# US 8,540,606 B2 · System and method for controlling engine torque > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,606 B2 - Document ID: US8540606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/621,823 - Filed: 2009-11-19 - Published: 2011-05-19 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-19 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Michael Livshiz; Jeffrey M. Kaiser; Ronald W. Van Diepen - Inventors: Michael Livshiz; Jeffrey M. Kaiser; Ronald W. Van Diepen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540606B2 ## CPC - F02D 41/022: {in relation with the clutch status} - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 30/1882: {characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart} - F02D 41/0205: {using an auxiliary engine speed control (engine speed control per se F02D31/00)} - F02D 41/1497: {With detection of the mechanical response of the engine} - B60W 2510/0241: Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds - B60W 2510/1015: Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed - B60W 2710/0644: Engine speed - B60W 2710/0666: Engine torque - F02D 2200/501: Vehicle speed - F02D 2200/602: Pedal position - F02D 2250/18: Control of the engine output torque - F16H 2059/385: {Turbine speed} - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - 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 - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An engine control system for a vehicle includes a power request determination module, a desired speed determination module, and a torque control module. The power request determination module determines a power request for an engine based on a request from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle. The desired speed determination module determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter of the engine, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip. The torque control module determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request and controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine control system for a vehicle, comprising: a power request determination module that determines a power request for an engine based on input from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle; a desired speed determination module that determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip; and a torque control module that determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request, and that controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the state of the clutch is one of an unlocked state, a controlled slip state and a locked state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The engine control system of claim 2, wherein when the clutch is in the unlocked state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on a predetermined function of the turbine speed and the power request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The engine control system of claim 3, wherein the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on a lookup table relating desired engine speed to turbine speed and power request. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The engine control system of claim 2, wherein when the clutch is in the controlled slip state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the first amount of clutch slip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The engine control system of claim 2, wherein when the clutch is in the locked state, the desired speed determination module determines the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the second amount of clutch slip, wherein the second amount of clutch slip is less than the first amount of clutch slip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the input from the driver is based on a position of an accelerator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the turbine speed is filtered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the state of the clutch is based on a pressure applied to the clutch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The engine control system of claim 1, wherein the torque control module controls the torque output of the engine by controlling at least one of air, fuel, and spark supplied to the engine. ### Claim 11 A method, comprising: determining a power request for an engine based on input from a driver of a vehicle and a speed of the vehicle; determining a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip; determining a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request; and controlling torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the state of the clutch is one of an unlocked state, a controlled slip state and a locked state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining the desired engine speed based on a predetermined function of the turbine speed and the power request when the clutch is in the unlocked state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining the desired engine speed based on a lookup table relating desired engine speed to turbine speed and power request. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the first amount of clutch slip when the clutch is in the controlled slip state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining the desired engine speed based on the turbine speed and the second amount of clutch slip when the clutch is in the locked state, wherein the second amount of clutch slip is less than the first amount of clutch slip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the input from the driver is based on a position of an accelerator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: filtering the turbine speed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining the state of the clutch based on a pressure applied to the clutch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: controlling the torque output of the engine by controlling at least one of air, fuel, and spark supplied to the engine.