Patent ID: 7691027
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,B60Y,F02D,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In a powertrain that includes wheels for driving a vehicle, an engine including a crankshaft, a machine driveably connected to the crankshaft and able to operate alternately as an electric motor and electric generator, a transmission including an input clutch driveably connected to the crankshaft and an output driveably connected to the wheels, a method for controlling idle speed, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a desired magnitude of input clutch torque capacity; (b) producing a desired wheel torque by transmitting torque produced by the engine and machine through the input clutch and transmission to the wheels; (c) using an error represented by a difference between a desired crankshaft idle speed and a current crankshaft speed to determine a desired change in torque produced by the machine; (d) using the magnitude of input clutch torque capacity and the desired change in torque produced by the machine to determine a desired magnitude of machine torque; and (e) using the machine to produce said desired magnitude of machine torque.