Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090107755 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL MOTOR COOLING IN AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A method for controlling a powertrain including an transmission coupled to an engine and an electric machine and a hydraulic control system providing hydraulic flow to a cooling circuit of the electric machine, wherein the transmission is adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output membe, includes monitoring a temperature of the electric machine, determining a cooling flow requirement for the cooling circuit based upon the temperature of the electric machine, comparing the cooling flow requirement to a threshold cooling flow, and requesting active electric machine cooling of the electric machine based upon the comparing. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108673 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VOLTAGE LEVEL ACROSS AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT OF A POWERTRAIN - A method for determining a voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain includes measuring a plurality of voltage levels and utilizing a comparison test between at least two voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level. | 04-30-2009 |
20090115373 | METHOD OF CHARGING A POWERTRAIN - A method of charging a powertrain includes detecting an external power source in electrical communication with the powertrain, establishing a virtual network between charging control module, and transferring charge from the external power source to the powertrain. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115377 | METHOD OF EXTERNALLY CHARGING A POWERTRAIN - A method of externally charging a powertrain includes monitoring a voltage level of a first battery, determining when the monitored voltage level is below a first voltage threshold, and when the monitored voltage level is below the first voltage threshold, charging the first battery by supplying power from an external power source and increasing voltage of the power supplied by the external power source within the powertrain. | 05-07-2009 |
20090118916 | METHOD TO MANAGE A HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM IN A HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A powertrain includes an electromechanical transmission operative to transmit torque between an input member and an electric machine and an output member to transmit tractive torque. The electric machine is electrically connected to an inverter device which is electrically connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain includes detecting a shutdown event, commanding the transmission to neutral, commanding the electric machine to cease operating in a torque generating mode, and electrically disconnecting the energy storage device from the inverter device. | 05-07-2009 |
20110208378 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A HYBRID VEHICLE - An exemplary method for operating a hybrid vehicle in the event that there is a problem with an auxiliary power source, such as an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. According to one embodiment, the method provides a power management scheme for a variety of situations where an auxiliary power source experiences a problem; this may include situations where an internal combustion engine runs out of fuel, where there is a mechanical or electrical malfunction, or any other instance where the auxiliary power source is unable to generate and/or provide electrical energy for the hybrid vehicle. The power management scheme conserves the vehicle's primary power source, which is typically a battery, in order to provide the hybrid vehicle with an extended driving range. | 08-25-2011 |
20110309777 | VEHICULAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INVERTER DURING MOTOR DECELERATION - Methods and systems for operating an inverter having a plurality of high switches and a plurality of low switches coupled to an electric motor are provided. An event indicative of deceleration of the electric motor is detected. The inverter is alternated between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation during the deceleration of the electric motor. In the first mode of operation, each of the plurality of high switches is activated and each of the plurality of low switches is deactivated or each of the plurality of low switches is activated and each of the plurality of high switches is deactivated. In the second mode of operation, each of the plurality of high switches is deactivated and each of the plurality of low switches is deactivated. | 12-22-2011 |
20120191283 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL MOTOR COOLING IN AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. An apparatus for controlling the powertrain includes the first and second electric machines, a first electric machine cooling circuit directing a cooling hydraulic flow to the first electric machine, a second electric machine cooling circuit directing a cooling hydraulic flow to the second electric machine, a hydraulic control system receiving a hydraulic flow and selectively channeling the hydraulic flow to the first and second electric machine cooling circuits, and an active electric machine cooling control system monitoring temperatures of the first and second electric machines, monitoring operation of the hydraulic control system, and selectively controlling the hydraulic control system. | 07-26-2012 |
20140277878 | METHOD FOR OPERATING HYBRID VEHICLE - A method and system used to identify an optimal hybrid vehicle operating mode based on a variety of potential factors, and then recommend the optimal operating mode to the driver so that they can make an informed decision regarding their operating mode selection. In one embodiment, the method uses geographic-, vehicle- and/or environmental-related factors to establish one or more operating zones, monitors the location of the hybrid vehicle and determines when it is within one of the operating zones, and then determines an operating mode that is optimal for that particular operating zone. | 09-18-2014 |