Hybrid vehicle and associated control method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsQing Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Philip Joseph Wiethe, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Ryan Abraham McGee, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Abstract
A hybrid vehicle and method of control are disclosed wherein the ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed varies continuously in some operating modes and is controlled to simulate a discrete ratio transmission in other operating modes. The disclosure specifies the method of controlling the engine speed and the combined output torque of the engine and at least one traction motor in each of the operating modes. Transitions among operating modes occur in response to driver movement of a shift lever, driver operation of shift selectors, and changes in vehicle speed.
Claims19
A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:
- operating an engine and a traction motor in a first (Normal) mode in which an output torque varies based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal position;
- in response to movement of a range selector, increasing the output torque to transition to a second (Sport) mode;
- and
- in response to operation of a downshift selector, transitioning to a third (LID) mode in which an engine speed is maintained proportional to vehicle speed.
A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:
- operating an engine and a traction motor in a Normal mode;
- in response to movement of a range selector, transitioning to a Sport mode wherein an output torque is maintained higher than in Normal mode at equal vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position;
- and
- in response to operation of a downshift selector, transitioning to an LID mode wherein an engine speed is maintained proportional to vehicle speed.
A controller comprising:
- communications channels configured to receive signals from a range selector, an upshift selector, and a downshift selector and configured to send signals to an engine and a traction motor to produce an engine speed and an output torque;
- and
- control logic programmed
- to operate in a first mode (Normal) when the range selector is moved to a first forward driving position;
- to respond to movement of the range selector to a second forward driving position by increasing output torque to transitioning to a second mode (Sport) wherein the output torque is maintained higher than in the first mode;
- and
- to respond to operation of the downshift selector by transitioning to a third mode (LID) wherein engine speed is controlled to vary in proportion to a vehicle speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.