US 7,406,366 B1Granted

System and method for validating velocities of torque generating devices in a vehicle

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsMathew A. Boesch, Vijay K. Garg, Abbas Raftari, Bader M. Badreddine, Sergey G. Semenov, Lawrence M. Rose, Gregory H. Benz

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Abstract

A method for validating engine and motor velocities in a vehicle having an engine and two motors is provided. The method validates the velocities without using two speed sensors for each device. The velocities of the engine and the two motors are first determined, and then mathematically combined using known velocity relationships based on the vehicle architecture. The mathematical combination of the velocities is then compared to a first pre-determined speed range, and if the mathematical combination is within the predetermined range, the velocities of the engine and the two motors are validated. If the validation of the engine and the two motors fails, additional equations can be used utilizing additional inputs, including the vehicle speed as measured at the vehicle wheels. In this way, the velocities of one or more of the torque generating devices in the vehicle may be validated.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for validating engine and motor velocities in a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle components, including an engine and a first motor arranged in a vehicle architecture such that at least one known mathematical relationship exists between the engine velocity and the velocity of the first motor, the engine and the first motor each being operable to output torque and at least the engine being operable to output torque to at least one vehicle wheel, the method comprising:

measuring engine speed, thereby facilitating a determination of engine velocity;
measuring the velocity of the first motor;
using the determined engine velocity and the measured velocity of the first motor in a first equation, the first equation including the use of a first velocity relationship mathematically relating the engine velocity and the velocity of the first motor based on the vehicle architecture, the first equation being determinative of whether a mathematical combination of at least the determined engine velocity and the measured velocity of the first motor is within a first predetermined speed range;
validating the determined engine velocity and the measured velocity of the first motor when the mathematical combination of at least the determined engine velocity and the measured velocity of the first motor is within the first predetermined speed range;
and
communicating at least one of the validated determined engine velocity or the validated measured velocity of the first motor to at least one of the vehicle components.

3 more elements

A method for validating engine and motor velocities in a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle components, including an engine, a first motor, and a second motor arranged in a vehicle architecture such that at least one known mathematical relationship exists between the engine velocity and each of the velocities of the first and second motors, the engine and the first and second motors each being operable to output torque and at least the engine and the second motor being operable to output torque to at least one vehicle wheel, the method comprising:

measuring engine speed, thereby facilitating a determination of engine velocity;
measuring the velocity of the first motor;
measuring the velocity of the second motor;
mathematically combining the determined engine velocity, the measured velocity of the first motor, and the measured velocity of the second motor to generate a first combined speed term;
comparing the first combined speed term to a first predetermined speed range;
validating the determined engine velocity, the measured velocity of the first motor, and the measured velocity of the second motor when the first combined speed term is within the first predetermined speed range;
and
communicating at least one of the validated determined engine velocity, the validated measured velocity of the first motor, or the validated measured velocity of the second motor to at least one of the vehicle components.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.