Engine start control system for a hybrid vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsWalter Joseph Ortmann, Naginder Gogna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine that are each configured to generate power within the powertrain to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, generate a powertrain power output profile required to propel the vehicle over a predetermined route based on navigation data. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile to a value that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile.
Claims17
A vehicle comprising:
- a powertrain including an engine and an electric machine;
- an engine disconnect clutch configured to connect and disconnect the engine to and from the powertrain, respectively;
- a drive horizon system configured to generate a powertrain power output profile required to propel the vehicle over a predetermined route based on navigation data, the navigation data including a road grade of the predetermined route, a speed limit of the predetermined route, a road curvature of the predetermined route, traffic conditions of the predetermined route, or weather conditions of the predetermined route;
- and
- a controller programed to,
- in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile to a value that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile, and
- in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile to a value that is less than the threshold, maintain operating the electric machine to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route with the engine being shutdown.
A vehicle comprising:
- a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine;
- an engine disconnect clutch configured to connect and disconnect the engine to and from the powertrain, respectively;
- and
- a controller programmed to,
- generate powertrain power output values to propel the vehicle at specified locations along a predetermined route based on navigation data,
- in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the values that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the values, and
- increase a pressure on the disconnect clutch to initiate the engine start at the predetermined period of time before the upcoming increase in the values that is greater than the threshold.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine and an electric machine;
- an engine disconnect clutch configured to connect and disconnect the engine to and from a power path to a drive wheel, respectively;
- and
- a controller programed to,
- generate a power output profile required to propel the vehicle over a predetermined route based on navigation data,
- in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the power output profile to a value that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the power output profile,
- in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the power output profile to a value that is less than the threshold, maintain operating the electric machine to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route with the engine being shutdown, and
- increase a pressure on the disconnect clutch to initiate the engine start at the predetermined period of time before the upcoming increase in the power output profile to the value that is greater than the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.