Electromagnetically controlled clutch assembly and control method for the same

A vehicle comprising:

• a transmission having a rotatable input shaft and a rotatable output shaft;
• an electromagnetic (EM) clutch assembly having:
• an input disc operatively connected to a rotatable input shaft, wherein the input disc defines an input face having a mechanical feature;
• an output disc operatively connected to a rotatable output shaft, wherein the output disc includes a bore wall defining a bore;
• a plunger positioned at least partially within the bore;
• and
• a control solenoid;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• transmit a time-varying electrical control signal to the control solenoid to thereby resonate the plunger toward the input disc;
• transmit a steady-state electrical control signal to the control solenoid to capture the plunger in an engageable position;
• and
• control rotation of the input and output discs until the plunger encounters the mechanical feature, thereby placing the EM clutch assembly in an engaged state.

A method for controlling an electromagnetic (EM) clutch assembly having an input disc having a mechanical feature, an output disc defining a bore wall, a plunger which moves within a bore defined by the bore wall, and a control solenoid, the method comprising:

• transmitting a time-varying electrical control signal from a controller to the control solenoid to thereby resonate the plunger toward the input disc;
• transmitting a steady-state electrical control signal to the control solenoid to capture the plunger in an engageable position;
• and
• controlling rotation of the input and output discs until the plunger encounters the mechanical feature, thereby placing the EM clutch assembly in an engaged state.