Patent ID: 9744961
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60L,B60W,Y02T,Y10S

Claim:
1. A controller for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric machine operable to drive a driveline of the vehicle, the vehicle having a clutch that releasably couples the internal combustion engine to the driveline, wherein the clutch comprises an input portion coupled to the engine and an output portion, wherein the clutch is operable between an open condition, in which the internal combustion engine is substantially disconnected from the driveline, and a closed condition, in which the internal combustion engine is substantially connected to the driveline, wherein the controller is configured to: control the vehicle to transition between a first mode, in which the clutch is in the open condition, and a second mode, in which the clutch is in the closed condition; and provide, when a transition from the first mode to the second mode is required, a control signal to the internal combustion engine to control a speed thereof to achieve a target speed, wherein the target speed is greater than a speed of the output portion of the clutch, and wherein the control signal is responsive to the speed of the internal combustion engine and an amount of torque transfer provided by the clutch.