A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch is described. In one example, the method includes predicting a time that the torque converter clutch will open so that stopping rotation of the engine may be requested before the torque converter clutch is opened. The stopping rotation of the engine is requested to conserve fuel.

A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply systems, first and second switches, and a fail-safe controller. The second power supply system includes a generator motor coupled to an engine, and a second electrical energy accumulator able to be coupled to the generator motor. The fail-safe controller inhibits a powering state of the motor generator on the condition that the second switch is in a malfunctioning state in which the second switch is rendered inoperative in a second turn-off state. The second turn-off state includes isolating the generator motor and the second electrical energy accumulator from each other.

A method for controlling an electric drive unit (EDU) having a motor-driven torque converter includes receiving a request signal indicative of a requested output torque of the EDU, and operating the motor at a target motor speed using the requested output torque. The target motor speed minimizes system losses while achieving the requested output torque. When the requested output torque remains below a calibrated threshold and a turbine speed is less than a corner speed of the motor, a torque converter clutch (TCC) transitions to or remains in a locked state. The controller commands the TCC to transition to an unlocked state to reach the target motor speed, thereby selectively enabling torque multiplication. A powertrain system includes a driven load and the EDU. A computer readable storage medium may include executable instructions for performing the method.

Disclosed is a vehicle acceleration compensation system, including an accelerator pedal, throttle, and a transmission configured to shift between two or more fixed gears, wherein each gear relates the motor power to a vehicle torque. The system also includes a control unit configured to receive data from one or more sensors. The control unit includes a real-time throttle map relating the accelerator pedal position to the throttle position, such that a given accelerator pedal position directs a corresponding target throttle position, and a real-time shift map relating a desired transmission gear to a current transmission gear, current vehicle speed, and current throttle position, such that a given vehicle speed, given throttle position, and given transmission gear directs a corresponding target transmission gear. In response to sensor data, the control unit updates the throttle map and shift map such that the vehicle torque is altered to produce a desired acceleration value.

Examples of hybrid powertrain systems are provided herein. The system includes: an engine; a motor/generator (“MG”); a clutch coupled to the engine and the MG; a transmission coupled to the MG; an energy storage system connected to the MG; and a controller coupled to the engine, the MG, the clutch, the transmission and the energy storage system. The controller is configured to initiate an engine stop, allow engine torque and MG torque to reduce to zero or near zero, shift the transmission to a neutral gear, cause the MG to operate in a generator mode, thereby loading the engine to recover kinetic energy from the engine, disengage the clutch to decouple the MG from the engine, increase the speed of the MG to a target speed, and shift the transmission into gear in response to the MG reaching the target speed.

A vehicle control device is configured to: execute a fuel cut control for stopping fuel supply to the internal combustion engine in response to a deceleration request to the vehicle; engage the lock-up clutch and open a throttle of the vehicle during the execution of the fuel cut control; close the throttle and execute the motor assist in a case where there is an acceleration request to the vehicle while the lock-up clutch is engaged, the throttle is opened, and the fuel cut control is executed; end the fuel cut control and resume fuel supply to the internal combustion engine when an intake pressure of the internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined startable negative pressure after the throttle is closed; and disengage the lock-up clutch when the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is resumed.

A vehicle, a vehicle powertrain system, a computer program product, and a method of controlling a vehicle in a manner to achieve enhanced driving performance. An example vehicle powertrain system includes one or more of a powertrain having an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter, and a control module to control the powertrain system. The control module is configured to conduct, in response to sensor data in connection with a detected current vehicle speed and a detected current transmission oil temperature, a vehicle powertrain analysis of the sensor data. The control module is to then control the powertrain in response to the vehicle powertrain analysis and an operating state of a lock-up clutch of the torque converter.

A controller includes a control unit which is configured to execute a coast stop control. The coast stop control is configured to perform automatic stopping of the drive source while the vehicle is traveling, when a permitting condition is satisfied, the permitting condition including a condition that a speed ratio R of the variator is lower than a first threshold R1 while the lock-up clutch is in an engaged phase. The control unit is configured to prohibit execution of the coast stop control in a case in which an input-output rotation speed difference of the torque converter is equal to or more than a predetermined value when the lock-up clutch is in the engaged phase.

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery, a coupling mechanism, an electric power generating mechanism, and a vehicle controller. The engine and motor drive driving wheels. The battery supplies electric power for running to the motor. The coupling mechanism switches coupling of the engine and the driving wheels between direct coupling and buffering coupling. The electric power generating mechanism generates electric power. The vehicle controller switches a running mode of the hybrid electric vehicle between a first running mode and a second running mode with higher running performance. The vehicle controller limits the electric power generation under a first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the first running mode and limits the electric power generation under a second condition less limited than the first condition when the buffering coupling is applied during the second running mode.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling and diagnosing a mechanical vehicle component. In one example, a method may include determining a vehicle speed and a plurality of clutch position settings at a diagnostic controller, and identifying unauthorized conditions based on these determinations. Further, the diagnostic controller may trigger an active fault state of the mechanical vehicle component in order to avoid unauthorized conditions that may lead to unwanted or unanticipated changes in vehicle motion.