Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Thomas Scott Gee

Paul F Smith

Thomas A Schubert

Michael John Cullen

William David Treharne

Jonathan Andrew Butcher

Mazen Hammoud

Kevin Layden

Robert W Ridgway

Michael P Falandino

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ming Lang Kuang

Rajit Johri

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Dale Scott Crombez

Allan Joseph Kotwicki

Douglas R Hamburg

Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar

Ryan J Skaff

Carol Louise Okubo

Kenneth John Jackson

Paul Stephen Bryan

Christopher Adam Ochocinski

Kirk Pebley

Kevin Ruybal

Borys Joseph Melnyk

Marsha Wendel

Edward L Korte

Todd Leonard Rachel

Graham Arthur Snow

Krish Mahadevan

Michael Thomas Conlin

Darren Bisaro

John Lowell Zeller

John Robert McDonald

Carl W Squire

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch. The estimated torque capacity of the driveline disconnect clutch is based on a combined inertia of a dual mass flywheel and the driveline disconnect clutch.

Method for operating a vehicle having a driveline disconnect clutch

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, automatically preconditioning a passenger cabin of an electrified vehicle during a DC fast charging event of a battery assembly if the electrified vehicle is turned OFF.

Passenger cabin preconditioning during DC fast charging events

An exemplary method includes conditioning an electrified vehicle to maintain a target conditioning level using power from a grid source. The conditioning either lasts from a conclusion of a first drive cycle to the beginning of a second drive cycle that is subsequent the first drive cycle, or lasts from a conclusion of a first drive cycle for set time.

Electrified vehicle conditioning using grid power

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, conditioning a battery assembly of an electrified vehicle to a desired thermal level in a manner that extends useful life of the battery assembly, the conditioning step including heating or cooling the battery assembly with a thermal management system operable during both vehicle ON conditions and vehicle OFF conditions.

Battery thermal conditioning to extend battery useful life in electrified vehicles

A hybrid vehicle operates in an electric-drive-only mode and one or more modes using an internal combustion engine. A control pedal is movable to respective positions by a driver for indicating a desired vehicle motion. A controller selectably activates the engine according to instantaneous values of a variable wheel output demand and a variable pull-up threshold. The pedal position is converted to a respective instantaneous wheel output demand in response to an initial value from a mapping relationship that is modified in response to a difference between the initial value and the variable pull-up threshold. The pull-up threshold may preferably be dynamically determined according to a state of charge of a battery for powering the electric drive. The modification to the wheel output demand preferably reduces the slope of the mapping relationship near the pull-up threshold to reduce pedal position sensitivity in a region near the dynamically varying pull-up threshold.

Dynamic mapping of pedal position to wheel output demand in a hybrid vehicle

A vehicle is provided with at least one wheel and a motor that is coupled to the wheel. The motor is configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to predict future powertrain oscillation based on input indicative of a wheel speed and a total brake torque. The controller is also configured to control the motor to reduce the regenerative brake torque prior to the powertrain oscillation.

Regenerative braking control to mitigate powertrain oscillation

An internal combustion engine has an engine shut-down system that automatically interrupts engine operation when vehicle operation indicates that no torque is required from the engine. An air conditioner compressor operates to cool a passenger compartment of the vehicle and is actuated in a first phase time, and is not actuated in a second phase time. An override system compares the time the compressor is in the enabled first phase time to the time the compressor is in the disabled second phase time. The override system disables the engine shut-down system unless it is determined that a ratio of the disabled second phase time to the enabled first phase time has a low rate of change, that the ratio is greater than a predetermined value, and that the time the compressor is in the disabled second phase is greater than a predetermined value.

Method and apparatus for improved climate control function in a vehicle employing engine stop/start technology

An active motor damping system and method for dampening oscillations of a driveline in a vehicle includes generating a commanded torque indicative of an actual torque which would counteract the oscillations if delivered by a motor to the driveline. The commanded torque is adjusted as a function of a phase lag between the commanded torque and an actual torque which the motor would deliver in response to the commanded torque such that in response to the adjusted commanded torque the motor delivers the actual torque which counteracts the oscillations.

Phase delayed active motor damping to mitigate electric vehicle driveline oscillations

An information display system includes an information display that communicates relevant information relating to the operation of a vehicle. The information display conveys a score representing lifetime or long-term driving or operating efficiency of the vehicle. The score can be conveyed numerically or graphically using a number of indicators, or both. Each indicator may correspond to a different achievement level attained for efficient driving or vehicle use behavior.

Vehicle information display and method

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) manages engine operation in the event of an engine cooling system malfunction by operating the engine with fewer than the total number of engine cylinders, while extracting power, particularly during transient operation, from not only the engine, but also the vehicle's traction motor and battery.

Control algorithm for hybrid electric vehicle

A strategy controls alternate anti-vibration modes in a switchable powertrain mount using vehicle operational status sensors and pre-selected thresholds. The switchable mount modes can include engine off-idle and an idle mode. Vehicle sensors and pre-selected thresholds can determine whether the engine is off-idle, or running in idle mode, whether the engine will likely remain in idle mode. From these determinations, the controller can command the switchable mount to engine idle mode when the controller determines the engine is in idle mode and will likely remain in idle mode. The switching means for the switchable mount can use a three-way vacuum solenoid valve (VSV), or a mechanical or electrical switch. In the case of the VSV configuration, the VSV is communicatively attached to the controller, a vacuum line connects the VSV to the switchable mount, and a second vacuum line connects the VSV to an engine intake manifold.

System and method to control a switchable powertrain mount

An automobile has an electronic device with a nonvolatile memory implementation. The electronic device includes non-programmable nonvolatile memory (ROM), volatile memory (RAM) and programmable nonvolatile memory (EEPROM). A controller (CPU) is coupled to and controls reads and writes to and from the ROM, RAM, and EEPROM. When the CPU detects a key-off event it calculates an error recovery code (checksum) for a data string stored in the RAM and stores the checksum and data into one of two memory locations in the EEPROM. The CPU will alternate between the two memory locations each cycle. When the CPU detects a key-on event it calculates the checksum for the data string stored in the RAM. If the data string is invalid or if validity of the EEPROM data cannot be confirmed, then the CPU copies a predetermined data string from the ROM to the RAM. If the CPU determines that the calculated KAM checksum does not equal the stored KAM checksum, then the CPU copies the EEPROM data string to the KAM. Otherwise, the RAM data string remains untouched.

Nonvolatile memory implementation for electronic devices

An engine operating system includes an exhaust aftertreatment device and a fuel delivery system for providing fuel to the engine so as to cause the engine's air/fuel ratio to vary on a periodic basis. The exhaust aftertreatment device has a window of maximum operating efficiency characterized by storage and release of an exhaust constituent within the aftertreatment device. A controller operates the fuel delivery system and performs a statistical analysis of signals from an exhaust constituent concentration sensor downstream of the exhaust aftertreatment device, so as to assure that the exhaust aftertreatment device is being operated within its window of most efficient operation.

Engine operating system for maximizing efficiency and monitoring

A system for controlling the idle speed of an automotive engine selects a desired initial idle speed based on a sensed value of at least one engine operating parameter and operates an idle speed module to maintain the engine's idle speed at the desired initial speed. Thereafter, the system determines a desired total heat build for the engine as a function of at least one engine operating parameter and adjusts the idle speed according to a calculated actual heat build for the engine while the engine is operating.

Automative engine idle speed control

A signal indicating closed throttle position is corrected, through increases and decreases, as a function of an engine's volumetric efficiency, engine speed, application of a vehicle's brake, and the selection of a transmission gear.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Thomas Scott Gee