Hybrid electric powertrain architectures and control logic for vehicle response management

A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain of a vehicle with multiple road wheels, the hybrid powertrain including an engine and a motor operable to drive one or more of the road wheels, an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) operable to disengage the engine from the motor, and a controller programmed to control the motor, the engine, and the EDC, the method comprising:

• receiving, via the controller from a motor speed sensor, a sensor signal indicative of a motor speed of the motor;
• receiving, via the controller, data indicative of an engine torque command for the engine, a motor torque command for the motor, and a clutch torque command for the EDC;
• determining, via the controller using a state observer module, an estimated jerk as a second derivative of speed based on the motor speed of the motor;
• determining, via the controller based on the clutch torque command, whether the EDC is in a torque-transmitting active state or a non-torque-transmitting inactive state;
• receiving a jerk reference;
• determining a jerk error as a mathematical difference between the jerk reference set equal to zero and the estimated jerk;
• calculating, via the controller responsive to the EDC being in the torque-transmitting active state and based on the jerk error and the engine, motor, and clutch torque commands, an incremental feedback control signal predicted to reduce the estimated jerk, the calculating including a proportional-integral (PI) controller generating respective incremental corrections for the engine, the motor, and the EDC;
• and
• transmitting, via the controller, torque command signals to the engine, the motor and the EDC to modulate a torque output thereof based on the incremental feedback control signal, the torque command signals including a modified engine torque command based on the incremental correction for the engine, a modified motor torque command based on the incremental correction for the motor, and a modified clutch torque command based on the incremental correction for the EDC.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body with a plurality of road wheels attached to the vehicle body;
• an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly mounted to the vehicle body and including a crankshaft configured to output torque generated by the ICE assembly;
• traction motor mounted to the vehicle body and including a rotor configured to output torque generated by the traction motor;
• a power transmission mounted to the vehicle body and drivingly connected to the crankshaft and the rotor to receive, modify, and output the torque generated by the traction motor and the ICE assembly to one or more of the road wheels to thereby propel the vehicle;
• an engine disconnect clutch (EDC) operable to drivingly disconnect the ICE assembly from both the traction motor and the power transmission;
• and
• a vehicle controller operatively connected to the ICE assembly, the traction motor, the power transmission, and the EDC, the vehicle controller being programmed to:
• receive a sensor signal indicative of a motor speed of the traction motor;
• receive data indicative of an engine torque command for the ICE assembly, a motor torque command for the traction motor, and a clutch torque command for the EDC;
• determine an estimated jerk as a second derivative of speed based on the motor speed of the traction motor using a state observer module;
• determine whether the EDC is in a torque-transmitting active state or a non-torque-transmitting inactive state based on the clutch torque command;
• responsive to the EDC being in the non-torque-transmitting inactive state, execute a bumpless transfer during which a rate of change of the motor torque command is maintained within a calibrated maximum rate change percentage for a predetermined time;
• responsive to the EDC being in the torque-transmitting active state, calculate an incremental feedback control signal, predicted to reduce the estimated jerk, based on the engine, motor, and clutch torque commands;
• and
• transmit a torque command signal to the ICE assembly, motor, and/or EDC to modulate a torque output thereof based on the incremental feedback control signal.