Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid powertrain having an internal combustion engine monitors a throttle intake pressure and calculates a first torque capacity from a pressure model using the throttle intake pressure as an input. The method determines a maximum expected air mass from the monitored throttle intake pressure and calculates a second torque capacity from an air mass model using the maximum expected air mass volume as an input. The method calculates a final torque capacity as a function of the first torque capacity and the second torque capacity, and sends the final torque capacity to the hybrid control processor. An engine control module receives a torque request calculated as a function of the final torque capacity. A manifold pressure request is calculated as a function of the torque request, and a throttle is actuated as a function of the manifold pressure request.

Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a reserves module and a fault diagnostic module. The reserves module controls airflow into an engine based on a driver torque request, increases the airflow into the engine when a reserve torque request is received, and outputs a torque output command for the engine based on the driver torque request. The fault diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the reserves module when the torque output command is greater than a sum of the driver torque request, a predetermined torque, and a load applied to the engine.

Abstract: An engine control system includes an inertia phase detection module, a feed-forward (FF) engine speed module, a FF APC module, a FF phaser position module, and a phaser control module. The inertia phase detection module determines when an inertia phase of a gear shift is occurring within a transmission. The FF engine speed module predicts an engine speed for a future time when the inertia phase ends. The FF APC module predicts an air-per-cylinder (APC) for the future time based on the engine speed. The FF phaser position module determines a FF phaser position based on the engine speed and the APC. The phaser control module controls a camshaft phaser position based on the FF phaser position during the inertia phase of the gear shift.

Abstract: A method of output torque smoothing for a hybrid powertrain having an electric machine and a spark ignition engine with a first cylinder and a second cylinder includes commanding a fuel-cut transition, including consecutively initiating and completing deactivation of the first cylinder and initiating and completing deactivation of the second cylinder. The fuel-cut transition is characterized by an absence of retarding spark to the first cylinder and second cylinder. Fuel is supplied to the first cylinder until the first cylinder completes deactivation and to the second cylinder until the second cylinder completes deactivation. The electric machine captures a first torque from the first cylinder by generating electricity until the first cylinder completes deactivation and captures a second torque from the second cylinder by generating electricity until the second cylinder completes deactivation.

Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine coupled to an internal combustion engine that coupled to a transmission includes, upon commanding a shift in a transmission operating range, activating an immediate response mode to effect the shift. Activating the immediate response mode includes controlling the engine to achieve a predicted engine torque command, and controlling motor torque of the torque machine in response to a difference between an actual engine torque and an immediate crankshaft torque for shift command. An arbitrated predicted motor torque is determined A possible crankshaft torque is determined in response to the arbitrated predicted motor torque and the predicted engine torque command. Operation of the transmission at the end of the shift event is commanded in response to the possible crankshaft torque. A predicted response mode is activated to complete the shift in the transmission operating range.

Abstract: A control system includes a throttle control module, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module, and a diagnostic control module. The throttle control module selectively maintains a desired throttle area when a vehicle is in a coastdown mode. The EGR control module opens an EGR valve when the desired throttle area is maintained. The diagnostic control module selectively diagnoses an error of an EGR system based on a pressure increase measured in an intake manifold of the vehicle when the EGR valve is open.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a derivative module and a slip remediation module. The derivative module determines a mathematical derivative of a driven wheel speed of a vehicle. The slip remediation module, when the mathematical derivative is more negative than a predetermined deceleration, at least one of disables regenerative braking being performed by one or more electric motors, increases an axle torque request, and unlocks a torque converter.

Abstract: A reserve torque system comprises a first module and a reserve torque module. The first module generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR. The reserve torque module creates a reserve torque between when the first signal is generated and when the EQR is transitioned to the lean EQR.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a disturbance module, a torque correction module, a torque-to-spark module, and a spark correction module. The disturbance module determines a disturbance value for a past combustion stroke of a cylinder of an engine based on rotation of a crankshaft. The torque correction module selectively determines a torque correction for a future combustion stroke of the cylinder based on the disturbance value. The torque-to-spark module determines a spark correction based on the torque correction and determines an uncorrected spark timing based on a torque request. The spark correction module determines a corrected spark timing based on the uncorrected spark timing and the spark correction and generates spark during the future combustion stroke based on the corrected spark timing.

Abstract: A control system includes an engine speed control module, a fuel control module, and an air control module. The engine speed control module controls an actual speed of an engine based a desired power to be generated by combustion in the engine, wherein the desired power is a product of a desired speed of the engine and a desired torque output of the engine. When operating in a fuel lead mode, the fuel control module controls fuel flow in the engine by adjusting a desired fuel mass for each activated cylinder of the engine based on the desired power. The air control module controls air flow in the engine based on an actual air/fuel ratio of the engine resulting from the desired fuel mass.

Abstract: A coordinated torque control (CTC) system is provided that includes an engine capacity module, a multi-pulse enable module, and a catalyst light off torque reserve module. The engine capacity module determines a torque capacity of an engine and generates a maximum engine torque capacity signal. The multi-pulse enable module enables a multi-pulse mode that includes the injection of at least two pulses of fuel into a cylinder of the engine during a combustion cycle. The multi-pulse enable module generates a multi-pulse desired signal to operate in the multi-pulse mode based on the maximum engine torque capacity signal, a catalyst light off signal, and a brake torque request signal. The catalyst light off torque reserve module generates a torque reserve corrected signal based on the multi-pulse desired signal.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine control module that generates a negative torque transition signal based on a pending negative torque event of an engine. A transmission control module receives the negative torque transition signal from the engine control module. The transmission control module increases a slip speed of a torque converter clutch in preparation for the pending negative torque event by adjusting pressure in the torque converter clutch prior to the pending negative torque event. The transmission control module decreases the slip speed in the torque converter clutch based on completion of a transition at least one of to the pending negative torque event and from the pending negative torque event.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a pedal torque determination module, a driver interpretation module, and an actuation module. The pedal torque determination module determines a zero pedal torque based on a desired engine torque at a zero accelerator pedal position and a minimum torque limit for an engine system. The driver interpretation module determines a driver pedal torque based on the zero pedal torque and an accelerator pedal position. The actuation module controls at least one of a throttle area, spark timing, and a fuel command based on the driver pedal torque.

Abstract: A method includes: retarding spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing when an engine torque output reduction is requested for a gear shift; estimating a first torque output of an engine based on N cylinders of the engine being fueled, an engine speed, an air per cylinder (APC), and the predetermined spark timing; estimating a second torque output of the engine based on M cylinders being fueled, the engine speed, the APC, and the spark timing. determining an initial pressure ratio across a turbocharger compressor; determining an adjustment based on M and the first and second torque outputs; generating a desired pressure ratio across the turbocharger compressor based on the adjustment and the initial pressure ratio; and controlling opening of a turbocharger wastegate based on the desired pressure ratio. N is a total number of cylinders of the engine and M is less than or equal to N.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a clutch cut off enable module and a torque control module. The clutch cut off enable module generates an enable signal based on a clutch engagement signal and an accelerator pedal signal. The torque control module reduces a spark advance of an engine to a minimum value and disables fueling of cylinders of the engine based on the enable signal. The minimum value is a minimum allowed spark advance for current engine airflow.

Abstract: A powertrain control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of axle torque request modules that generate respective axle torque requests based on respective performance criteria of a vehicle, an axle torque arbitration module that generates a net axle torque request based on the plurality of axle torque requests, a plurality of propulsion torque request modules that generate respective propulsion torque requests based on respective performance criteria of an engine of the vehicle, a propulsion torque arbitration module that determines a net engine torque request based on the net axle torque request and the plurality of propulsion torque requests, and a propulsion torque control module that controls a plurality of actuators based on the net engine torque request such that the engine produces an output torque in accordance with the net engine torque request.

Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque.

Abstract: A method of executing a downshift in a fixed-gear powertrain having an input node and an output node related by a starting speed ratio before the downshift and a finishing speed ratio after is provided. The downshift includes a torque phase and an inertia phase. A starting output torque is calculated as a function of a starting driver request. An electric machine applies a starting regenerative input torque which is calculated as substantially equal to the starting output torque divided by the starting speed ratio. A finishing output torque is calculated as a function of a finishing driver request. The electric machine applies a finishing regenerative input torque which is calculated as substantially equal to the finishing output torque divided by the finishing speed ratio.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine control system includes reducing pressures within cylinders of an engine based on an auto start command signal including: receiving a torque request signal; calculating a powertrain output torque; and controlling air flow to the engine based on the powertrain output torque. During a startup of the engine: electric motor torque is increased to a predetermined level and reduced to increase a current speed of the engine; combustion torque of the engine is activated and increased after the current speed is within a predetermined range and a manifold absolute pressure is less than a predetermined level; and the electric motor torque is increased based on a crankshaft output torque signal to increase a crankshaft output torque subsequent to the reducing of the electric motor torque and while performing the activating of the combustion torque.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a torque determination module, a limit determination module, a torque limit module, and a torque control module. The torque determination module determines a desired torque based on a desired engine speed. The limit determination module determines a torque limit based on one of an engine oil temperature and a transmission fluid temperature. The torque limit module determines a final torque based on the desired torque and the torque limit. The torque control module selectively determines a throttle area based on the final torque. A throttle valve is actuated based on the throttle area.