Methods and systems for driveline torque control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185341-A1
Application number	US-201615065484-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline oscillations are reduced during engine air-fuel ratio modulation. The driveline oscillations may be reduced via adjusting torque of a motor.

First claim

1 . A method for operating a driveline, comprising:
varying an engine air-fuel ratio; and adjusting torque of a motor supplying torque to the driveline in response to varying the engine air-fuel ratio.

2 . The method of claim 1 , where torque of the motor is adjusted to vary at a same rate as the engine air-fuel ratio is varied.

3 . The method of claim 2 , where the motor torque is increasing when the engine torque is decreasing.

4 . The method of claim 2 , where the motor torque is decreasing when the engine torque is increasing.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting the motor torque in response to battery state of charge.

6 . The method of claim 1 , where the torque of the motor is adjusted to decrease by an amount of torque by which engine torque is increased in response to the engine air-fuel ratio.

7 . The method of claim 1 , where the torque of the motor is adjusted to increase by an amount of torque by which engine torque is decreased in response to the engine air-fuel ratio.

8 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method for operating a driveline, comprising:
not adjusting spark timing of an engine in response to engine air-fuel ratio changes when battery state of charge is greater than a first threshold battery state of charge; and adjusting spark timing of the engine in response to engine air-fuel ratio changes when battery state of charge is less than a second threshold battery state of charge.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising adjusting torque of a motor supplying torque to the driveline in response to the engine air-fuel ratio changes while not adjusting the spark timing, wherein while adjusting spark timing in response to engine air-fuel ratio changes, the method further comprises not adjusting torque of the motor responsive to the engine air-fuel ratio changes.

17 . The method of claim 16 , where timing of commands to adjust the torque of the motor supplying torque to the driveline is adjusted in response to a fuel injection delay.

18 . The method of claim 17 , where timing of commands to adjust the torque of the motor supplying torque to the driveline is adjusted in response to a fuel injection to engine torque delay.

19 . The method of claim 15 , where adjusting spark timing of the engine includes retarding spark timing of the engine in response to the engine air-fuel ratio change providing a richer engine air-fuel mixture.

20 . The method of claim 15 , where adjusting spark timing of the engine includes advancing spark timing of the engine in response to the engine air-fuel ratio change providing a leaner engine air-fuel mixture.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Reed Dennis Craig
• Wright Robert
• Colvin Daniel
• Doering Jeffrey Allen

Classifications

• B60W2510/0619

  Air-fuel ratio · CPC title

• B60W2710/085

  Torque change rate · CPC title

• B60W10/08

  including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators · CPC title

• B60Y2300/436

  Control of engine ignition · CPC title

• B60Y2300/188

  Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power · CPC title