Method and apparatus for developing a control architecture for coordinating shift execution and engine torque control

A method for controlling a powertrain system including a transmission mechanically coupled to an engine and two electric machines to transfer power to an output member, said transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states, said method comprising:

• monitoring operator inputs describing an operator torque request;
• determining a preferred operating point of said powertrain based upon said operator inputs;
• determining a preferred operating range state of said transmission based upon said preferred operating point;
• determining lead control signals for said engine and said transmission based upon said preferred operating point and said preferred operating range state of said transmission;
• determining immediate control signals for said electric machines and said transmission, wherein said immediate control signals are based upon said preferred operating point, said preferred operating range state of said transmission, and a lead period calibrated to a difference in control signal reaction times of said engine and said electric machines in order to effect changes to actual electric machine outputs simultaneously with changes to an actual engine output;
• and
• coordinating parallel control of said engine and one of said electric machines, comprising:
• simultaneously providing power from the engine and said electric machine to the output member, comprising:
• controlling operation of said engine based upon said lead control signals for said engine and said transmission;
• and
• controlling operation of said electric machine based upon said immediate control signals for said electric machine and said transmission;
• wherein said parallel control of said engine and said electric machine synchronizes torque transfer from said engine and said electric machine to said output member to preserve vehicle drivability.

An apparatus for controlling a powertrain system including a transmission mechanically coupled to an engine and an electric machine to transfer power to an output member, said transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states, said apparatus comprising:

• a strategic control module including logic to determine a preferred operating point of said powertrain and a preferred operating range state of said transmission based upon an operator input;
• a shift execution module including logic generating lead control signals for said engine and said transmission and immediate control signals for said electric machine and said transmission, wherein said control signals are based upon said preferred operating point of said powertrain and said preferred operating range state of said transmission, and wherein said immediate control signals are based upon a lead period calibrated to a difference in control signal reaction times of said engine and said electric machine in order to effect changes to an actual electric machine output simultaneously with changes to an actual engine output;
• an engine control module controlling said engine based upon said lead control signals for said engine and said transmission;
• an electric machine module controlling said electric machine in parallel with said engine control module controlling said engine based upon said immediate control signals for said electric machine and said transmission;
• said engine providing power to said output member;
• and
• said electric machine providing power to said output member simultaneously to said engine;
• wherein said lead control signals and said immediate control signals provide parallel control of said engine and said electric machine synchronizing torque transfer from said engine and said electric machine to said output member to preserve vehicle drivability.