US 12,168,435 B2
Control system for an engine disconnect clutch in a hybrid vehicle
Akshay Bichkar, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Corey James Blue, Belleville, MI (US); Samuel Melville Glauber, McLean, VA (US); Jason Meyer, Canton, MI (US); and Bradley Dean Riedle, Northville, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/989,381.
Prior Publication US 2024/0166191 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. B60W 20/40 (2016.01); B60W 10/02 (2006.01); B60W 10/06 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 20/40 (2013.01) [B60W 10/02 (2013.01); B60W 10/06 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 2510/0208 (2013.01); B60W 2510/083 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine each configured to generate power to propel the vehicle;
a disconnect clutch (i) disposed between the engine and the electric machine, (ii) configured to open to disconnect the engine from a remainder of the powertrain, and (iii) configured to closed to connect the engine to the remainder of the powertrain; and
a controller programmed to, in response to a command to start the engine,
close the disconnect clutch to transfer power from electric machine to the engine to start the engine,
control a torque of the disconnect clutch during the engine start via increasing a hydraulic pressure applied to the disconnect clutch, wherein the hydraulic pressure applied to the disconnect clutch is based on a model that compensates for a delay between a torque command to the disconnect clutch and a measured torque of the disconnect clutch, and
adjust the model based on a difference between an expected hydraulic pressure of the disconnect clutch and a measured hydraulic pressure of the disconnect clutch during the engine start.