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EP-4735286-A1 - CONTROL OF AN AUTOMOTIVE HYBRID POWERTRAIN IN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ELECTRIC AND HYBRID PROPULSION OF A HYBRID-POWERED MOTOR VEHICLE

EP4735286A1EP 4735286 A1EP4735286 A1EP 4735286A1EP-4735286-A1

Abstract

Automotive control software loadable on and executable by automotive electronic processing resources of a hybrid propulsion motor vehicle and designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to control an automotive powertrain (MV) including a hybrid propulsion unit (P) and an automatic dual clutch transmission (T) interposed between the hybrid propulsion unit (P) and drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle. The hybrid propulsion unit (P) comprises an internal combustion engine (MT) and a reversible electric motor (ME) and is electronically controllable to selectively operate in different operating modes comprising an electric mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven only by the reversible electric motor (ME), and a hybrid mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by the internal combustion engine (MT), possibly assisted by the reversible electric motor (ME) in given operating conditions of the motor vehicle. The automatic dual clutch transmission (T) comprises: a servo-controlled gearbox electronically controllable to engage and disengage the gears corresponding to the various speeds; and a dual servo-controlled clutch (Ci, C2) interposed between the gearbox and the internal combustion engine and electronically controllable to couple and uncouple the gearbox and the internal combustion engine (MT). The automatic dual clutch transmission (T) comprises two distinct gear groups or branches, one defining an even gear branch (ST2) and one defining an odd gear branch (STi). The reversible electric motor (ME) is mechanically coupled to the drive wheels via one of the two gear groups. The automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to: during operation of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) in electric mode (10), calculate (12- 13) gear pairs to be used in the electric mode and gear pairs to be used in the hybrid mode for use if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested; and control (14-16) the automatic dual clutch transmission (T) so that it operates based on the gear pairs calculated in the respective operating modes of the hybrid propulsion unit (P). The automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to: if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested (17), calculate (18) a sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode to guarantee a continuity of torque delivered to the drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle; and engage (20) the sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode so that the motor vehicle passes from the electric mode to the hybrid mode (21).

Inventors

  • PETRUCCI, MARCO
  • RUSSO, Raffaele Loris
  • MANCINI, ANDREA
  • MARCUCCI, Antonio
  • DAVI', Alberto

Assignees

  • Stellantis Europe S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240627

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Automotive control software loadable on and executable by automotive electronic processing resources of a hybrid propulsion motor vehicle and designed to cause, when executed, the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to control an automotive powertrain (MV) including a hybrid propulsion unit (P) and an automatic dual clutch transmission (T) interposed between the hybrid propulsion unit (P) and drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle; the hybrid propulsion unit (P) comprises an internal combustion engine (MT) and a reversible electric motor (ME) and is electronically controllable to selectively operate in different operating modes comprising an electric mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven only by the reversible electric motor (ME), and a hybrid mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by the internal combustion engine (MT), possibly assisted by the reversible electric motor (ME) in given operating conditions of the motor vehicle; the automatic dual clutch transmission (T) comprises: - a servo-controlled gearbox electronically controllable to engage and disengage the gears corresponding to the various speeds; and - a dual servo-controlled clutch (Ci, C2) interposed between the gearbox and the internal combustion engine and electronically controllable to couple and uncouple the gearbox and the internal combustion engine (MT), the automatic dual clutch transmission (T) comprises two distinct gear groups or branches, one defining an even gear branch (ST2) and one defining an odd gear branch (STi), the reversible electric motor (ME) is mechanically coupled to the drive wheels via one of the two gear groups, the automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to: - during operation of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) in electric mode (10), calculate (12-13) gear pairs to be used in the electric mode and gear pairs to be used in the hybrid mode for use if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested; and - control (14-16) the automatic dual clutch transmission (T) so that it operates based on the gear pairs calculated in the respective operating modes of the hybrid propulsion unit (P), characterized in that the automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to: - if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested (17), calculate (18) a sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode to guarantee a continuity of torque delivered to the drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle; - engage (20) the sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode so that the motor vehicle passes from the electric mode to the hybrid mode (21).
  2. 2. The automotive control software according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of transition gear pairs comprises a starting gear pair for use when a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested, and wherein in order to calculate (18) a sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode such as to guarantee a continuity of torque delivered to the drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested, the automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to carry out an inertial start-up of the internal combustion engine (MT) using the pair associated with the gear branch that is not connected to the reversible electric motor (ME).
  3. 3. The automotive control software according to claim 2, wherein, in order to engage (20) the sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode so that the motor vehicle passes from the electric mode to the hybrid mode (21), the automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to carry out a gear shift on the gear branch connected to the reversible electric motor (ME) to transmit the mechanical power to the drive wheels (W) of the motor vehicle upon completion of start-up of the internal combustion engine (MT).
  4. 4. The automotive control software according to claim 3, wherein, in order to engage (20) the sequence of transition gear pairs for transition between the gear pair used in the electric mode and the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode so that the motor vehicle passes from the electric mode to the hybrid mode (21), the automotive control software is designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to carry out a gear shift on the gear branch not connected to the reversible electric motor (ME).
  5. 5. The automotive control software according to any one of the preceding claims, and designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to: - during operation of the hybrid propulsion unit in electric mode with a given gear pair (15), check whether the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit meets a condition of admissibility depending on the gear pair used in the electric mode and that is indicative of the fact that the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode guarantees a continuity of torque delivery to the drive wheels of the motor vehicle if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested; and - if the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit meets the condition of admissibility, validate (16) the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested.
  6. 6. The automotive control software according to claim 5, further designed, when executed, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured, if the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) does not meet the condition of admissibility, to calculate (15) a different gear pair for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested.
  7. 7. The automotive control software according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the condition of admissibility is defined by the fact that the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) belongs to a corresponding range of admissibility values.
  8. 8. The automotive control software according to claim 7, wherein the admissibility condition is defined by the fact that the gear pair currently used in the electric mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P) is associated with a corresponding range of admissibility values for the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P).
  9. 9. The automotive control software according to claim 8, when dependent on claim 6, wherein, in order to calculate a different gear pair to be used in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P), if a transition of the hybrid propulsion unit from the electric mode to the hybrid mode is requested, the automotive control software is further designed, when executed in case the gear pair calculated for use in the hybrid mode of the hybrid propulsion unit does not meet the condition of admissibility, to cause the automotive electronic processing resources to become configured to vary (15) the calculated gear pair so that it falls within the range of admissibility values associated with the corresponding gear pair currently used in the electric mode of the hybrid propulsion unit (P).
  10. 10. A hybrid propulsion motor vehicle comprising automotive electronic processing resources on which an automotive control software according to any one of the claims 1-9 can be stored and executed.

Description

CONTROL OF AN AUTOMOTIVE HYBRID POWERTRAIN IN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ELECTRIC AND HYBRID PROPULSION OF A HYBRID-POWERED MOTOR VEHICLE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102023000013674 filed on June 30, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, generally, to the area of controlling gear pairs of a hybrid motor vehicle, particularly controlling an automotive hybrid powertrain in the transition between electric and hybrid propulsion of a hybrid-powered motor vehicle, even more particularly controlling gear pairs in the transition from the electric mode, wherein propulsion is only provided by a reversible electric motor of the hybrid propulsion motor vehicle, to the hybrid mode, wherein propulsion is provided by an internal combustion heat engine and, where appropriate, by the reversible electric motor. The present invention relates, generally, to the field of hybrid propulsion motor vehicles, i.e. equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor or reversible electric motor, both of the traditional type, in which the electric batteries are recharged with the aid of internal combustion engines, and of the so-called plug-in type (PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), in which the electric batteries can be recharged even without the aid of internal combustion engines, using external electrical energy sources that can be electrically connected to the electric batteries via wired or wireless connections. In particular, and without any loss of generality, the present invention relates to the area of hybrid propulsion motor vehicles with dual clutch transmission (DCT) and equipped with a reversible electric motor connected to a half-gearbox, for example, the one for engaging or disengaging even gears. The present invention relates to automotive control software for controlling an automotive powertrain of a hybrid propulsion motor vehicle, in particular for controlling gear pairs in the transition from electric to hybrid mode. The present invention applies to any type of road motor vehicle, whether it is used for the transport of people, such as a car, bus, camper van, etc., or for the transport of goods, such as an industrial motor vehicle (truck, trailer truck, articulated lorry, etc.) or light or medium-heavy commercial vehicle (van, covered body vehicle, cab vehicle, etc.). STATE OF THE ART As is well known, automated or autonomous driving motor vehicles, in particular hybrid propulsion motor vehicles, are equipped with one or more automotive powertrains of the type shown schematically in Figure 1, indicated by the reference MV; in particular, the powertrain MV in Figure 1 comprises a propulsion unit P of any type (internal combustion, electric, hybrid), in this case hybrid, and an automatic or servo-actuated transmission (drivetrain or driveline) T interposed between the propulsion unit P and the drive wheels W of the hybrid propulsion motor vehicle, in particular, to transfer the mechanical power generated by the propulsion unit P to the drive wheels W. In particular, the transmission T is (and without any loss of generality) a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), as shown in Figure 1. The hybrid propulsion unit P comprises an internal combustion engine MT and a reversible electric motor ME and is electronically controllable to selectively operate in different operating modes comprising an electric mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by the reversible electric motor ME alone, and a hybrid mode, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by the internal combustion engine MT, possibly assisted by the reversible electric motor ME in given operating conditions of the motor vehicle. The automatic dual clutch transmission T comprises: - a servo-controlled gearbox electronically controllable to engage and disengage the gears corresponding to the various speeds, in particular odd gears STi and even gears ST2; and - a dual servo-controlled clutch Ci, C2 (in particular, controlled by an associated, electrically or electro-hydraulically controlled actuator, as well as by a plurality of electrically or electro-hydraulically controlled actuators, not shown) interposed between the gearbox and the internal combustion engine MT and electronically controllable to couple and uncouple the gearbox and the internal combustion engine MT. The transmission T comprises two distinct gear groups or branches, one defining an even gear branch ST2 (forward as well as reverse), associated with the clutchC2, and one defining an odd gear branch STi, associated with the clutch Ci. In addition, the reversible electric motor ME is mechanically coupled to the drive wheels W via one of the two gear groups, in this case to the gear group defining the even gear branch ST2. Moreover, the reversible electric motor ME helps synchronize speeds on the even gear br