Joseph Gittins

Jason Meyer

Joseph F Kucharski

Derek Kinch

Timothy Baxendale

Joseph Scott Slayton

Andrew James Myrna

Ryan Eggebrecht

Marin Assaliyski

Shawn Adam Holland

Scott Patrick Ries

Benjamin Rupley

Matthew Scott Malnar

Robert Wilkinson

Jared Schimke

Jessica Dyan Britton

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a disconnect clutch, a starter motor, and a controller. The engine and electric machine are each configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The disconnect clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start the engine, operate either the disconnect clutch or the starter motor to start the engine based on a level of adaptive learning of previous disconnect clutch engagements.

Vehicle and corresponding powertrain control system

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a disconnect clutch, and a controller. The engine and the electric machine are each configured to generate power. The disconnect clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start the engine, close the disconnect clutch to transfer power from the electric machine to the engine. The controller is further programmed to control the torque of the disconnect clutch via increasing a pressure applied to the disconnect clutch based on a first-order model of the pressure applied to the disconnect clutch. The controller is further programmed to adjust the model based on a difference between an expected pressure to the disconnect clutch and a measured pressure of the disconnect clutch during a time period prior to transferring torque through the disconnect clutch.

Control system for an engine disconnect clutch in a hybrid vehicle

Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure is estimated according to a derivative of a driveline disconnect clutch pressure when a driveline disconnect clutch is being de-stroked. The driveline disconnect clutch may be prepositioned in anticipation of driveline disconnect closing based on the estimated driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure.

System and method for learning driveline disconnect clutch liftoff

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a clutch, and a controller. The clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. The controller is programmed to, in response to an engine start, close the clutch to transfer power from the electric machine to the engine to start the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the engine start, control a torque capacity of the clutch during the engine start according to a model of a pressure applied to the clutch. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the engine start, control the torque of the electric machine based on an adjusted torque capacity of the clutch.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, torque capacity of a driveline disconnect is adjusted in response to a change in commanded line pressure. The torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch may be adjusted in according to a maximum transmission line pressure.

Compensation system and method for driveline disconnect clutch line pressure disturbances

Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a time duration of a boost phase of a driveline disconnect clutch closing sequence is adjusted in response to one or more error values. The error values may include pressure error, integrated pressure error, and electric machine speed error.

System and method for adapting driveline disconnect clutch operation

Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch pressure is measured just prior to a request to close the driveline disconnect clutch and a time duration for driveline disconnect clutch boost pressure is adjusted in response to the measured driveline disconnect clutch pressure.

System and method for adjusting driveline disconnect clutch boost pressure

Air ingestion into a transmission hydraulic system may lead to a number of issues. For example, the time to engage a hydraulically actuated parking mechanism may be excessive. As another example, the pump may not prime properly on a subsequent engine start. The air ingestion issue may be detected based on variability of transmission line pressure. When the line pressure variability exceeds a threshold, actions are taken to mitigate the potential issues.

Transmission controls to mitigate line pressure instability

A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission has clutches, a circuit configured to transport fluid to the clutches, a pump configured to circulate the fluid through the circuit, and an accumulator disposed along the circuit. The controller is programmed to, responsive to an engine start and a fluid temperature being less than a temperature threshold, discharge the accumulator to prime the pump.

Vehicle and system for controlling a vehicle transmission

A park valve performs a multi-plexing function in which an out-of-park circuit is connected to line pressure when the valve is in an out-of-park position and is vented when the valve is in a park position. When particular clutches are released, the out-of-park circuit biases the park valve toward the out-of-park position. To engage park, a controller commands a low line pressure, reducing the forces that bias the park valve toward the out-of-park position. To accelerate the pressure decay in the line pressure circuit, thereby decreasing the time required to achieve park, the controller commands engagement of one or more shift elements.

Transmission park control system

A park valve performs a multi-plexing function in which an out-of-park circuit is connected to line pressure when the valve is in an out-of-park position and is vented when the valve is in a park position. When particular clutches are released, the out-of-park circuit biases the park valve toward the out-of-park position. To initiate engagement of park, a controller commands a low line pressure, reducing the forces that bias the park valve toward the out-of-park position. Once the valve reaches an intermediate position in which the line pressure circuit is no longer fluidly connected to the out-of-park circuit, the controller commands an increase in line pressure, increasing the forces that bias the park valve toward the park position.

A transmission park mechanism is hydraulically actuated. Specifically a controller releases the parking pawl by commanding engagement of particular shift elements at an elevated line pressure. The process of transitioning from Park to a Drive or Reverse condition may involve several sequential steps. To reduce the delay between driver selection of Drive or Reverse and completion of the engagement, it is advantageous to raise the line pressure in response to depression of a brake pedal, prior to movement of the shift lever. To limit the adverse fuel economy impact of increased line pressure, the line pressure is lowered again if the driver does not move the shift lever soon after depressing the brake pedal.

Transmission engagement control system

Methods and systems are provided for calibrating powertrain output in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for a vehicle comprises displaying a multi-parameter powertrain calibration map on a display device, and, responsive to user input, selectively adjusting the displayed calibration map along at least one parameter and not adjusting the calibration map past one or more predetermined thresholds. In this way, a vehicle powertrain system may be optimized according to a user's needs and/or preferences.

Methods and systems for powertrain control

A system includes a processor configured to automatically engage all wheel drive (AWD) when a vehicle reaches areas along a route that were previously flagged as slippery, in a memory in communication with the processor. The flagging may have occurred, for example, based on existence of unpaved roads or precipitation at those areas.

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Northville, MI, United States of America

Samuel Melville Glauber