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 vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system communicating tractive torque with a driveline, the powertrain system including a torque machine, and an energy storage device connected to the torque machine, said torque machine communicating tractive torque with the driveline. A method for controlling regenerative braking and friction braking includes monitoring a vehicle operating point, determining a braking torque request, determining a regenerative braking motor torque ratio based upon the vehicle operating point wherein the regenerative braking motor torque ratio is non-linearly dependent on the vehicle operating point, and actuating the friction brake based upon the regenerative braking motor torque ratio and the braking torque request.

Abstract: A hybrid control system comprises a power loss (PL) determination module, a hysteresis estimation module, and a mode determination module. The PL determination module determines a power loss of a hybrid drivetrain based on an engine speed, a motor speed, and a vehicle speed. The hysteresis estimation module determines an average power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the power loss and determines a hysteresis power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the average power loss. The mode determination module selects an operation mode of the hybrid drivetrain based on the hysteresis power loss. The hybrid control system controls the hybrid drivetrain based on the operation mode.

Abstract: A hybrid control system comprises a power loss (PL) determination module, a hysteresis estimation module, and a mode determination module. The PL determination module determines a power loss of a hybrid drivetrain based on an engine speed, a motor speed, and a vehicle speed. The hysteresis estimation module determines an average power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the power loss and determines a hysteresis power loss of the hybrid drivetrain based on the average power loss. The mode determination module selects an operation mode of the hybrid drivetrain based on the hysteresis power loss. The hybrid control system controls the hybrid drivetrain based on the operation mode.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system communicating tractive torque with a driveline, the powertrain system including a torque machine, and an energy storage device connected to the torque machine, said torque machine communicating tractive torque with the driveline. A method for controlling regenerative braking and friction braking includes monitoring a vehicle operating point, determining a braking torque request, determining a regenerative braking motor torque ratio based upon the vehicle operating point wherein the regenerative braking motor torque ratio is non-linearly dependent on the vehicle operating point, and actuating the friction brake based upon the regenerative braking motor torque ratio and the braking torque request.

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: An independent rear suspension for a motor vehicle chassis includes a pair of independent rear corner modules. Each rear corner module includes a generally-longitudinally-extending leaf spring whose forward end is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle chassis at a first forward attachment point, and whose rearward end is nonrotationally-coupled to a knuckle, such that the leaf spring operates as a trailing arm to longitudinally position the knuckle relative to the chassis. A shackle adapted to be pivotally mounted on the chassis at a second forward attachment point includes an eye that encompasses a portion of the spring intermediate the first and second end of the spring. The shackle permits a predetermined, nonzero range of relative longitudinal, transverse, and torsional movement of the intermediate portion of the leaf spring while otherwise transferring vertical loads from the intermediate portion of the spring to the chassis.

Abstract: An independent rear suspension for a motor vehicle chassis includes a pair of independent rear corner modules. Each rear corner module includes a generally-longitudinally-extending leaf spring whose forward end is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the vehicle chassis at a first forward attachment point, and whose rearward end is nonrotationally-coupled to a knuckle, such that the leaf spring operates as a trailing arm to longitudinally position the knuckle relative to the chassis. A shackle adapted to be pivotally mounted on the chassis at a second forward attachment point includes an eye that encompasses a portion of the spring intermediate the first and second end of the spring. The shackle permits a predetermined, nonzero range of relative longitudinal, transverse, and torsional movement of the intermediate portion of the leaf spring while otherwise transferring vertical loads from the intermediate portion of the spring to the chassis.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic spindle motor of the present invention may include a shaft having a thrust bearing plate, an insert surrounding the shaft above the thrust bearing plate, and a sleeve surrounding the shaft below the thrust bearing plate. In one embodiment the thrust bearing plate is substantially centrally positioned along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Preferably either the shaft has annular skewed herringbone shaft grooves or, alternatively, the insert has annular skewed herringbone insert grooves and the sleeve has annular skewed herringbone sleeve grooves. A set of circulation channels above the thrust bearing plate and a set of circulation channels below the thrust bearing plate preferably cross a shaft bore to allow for flow of lubricating fluid. A face seal may be formed between the lower radial cap surface of an end cap and an upper radial insert surface of the insert.