Patent ID: 8073601

Claim:
A method for controlling operation of a powertrain including an engine coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission including first and second torque generating machines to transmit power to an output member, the engine selectively operative in one of an all-cylinder state and a cylinder deactivation state, the method comprising: determining an operator torque request; iteratively selecting candidate engine operating points; determining an engine power cost for each candidate engine operating point; determining torque outputs from the first and second torque generating machines based upon the candidate engine operating points and the operator torque request; determining a total powertrain system power loss for each candidate engine operating point based upon the engine power cost and the torque outputs from the first and second torque generating machines; selecting a preferred engine operating point based upon the total powertrain system power loss for each candidate engine operating point; selecting the engine state comprising one of the all-cylinder state and the cylinder deactivation state based upon the preferred engine operating point; and controlling the engine based upon the selected engine state and the preferred engine operating point.