# US 2017/0282908 A1 · Methods and systems for a vehicle driveline > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282908 A1 - Document ID: US20170282908A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/624,958 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron; Adam Nathan Banker; Dennis Craig Reed; Seung-Hoon Lee; James William Loch McCallum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282908A1 ## CPC - B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} - B60K 6/48: Parallel type - B60K 23/08: for changing number of driven wheels {, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles (B60K17/3515 takes precedence)} - B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches - B60W 10/023: {Fluid clutches} - B60W 10/026: {of lock-up clutches} - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators - B60W 10/119: including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle (B60W10/14 takes precedence) - B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} - B60W 20/13: in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion - B60W 30/186: excessive wear or burn out of friction elements, e.g. clutches - F02N 11/0837: {Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions} - B60W 2540/215: Selection or confirmation of options - F02N 2200/08: said parameters being related to the vehicle or its components - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y10S 903/93: Conjoint control of different elements - Y10S 903/946: Characterized by control of driveline clutch - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operating modes may be manually selected to improve hybrid driveline operation during off road conditions. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising: providing a manual driver input for a driveline operating mode parameter; adjusting engaging of a driveline disconnect clutch positioned between an engine and a motor in response to the driveline operating mode parameter; and further adjusting a first schedule for automatically idling the engine and decoupling the engine from the hybrid vehicle driveline via the driveline disconnect clutch in response to a condition of a driving surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically restarting the engine in response to the condition of the driving surface degrading to a threshold level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting disengaging the driveline disconnect clutch in response to the driveline operating mode parameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the engine to stop rotating in response to the condition of the driving surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where adjusting engaging of the driveline disconnect clutch includes unlocking the driveline disconnect clutch to an open position such that the engine is not mechanically coupled to the motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising where the driveline disconnect clutch is automatically closed in response to a state of battery charge being lower than a threshold charge level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a second schedule that is applied when the hybrid vehicle is operated in a four wheel drive mode. ### Claim at position 8 8-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A method of adjusting operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline, comprising: providing a manual hill descent control input for a driver; providing a manual driver input for adjusting activation of a driveline disconnect clutch in response to a state of the hill descent control input; and automatically restarting a stopped engine in response to the driver selecting a four wheel drive range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, where the driver selects four wheel drive range while in a two wheel drive range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, where the four wheel drive range is a high or low gear range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising opening and closing the driveline disconnect clutch according to a first schedule based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, where automatically restarting the stopped engine includes closing the driveline disconnect clutch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising stopping engine rotation in response to a vehicle battery reaching a first threshold state of charge based on operating the hybrid vehicle in the four wheel drive range.