It is herein described a system and a corresponding method to carry out the selective coupling and uncoupling of an alternator in relation to an engine crankshaft pulley. The alternator is kept coupled or uncoupled depending on the detected battery charge, and both coupling and uncoupling are performed in two different steps and lagged in time, one step providing the electric coupling or uncoupling, and the other step providing the mechanical coupling or uncoupling.

An example system for disconnecting a driven member from a driving member is described. The system includes a vibration detection device configured to output vibration signals indicative of vibration levels of the driven member. The system also includes a controller including at least one processor. The controller is arranged to (i) determine that a vibration signal output by the vibration detection device satisfies a threshold condition and (ii) based at least on the determination that the vibration signal satisfies the threshold condition, trigger a mechanical disconnection of the driven member from the driving member by a mechanical disconnect device.

A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications. A motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit are arranged in the constrained environment at the front of an engine. The motor-generator is preferably laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.

A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications. A motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit are arranged in the constrained environment at the front of an engine. The motor-generator is preferably laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.

A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.