Abstract: Energy management techniques for heating or cooling a surface of a component of a vehicle comprise determining a heating lag time indicative of a lag time for a surface element of the vehicle component to heat to a first target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of a heat transfer component, determining a cooling lag time indicative of a lag time for the surface element to cool to a second target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of the heat transfer component, and controlling power-on and power-off times of the heat transfer component based on the determined heating and cooling lag times so as to not require a temperature sensor for feedback-based temperature control.

Abstract: Energy management techniques for heating or cooling a surface of a component of a vehicle comprise determining a heating lag time indicative of a lag time for a surface element of the vehicle component to heat to a first target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of a heat transfer component, determining a cooling lag time indicative of a lag time for the surface element to cool to a second target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of the heat transfer component, and controlling power-on and power-off times of the heat transfer component based on the determined heating and cooling lag times so as to not require a temperature sensor for feedback-based temperature control.

Abstract: Energy management techniques for heating or cooling a surface of a component of a vehicle comprise determining a heating lag time indicative of a lag time for a surface element of the vehicle component to heat to a first target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of a heat transfer component, determining a cooling lag time indicative of a lag time for the surface element to cool to a second target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of the heat transfer component, and controlling power-on and power-off times of the heat transfer component based on the determined heating and cooling lag times so as to not require a temperature sensor for feedback-based temperature control.

Abstract: A method of utilizing charge from an ultra-capacitor in a vehicle electrical system having a voltage bus and having one or more voltage tolerant devices, includes when one of the voltage tolerant devices is turned on, electrically isolating that voltage tolerant device from the voltage bus, electrically isolating the ultra-capacitor from the voltage bus and electrically coupling the voltage tolerant device directly to the ultra-capacitor. In an aspect, the method includes electrically isolating the voltage tolerant device and the ultra-capacitor from the voltage bus and electrically coupling the voltage tolerant device directly to the ultra-capacitor when the ultra-capacitor has discharged to a nominal depletion voltage level.

Abstract: A method of utilizing charge from an ultra-capacitor in a vehicle electrical system having a voltage bus and having one or more voltage tolerant devices, includes when one of the voltage tolerant devices is turned on, electrically isolating that voltage tolerant device from the voltage bus, electrically isolating the ultra-capacitor from the voltage bus and electrically coupling the voltage tolerant device directly to the ultra-capacitor.

Abstract: An air intake assembly configured to direct air into a throttle body of an engine of an automotive vehicle includes an air cleaner enclosure, primary and secondary air intake ducts and a downstream air intake duct. In a first operating condition, inlet air is directed into the air cleaner enclosure unit from the secondary air intake duct and routed (i) through the downstream air intake duct and into the throttle body and (ii) through the primary air intake duct and out of a primary air inlet. In a second operating condition, inlet air is directed into the air cleaner enclosure unit from the primary air intake duct and routed (iii) through the downstream air intake duct and into the throttle body and (iv) through the secondary air intake duct and out of the secondary air inlet. A method of directing the intake air into the throttle body is also provided.

Abstract: An air intake assembly configured to direct air into a throttle body of an engine of an automotive vehicle includes an air cleaner enclosure, primary and secondary air intake ducts and a downstream air intake duct. In a first operating condition, inlet air is directed into the air cleaner enclosure unit from the secondary air intake duct and routed (i) through the downstream air intake duct and into the throttle body and (ii) through the primary air intake duct and out of a primary air inlet. In a second operating condition, inlet air is directed into the air cleaner enclosure unit from the primary air intake duct and routed (iii) through the downstream air intake duct and into the throttle body and (iv) through the secondary air intake duct and out of the secondary air inlet. A method of directing the intake air into the throttle body is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy including multiple displacement engine modeling and control optimization, automotive powertrain matching for fuel economy, cycle-based automotive shift and lock-up scheduling for fuel economy, and engine performance requirements based on vehicle attributes and drive cycle characteristics. Also provided is a reverse tractive road load demand simulation algorithm used to propagate a reverse tractive road load demand and a corresponding component torque and speed, derived from a vehicle speed trace, in a reverse direction through a powertrain system. Also provided is a dynamic optimization algorithm. The dynamic programming algorithm is applied to a matrix of fuel flow rates to find the optimal control path that maximizes the powertrain efficiency over a cycle.

Abstract: A system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of one or more clutches that are adapted to operatively connect an engine and an automatic transmission includes a control device for determining if a negative torque condition exists and for providing an output or signal to decrease the rotational speed of the engine in response to the determination of the existence of the negative torque condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides methods and systems for powertrain optimization and improved fuel economy including multiple displacement engine modeling and control optimization, automotive powertrain matching for fuel economy, cycle-based automotive shift and lock-up scheduling for fuel economy, and engine performance requirements based on vehicle attributes and drive cycle characteristics. Also provided is a reverse tractive road load demand simulation algorithm used to propagate a reverse tractive road load demand and a corresponding component torque and speed, derived from a vehicle speed trace, in a reverse direction through a powertrain system. Also provided is a dynamic optimization algorithm. The dynamic programming algorithm is applied to a matrix of fuel flow rates to find the optimal control path that maximizes the powertrain efficiency over a cycle.

Abstract: Prior to transitioning a multiple-displacement engine from a full-displacement engine operating mode to a partial-displacement engine operating mode, a base slip rate of a torque converter coupled to the engine engine is increased by a predetermined slip rate offset. The engine is then transitioned to partial-displacement mode upon the earlier of either achieving the desired offset slip rate, or once a maximum time delay has occurred since the slip rate offset was enabled. An offset slip rate is maintained throughout partial-displacement engine operation, and through a transition back to a full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is removed or disenabled once the engine is again operating in the full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is either a calibratable constant or is determined as a function of one or more suitable engine or vehicle operating parameters affecting vehicle NVH levels, such as engine speed and vehicle speed.

Abstract: A gear ratio selection method for a transmission in a motor vehicle includes detecting a power request, detecting a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, and providing an engine speed of the motor vehicle. A first desired engine speed is calculated from a first variogram using the power request and the vehicle speed. A second desired engine speed is calculated from a second variogram using the power request and the vehicle speed. A blend factor is determined from the power request, the vehicle speed, and the engine speed. Finally, a blended desired engine speed is calculated from the first desired engine speed, the second desired engine speed, and the blend factor. The blended desired engine speed is used to determine a gear ratio for the continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine adapted to operate in a cylinder-deactivation mode, a method for controlling the reactivation of a deactivated cylinder includes determining a difference between a torque request from a vehicle operator, and an estimate of a maximum engine torque achievable in cylinder-deactivation mode based at least in part on a current engine speed. The difference is integrated over time to obtain a torque request “error.” A reactivation of the deactivated cylinder is triggered when the torque request error exceeds a first threshold value, which can be a calibrated value, a calibrated value adapted, for example, for driving style, or a value determined from a vehicle operating parameter such as vehicle speed. The use of the torque request error advantageously avoids reactivation of the deactivated cylinders in response to brief transients in the torque request signal that otherwise temporarily exceed the maximum achievable engine output torque.

Abstract: A method for enabling a transition of a multiple-displacement engine to a different engine operating displacement includes determining a temperature measure correlated with an instantaneous engine oil temperature at an engine start-up, for example, a detected engine coolant temperature at engine start-up; determining a start-up delay period based on the temperature measure, as with a lookup table of calibratable values; and enabling a displacement mode transition no earlier than when the engine run time since start-up exceeds the start-up delay period.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a deactivatable valve lifter of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first measure of heat loss from one or more components associated with a given deactivated cylinder based, for example, on the number of engine cycles that have occurred since cylinder deactivation. The given cylinder is reactivated when the component heat loss measure reaches a threshold level, as by comparing the first measure to a first predetermined threshold value. After cylinder reactivation, the given cylinder can thereafter be deactivated only after the temperature of the components has been restored to a nominal operating temperature, for example, as inferred from a second measure, representing the heat generated within the given cylinder subsequent to cylinder reactivation, determined based upon engine mass air flow or fuel flow. In this manner, the respective temperatures of such engine components are maintained above a desired minimum temperature.

Abstract: A method for determining an event-based hydraulic control delay in a multi-displacement system for an internal combustion engine, with which to adjust the triggering a solenoid in hydraulic communication with a hydraulically-deactivatable valve train component, includes retrieving either a first mapped value representative of a time-based hydraulic deactivation delay, or a second mapped value representative of a time-based hydraulic reactivation delay, based on a current engine speed and a current oil temperature, preferably using different lookup tables for each of the first and second mapped values. The method further includes determining a current time period between generated crankshaft position pulses, and dividing either the first value or the second by the first time period to obtain either an event-based hydraulic deactivation delay or an event-based hydraulic reactivation delay.

Abstract: A process for enabling cylinder deactivation in a multiple displacement engine involving oil aeration includes detecting engine speed. Once the engine speed has been determined, a delay period is established prior to enabling cylinder deactivation. The delay period is a function of whether engine speed exceeds a preselected threshold and an amount by which the threshold is exceeded. When the delay period expires, a request is generated for cylinder deactivation.

Abstract: A method for controlling airflow in an intake manifold of a multiple-displacement engine during an engine displacement mode transition includes determining, before a displacement mode transition, a post-transition mass air flow rate necessary to maintain a pre-transition engine torque output, as well as an airflow transient multiplier based on engine speed and an estimated post-transition manifold air pressure. After multiplying the requested mass air flow rate with the transient multiplier, the resulting compensated requested mass air flow rate is divided by a maximum mass air flow rate to obtain a requested percent airflow.