Patent ID: 7577507

Claim:
Method for controlling torque transmitted between a powertrain system and a driveline, the powertrain system comprising a plurality of torque-generative devices operably connected to a transmission, comprising: determining a driveline axle torque; determining an output speed of the powertrain and an output speed of a driven wheel of the driveline; determining a lash state of the driveline to be one of a positive state, a negative state, and a neutral state based upon the driveline axle torque and the output speeds of the powertrain and the driven wheel of the driveline; determining the lash state to be the neutral state when the driveline axle torque is substantially equal to a nil torque value; and controlling the torque-generative devices such that a rate of change of the driveline axle torque transmitted between the powertrain system and the driveline is less than an operator-commanded rate of change of the driveline axle torque when the lash state is the neutral state.