# US 8,771,136 B2 · Hybrid powertrain with operator selectable electric propulsion mode > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,136 B2 - Document ID: US8771136B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/157,346 - Filed: 2011-06-10 - Published: 2012-12-13 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-10 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Michael Andrew Miller; Alan G. Holmes; Brendan M. Conlon; Steven A. Tarnowsky - Inventors: Michael Andrew Miller; Alan G. Holmes; Brendan M. Conlon; Steven A. Tarnowsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771136B2 ## CPC - B60K 6/46: Series type - B60K 6/52: Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive - B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand - B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling} - B60W 50/085: {Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input} - B60W 2510/083: Torque - B60W 2520/26: Wheel slip - B60W 2540/16: Ratio selector position - B60W 2540/215: Selection or confirmation of options - B60W 2720/403: between front and rear axle - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y10T 74/19019: Plural power paths from prime mover - 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 - 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A powertrain for a vehicle includes an engine and a transmission having an input member, an output member, and a neutral state in which torque is not transmitted from the input member to the output member. A first motor/generator is coupled to the engine. A second motor/generator is coupled with vehicle wheels directly or indirectly through the transmission. The first motor/generator acts as a generator when powered by the engine to provide electric power to the second motor/generator. The second motor/generator acts as a motor when receiving electric power from a battery or from the first motor/generator. A shift selector is moved by a vehicle operator to establish an electric propulsion mode in which the transmission is in the neutral state and the second motor/generator functions as a motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powertrain for a vehicle with wheels comprising: an engine; a multi-speed transmission having an input member operatively connected to the engine and an output member operatively connected to the wheels and having multiple gear ratios between the input member and the output member and a neutral state in which torque is not transmitted from the input member to the output member; a first motor/generator powered by the engine to function as a generator; an electric energy storage device operable to receive electric power from the first motor/generator; a second motor/generator configured to receive power from either or both of the electric energy storage device and first motor/generator to function as a motor to provide propulsion power to the wheels; and an operator shift selector movable to an electric propulsion position that establishes an electric propulsion mode in which the second motor/generator functions as a motor to provide propulsion power to the wheels and in which the transmission is in the neutral state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising: a shift indicator operable to provide an output indicative of operating conditions requiring a shift of the transmission from the neutral state to one of the gear ratios. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising a motor controller operable to control the first and the second motor/generators; and wherein the motor controller controls the second motor/generator to function as a motor in response to slipping of the wheels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The powertrain of claim 3, wherein the second motor/generator is controlled to operate as a motor only in response to slipping of the wheels or when required by one of the gear ratios selected by the shift selector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the transmission is a manual transmission; and wherein the operator shift selector is a gear shifter that establishes each of the gear ratios when placed in different predetermined positions for each of the gear ratios; and wherein the electric propulsion position is different from any of the predetermined positions for each of the gear ratios. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the operator shift selector is a depressible button. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising: a motor controller/power inverter; a switch configured to be closed by the operator shift selector when the operator shift selector is in the electric propulsion position to operatively connect the operator shift selector with the motor controller/power inverter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second motor/generator is operable as a motor to launch the vehicle when the operator shift selector is placed in the electric propulsion position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the powertrain is operable in a series hybrid mode when the operator shift selector is placed in the electric propulsion position with the engine on and powering the first motor/generator to operate as a generator, and the first motor/generator providing electric power to the second motor/generator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the first motor/generator is operable as a motor to start the engine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the second motor/generator is operable as a generator during vehicle deceleration. ### Claim 12 A powertrain for a vehicle with wheels comprising: an engine; a transmission having an input member and an output member and operable to provide a plurality of gear ratios between the input member and the output member; wherein the transmission is one of an automatic transmission and a manual transmission; a selectively disengageable clutch between the engine and the input member; wherein the transmission has a neutral state in which torque is not transmitted from the input member to the output member; a first motor/generator having a rotor connected directly or indirectly with the engine regardless of whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged; a second motor/generator having a rotor connected directly or indirectly with some of the wheels; wherein the first motor/generator is selectively operable as a generator when powered by the engine to provide electric power to the second motor/generator; an electric energy storage device; wherein the second motor/generator is selectively operable as a motor when receiving electric power from the electric energy storage device or from the first motor/generator; a motor controller operable to cause each of the first and the second motor/generators to function either as a motor or as a generator; an operator shift selector movable to an electronic propulsion position that places the powertrain in an electric propulsion mode in which the second motor/generator functions as a motor to provide propulsion power to said some of the wheels and in which the transmission is in the neutral state; and a shift indicator operatively connected to the motor controller and operable to provide an output signal indicative of a direction to shift the transmission to one of said gear ratios. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the second motor/generator is operable as a motor to launch the vehicle when the operator shift selector is placed in the electric propulsion position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the powertrain is operable in a hybrid series mode with the engine on and powering the first motor/generator to operate as a generator, and the first motor/generator providing electric power to the second motor/generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the first motor/generator is operable as a motor to start the engine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the second motor/generator is operable as a generator during vehicle deceleration. ### Claim 17 A powertrain operable to propel a vehicle with wheels comprising: an engine; a selectively engageable clutch; a transmission connecting the engine with the vehicle wheels when the selectively engageable clutch is engaged, and having multiple gear ratios and a neutral state in which engine power is not transmitted to the wheels through the transmission; a first motor/generator coupled directly or indirectly to the wheels when the selectively engageable clutch is engaged and operable to start the engine, generate electricity, and assist the engine in providing propulsion torque; a second motor/generator coupled to the front or the rear wheels either directly or indirectly through the transmission and configured to receive power from the battery, the first motor/generator, or both to operate as a motor providing vehicle propulsion; a controller connected to the motor/generators and operable to control each of the motor/generators to function as a motor or as a generator in response to vehicle operating conditions; and an operator shift selector selectively movable to place the transmission in the neutral state so that the engine is mechanically separated from the wheels and to cause the controller to operate the second motor/generator as a motor to provide torque at the vehicle wheels to propel the vehicle, thereby establishing an electric propulsion mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The powertrain of claim 17, further comprising: a shift indicator operable to indicate when operating conditions warrant a shift to one of the gear ratios to permit the engine to provide torque to the wheels through the transmission. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The powertrain of claim 16, wherein the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are operable to provide a series operating mode in which the engine provides mechanical power to the first motor/generator to function as a generator, and the first motor/generator provides electric power to the second motor/generator to function as a motor to provide torque to the wheels; and wherein the controller controls the motor/generators to establish the series operating mode when the operator shift selector places the transmission in the neutral state and the electric storage device is below a predetermined state of charge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, further comprising: a selectively disengageable clutch between the engine and the input member; and wherein the first motor/generator is mechanically disconnected from the transmission when the clutch is disengaged.