System and method for adjusting engine speed and/or engine load to improve fuel economy without causing vehicle vibration that is perceivable by a vehicle occupant

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284903-B2
Application number	US-201314143267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration level module and an engine operation control module. The vibration level module estimates a first level of vibration in a vehicle due to contact between tires of the vehicle and a road surface as the vehicle travels over the road surface. The vibration level module estimates a second level of vibration in the vehicle due to an engine in the vehicle. The engine operation control module selectively adjusts at least one of a speed of the engine and a load on the engine when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a vibration level module that:
estimates a first level of vibration in a vehicle due to contact between tires of the vehicle and a road surface as the vehicle travels over the road surface; and
estimates a second level of vibration in the vehicle due to an engine in the vehicle; and

an engine operation control module that selectively adjusts at least one of a speed of the engine and a load on the engine when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine operation control module selectively decreases the engine speed when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the engine operation control module decreases the engine speed when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level and decreasing the engine speed increases a fuel efficiency of the engine.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the engine operation control module selectively increases the engine load when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the engine operation control module increases the engine load when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level and increasing the engine load increases a fuel efficiency of the engine.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a vibration frequency module that determines a first frequency of the vehicle vibration due to the engine, wherein the vibration level module estimates the first vibration level at a second frequency that is within a predetermined range of the first frequency.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the vibration level module:
obtains a frequency distribution of the vehicle vibration due to contact between the tires of the vehicle and the road surface; and
estimates the first vibration level based on a peak in the frequency distribution that is within the predetermined range of the first frequency.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the vibration level module estimates the first vibration level based on at least one of a wheel speed, a transmission output speed, chassis acceleration, and suspension motion.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the vibration level module estimates the first vibration level based on at least one of a time derivative and an integral of the at least one of the wheel speed, the transmission output speed, the chassis acceleration, and the suspension motion.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein vibration level module estimates the second vibration level based on a commanded engine torque.

11. A method comprising:
estimating a first level of vibration in a vehicle due to contact between tires of the vehicle and a road surface as the vehicle travels over the road surface;
estimating a second level of vibration in the vehicle due to an engine in the vehicle; and
selectively adjusting at least one of a speed of the engine and a load on the engine when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively decreasing the engine speed when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising decreasing the engine speed when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level and decreasing the engine speed increases a fuel efficiency of the engine.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively increasing the engine load when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing the engine load when the second vibration level is less than the first vibration level and increasing the engine load increases a fuel efficiency of the engine.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
determining a first frequency of the vehicle vibration due to the engine; and
estimating the first vibration level at a second frequency that is within a predetermined range of the first frequency.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
obtaining a frequency distribution of the vehicle vibration due to contact between the tires of the vehicle and the road surface; and
estimating the first vibration level based on a peak in the frequency distribution that is within the predetermined range of the first frequency.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising estimating the first vibration level based on at least one of a wheel speed, a transmission output speed, chassis acceleration, and suspension motion.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising estimating the first vibration level based on at least one of a time derivative and an integral of the at least one of the wheel speed, the transmission output speed, the chassis acceleration, and the suspension motion.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising estimating the second vibration level based on a commanded engine torque.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Gehringer Mark
• Wagh Nitish J
• Mandernack Daniel Robert

Classifications

• F02D35/02

  on interior conditions · CPC title

• B60W10/10

  including control of change-speed gearings · CPC title

• B60W10/06 Primary

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• B60W30/1882

  characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart · CPC title

• F02D31/001

  Electric control of rotation speed · CPC title