US 12,084,041 B2
Internal combustion engine torque optimization subject to constraints in hybrid-electric powertrains
Mckenzie T Walsh, Ortonville, MI (US); Szabolcs Sovenyi, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); and Nadirsh Patel, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to FCA US LLC, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Mckenzie T Walsh, Ortonville, MI (US); Szabolcs Sovenyi, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); and Nadirsh Patel, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/526,049.
Prior Publication US 2023/0150477 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. B60W 20/17 (2016.01); B60W 10/06 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 30/182 (2020.01)
CPC B60W 20/17 (2016.01) [B60W 10/06 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 30/182 (2013.01); B60W 2510/0657 (2013.01); B60W 2510/083 (2013.01); B60W 2720/40 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for a hybrid-electric powertrain of a vehicle, the hybrid-electric powertrain including an internal combustion engine, two electric motors, a battery system, and a transmission comprising a plurality of clutches, the control system comprising:
a set of sensors configured to measure a set of operating parameters of a set of components of the hybrid-electric powertrain, wherein each component of the set of components is a constraint on minimum/maximum motor torque limits, collectively defining a minimum/maximum motor torque limit slab, for the electric motors thereby collectively forming a set of constraints; and
a controller configured to:
perform a linear optimization to find best engine torque values that are attainable subject to a set of constraint inequalities as defined by current vehicle state and as monitored by the set of sensors; and
control the hybrid-electric powertrain based on the best engine torque values to avoid excessive torque commands that could damage physical components of the hybrid-electric powertrain and/or could cause undesirable noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) characteristics,
wherein the controller is configured to select two constraint plane pairs at a time and determine intersections between (i) the selected two constraint plane pairs and (ii) the minimum/maximum motor torque limits for all currently active constraint plane pair combinations and determine intersection points of two of the constraint plane pairs with the minimum/maximum motor torque limit slab, and then the best engine torque levels are chosen.