A vehicle control apparatus includes input-side and output-side rotating elements, a fuel injection controller, and an ignition timing controller. The ignition timing controller controls ignition timing of an engine to first timing on the condition that the engine is controlled from a fuel cut state to a fuel injection state, and afterwards, changes the ignition timing to second timing on advance side of the first timing. The ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a first change rate until a rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches a threshold. After the rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches the threshold, the ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a second change rate greater than the first change rate.

A hybrid system includes a transmission control module, a power source, a transmission, and a drive train. The transmission control module partially operates the hybrid system and receives operating information from various components of the system, calculates power losses in the drive train, and calculates the driving torque needed to reach a target power profile determined from a driver's input.

A vehicle control apparatus includes input-side and output-side rotating elements, a fuel injection controller, and an ignition timing controller. The ignition timing controller controls ignition timing of an engine to first timing on the condition that the engine is controlled from a fuel cut state to a fuel injection state, and afterwards, changes the ignition timing to second timing on advance side of the first timing. The ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a first change rate until a rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches a threshold. After the rotational acceleration rate of the output-side rotating element reaches the threshold, the ignition timing controller changes the ignition timing toward the second timing at a second change rate greater than the first change rate.

Powertrains may include a spring damper between the engine crankshaft and transmission input shaft. In some circumstances, an oscillation known as shuffle may occur in such powertrains. Active adjustment of engine torque is substantially more effective at mitigating shuffle oscillations if the engine torque includes a p-term proportional to displacement of the damper spring in addition to a d-term proportional to the speed difference across the damper. For various reasons, the spring displacement is difficult to measure directly. An observer algorithm is utilized to calculate a current estimated spring displacement based on a crankshaft speed sensor, a transmission input speed sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and past engine torques, using a dynamic model of the powertrain.

A clutch disengagement position is detectable with high precision even during speed change. A vehicle transmission device can include a transmission including a main shaft to which rotational power from an engine is inputted via a clutch, and a countershaft, a clutch operation member that is driven by an actuator and performs disengaging and engaging operations of the clutch, and a driving wheel to which rotational power of the countershaft is transmitted via a driving force transmitting device. A damper member deformed by a driving force is provided in the countershaft, the driving force transmitting device or the driving wheel, or among the countershaft, the driving force transmitting device and the driving wheel. A control device learns a clutch disengagement operation amount when the control device detects deceleration of a predetermined value of the rotational frequency of the main shaft.

A transmission control system and method involve receiving, by a controller and from a turbine shaft speed sensor, a rotational speed of a turbine shaft of an automatic transmission, receiving, by the controller and from an output shaft speed sensor, a plurality of rotational speeds of an output shaft of the transmission, determining, by the controller, a shift time modifier based on the turbine shaft speed and a gradient of the output shaft speed, modifying, by the controller, a shift time for a pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the shift time modifier to obtain a modified shift time, and controlling, by the controller, the pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the modified shift time.

Powertrains may include a spring damper between the engine crankshaft and transmission input shaft. In some circumstances, an oscillation known as shuffle may occur in such powertrains. Active adjustment of engine torque is substantially more effective at mitigating shuffle oscillations if the engine torque includes a p-term proportional to displacement of the damper spring in addition to a d-term proportional to the speed difference across the damper. For various reasons, the spring displacement is difficult to measure directly. An observer algorithm is utilized to calculate a current estimated spring displacement based on a crankshaft speed sensor, a transmission input speed sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and past engine torques, using a dynamic model of the powertrain.

A control system for a hybrid vehicle that shift an operating mode to an appropriate mode from a low mode or high mode. The hybrid vehicle comprises a power split mechanism connected to an engine and a first motor. When a required brake torque of a prime mover cannot be achieved during propulsion in an operating mode established by engaging one of clutches while stopping the engine, the control system excites a motoring of the engine by the first motor while maintaining engagement of the clutch engaged to establish the current operating mode.

A transmission control system and method involve receiving, by a controller and from a turbine shaft speed sensor, a rotational speed of a turbine shaft of an automatic transmission, receiving, by the controller and from an output shaft speed sensor, a plurality of rotational speeds of an output shaft of the transmission, determining, by the controller, a shift time modifier based on the turbine shaft speed and a gradient of the output shaft speed, modifying, by the controller, a shift time for a pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the shift time modifier to obtain a modified shift time, and controlling, by the controller, the pedal-off downshift of the transmission based on the modified shift time.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT), a transmission control system, and a method vary CVT clamping pressure based on an operation parameter. The control system is configured to command an initial minimum clamping pressure to be applied to the variator assembly to achieve a desired torque capacity. The control system determines one or more vehicle operation parameters and determines a vehicle condition based on the vehicle operation parameter(s). The vehicle condition is selectable from at least a base condition, an elevated condition, and a high condition. The control system selects a compensation strategy based on the vehicle condition. If an elevated compensation strategy has been selected and a predetermined condition has been met, the control system commands an elevated clamping pressure to be applied to the variator assembly. If a high compensation strategy has been selected, the control system commands a high clamping pressure to be applied to the variator assembly.