Controlling powertrain torque in a hybrid vehicle

• Main Authors: Johri Rajit, Liang Wei, Yamazaki Mark Steven, Wang Xiaoyong, McGee Ryan Abraham, Kuang Ming Lang
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.11.2017
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine, both capable of providing torque to transmission gearing. A clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine and is configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric machine. At times in which control of the amount of engine torque transmitted to the gearing is desirable, a controller is programmed to slip the clutch. If the controller is able to determine the amount of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch, the controller alters an output of the electric machine based upon the torque through the clutch. If, however, the controller is unable to determine the amount of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch, the controller alters the output of the electric machine based upon an acceleration of the electric machine.