Abstract: An example vehicle includes a motor and a gearbox. A controller is configured to identify oscillation peaks of a performance signal representing the rotational speed of the motor, the input speed of the gearbox, or the amount of torque generated by the motor or provided to the gearbox. The controller is configured to simultaneously detect unstable regular and irregular oscillations of the performance signal given the oscillation peaks identified and substantially dampen the unstable oscillations detected. An example method may include determining a mean of the performance signal and defining peak values, including peak moving average values or filtered peak values, representing a magnitude of at least two oscillation peaks. The method further includes simultaneously detecting the unstable regular and irregular oscillations of the performance signal using the defined values and substantially dampening the unstable oscillations.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission, a speed encoder for the motor, and a control system. The control system compensates for angular wobble in an encoder signal. The control system receives, via a hybrid control processor (HCP), the encoder signal from the speed encoder, and determines a set of wobble characteristics of the encoder signal below a threshold motor speed. The control system also calculates a wobble-compensated speed value via the HCP using the wobble characteristics, and uses the wobble-compensated speed value as at least part of the input signals when controlling the motor. A lookup table tabulates a learned wobble value relative to the angular position value, and a learned wobble value is subtracted from a current angular wobble value to generate an error-adjusted wobble value. A method compensates for wobble in the encoder signal using the above control system.

Abstract: A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes a torque machine mechanically rotatably coupled via a transfer gear set to a drive wheel. The transfer gear set includes a first gear meshingly engaged to a second gear with lash angle between the first and second gears. A method for operating the powertrain system includes monitoring an output speed associated with the torque machine and a wheel speed associated with the drive wheel. A transition between a first torque transfer state and a second torque transfer state is detected, the transition including a gear lash event across the transfer gear set. An elapsed time period for completing the gear lash event across the transfer gear set during the transition between the first torque transfer state and the second torque transfer state is set, and a target output speed derived from the wheel speed during and at the end of the elapsed time period is determined.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a control system, a traction motor, and an engine includes generating an activation signal during a predetermined vehicle maneuver. The predetermined vehicle maneuver is a threshold hard braking maneuver on a surface having a low coefficient of friction. The method also includes processing the activation signal using the control system, and using the traction motor to command an injection or a passing of a feed-forward torque to the driveline of the vehicle. The feed-forward torque is in the same direction as the engine torque, and prevents a drive shaft of the engine from spinning in reverse during the maneuver. The method may include generating the activation signal in response to detecting an active state of the ABS controller. A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a traction motor, and a control system configured to execute the above method.

Abstract: A method for controlling driveline stability in a vehicle includes generating an activation signal indicative of a predetermined vehicle maneuver, which may include a hard braking maneuver on a low coefficient of friction surface. A quick automatic shift to a neutral gear state is executed with a rapid dumping or bleeding off of clutch pressure in a designated output clutch of the vehicle. An activated state of an antilock braking system (ABS) may be used as part of the activation signal. The shift to the neutral gear state may occur only when a current transmission operating state is associated with the high level of driveline inertia. A vehicle includes a transmission and a control system configured to execute the above method.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for regulating active damping in a hybrid vehicle powertrain. The method includes: monitoring the damping command sent to the active damping system; determining a mean reference point, which may be a filtered value of the damping torque command; determining if the unfiltered damping torque command value switches from one side to the other of the mean reference point; if a switch is detected, determining if the size of the switch exceeds a predetermined minimum; if it does, then increasing a total number of switches; determining if the total number of switches exceeds a switch threshold; if the total number of switches exceeds the switch threshold, determining if the current damping torque exceeds a damping torque threshold; and decreasing the damping torque if the total number of switches exceeds the switch threshold and the current damping torque exceeds the damping torque threshold.

Abstract: A method or algorithm controls a motor in a vehicle having a proportional-integral controller. The controller determines a commanded damping control torque as a proportional output torque value and a commanded motor speed control torque as an integrator output torque value. The integrator torque output value is frozen only if the proportional torque output value saturates against a limit and the direction of the speed error is the same as that of the integrator torque output value. The proportional torque output value is calculated using different error values than are used in calculating the integrator output value. A vehicle includes one or more traction motors and the controller noted above. For two motors, the controller determines the damping torques and motor speed control torques separately for each motor.

Abstract: A method for optimizing torque control in a vehicle having a controller and a rotating member includes generating a closed-loop total proportional torque command using a state space feedback portion of the controller, and splitting the total proportional torque command into high-frequency and low-frequency proportional torque components. A total proportional torque is passed to the rotating member to provide driveline damping control when speed control is not required. The high-frequency proportional torque component is passed to the rotating member to provide driveline damping control, and the low-frequency torque component is passed with a total integral torque command to the rotating member to provide speed control, when speed control is required. A vehicle includes a controller having proportional-integral control capabilities and a state space observer, and a powertrain having a rotating member whose speed and damping characteristics are controlled by the controller.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a shift event in a vehicle includes designating a clutch to be used as an oncoming clutch or an offgoing clutch in the shift event before executing the shift event, and processing a plurality of input values through a state observer to thereby determine, as an output value of the state observer, an estimated slip speed of the designated clutch. The method includes using a proportional-integral control module for the designated clutch (a clutch PI) to close the control loop on the estimated slip speed from the state observer, thereby smoothing a switching between state space equations in the state observer, and executing the shift event. A vehicle includes a transmission, an engine, at least one traction motor, and a control system configured for executing the above method.

Abstract: A method for minimizing driveline disturbances in a vehicle includes using a controller to automatically combine a damping torque control command with a motor speed control command in a closed loop to prevent a perceptible discontinuity in an applied motor torque during a change in transmission gear states. The method may include calculating error values in the rotational speeds of one or two traction motors, and using the calculated error value(s) to determine a required damping torque. The controller can multiply the error value for one traction motor by a gain value of the other traction motor before determining the required damping torque. A vehicle includes first and second traction motors, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission is powered by the traction motors, and the controller combines a damping torque control command with motor speed control command to prevent a discontinuity in an applied motor torque as noted above.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for regulating state variable estimators used in a hybrid active damping system for a vehicle powertrain. The state estimator provides variable estimates for operating states, such as real-time torque values of axles and dampers, that are not readily measurable with production powertrain and driveline hardware. This facilitates implementation of other control algorithms, such as torque oscillation damping control schemes which use multivariable feedback. The apparatus and method monitors the operating mode of the powertrain, and resets the state estimator for the hybrid active damping ring (HADR) under predetermined operating conditions. For instance, the state estimator includes an array of current state and predicted state variables that are set equal to corresponding reference values or measured values if the powertrain enters into four-wheel drive low (4WDLO).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for estimating driveline lash in a vehicle powertrain is provided herein. The method includes: determining if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, e.g., driver commanded torque value changes sign, and then stays between a minimum and maximum commanded torque threshold for a calibrated time; if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, determining when the driveline lash is taken up, e.g., when the transmission output acceleration exceeds a threshold minimum output acceleration, and thereafter changes sign; determining when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state, which may be inferred from the axle torque estimate behavior; determining the time difference between when the driveline lash is taken up and when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state; and updating the adaptive lash estimate if the aforementioned time difference is not equal to zero.

Abstract: A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

Abstract: A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

Abstract: The state estimator provides parametric estimates for operating states not readily measurable with production powertrain and driveline hardware, such as real-time torque values of axles and dampers. This facilitates implementation of torque oscillation damping control schemes which use multivariable feedback. A control parameter is estimated for a powertrain system having multiple torque-generative devices operably connected to a transmission device having a torque output to a driveline. This includes establishing a plurality of equations operable to estimate the control parameter and other operating parameters based upon torque inputs. The operating parameters comprise operating speeds of the powertrain system and driveline. The operating parameters that comprise operating speeds of the powertrain system and driveline are determined. Coefficients of the plurality of equations are adjusted based upon the operating speeds of the powertrain system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for regulating state variable estimators used in a hybrid active damping system for a vehicle powertrain. The state estimator provides variable estimates for operating states, such as real-time torque values of axles and dampers, that are not readily measurable with production powertrain and driveline hardware. This facilitates implementation of other control algorithms, such as torque oscillation damping control schemes which use multivariable feedback. The apparatus and method monitors the operating mode of the powertrain, and resets the state estimator for the hybrid active damping ring (HADR) under predetermined operating conditions. For instance, the state estimator includes an array of current state and predicted state variables that are set equal to corresponding reference values or measured values if the powertrain enters into four-wheel drive low (4WDLO).

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for estimating driveline lash in a vehicle powertrain is provided herein. The method includes: determining if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, e.g., driver commanded torque value changes sign, and then stays between a minimum and maximum commanded torque threshold for a calibrated time; if the powertrain is transitioning through driveline lash, determining when the driveline lash is taken up, e.g., when the transmission output acceleration exceeds a threshold minimum output acceleration, and thereafter changes sign; determining when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state, which may be inferred from the axle torque estimate behavior; determining the time difference between when the driveline lash is taken up and when the estimated lash state changes from neutral to a positive or negative state; and updating the adaptive lash estimate if the aforementioned time difference is not equal to zero.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for regulating active damping in a hybrid vehicle powertrain. The method includes: monitoring the damping command sent to the active damping system; determining a mean reference point, which may be a filtered value of the damping torque command; determining if the unfiltered damping torque command value switches from one side to the other of the mean reference point; if a switch is detected, determining if the size of the switch exceeds a predetermined minimum; if it does, then increasing a total number of switches; determining if the total number of switches exceeds a switch threshold; if the total number of switches exceeds the switch threshold, determining if the current damping torque exceeds a damping torque threshold; and decreasing the damping torque if the total number of switches exceeds the switch threshold and the current damping torque exceeds the damping torque threshold.

Abstract: This invention is directed to oxoazaheterocycyl compounds which inhibit Factor Xa, to oxoazaheterocycyl compounds which inhibit both Factor Xa and Factor IIa, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, to intermediates useful for preparing these compounds, to a method of directly inhibiting Factor Xa and to a method of simultaneously directly inhibiting Factor Xa and Factor IIa.