Method and apparatus for starting a turbocharged engine in a hybrid vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsFelix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Matthew John Shelton, Roger Lyle Huffmaster
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle with a modular hybrid transmission that has a combustion engine including a turbocharger and an e-machine use barometric pressure, road grade, and estimated vehicle mass to develop a turbo lag estimate. If it is determined that undesirable turbo lag is likely, the system opens a disconnect clutch between the engine and the e-machine and the engine is started independently of the e-machine. The e-machine is then used to launch the vehicle while the engine is started.
Claims20
A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- an engine having a starter and a turbocharger;
- a motor;
- a clutch operatively connecting the motor to the engine;
- a transmission connected to the motor;
- and
- a controller that actuates the starter when the engine is stopped and a barometric pressure signal is below a calibrated threshold, and launches the vehicle using the motor until an engine speed and a motor speed are within a calibrated threshold difference.
A method of operating a vehicle having a motor between a transmission and an engine, the motor and the engine being connected through a clutch that selectively connects the motor and the engine, the vehicle having an accelerator pedal including a pedal position sensor that provides a pedal position signal and a barometric pressure sensor that provides a barometric pressure signal, the method comprising:
- actuating a starter motor to start the engine when a turbo lag value is greater than a turbo lag threshold based on the barometric pressure signal;
- increasing engine speed;
- and
- applying the clutch when the engine speed is within a specified range of motor speed.
(canceled)
A system for starting an engine of a vehicle that has a turbocharger, the system including a motor that is selectively coupled to the engine by a clutch, the system comprising:
- an engine control module;
- a pedal position sensor that provides a pedal position signal to the engine control module;
- a barometric pressure signal provided to the engine control module;
- and
- a starter motor actuated by the engine control module based upon the barometric pressure signal and the pedal position signal;
- wherein the engine control module sends a clutch apply signal to the clutch to apply the clutch when an engine speed is within a predetermined range of a motor speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.