A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.

An engine output control device controls engine output at a time of a downshift speed change of a transmission. The engine output control device includes: engine speed detecting means for detecting an actual engine speed NeJ of a crankshaft; and engine output adjusting means capable of adjusting the engine output according to an operation of a rider. The smaller of a requested engine output PA calculated on a basis of the actual engine speed NeJ and a rider requested engine output PB adjusted by the engine output adjusting means is output as the engine output.

Systems and methods are provided for simulating rev-matching in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). In particular, increased engine response is provided while downshifting during acceleration. The transmission of an HEV may include an electronic control unit that controls the speed of the engine to simulate gears, and increases the speed of the engine responsive to a driver using the gear selector to shift from one of the simulated gears to a lower one of the simulated gears, thereby providing the desired rev-matching experience. The increased engine response can be reflected in a target engine speed that is calculated based on specific gear ratios associated with each of the simulated gears.

Methods and controllers for controlling engine speed to reduce NVH that occurs in conjunction with transmission shifts are described. In some embodiments, when a transmission shift to a target gear is expected, a target engine speed appropriate for the target gear is first determined. A target rate of change of the engine speed is calculated from the initial engine speed and target engine speed in conjunction with a target transition time. A target torque is then calculated from the target rate of change of engine speed. A target firing fraction or induction ratio are determined that are desired for use with the target engine speed based on the target torque. The transition to the target engine speed and target firing fraction or induction ratio are completed before the gear shift is completed. The described approaches are well suited for use during skip fire or other cylinder output level modulation operation of the engine.

Methods and controllers for controlling engine speed to reduce NVH that occurs in conjunction with transmission shifts are described. In some embodiments, when a transmission shift to a target gear is expected, a target engine speed appropriate for the target gear is first determined. A target rate of change of the engine speed is calculated from the initial engine speed and target engine speed in conjunction with a target transition time. A target torque is then calculated from the target rate of change of engine speed. A target firing fraction or induction ratio are determined that are desired for use with the target engine speed based on the target torque. The transition to the target engine speed and target firing fraction or induction ratio are completed before the gear shift is completed. The described approaches are well suited for use during skip fire or other cylinder output level modulation operation of the engine.

A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a battery; a power converter; a relay; a first controller; and a second controller. The second controller is configured to control the engine and the power converter according to allowable charging power and allowable discharging power received from the first controller. The second controller has, as control modes, a normal mode in which the relay is closed and the battery and the power converter are electrically connected and a batteryless drive mode in which the relay is opened to cause the hybrid vehicle to move with the battery electrically disconnected from the power converter. The second controller is configured to select the batteryless drive mode when at least one of the magnitude of the allowable charging power and the magnitude of the allowable discharging power become smaller than a first predetermined value.

A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a battery; a power converter; a relay; a first controller; and a second controller. The second controller is configured to control the engine and the power converter according to allowable charging power and allowable discharging power received from the first controller. The second controller has, as control modes, a normal mode in which the relay is closed and the battery and the power converter are electrically connected and a batteryless drive mode in which the relay is opened to cause the hybrid vehicle to move with the battery electrically disconnected from the power converter. The second controller is configured to select the batteryless drive mode when at least one of the magnitude of the allowable charging power and the magnitude of the allowable discharging power become smaller than a first predetermined value.

A system and method is provided for determining where a vehicle has parked in a parking lot. The method includes determining a geometry for a parking lot; receiving vehicle event data including periodic vehicle event data for vehicle speed and steering angle; tracking a movement of a vehicle using the vehicle event data; and determining where a vehicle has parked using a steering angle to determine a number of turns in the parking lot geometry.