A method for reducing vehicle fuel consumption during coasting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019351908-A1
Application number	US-201816480460-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2018
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Nov 21, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain comprising drive torque means, a transmission and a driveline, the drive torque means comprising an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: detecting that coasting entry criteria have been met; causing the powertrain to assume a first coasting mode for a first time period in which the drive torque means delivers positive drive torque to the driveline to substantially balance powertrain losses; determining a value for at least one parameter, the or each parameter being indicative of: a probability that a demand will be made for torque to be delivered to the driveline in addition to torque delivered to substantially balance powertrain losses; or a probability that a demand will be made for braking of the vehicle; and setting the value of the first time period in dependence on the value of the or each parameter.

First claim

1 - 31 . (canceled)

32 . A method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain comprising drive torque means, a transmission and a driveline, the drive torque means comprising an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
detecting that coasting entry criteria have been met; causing the powertrain to assume a first coasting mode for a first time period in which the drive torque means delivers torque to the driveline to substantially balance powertrain losses; determining a value for at least one parameter indicative of a probability that a demand will be made for torque to be delivered to the driveline in addition to torque delivered to substantially balance powertrain losses or a probability that a demand will be made for braking of the vehicle; and setting the value of the first time period in dependence on the value of the at least one parameter.

33 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein the coasting entry criteria comprise release of an accelerator pedal, release of a brake pedal of the vehicle and the vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined value; or torque not being required to be delivered to the driveline to maintain a speed set by a cruise control system within a predetermined range.

34 . The method according to claim 32 , comprising causing the powertrain to assume a second coasting mode for a second time period in which the drive torque means is disconnected from the driveline and the internal combustion engine maintains an idle speed.

35 . The method according to claim 34 , comprising causing the powertrain to assume a third coasting mode in which the drive torque means is disconnected from the driveline and the drive torque means is switched off.

36 . The method according to claim 35 , wherein determining the value for the at least one parameter comprises determining at least one probability of the probability that the demand for additional torque and the demand for braking of the vehicle will be made prior to assuming the third coasting mode.

37 . The method according claim 32 , wherein at least one demand of the demand for additional torque and the demand for braking of the vehicle is made by a driver of the vehicle or by a cruise control system to maintain a set speed within a predetermined range.

38 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein determining the value for the at least one parameter comprises receiving information indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of speed of traffic ahead of the vehicle, location of traffic ahead of the vehicle, a state of at least one traffic control signal ahead of the vehicle, and information indicative of a geographical location of the vehicle.

39 . The method according to claim 32 , comprising determining an expected coasting period for the vehicle, and setting the value of the first time period in accordance with the expected coasting period.

40 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein the drive torque means comprises an electric machine that delivers torque from an output shaft of the engine to the driveline in the first coasting mode.

41 . The method according to claim 40 , comprising delivering torque produced by both the electric machine and the engine from the output shaft of the engine to the driveline in the first coasting mode.

42 . The method according to claim 41 , comprising determining proportions of the torque delivered to the driveline that should be produced by the electric machine and the engine respectively for optimized efficiency, and controlling the powertrain so that the engine and the electric machine produce the determined respective proportions of torque.

43 . The method according to claim 42 , comprising determining proportions of the torque delivered to the driveline that should be produced by the electric machine and the engine respectively to reduce or minimize power consumption in the first coasting mode.

44 . An electronic controller for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain comprising drive torque means, a transmission and a driveline, the drive torque means comprising an internal combustion engine, the controller comprising:
an electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving information indicative that coasting entry criteria have been met, and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored therein, wherein the processor is configured to: access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that the electronic processor is operable to cause the powertrain to assume a first coasting mode for a first time period in which the drive torque means delivers torque to the driveline to substantially balance powertrain losses; determine a value for at least one parameter indicative of a probability that a demand will be made for torque to be delivered to the driveline in addition to torque delivered to substantially balance powertrain losses or a probability that a demand will be made for braking of the vehicle; and set the value of the first time period in dependence on the value of the at least one parameter.

45 . The controller according to claim 44 , wherein the coasting entry criteria comprise release of an accelerator pedal, release of a brake pedal of the vehicle, and the vehicle speed exceeding a predetermined value; or torque not being required to be delivered to the driveline to maintain a speed set by a cruise control system within a predetermined range.

46 . The controller according to claim 44 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the powertrain to assume a second coasting mode for a second time period in which the drive torque means is disconnected from the driveline and the internal combustion engine maintains an idle speed.

47 . The controller according to claim 44 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the powertrain to assume a third coasting mode in which the drive torque means is disconnected from the driveline and the drive torque means is switched off.

48 . The controller according to claim 47 , wherein determining a value for the at least one parameter comprises determining at least one probability of the probability that the demand for additional torque and the demand for braking of the vehicle will be made prior to assuming the third coasting mode.

49 . The controller according to claim 44 , wherein determining a value for the at least one parameter comprises receiving information indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of a speed of traffic ahead of the vehicle, a location of traffic ahead of the vehicle, a state of at least one traffic control signal ahead of the vehicle, and information indicative of a geographical location of the vehicle.

50 . A vehicle comprising the electronic controller of claim 44 .

51 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer readable code for controlling a vehicle to carry out the method of claim 32 .

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Marsden Paul
• Valero Thomas
• Mourre Thomas
• Plianos Alex

Classifications

• B60W50/0097

  Predicting future conditions · CPC title

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title

• B60W2710/083

  Torque · CPC title

• B60W2030/1809

  Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral · CPC title