Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080249745 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGEMENT OF AN ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE TO ACHIEVE A TARGET LIFE OBJECTIVE - A method for determining a preferred operating gradient for use in attaining a life objective for an electrical energy storage device is disclosed. A present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device is provided and a life target for the electrical energy storage device is established as a predetermined limit in a predetermined metric at a predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device. A state-of-life gradient is then determined with respect to the predetermined metric which converges the state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device to the life target. | 10-09-2008 |
20090075773 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT A MODE-GEAR MISMATCH DURING OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A method for operating the powertrain includes monitoring operator inputs, monitoring a transmission output, and terminating an engine operating mode when a time-rate change in the transmission output exceeds a threshold absent a change in the monitored operator inputs. | 03-19-2009 |
20090075780 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR A VALVE ADAPTED TO CONTROL MODE TO GEAR TRANSITIONS DURING OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - Monitoring operation of an electromechanical transmission having a hydraulic circuit with flow management valves and pressure control solenoids to actuate clutches and pressure monitoring devices to monitor the hydraulic circuit is provided. The transmission operates in fixed gear and continuously variable operating range states. The method comprises controlling position of one of the flow management valves to control operation in one of the operating range states. A fault is detected in the one of the flow management valves based upon outputs of the pressure monitoring devices during steady state operation in one of the continuously variable operating range states. A fault is detected in the one of the flow management valves based upon the output of one of the pressure monitoring devices during a transition in the flow management valve. | 03-19-2009 |
20090076679 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR AN OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR DURING OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - There is provided a method to monitor a sensing system adapted to monitor an output of an electro-mechanical transmission. This includes monitoring rotational speed of a wheel operatively connected to a driveline operatively connected to the output of the electro-mechanical transmission. A first expected output of the transmission is determined based upon the output of the first sensor. A second expected output of the transmission is determined based upon a rotational speed of a torque-generative device operatively connected to the transmission. The first and second expected outputs and an output of the sensing system adapted to monitor the output of the electro-mechanical transmission are compared. | 03-19-2009 |
20090082150 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for robust fault detection in an electrically variable, hydraulically controlled transmission includes independently monitoring hydraulic pressure within a hydraulic control circuit and electric machine rotation for detecting clutch state faults. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088279 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT A MODE-GEAR MISMATCH DURING STEADY STATE OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - Control of operation of a hybrid powertrain is provided, wherein mechanical power flow to an output is controlled through selective actuation of torque-transfer clutches. Electric machines are coupled to an energy storage system for electric power flow. The electro-mechanical transmission is operated in a continuously variable operating range state, and, operation of the transmission is monitored. Absence of a mismatch between the commanded continuously variable operating range state and an actual operating state of the transmission is determined. Presence of a mismatch between the commanded operating range state and the actual operating state of the transmission may be determined. Operation of the powertrain is modified when a mismatch between the commanded operating range state and the actual operating state of the transmission is detected. | 04-02-2009 |
20090099742 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR A FLOW MANAGEMENT VALVE OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A flow management valve is operative to enable a multi-range electro-mechanical transmission in first and second ranges. Fluid pressure in a hydraulic circuit is monitored to detect a fault in the flow management valve. | 04-16-2009 |
20090099791 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - Temperature of an electric power device of a hybrid transmission is managed based upon device temperatures and power flow, ambient temperature, and a cooling circuit flow rate. | 04-16-2009 |
20090118074 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR ROTATIONAL SPEEDS IN AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. Powertrain operation includes monitoring operator inputs, and determining input speeds and changes in input speeds for the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. The input speeds are compared to threshold input speeds, and the changes in input speeds are compared to threshold changes in input speeds. Input torques of the internal combustion engine and the electric machine are reduced when any one of the input speeds and changes in input speeds exceeds the corresponding threshold. | 05-07-2009 |
20090144002 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FAULTS IN A CURRENT SENSING DEVICE - A method and article of manufacture are provided to monitor a sensing system operative to monitor electrical current in a transmission line between an electrical storage device and an electrical machine. The sensing system comprises first and second sensors, operative to monitor first and second ranges of electrical current. The method comprises determining outputs of the first and second sensors are valid, and comparing outputs of the first and second sensors when current is substantially zero. The method comprises comparing magnitudes of the outputs of the first and second sensors when the monitored electrical current, and monitoring polarity of each of the outputs of the first and second sensors. | 06-04-2009 |
20110070991 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for robust fault detection in an electrically variable, hydraulically controlled transmission includes independently monitoring hydraulic pressure within a hydraulic control circuit and electric machine rotation for detecting clutch state faults. | 03-24-2011 |
20110288723 | MODULAR TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE DIAGNOSTIC FOR A VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a power inverter module (PIM), a motor/generator unit (MGU), vehicle components, temperature sensors, and a controller. The sensors measure temperatures of a motor winding of the MGU, and temperatures of the multiple phase outputs of the PIM. The second plurality of temperature sensors measures temperatures of the vehicle components. The controller calculates an average temperature of the components, and individually diagnoses each temperature sensor using the average temperature. A control circuit for the vehicle includes the first and second plurality of sensors and the controller. A temperature performance diagnostic method includes using the first plurality to measure a temperature of the motor winding and the phase outputs of the PIM, using the second plurality to measure a temperature of the components, calculating an average temperature of the components, and individually diagnosing the performance of each of the first plurality of sensors using the average temperature. | 11-24-2011 |
20120035019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT A MODE-GEAR MISMATCH DURING OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A vehicular powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine. A method for operating the powertrain includes monitoring operator inputs, monitoring a transmission output, and terminating an engine operating mode when a time-rate change in the transmission output exceeds a threshold absent a change in the monitored operator inputs. | 02-09-2012 |
20120072060 | METHOD OF MONITORING IN-USE PERFORMANCE RATIOS OF ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS FOR PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A method of monitoring an onboard diagnostic system for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes incrementing the denominator of an N/D ratio for the onboard diagnostic system only when a total time criteria, a vehicle speed criteria and an idle criteria are satisfied after an internal combustion engine of the vehicle has been fueled. The diagnostic system performance is summarized into a single N/D ratio. When an underperforming ratio is identified, the system controls the engine to provide more engine operation and subsequent diagnostic observability. The denominator of the N/D ratio is compared to a verification denominator to identify vehicles that are typically operated in a manner such that an engine-on cycle does not begin, or is not identified, until very near the end of the drive cycle, thereby preventing the denominator and a numerator of the N/D ratio from incrementing, and thereby providing a false passing performance ratio. | 03-22-2012 |
20120078481 | REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM - A brake system for a vehicle having a hydraulic brake system and a regenerative brake system and a method of controlling the same is provided. The brake system may include a brake pedal having a range of motion and configured to control the application of the hydraulic brake system based upon a position of the brake pedal within the range of motion. The brake system may further include a brake controller configured to determine an inflection position of the brake pedal, the inflection position being a position of the brake pedal within the range of motion when the hydraulic brake system begins to apply a brake pressure over a predetermined threshold, wherein the brake controller applies the regenerative brake system based upon inflection position. | 03-29-2012 |
20120084039 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MEASURING A SENSOR OFFSET - A method includes detecting a first event and executing a first procedure to identify a sensor offset in response to detecting the first event. The method further includes determining, via a computing device, whether the sensor offset was measured during the execution of the first procedure, scheduling a second procedure to execute in response to detecting a second event if the sensor offset was not measured during the first procedure, and scheduling the first procedure to execute in response to detecting a subsequent occurrence of the first event if the sensor offset was measured during the first procedure. | 04-05-2012 |
20120158226 | BELT SLIP DETECTION DIAGNOSTIC - A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a belt, and a controller. The engine is configured to output torque via a crankshaft. The motor is configured to apply torque to and/or receive torque from the engine via an output shaft. The belt is operably disposed on the crankshaft of the engine and the output shaft of the motor. Rotation of the output shaft is transferred to the crankshaft via the belt. The controller is configured to identify a slip event by comparing a speed of the motor to a speed of the engine. The controller is further configured to count the number of slip events and diagnose a belt failure if the number of slip events exceeds a predetermined number of slip events over a predetermined number of drive cycles. | 06-21-2012 |
20120191295 | METHOD OF DETECTING AN IN-RANGE FAILURE OF A BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR - A method of detecting an in-range failure of a brake pedal position sensor includes calculating the difference between a minimum position and a maximum position of the brake pedal position sensor. The calculated difference is weighted to define a fast test weighted input value and/or a full test weighted input value. A cumulative test result value is incremented by the fast test weighted input value and/or the full test weighted input value. The cumulative test result value is filtered to define a moving average of the cumulative test result value after each incremented occurrence. The moving average of the cumulative test result value is tracked to determine if the brake pedal position sensor is functioning properly. | 07-26-2012 |
20120203405 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A RESOLVER IN A TORQUE MACHINE - A method for monitoring an electrically-powered torque machine configured to generate torque in a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring signal outputs of a resolver configured to monitor rotational position of the torque machine. Upon detecting a fault warning state associated with the signal outputs of the resolver, a motor torque capacity of the torque machine is derated. Upon a clearing of the fault warning state, a torque ramp-up state to increase the motor torque capacity of the torque machine is executed. Notice of an incidence of a fault associated with the signal outputs of the resolver is provided only when the motor torque capacity fails to achieve a threshold motor torque capacity within a threshold recovery time period while executing the torque ramp-up state. | 08-09-2012 |
20120283900 | ACTUATOR TORQUE PRODUCTION DIAGNOSTIC - An example hybrid vehicle includes a control unit that generates a control signal representing an expected torque, a first actuator that generates a first torque, a second actuator that generates a second torque associated with operating characteristics of the second actuator, and a gearbox that can receive the torque generated by the first and second actuators. A controller can determine whether the first torque produced by the first actuator is substantially the same as the expected torque based on one or more operating characteristics of the second actuator. An example method includes deriving an actual torque of the first actuator based on the operating characteristics of the second actuator, defining a torque deviation from the actuator torque and the expected torque, comparing the torque deviation to a calibration threshold, and diagnosing that the first actuator has failed if the torque deviation exceeds the calibration threshold. | 11-08-2012 |
20130313048 | METHOD TO DETECT LOSS OF FLUID OR BLOCKAGE IN A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT USING EXPONENTIALLY WEIGHTED MOVING AVERAGE FILTER - Method for detecting a fault condition in a vehicular hydraulic circuit during a drive cycle using an electric pump includes monitoring an actual pump torque and monitoring a desired pump torque. A current confidence factor is determined based on the actual pump torque and the desired pump torque. An average confidence factor is iteratively calculated based on the current confidence factor and previously determined confidence factors. The average confidence factor is compared to a fault condition threshold. An absence of the fault condition in the hydraulic circuit is detected when the average confidence factor is at least the fault condition threshold, and a presence of the fault condition in the hydraulic circuit is detected when the average confidence factor is less than the fault condition threshold. | 11-28-2013 |