Abstract: A method to determine a preferred operating point for an internal combustion engine includes determining a current set of candidate operating points for a current search iteration. The method further includes iteratively determining an operating cost for operating the internal combustion engine at each candidate operating point of the current search iteration, and determining the preferred operating point for operating the internal combustion engine after a predetermined number of search iterations.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input torque provided to a transmission includes executing a first iterative search within a first range of permissible torque values to determine a first torque value based on a first cost value. The first cost value is based on a first set of powertrain measurements measured at a first time. A second cost value based on a second torque value and the first set of powertrain measurements measured at the first time is calculated. The second torque value is determined using a second set of powertrain measurements measured at a second time prior to the first time. One of the first torque value and the second torque value is then selected based on the first cost value and the second cost value.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes controlling a first power actuator based upon a set of power constraints for the first power actuator. The method further includes controlling a second power actuator based upon the set of power constraints for the second power actuator.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states including an engine includes monitoring an operator torque request and a rotational speed of the output member, determining inertial effects of the transmissions, determining motor torque outputs from the electrical machines and an engine based upon the inertial effects, and selecting a preferred operating range state and a preferred input speed from the engine to the transmission based upon the operator torque request and the inertial effects.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical transmission is operative to transmit mechanical torque originating from an engine and first and second electric machines to an output member. The electric machines are electrically-operatively connected to an energy storage system for electrical power flow therebetween. A Method for operating the electro-mechanical transmission includes operating the electro-mechanical transmission in a fixed gear operating range state, determining a minimum power flow between the energy storage system and the first and second electric machines to meet an operator torque request based upon electrical power constraints and motor torque constraints, commanding a motor torque from the first electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, and commanding a motor torque from the second electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, a torque input from the engine and the commanded motor torque from the first electric machine to meet the operator torque request in the fixed gear operating range state.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and first and second torque machines and an output member in a fixed gear operating range state. The first and second torque machines are connected to an energy storage device.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission to transfer power between the engine and a plurality of torque generating machines and an output member. The transmission is operative in one of a plurality of operating range states through selective application of torque transfer clutches and the engine is operatively coupled to a main hydraulic pump to supply pressurized fluid to a hydraulic circuit operative to apply the torque transfer clutches. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining an output torque request to the output member, determining a pressure output of the main hydraulic pump based upon an engine input speed, calculating a clutch reactive torque capacity for each applied torque transfer clutch based upon the pressure output of the main hydraulic pump, and determining a preferred engine input speed to achieve the clutch reactive torque capacity to meet the output torque request to the output member.

Abstract: An engine is mechanically coupled to a transmission device, the transmission device operative to transfer mechanical power between the engine and a second power generating device and an output member. A method for controlling the engine includes monitoring an operator demand for power, selecting a preferred engine state, determining a preferred engine torque input to the transmission device when operating in the preferred engine state based upon the operator demand for power, determining constraints on the engine torque input to the transmission device based upon a capacity of the transmission device to react the engine torque input, and commanding operation of the engine to the preferred engine state and commanding the engine torque input to the transmission device based upon the preferred engine torque input and the constraints on the engine torque input.

Abstract: A method for improving drivability of the powertrain system having an accelerator control includes determining a first transmission input speed having an associated first power loss and operating said transmission using said first transmission input speed. An operational parameter relating to said accelerator control is determined and a second transmission input speed responsive to said operational parameter and having an associated second power loss is determined. The value of at least one of said first and second power loss is biased based on said operational parameter. The first power loss is compared to said second power loss subsequent to the biasing. A third transmission input speed is determined and the transmission is operated using the third transmission input speed.

Abstract: An engine and a second power generating device transmit power through a transmission to a driveline to a wheel. A control module determines a regenerative braking axle torque capacity and a regenerative braking torque. Power output from the second power generating device is controlled based upon a regenerative braking axle torque request. A brake control module determines a total braking torque request and generates the regenerative braking axle torque request based upon the total braking torque request, the regenerative braking axle torque capacity, and the regenerative braking torque. The brake control module controls a friction brake.

Abstract: An operator control method for a vehicle having at least one switch which, when operated, activates an associated application or application group, where a stored last state or a prescribed basic state for the associated application or application group is set and is shown on a screen display, and to an associated operator control system. The identified operation of the switch is followed by activation of the associated application or application group, and setting a stored menu state for the purpose of operator control when the associated application or application group has been deactivated.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes determining a transmission input speed, operating the transmission using the transmission input speed, and providing a braking torque request to cause braking of the vehicle according to a scheme selected from the group consisting of a first braking mode and a second braking mode. The transmission input speed and the transmission operating range state are dependent on said braking torque request in the first braking mode, and wherein the transmission operating state, but not the transmission input speed, is dependent on the braking torque request in the second braking mode.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring an operator torque request, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, and determining a preferred engine torque range, a preferred torque machine torque range, and a preferred energy storage device output power range. The method further includes determining an engine torque, a torque machine torque, and an energy storage device output power based upon the operator torque request and the candidate powertrain system operating point. Power costs for operating the powertrain at the candidate powertrain system operating point are determined based on the determined engine torque, the determined torque machine torque, and the determined energy storage device output power range. Penalty costs are determined relative to the preferred engine torque range, the preferred torque machine torque range, and the preferred energy storage device output power range for operating the powertrain at the candidate powertrain system operating point.

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, providing an 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, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the current transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors and the operator torque request.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine includes defining a two-dimensional search region based upon an input power transmittable between the internal combustion engine and an electromechanical transmission. The method further includes iteratively dividing the two-dimensional search region into a plurality of subregions based upon one of the input power and the input speed, iteratively determining an engine operating point within each of the subregions, iteratively calculating an operating cost to operate the internal combustion engine and the electromechanical transmission to meet the operator torque request for each engine operating point within each of the subregions, and iteratively identifying the subregion having a minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request. A preferred engine operating point is determined based upon the engine operating point within the identified subregion having the minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request.

Abstract: Short term power limits of an electrical energy storage device are progressively tightened toward long term power limits in accordance with net energy flow or magnitude or duration metrics.

Abstract: A method to monitor integrity of a motor torque command for a transmission in a hybrid powertrain system includes calculating motor torque commands for the torque generating machines. Torque corrections for the motor torque commands are determined. The motor torque commands are adjusted based upon the torque corrections. The adjusted motor torque commands are verified based upon an estimated output torque.

Abstract: A hybrid transmission includes a torque machine and an energy storage device connected thereto. The hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and an output member and the torque machines in a fixed gear operating range state.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a friction braking system and a powertrain system including a torque machine operative to react tractive torque input from a wheel of the vehicle. A method for controlling braking in a vehicle includes monitoring operation of the powertrain system, determining a driver intended total brake torque, determining a regenerative braking capacity based upon the operation of the powertrain system, determining a regenerative braking request based upon a time-rate change in the regenerative braking capacity, and determining a motor torque command for the torque machine based upon the regenerative braking request.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon determined inertial effects for a continuously variable operating range state includes monitoring an operator torque request and a rotational speed of the output member, determining an inertial effect on an input speed of the input member for a continuously variable operating range state, and controlling motor torque outputs from the electric machines to meet the operator torque request based upon the inertial effect on the input speed of the input member.