# US 8,788,164 B2 · Method and apparatus for controlling a multi-mode powertrain system

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- Number: US 8,788,164 B2
- Document ID: US8788164B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/681,507
- Filed: 2012-11-20
- Published: 2014-05-22
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-20
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Anthony H. Heap; Kee Yong Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788164B2

## CPC

- B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings
- B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 10/115: with planetary gears
- B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
- B60W 30/1882: {characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart}
- B60W 2710/1016: Input speed change rate
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid 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
- 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
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a multi-mode transmission, torque machines, and a driveline. A method for operating the powertrain system to transfer torque among the engine, torque machine, and driveline includes controlling operation of the powertrain system in a pseudo-gear range in response to an output torque request including operating the transmission in a variable mode transmission range and controlling a magnitude of torque output to the driveline in response to an output torque request and in proportion to a magnitude of input torque from the engine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for operating a powertrain system including a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machine, and a driveline, the method comprising:
controlling operation of the powertrain system in a pseudo-gear range in response to an output torque request including operating the transmission in a variable mode transmission range and controlling a magnitude of torque output to the driveline in response to an output torque request and in proportion to a magnitude of input torque from the engine;
wherein controlling operation in a pseudo-gear range further comprises determining a preferred engine speed and a preferred clutch slip speed for a torque transfer clutch of the transmission in response to the output torque request.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred engine speed and the preferred clutch slip speed for a torque transfer clutch of the transmission comprises:
for each of a plurality of candidate engine speeds and candidate clutch slip speeds, employing a system torque determination scheme for operating the powertrain system in the pseudo-gear range in response to the output torque request, and employing a cost model to calculate a respective candidate cost; and
identifying the preferred engine speed and the preferred clutch slip speed comprising the candidate engine speed and the candidate clutch slip speed associated with a minimum of the candidate costs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein employing the system torque determination scheme for operating the powertrain system in the pseudo-gear range comprises determining a preferred powertrain operating point including motor torque commands for the torque machines to achieve the output torque request in response to the candidate engine speed and the candidate clutch slip speed when operating in the pseudo-gear range based upon powertrain system operating parameters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein employing the cost model to calculate the respective candidate cost comprises:
employing the system torque determination scheme for operating the powertrain system in the pseudo-gear range in response to the output torque request to determine an optimized candidate powertrain operating point; and
employing a power cost function to determine a candidate cost for operating the powertrain at the optimized candidate powertrain operating point.