Abstract: An engine consumes fuel and air to generate an exhaust gas stream. An exhaust system channels the exhaust gas stream from the engine to a tailpipe. An aftertreatment system is included in the exhaust system and includes a catalyst. A transmission system is coupled with the engine. The transmission system includes a transmission and a torque converter coupled with the transmission through a shaft. A lock is included in the transmission system to selectively prevent rotation of the shaft to increase a load on the engine by the torque converter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission associated with a vehicle. The method includes receiving a neutral range selection for the transmission, and receiving a temperature and a pressure of a lubricant associated with the transmission. The method includes receiving a speed of an input shaft associated with the transmission, and determining, by a processor, based on the temperature and the speed of the input shaft, a pressure threshold value for the lubricant. The method includes outputting, by the processor, one or more control signals to command the transmission to a one clutch neutral state in which one clutch of a plurality of clutches associated with the transmission is engaged based on a comparison of the pressure threshold value to the pressure of the lubricant.

Abstract: A fixed-gear transmission including a plurality of planetary gear sets and a plurality of clutches is described. A method for controlling the fixed-gear transmission includes commanding a first iteration of a skip-at-sync transmission shift and monitoring clutch slip of an oncoming holding clutch associated with the skip-at-sync transmission shift during execution of the shift, which includes monitoring synchronization of the on-coming holding clutch and a maximum clutch slip overshoot value. A progressive clutch pressure ramp rate for the oncoming holding clutch is adaptively controlled in response to the clutch synchronization of the on-coming hold clutch during execution of a subsequent iteration of the skip-at-sync transmission shift.

Abstract: A fixed-gear transmission including a plurality of planetary gear sets and a plurality of clutches is described. A method for controlling the fixed-gear transmission includes commanding a first iteration of a skip-at-sync transmission shift and monitoring clutch slip of an oncoming holding clutch associated with the skip-at-sync transmission shift during execution of the shift, which includes monitoring synchronization of the on-coming holding clutch and a maximum clutch slip overshoot value. A progressive clutch pressure ramp rate for the oncoming holding clutch is adaptively controlled in response to the clutch synchronization of the on-coming hold clutch during execution of a subsequent iteration of the skip-at-sync transmission shift.

Abstract: A method of controlling clutches in a multi-speed transmission includes beginning a current shift from a starting gear to an initial target gear, and determining whether the current shift is a downshift. The method determines jump-stage eligibility of a first clutch. Determining jump-stage eligibility includes determining whether the first clutch is a holding clutch for the current shift, and determining whether the first clutch is an off-going clutch for a legal shift from the initial starting gear to an adjusted target gear having a higher speed ratio than the initial starting gear. If the first clutch is not jump-stage eligible, the method maintains pressure of the first clutch at a current pressure. If the first clutch is jump-stage eligible, the method reduces the pressure of the first clutch from the current pressure to a staging pressure, which is greater than a slipping pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, input clutch, transmission, and controller. The transmission, which is selectively connected to the output shaft via the input clutch, has multiple friction clutches, including respective offgoing and oncoming clutches for a negative torque upshift. The controller includes a torque request module, offgoing clutch module, and oncoming clutch module. The torque request module limits input torque into the transmission during the negative torque upshift. The offgoing control module determines actual offgoing clutch torque capacity of the offgoing clutch, calculates an actual offgoing clutch pressure using the actual offgoing clutch torque capacity, and controls the offgoing clutch through the shift using the actual offgoing clutch pressure. The oncoming control module controls the oncoming clutch through multiple stages of control of the oncoming clutch, including a fill, staging, ramp, and quick-lock stage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, input clutch, transmission, and controller. The transmission, which is selectively connected to the output shaft via the input clutch, has multiple friction clutches, including respective offgoing and oncoming clutches for a negative torque upshift. The controller includes a torque request module, offgoing clutch module, and oncoming clutch module. The torque request module limits input torque into the transmission during the negative torque upshift. The offgoing control module determines actual offgoing clutch torque capacity of the offgoing clutch, calculates an actual offgoing clutch pressure using the actual offgoing clutch torque capacity, and controls the offgoing clutch through the shift using the actual offgoing clutch pressure. The oncoming control module controls the oncoming clutch through multiple stages of control of the oncoming clutch, including a fill, staging, ramp, and quick-lock stage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an engine control module (ECM), and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a transmission control module (TCM), a stationary member, gear sets, an input member connected to the engine and one of the gear sets, and a binary clutch assembly. The binary clutch assembly has a freewheeling element and a binary device preventing rotation of the binary clutch assembly when applied, and allows the binary clutch assembly to freewheel when released. The TCM controls a slip speed differential of the binary clutch assembly when the vehicle is coasting in a forward gear state. The TCM determines a threshold maximum slip speed differential, calculates a required engine speed for achieving no more than the threshold maximum, and transmits the required engine speed to the ECM to maintain engine speed at or above the required engine speed. Doing so enables transmission state and direction change flexibility.

Abstract: A system comprises a torque control module, a combustion prediction module, and a fuel control module. The torque control module sets spark timing of an engine to produce a drive torque and determines an amount of delay to add to the spark timing to decrease the drive torque by a predetermined torque. The combustion prediction module predicts whether a single injection of fuel will combust in a cylinder of the engine when the amount of delay is added to the spark timing. The fuel control module actuates a plurality of separate injections of fuel into the cylinder when the combustion prediction module predicts that the single injection of fuel will not combust.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling torque includes a first torque transmitting mechanism and a second torque transmitting mechanism. The first torque transmitting mechanism is engageable to achieve a first gear ratio of the transmission. The second torque transmitting mechanism has an apply chamber that is pressurized at a first pressure level to achieve a first engaged position and is pressurized at a second pressure level to achieve a second engaged position. The first pressure level is less than the second pressure level and the second engaged position achieves a second gear ratio of the transmission. A controller is in communication with the first and second torque transmitting mechanisms. The controller includes a control logic for pressurizing the apply chamber of the second torque transmitting mechanism to the first pressure level if the first operating condition has exceeded a threshold operating condition.

Abstract: A system comprises a torque control module, a combustion prediction module, and a fuel control module. The torque control module sets spark timing of an engine to produce a drive torque and determines an amount of delay to add to the spark timing to decrease the drive torque by a predetermined torque. The combustion prediction module predicts whether a single injection of fuel will combust in a cylinder of the engine when the amount of delay is added to the spark timing. The fuel control module actuates a plurality of separate injections of fuel into the cylinder when the combustion prediction module predicts that the single injection of fuel will not combust.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling torque includes a first torque transmitting mechanism and a second torque transmitting mechanism. The first torque transmitting mechanism is engageable to achieve a first gear ratio of the transmission. The second torque transmitting mechanism has an apply chamber that is pressurized at a first pressure level to achieve a first engaged position and is pressurized at a second pressure level to achieve a second engaged position. The first pressure level is less than the second pressure level and the second engaged position achieves a second gear ratio of the transmission. A controller is in communication with the first and second torque transmitting mechanisms. The controller includes a control logic for pressurizing the apply chamber of the second torque transmitting mechanism to the first pressure level if the first operating condition has exceeded a threshold operating condition.