Sequential simulated gear ratio calculation and rev-matching in a hybrid electric vehicle
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsErik Hasso Benedikt, Shannon Wrobel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for simulating rev-matching in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). In particular, increased engine response is provided while downshifting during acceleration. The transmission of an HEV may include an electronic control unit that controls the speed of the engine to simulate gears, and increases the speed of the engine responsive to a driver using the gear selector to shift from one of the simulated gears to a lower one of the simulated gears, thereby providing the desired rev-matching experience. The increased engine response can be reflected in a target engine speed that is calculated based on specific gear ratios associated with each of the simulated gears.
Claims13
A vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having a throttle;
- at least one motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine;
- a transmission receiving drive power from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the at least one motor generator;
- a shift selector to enable a driver of the vehicle to select a plurality of simulated gears of the transmission;
- and
- an electronic control unit configured to cause a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to increase, responsive to the driver of the vehicle using the shift selector to shift from a first one of the simulated gears to a second one of the simulated gears based upon respective simulated gear ratios associated with the first and second ones of the simulated gears, wherein
- the second one of the simulated gears is lower than the first one of the simulated gears,
- the electronic control unit is further configured to cause a rotational speed of the at least one motor generator to increase to augment drive power provided by the internal combustion engine, and
- the electronic control unit is further configured to transmit a target engine speed to the at least one motor generator.
A method performed by an electronic control unit of a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a memory unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor including computer code that when executed, causes the at least one processor to perform the following:
- cause a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine to increase, responsive to a driver of the vehicle using a shift selector to shift from a first one of a plurality of simulated gears to a second one of the plurality of simulated gears based upon respective simulated gear ratios associated with first and second ones of the simulated gears, wherein the second one of the simulated gears is lower than the first one of the simulated gears, wherein the increased rotational speed of the internal combustion engine augment at least one motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide drive power to a transmission of the vehicle;
- and
- cause a rotational speed of the at least one motor generator to increase to augment drive power provided by the internal combustion engine.
A method performed by an electronic control unit of a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a memory unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor including computer code that when executed, causes the at least one processor to perform the following:
- cause a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine to increase, responsive to a driver of the vehicle using a shift selector to shift from a first one of a plurality of simulated gears to a second one of the plurality of simulated gears based upon respective simulated gear ratios associated with first and second ones of the simulated gears, wherein the second one of the simulated gears is lower than the first one of the simulated gears, wherein the increased rotational speed of the internal combustion engine augment at least one motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine to provide drive power to a transmission of the vehicle;
- cause a rotational speed of the at least one motor generator to increase to augment drive power provided by the internal combustion engine;
- and
- cause the at least one processor to transmit a target engine speed to the at least one motor generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.