Patent ID: 7370516

Claim:
A method for estimating transmission input torque of a vehicle, said method comprising: measuring transmission input torque values of a powertrain operating at a plurality of predefined combinations of a torque converter clutch input speed, a torque converter clutch output speed, a torque converter clutch apply pressure, and a transmission oil temperature; establishing a look-up table including the measured transmission input torque values and the predefined combinations corresponding to each measured transmission input torque value; monitoring the torque converter clutch input speed, the torque converter clutch output speed, the torque converter clutch apply pressure, and the transmission oil temperature in a vehicle; and retrieving from the look-up table the measured transmission input torque value that most closely corresponds to the current status of the monitored torque converter clutch input speed, torque converter clutch output speed, torque converter clutch apply pressure, and transmission oil temperature, wherein the measured transmission input torque value provides an estimate of the actual transmission input torque of the vehicle.