A method is provided for moving off of a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine; a gearbox with input and output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears and capable of operating each other; one gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and output shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and output shaft. The method comprising, while the combustion engine is in operation: a) ensuring that the rotatable components of the first and second planetary gears are respectively disconnected from each other, b) ensuring that at least one gear is engaged, corresponding to the one gear pair connected with the first planetary gear, and/or the one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear, and c) activating the first and second electrical machines, where total power output from the electrical machines is zero, and so that a torque is generated in the output shaft.

A method of shifting ranges within a transmission is provided. The method of an embodiment includes determining an intention to change from a first mode to a second mode in the transmission, determining the first mode of the transmission, which includes a first range clutch in an engaged condition and a first synchronizer in a first engaged condition, determining the second mode of the transmission, which includes a second range clutch in an engaged condition and a second synchronizer in a first engaged condition, engaging the second synchronizer in the first engaged condition, disengaging the first range clutch, engaging the second range clutch, and disengaging the first synchronizer from the first engaged condition.

A controller for a hybrid vehicle controls a first motor generator and a second motor generator such that electric power input to a battery does not exceed an input upper limit value and electric power output from the battery does not exceed an output upper limit value. The controller executes motoring to rotate an output shaft using the first motor generator with combustion operation of an engine stopped, thereby causing a braking force generated by friction of the engine to act on a driven wheel. The controller executes a valve-opening limitation process that limits an increase in a throttle open degree in correspondence with the input upper limit value upon issuance of an increase request for the throttle open degree that is not based on an operation of requesting a change in the braking force performed by a driver during the execution of the motoring.

A regenerative braking control method of a hybrid vehicle may include: a vehicle condition determination operation of determining, by a controller, whether a vehicle speed and a driving mode satisfy conditions suitable for regenerative braking control of the hybrid vehicle; an accumulated count increasing operation of increasing, by the controller, an accumulated count of a reduction direction signal when the reduction direction signal is input from a two-way input device while the conditions are satisfied; an accumulated count reducing operation of reducing, by the controller, the accumulated count of the reduction direction signal depending on a count of the increase direction signal when the increase direction signal is input from the two-way input device while the conditions are satisfied; and a phased braking operation of increasing, by the controller, regenerative braking torque of a motor in phases depending on the accumulated count of the reduction direction signal.

A method of controlling gear shifting of a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, and a stepped transmission includes predicting a requested torque reduction amount requested by the engine and the motor when there is a request to shift gears of the transmission, determining whether to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount by reducing motor torque or applying counter torque, as a result of the determining, when it is not possible to realize the predicted requested torque reduction amount, determining an operating point correction amount for increasing an available torque reduction amount of the motor, and determining whether to perform first gear-shifting control in consideration of efficiency of the first gear-shifting control of increasing the motor torque and reducing engine torque by the operating point correction amount before an actual requested torque reduction amount is input.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

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.

The present invention generally relates to automatic transmission controllers and related methods. In one case, the present invention provides a method of calibrating a controller to match an automatic transmission to an electric motor or internal combustion engine. The controller is not integrated into the transmission. The method comprises adjusting parameters of the controller and includes the steps of: a) Defining the Control Architecture; b) using the Defined Control Architecture to Identify Control Loop Input/Output; c) using the Identified Control Input/Output to Define the Control Algorithm Controller; d) using the Control Algorithm Controller definition to either Define the Shift Schedule or Define the Solenoid Handler, either of which can be used in Optimizing Calibration Via Testing.

A regenerative braking control method of a hybrid vehicle may include: a vehicle condition determination operation of determining, by a controller, whether a vehicle speed and a driving mode satisfy conditions suitable for regenerative braking control of the hybrid vehicle; an accumulated count increasing operation of increasing, by the controller, an accumulated count of a reduction direction signal when the reduction direction signal is input from a two-way input device while the conditions are satisfied; an accumulated count reducing operation of reducing, by the controller, the accumulated count of the reduction direction signal depending on a count of the increase direction signal when the increase direction signal is input from the two-way input device while the conditions are satisfied; and a phased braking operation of increasing, by the controller, regenerative braking torque of a motor in phases depending on the accumulated count of the reduction direction signal.

A rotary shifter with 360 rotation in each of clockwise and counter clockwise rotating directions. The shifter includes a package housing with a bezel cover. A cylindrical shaped plunger housing is secured to a rotary knob supported atop the housing and which is selectively rotatable in the clockwise direction from a Park gear position, in succession, to each of a Reverse gear position, a Neutral gear position and at least one Drive gear position, with further clockwise rotation preventing movement beyond a final one of the Drive gear positions. The knob is further selectively rotatable in a counter clockwise direction to return to the Park gear position, with additional permitted counter-clockwise rotation retaining the shifter in the Park gear position.