Patents Assigned to Daimler AG
  • Publication number: 20090118934
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and a torque machine and an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system during a braking event includes evaluating candidate input torques. An output torque reactable through the transmission to the driveline and limited within the range of permissible output torques is determined for the candidate engine input torque. A preferred input torque is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118936
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an electromechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and an electric machine adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member through selective application of a plurality of clutches. A method for controlling the powertrain includes commanding a shift from a fixed gear operating range state to a second operating range state, commanding decreased reactive torque through an off-going clutch during a torque phase of said commanded shift, and decreasing said reactive torque through said off-going clutch through control of engine input torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Lawrence A. Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20090118938
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a transmission device operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring a temperature of the energy storage device, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, determining an output power from the energy storage device associated with the candidate powertrain system operating point, determining a power loss for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point, and determining operating costs for operating the powertrain system at the candidate powertrain system operating point associated with the power loss and based upon the temperature of the energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118925
    Abstract: A method to control an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines to transmit power to an output member includes determining motor torque constraints and battery power constraints. A preferred output torque to an output member is determined that is achievable within the motor torque constraints and is achievable within a range for a first torque input and is achievable within a range for a second torque input and is based upon the battery power constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsieh, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090115377
    Abstract: A method of externally charging a powertrain includes monitoring a voltage level of a first battery, determining when the monitored voltage level is below a first voltage threshold, and when the monitored voltage level is below the first voltage threshold, charging the first battery by supplying power from an external power source and increasing voltage of the power supplied by the external power source within the powertrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: R. Travis Schwenke, Nicholas Kokotovich, Aniket Kothari, Mario V. Maiorana, JR., William R. Cawthorne
  • Publication number: 20090118949
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a desired synchronous transmission shift during deceleration of an output member including a desired operating range state, monitoring an output speed, predicting output deceleration through the desired synchronous transmission shift, determining a penalty cost associated with the desired synchronous transmission shift based upon an input speed profile resulting from the predicted output deceleration and from the desired synchronous transmission shift, and executing the synchronous transmission shift based upon the penalty cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Kee Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20090115350
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member includes determining available power, motor torque constraints, and other constraints on torque transfer. Equations are provided, transformed to a second coordinate system and simultaneously solved. An achievable torque operating region is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118946
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, providing at least one operator torque request, determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and potential transmission operating range states and engine states, wherein determining preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states includes assigning biasing costs to operator torque requests which reside within a pre-determined range of possible operator torque requests for at least two of the potential transmission operating range states, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the transmission operating range state and engine state based upon stheaid preferability factors and th
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20090115491
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes an engine, an electric machine, a power electronics device including a plurality of electric circuit layers, and a cooling system. A method for managing thermal energy in the power electronics device includes monitoring a plurality of temperature sensors in the power electronics device, monitoring electric power into and out of the power electronics device, predicting temperatures for the plurality of electric circuit layers, and controlling the hybrid powertrain system based upon the predicted temperatures for the plurality of electric circuit layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Byerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mohammad N. Anwar, Prakash Haribhai Desai, Sean E. Gleason, Brian A. Welchko
  • Publication number: 20090118933
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission. The hybrid transmission is operative to transmit torque between the input member and a torque generating machine and an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring an operator torque request, determining an output torque command and an output speed of the output member, iteratively selecting candidate input speeds to the input member, determining mechanical power loss in the hybrid transmission for each of the candidate input speeds and the output speed, and selecting a preferred input speed comprising the candidate input speed that achieves a minimum mechanical power loss in the hybrid transmission at the output speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118882
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device and the transmission device is operative in one of a plurality of operating range states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring available power from the energy storage device, determining system constraints, determining constraints on an output torque to the output member based upon the system constraints and the available power from the energy storage device, determining an operator torque request, determining an output torque command based upon the constraints on the output torque and the operator torque request, and determining preferred torque commands for each of the torque machines based upon the output torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Jason J. McConnell
  • Publication number: 20090118954
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission coupled to an engine and an auxiliary hydraulic pump. The auxiliary hydraulic pump is commanded to operate at a predetermined speed only when enable criteria are met. An engine-off state is inhibited based upon a difference between a commanded speed and a monitored operating speed of the auxiliary hydraulic pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: PETER E. WU, ALI K. NAQVI, REBECCA TRIERWEILER, SYED NAQI, RYAN D. MARTINI
  • Publication number: 20090118957
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes a transmission operative to transfer power between an input member and a torque machine and an output member coupled to a driveline coupled to a wheel including an actuable friction brake. The torque machine is operative to react torque transferred from the wheel through the driveline to the output member of the transmission. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Jason J. Mcconnell, Seamus T. McGrath
  • Publication number: 20090118074
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrew M. Zettel, Charles J. Van Horn, Peter E. Wu, Ryan D. Martini, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118080
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring output power of the energy storage device, modifying a preferred electric power limit when the output power of the energy storage device transgresses a trigger power limit, and determining the power constraint of the first power actuator based on the estimated output power of the energy storage device when the output power of the energy storage power transgresses the preferred power limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen
  • Publication number: 20090118078
    Abstract: A control method for vehicular hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal and a transmission gear selector, and determining an operator torque request based upon the operator inputs to the accelerator pedal and the transmission gear selector. Torque output from the electric machine is commanded based upon the operator torque request. Engine output is controlled based upon the operator torque request and the commanded torque output from the electric machine. Vehicle hood position is monitored and the engine output is controlled correlative to the operator input to the accelerator pedal when the monitored position of the vehicle hood is open and the operator input to the transmission gear selector is one of a PARK and a NEUTRAL position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marek L. Wilmanowicz, Matthew Leonard Kaufer, Mark J. Potter, Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne, Michael Bolton
  • Publication number: 20090118951
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state wherein the preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states include transmission input speed trip preferability factors, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler llc, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Jason J. Mcconnell
  • Publication number: 20090118076
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system including an engine selectively operative in one of an all-cylinder state and a cylinder deactivation state based upon power costs includes determining engine power costs for each operating range state of the transmission, determining a system power cost, selecting a preferred cost and corresponding engine operating points, selecting a preferred operating range state, selecting the engine state, and controlling the engine based upon the selected operating range state, the selected engine state, and the engine operating points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20090118963
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to a transmission operative in one of a plurality of operating range states to transfer power between the engine and an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring an operator torque request, monitoring barometric pressure and engine input speed to the transmission, determining an achievable range of input power transferable from the engine to the transmission based upon the barometric pressure and the engine input speed, and determining a preferred operating range state for the transmission and a preferred engine operating point at the preferred operating range state based upon the operator torque request and the achievable range of input power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090118930
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system including a transmission mechanically coupled to an engine and an electric machine to transfer power to an output member, the transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states includes monitoring operator inputs to an accelerator pedal, determining a preferred operating point of the powertrain based upon the operator inputs, determining a preferred operating range state of the transmission based upon the preferred operating point, determining lead control signals for the engine and the transmission based upon the preferred operating point and the preferred operating range state of the transmission, determining immediate control signals for the electric machine and the transmission, wherein the immediate control signals are based upon a lead period calibrated to a difference in control signal reaction times of the engine and the electric machine in order to effect changes to an actual electric machine output substantially simultaneou
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah