A method for operating a vehicle that includes a torque converter is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a requested torque converter speed. The requested torque converter speed linearizes torque output of a torque converter so that vehicle wheel torque control may be improved.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, a torque that is produced by an engine is adjusted responsive to a transmission oil temperature and a speed of a torque converter impeller so that temperature of oil in a transmission lube circuit may be maintained at a desired temperature.

A hybrid electric powertrain for a vehicle includes an engine, electric machine, torque converter having a pump, turbine, and torque converter clutch (“TCC”) configured, when applied, to lock the pump to the turbine, a one-way engine disconnect clutch connected to the turbine, a transmission, and a controller. A transmission input shaft directly couples to the electric machine, and is selectively coupled to the engine via the disconnect clutch. An output shaft is connectable to road wheels of the vehicle. The controller, in response to an engine-off request, determines turbine and pump speeds of the turbine and pump, respectively, registers that the engine is in an engine-off state when the pump speed is less than the turbine speed, and executes an electric vehicle (“EV”) mode shift using machine torque from the electric machine when the pump speed is zero during the engine-off state.

Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, a torque that is produced by an engine is adjusted responsive to a transmission oil temperature and a speed of a torque converter impeller so that temperature of oil in a transmission lube circuit may be maintained at a desired temperature.

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a torque converter is described. In one example, the method adjusts torque of an electric machine in response to a requested torque converter speed. The requested torque converter speed linearizes torque output of a torque converter so that vehicle wheel torque control may be improved.

An in-vehicle controller includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry stops injection of fuel under a preset fuel cutoff condition including a lockup clutch being in an engagement state. A request for raising heating performance of a heater core is a heater actuation request, and an amount of particulate matter deposited on a filter is a deposition amount. The processing circuitry controls the lockup clutch in a disengagement state when a heater actuation request is generated and the deposition amount is less than a preset deposition amount threshold. The processing circuitry controls the lockup clutch in the engagement state when the heater actuation request is generated and the deposition amount is greater than or equal to the preset deposition amount threshold.

A control device for a vehicle having: an engine; a torque converter having a lock-up clutch; an engagement element disposed downstream of the torque converter; a drive shaft disposed downstream of the engagement element; and an electric motor disposed downstream of the engagement element, and connected to the drive shaft includes a control portion adapted to: in a case where an electric travel mode in which the lock-up clutch and the engagement element are disengaged is switched to an engine travel mode in which the lock-up clutch is disengaged and the engagement element is engaged, decrease driving torque of the electric motor after engagement of the engagement element; and gradually decrease the driving torque of the electric motor while gradually increasing driving torque of the engine after the driving torque of the electric motor is decreased.

An apparatus for controlling a transmission of a vehicle includes a determination device that determines whether a condition for a regenerative braking based lift foot up shift is satisfied, a controller that performs regenerative brake control and performs a shift by controlling release clutch torque and lock-up clutch torque, when the condition for the regenerative braking based lift foot up shift is satisfied, and a torque compensation device that compensates for the release clutch torque according to an RPM variation during the shift.

A hybrid vehicle control system and method include a controller programmed to, while a transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL, start an engine, close a disconnect clutch selectively coupling the engine to an electric machine, and control the electric machine to charge a traction battery in response to the accelerator pedal position exceeding an idle position and being less than a threshold. The controller controls transmission impeller speed in response to accelerator pedal position exceeding the threshold to allow revving the engine in response to accelerator pedal. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes starting an engine, closing a clutch between the engine and an electric machine, and controlling the engine and the electric machine to either: i) charge a traction battery or ii) rev the engine based on accelerator pedal position relative to a threshold above an idle position while the transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL.

A gear change control device and method thereof are provided. The gear change control device is a target torque control device that sets a target torque of a motor outputting a torque to a multilevel transmission having a torque converter and a lockup clutch. In a case when the lockup clutch is in a fastened state and during upshifting gear change, target torque reduction control is executed for reducing the target torque of the motor such that the output of the motor becomes a torque at which a heat generation temperature of the lockup clutch does not exceed an allowable temperature. If the lockup clutch is fastened, threshold value changing control is executed for changing threshold value of a rotation speed of the motor or the input shaft when the gear range is shifted to the side of higher range during upshifting gear change to a higher rotation speed.