The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-220768 filed on Oct. 2, 2012 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to improvement in control for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a vehicle that includes an engine, an electric motor, an input clutch that selectively couples the engine to the electric motor, and a torque converter having a lockup clutch and interposed between the electric motor and drive wheels. A control device for such a vehicle is, for example, described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-032922 (JP 2001-032922 A). When the control device for a vehicle, described in JP 2001-032922 A, shifts from a motor drive mode in which only the electric motor is used as a drive source to an engine drive mode in which the engine is used as a drive source, the control device shifts into the engine drive mode by starting the engine in a state where the lockup clutch is slipped.
In JP 2001-032922 A, the control device for a vehicle starts the engine in a state where the lockup clutch is slipped; however, it is not clear how a slip amount of the lockup clutch is controlled. For example, if the slip amount of the lockup clutch at the time of starting the engine is increased, it is easy to avoid occurrence of an engagement shock through unattended complete engagement of the lockup clutch due to torque fluctuations of the engine, or the like; but then it is assumed that fuel economy deteriorates. On the other hand, if the slip amount of the lockup clutch is reduced, it is possible to improve fuel economy; but then it is assumed that the probability of occurrence of the engagement shock of the lockup clutch increases. Thus, there is presumably still room for improvement in the control device for a vehicle, described in JP 2001-032922 A, in terms of achieving both fuel economy and drivability. The above-described problem is not in public domain.
The invention provides a control device and control method for a vehicle including an engine and an electric motor, which are able to achieve both fuel economy and drivability at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a control device for a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, an engine separating clutch and a fluid transmission device. The control device includes a controller. The controller is configured to, at the time of shifting from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode by starting the engine in the motor drive mode, start the engine by slipping the engine separating clutch and igniting the engine in a state where a lockup clutch included in the fluid transmission device is slipped. The fluid transmission device is interposed between the electric motor and a drive wheel. The engine separating clutch is configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric motor. Only the electric motor is a drive source in the motor drive mode. The engine is a drive source in the engine drive mode. The controller is configured to, at the time of the shifting, reduce a slip amount of the lockup clutch as a period of time from timing at which a slip of the engine separating clutch is initiated to timing at which ignition of the engine is initiated extends.
In starting the engine of the vehicle, as a period of time from timing at which a slip of the engine separating clutch is initiated to timing at which ignition of the engine is initiated (hereinafter, referred to as ignition initiation required time) reduces, an initial rise of an engine torque immediately after initiation of ignition of the engine is steep and engine torque fluctuations increase, so the controllability of the engine torque is poor. Therefore, for example, when the engine torque immediately after initiation of ignition of the engine becomes temporarily smaller than the command value and the slip amount of the lockup clutch is insufficient for the temporary engine torque fluctuations, the lockup clutch being slipped can be inadvertently completely engaged, and, as a result, an engagement shock can occur. In contrast to this, according to the first invention, as the controllability of the engine torque at the time of the engine start deteriorates, the slip amount of the lockup clutch is increased, so it is possible to avoid occurrence of the engagement shock by the adequate slip amount. In addition, as the ignition initiation required time extends, the controllability of the engine torque improves and an engagement shock of the lockup clutch becomes hard to occur, so it is possible to improve fuel economy by reducing the slip amount of the lockup clutch accordingly. In this way, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode. For example, fuel economy is a travel distance per unit fuel consumption, or the like, and improvement in fuel economy means that the travel distance per unit fuel consumption extends or a fuel consumption rate (=fuel consumption/drive wheel output) of the entire vehicle reduces. Conversely, a decrease (deterioration) in fuel economy means that the travel distance per unit fuel consumption reduces or the fuel consumption rate of the entire vehicle increases.
In the control device, the controller may be configured to reduce the slip amount of the lockup clutch as a rotation speed of output of the fluid transmission device increases. Here, when the engine rotation speed that is increased at the time of the engine start is low, the startability of the engine deteriorates. In this respect, according to the second invention, even when the output rotation speed of the fluid transmission device is low, the engine rotation speed is increased to a certain high speed due to a slip of the lockup clutch at the time of the engine start, so it is possible to suppress deterioration of engine startability due to the low output rotation speed of the fluid transmission device.
In the control device, the engine may be a direct-injection engine, the controller may be configured to start the engine with the use of any one of a first engine start method, a second engine start method and a third engine start method, the controller may be configured to, in the first engine start method, initiate ignition of the engine simultaneously with initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch or before the initiation of the slip, the controller may be configured to, in the second engine start method, initiate ignition of the engine within a period from initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch to when the engine separating clutch is completely engaged, the controller may be configured to, in the third engine start method, initiate ignition of the engine after the engine separating clutch has been completely engaged from a state where the engine separating clutch is slipped, the controller may be configured to reduce the slip amount of the lockup clutch when the engine is started with the use of the third engine start method as compared to when the engine is started with the use of the second engine start method, and the controller may be configured to reduce the slip amount of the lockup clutch when the engine is started with the use of the second engine start method as compared to when the engine is started with the use of the first engine start method. With this configuration, the slip amount of the lockup clutch is set to an appropriate amount on the basis of a specific engine start method, so, even when any one of the engine start methods is employed, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a control method for a vehicle including an engine, an electric motor, an engine separating clutch and a fluid transmission device. The control method includes, at the time of shifting from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode by starting the engine in the motor drive mode, starting the engine by slipping the engine separating clutch and igniting the engine in a state where a lockup clutch included in the fluid transmission device is slipped. The fluid transmission device is interposed between the electric motor and a drive wheel. The engine separating clutch is configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric motor. Only the electric motor is a drive source in the motor drive mode. The engine is a drive source in the engine drive mode. The control method includes, at the time of the shifting, reducing a slip amount of the lockup clutch as a period of time from timing at which a slip of the engine separating clutch is initiated to timing at which ignition of the engine is initiated extends.
Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The electric motor MG is coupled to the drive wheels 24, and is, for example, a three-phase synchronous electric motor. The electric motor MG is a motor generator that has the function of a motor that generates power and the function of a generator that generates reaction force. For example, the electric motor MG generates vehicle braking force through regenerative operation. In addition, the electric motor MG is electrically connected to an electrical storage device 57 via the inverter 56, and the electric motor MG and the electrical storage device 57 are configured to be able to exchange electric power with each other. The electrical storage device 57 is, for example, a battery (secondary battery) such as a lead-acid battery, a capacitor, or the like.
The engine separating clutch K0 formed of a generally known multiplate wet hydraulic friction engagement device is provided in a power transmission path between the engine 12 and the electric motor MG The engine separating clutch K0 functions as a power separating device that is actuated by hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic control circuit 34 and that selectively couples the engine 12 to the electric motor MG Specifically, an engine output shaft 26 (for example, crankshaft) that is an output member of the engine 12 is relatively non-rotatably coupled to a rotor 30 of the electric motor MG by engaging the engine separating clutch K0, and is separated from the rotor 30 of the electric motor MG by releasing the engine separating clutch K0. In short, the engine output shaft 26 is configured to be selectively coupled to the rotor 30 of the electric motor MG via the engine separating clutch K0. Thus, the engine separating clutch K0 is completely engaged in the engine drive mode, and is released in the motor drive mode. The rotor 30 of the electric motor MG is relatively non-rotatably coupled to a pump impeller 16p that is an input member of the torque converter 16.
The automatic transmission 18 constitutes part of the power transmission path between the torque converter 16 and the drive wheels 24, and transmits the power of the engine 12 or electric motor MG to the drive wheels 24. The automatic transmission 18 is, for example, a step-shift automatic transmission that carries out clutch-to-clutch shift by engaging one of engagement elements and releasing another one of the engagement elements in accordance with a relationship (shift line map) preset on the basis of a vehicle speed V and an accelerator operation amount Acc. In other words, the automatic transmission 18 is an automatic shift mechanism in which any one of a plurality of preset speeds (speed ratios) is alternatively established. In order to carry out the shift, the automatic transmission 18 is configured to include a plurality of planetary gear units and a plurality of clutches or brakes that are actuated by hydraulic pressures from the hydraulic control circuit 34. The speed ratio of the automatic transmission 18 is calculated from the mathematical expression that “Speed ratio=Transmission input rotation speed Natin/Transmission output rotation speed Natout”.
The torque converter 16 is a fluid transmission device interposed between the electric motor MG and the drive wheels 24. The torque converter 16 includes the pump impeller 16p, a turbine impeller 16t and a stator impeller 16s. The pump impeller 16p is an input-side rotating element to which the power of the engine 12 and the power of the electric motor MG are input. The turbine impeller 16t is an output-side rotating element that outputs power to the automatic transmission 18. The torque converter 16 transmits power, input to the pump impeller 16p, to the turbine impeller 16t via fluid (hydraulic fluid). The stator impeller 16s is coupled to a transmission case 36 via a one-way clutch. The transmission case 36 is a non-rotating member. The torque converter 16 includes a lockup clutch LU between the pump impeller 16p and the turbine impeller 16t. The lockup clutch LU selectively directly couples the pump impeller 16p and the turbine impeller 16t to each other. The lockup clutch LU is controlled by hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic control circuit 34.
The engine 12 is a V-eight four-cycle direct-injection gasoline engine in the present embodiment. As is specifically shown in
In the above engine 12, four strokes, that is, an intake stroke, a compression stroke, an expansion stroke (combustion stroke) and an exhaust stroke, are carried out in two rotations (720°) of the crankshaft 26 for one cylinder, and the crankshaft 26 is continuously rotated by repeating these strokes. The pistons 96 of the eight cylinders 80 are respectively configured such that crank angles are shifted by 90° from each other, in other words, the positions of the crank pins 104 of the crankshaft 26 protrude in directions shifted by 90° from each other. Each time the crankshaft 26 rotates by 90°, the eight cylinders 80 are subjected to combustion in a preset ignition order, and rotation torque is continuously generated. Because the engine 12 is a direct-injection engine, the engine is allowed to be started through ignition start in which fuel is injected into each cylinder 80 and ignited from the very beginning of rotation of the engine 12. More specifically, the ignition start, that is, preignition, is an engine start method in which, when the crankshaft 26 rotates by a predetermined angle from a compression top dead center (compression TDC) after the compression stroke of one of the pistons 96 and is stopped within a predetermined angular range θst of the expansion stroke in which both the corresponding intake valve 88 and the corresponding exhaust valve 90 are closed, gasoline is initially injected by the corresponding fuel injection device 84 into the corresponding cylinder 80 (into the corresponding combustion chamber 82) in the expansion stroke and is ignited by the corresponding ignition device 94, thus causing the air-fuel mixture in that cylinder 80 to combust and raising an engine rotation speed Ne. The ignition start is able to start the engine without cranking with the use of the electric motor MG, or the like; however, in the present embodiment, the ignition start is carried out when the engine 12 is started during the motor traveling as well. At this time, in order to increase the startability of the engine 12, slip engagement (also simply referred to as slip) for slipping the engine separating clutch K0 is carried out, and an initial rise of the engine rotation speed Ne is assisted by an electric motor torque Tmg. The angular range θst is desirably, for example, the range of about 30° to 60°, in which relatively large rotational energy is obtained through the ignition start, in crank angle from the compression top dead center; however, the ignition start is possible at about 90° as well.
The intake valve drive device 89 also has the function of changing the open/close timing (valve open timing and valve close timing) of each intake valve 88 as needed, and, for example, functions as a variable valve timing mechanism that advances or retards the open/close timing of each intake valve 88. The open/close timing of each intake valve 88 is the valve open timing and valve close timing of each intake valve 88.
For example, when the engine is started through the ignition start, rotational resistance at the very beginning of rotation of the engine 12 is reduced, so, for example, the intake valve drive device 89 is controlled so as to maximally shift the open/close timing, specifically, at least the valve close timing, of each intake valve 88 in a retardation direction within an adjustable range. Various operation principles of the intake valve drive device 89 are generally known. For example, the intake valve drive device 89 maybe a cam mechanism that is synchronized with rotation of the crankshaft 26 and that opens or closes each intake valve 88 by selectively using any one of a plurality of cams having mutually different shapes through hydraulic control or electric control. Alternatively, the intake valve drive device 89 may be configured to open or close each intake valve 88 by utilizing both a cam mechanism that is synchronized with rotation of the crankshaft 26 and a mechanism that corrects the operation of a cam of the cam mechanism through hydraulic control or electric control. The intake valve drive device 89 that functions as the variable valve timing mechanism just needs to be able to change at least the valve close timing; however, in the present embodiment, in terms of its mechanical structure, the intake valve drive device 89 is configured to, when the valve close timing of each intake valve 88 is changed, change the valve open timing of each intake valve 88 in the same direction as the direction in which the valve close timing is changed. That is, the intake valve drive device 89 integrally changes the valve open timing and valve close timing of each intake valve 88.
In the hybrid vehicle 8, for example, at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, the engine 12 is started by increasing the engine rotation speed Ne using the electric motor torque Tmg through slip engagement of the engine separating clutch K0.
During vehicle deceleration in which a foot brake is depressed or during coasting in which driver's vehicle braking operation and accelerating operation are released, the electronic control unit 58 executes electric motor regeneration control for supplying the electrical storage device 57 with regenerative energy obtained by braking the traveling vehicle 8 through regenerative operation of the electric motor MG Specifically, in the electric motor regeneration control, power transmission between the engine 12 and the drive wheels 24 is interrupted by releasing the engine separating clutch K0, the engine 12 is stopped, and the electric motor MG is operated for regeneration by inertial energy of the vehicle 8. The inertial energy is regenerated as electric power, and the electrical storage device 57 is charged with the electric power from the electric motor MG. During the electric motor regeneration control, the lockup clutch LU is engaged.
The vehicle 8 includes a control system as illustrated in
The electric motor rotation speed Nmg is detected by an electric motor rotation speed sensor 62. The engine rotation speed Ne is detected by an engine rotation speed sensor 64. The turbine rotation speed Nt is detected by a turbine rotation speed sensor 66. The vehicle speed V is detected by a vehicle speed sensor 68. The throttle opening degree θth is detected by a throttle opening degree sensor 70. The crank angle is detected by a crank angle sensor 72. The engine coolant temperature TEMPw is detected by an engine coolant temperature sensor 74. The state of charge SOC is obtained from the electrical storage device 57. Here, as is apparent from
Various output signals are supplied from the electronic control unit 58 to devices provided in the hybrid vehicle 8.
When the electronic control unit 58 according to the present embodiment shifts from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, the electronic control unit 58 starts the engine 12 by slipping the engine separating clutch K0 and igniting the engine, and, at this time, slips the lockup clutch LU. When the electronic control unit 58 starts the engine 12, the electronic control unit 58 selects any one of a first engine start method, a second engine start method and a third engine start method as needed on the basis of a predetermined condition, and starts the engine with the use of the selected engine start method. In the first engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated simultaneously with initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch K0 or before the initiation of the slip. In the second engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated within a period from initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch K0 to when the engine separating clutch K0 is completely engaged. In the third engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated after the engine separating clutch K0 has been completely engaged from a state where the engine separating clutch K0 is slipped. The electronic control unit 58 selects any one of mutually different engine start methods in starting the engine 12 in this way, so the electronic control unit 58 changes a slip amount DNslip (=Np−Nt) by which the lockup clutch LU is slipped in order to achieve both avoidance of an engagement shock of the lockup clutch LU and fuel economy on the basis of the selected engine start method. A relevant portion of the control functions will be described below with reference to
The engine start initiation determination unit 120 determines whether there is an engine start request that is a request to start the engine 12 when the drive mode of the vehicle 8 is the motor drive mode, for example, when the vehicle 8 is in the motor traveling. For example, when the accelerator operation amount Acc increases during the motor traveling and a required output cannot be satisfied by only the electric motor MG any more, the engine start request is issued in order to change from the motor traveling to the engine traveling.
When the engine start initiation determination unit 120 has determined that there is the engine start request, the engine start method determination unit 122 selects and determines any one of the first engine start method, the second engine start method and the third engine start method as the method of starting the engine 12 at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode. At this time, when it is possible to start the engine 12 with the use of the first engine start method, the engine start method determination unit 122 selects the first engine start method in priority to the second and third engine start methods. For example, the engine start method determination unit 122 determines whether an empirically preset ignition start initiation condition is satisfied on the basis of the engine coolant temperature TEMPw, the crank angle of the stopped engine 12, and the like. When the ignition start initiation condition is satisfied, it is determined that it is allowed to start the engine 12 through the ignition start. When the ignition start initiation condition is satisfied, the engine start method determination unit 122 selects the engine start method that uses the ignition start, that is, the first engine start method. When the engine start method determination unit 122 does not select the first engine start method, the engine start method determination unit 122 selects the second or third engine start method. For example, when the engine coolant temperature TEMPw is higher than or equal to an empirically warm-up completion temperature determination value that is preset such that it is allowed to determine completion of warm-up of the engine 12, the second engine start method is selected; whereas, when the engine coolant temperature TEMPw is lower than the warm-up completion temperature determination value, the third engine start method is selected.
The engine starting determination unit 124 determines whether the vehicle 8 is starting the engine 12. For example, from when the engine start request is issued in the motor drive mode to when the engine separating clutch K0 is completely engaged, the vehicle 8 is starting the engine 12. It is determined that the engine separating clutch K0 has been completely engaged when the engine separating clutch K0 is actuated in the engaging direction and the electric motor rotation speed Nmg and the engine rotation speed Ne are synchronized with each other.
When the engine starting determination unit 124 has determined that the vehicle 8 is starting the engine 12 and the engine start method determination unit 122 has determined the method of starting the engine 12, the slip amount determination unit 126 determines a slip amount setting value DNslipt (target slip amount DNslipt) that is a target value of the slip amount DNslip by which the lockup clutch LU is slipped while the engine 12 is being started. Specifically, the slip amount determination unit 126 determines the slip amount setting value DNslipt by consulting a slip amount setting value map on the basis of the sequentially detected transmission input rotation speed Natin (=turbine rotation speed Nt). The slip amount setting value map is an empirically preset correlation between a slip amount setting value DNslipt and a transmission input rotation speed Natin. The slip amount setting value map is empirically preset so as to be able to suppress fuel economy deterioration due to a slip of the lockup clutch LU while avoiding an engagement shock due to complete engagement of the lockup clutch LU when the engine is being started, and is, for example, a map shown in
At the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode by starting the engine 12, the engine start execution unit 128 starts the engine 12 by slipping the engine separating clutch K0 and igniting the engine 12 in a state where the lockup clutch LU is slipped. Specifically, when the engine starting determination unit 124 has determined that the vehicle 8 is starting the engine 12 and the engine start method determination unit 122 has determined the method of starting the engine 12, the engine start execution unit 128 starts the engine 12. At this time, more specifically, the engine start execution unit 128 stats the engine 12 with the use of one of the first to third engine start methods, determined by the engine start method determination unit 122, and controls the engagement hydraulic pressure of the lockup clutch LU such that the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU becomes the slip amount setting value DNslipt determined by the slip amount determination unit 126. As is apparent from
In
In addition, ta1 timing is also the timing at which ignition of the engine is, initiated in starting the engine with the use of the first engine start method. Thus, in starting the engine with the use of the first engine start method, a period of time TIMEig from the slip initiation timing of the engine separating clutch K0 to the ignition initiation timing of the engine 12, that is, an ignition initiation required time TIMEig, is zero in
ta2 timing is the timing at which ignition of the engine is initiated in starting the engine with the use of the second engine start method. Thus, in starting the engine with the use of the second engine start method, the ignition initiation required time TIMEig is a period of time from ta1 timing to ta2 timing in
In starting the engine with the use of the third engine start method, the engine separating clutch K0 is completely engaged at ta5 timing, so ignition of the engine is initiated.
As is apparent from
The engine load factor at the timing of complete engagement of the engine separating clutch K0 in
First, in step (hereinafter, “step” is omitted) SA1 of
In SA2 corresponding to the engine start method determination unit 122, any one of the first engine start method, the second engine start method and the third engine start method is selected. For example, any one of the engine start methods is selected on the basis of the engine coolant temperature TEMPw, the crank angle of the stopped engine 12, and the like. Each of the first to third engine start methods is empirically preset and stored in the electronic control unit 58. Subsequent to SA2, the process proceeds to SA3.
In SA3 corresponding to the engine starting determination unit 124, it is determined whether the engine 12 of the vehicle 8 is starting. When affirmative determination is made in SA3, that is, when the engine 12 of the vehicle 8 is starting, the process proceeds to SA4. On the other hand, when negative determination is made in SA3, the process proceeds to SA6.
In SA4 corresponding to the slip amount determination unit 126, a target value of the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU is set. That is, the slip amount setting value DNslipt is set on the basis of the transmission input rotation speed Natin by consulting the slip amount setting value map. The transmission input rotation speed Natin based on which the slip amount setting value DNslipt is determined may be a value sequentially detected by the turbine rotation speed sensor 66 or may be, for example, a value at the timing at which the engine start request is issued. Subsequent to SA4, the process proceeds to SA5.
In SA5 corresponding to the engine start execution unit 128, the engine separating clutch K0 is slipped, and the engine 12 is started with the use of the engine start method selected in SA2. At this time, the lockup clutch LU is slipped such that the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU becomes the slip amount setting value DNslipt determined in SA4. That is, lockup clutch control at the time of the engine start is executed. For example, a slip of the lockup clutch LU is initiated simultaneously with initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch K0, and the lockup clutch LU is completely engaged from the slipped state after complete engagement of the engine separating clutch K0, more specifically, after a lapse of a predetermined period of time from the timing at which the engine separating clutch K0 has been completely engaged.
In SA6, lockup clutch control at the time when the engine is not started, that is, steady lockup clutch control, is executed.
In
The engine start execution unit 128 initiates a slip of the engine separating clutch K0 from tb1 timing, so the engine start execution unit 128 initiates a slip of the lockup clutch LU from tb1 timing in any of the time charts indicated by the wide solid lines and the time charts indicated by the wide dashed lines. The engine start execution unit 128 completely engages the engine separating clutch K0, which has been slipped from tb1 timing, at tb2 timing in the case indicated by the wide dashed lines where the slip amount DNslip is small, and completely engages the engine separating clutch K0 at tb3 timing in the case indicated by the wide solid lines where the slip amount DNslip is large. The engine start execution unit 128 completely engages the lockup clutch LU, which has been slipped from tb1 timing, at timing delayed from the timing at which the engine separating clutch K0 has been completely engaged in any of the time charts indicated by the wide dashed lines and the time charts indicated by the wide solid lines.
According to the above-described present embodiment, when the electronic control unit 58 shifts from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode by starting the engine 12, the electronic control unit 58 starts the engine 12 by slipping the engine separating clutch K0 and igniting the engine 12 in a state where the lockup clutch LU is slipped. Here, in starting the engine of the vehicle 8, as the ignition initiation required time TIMEig reduces, an initial rise of the engine torque Te immediately after initiation of ignition of the engine 12 is steep and engine torque fluctuations increase, so the controllability of the engine torque Te is poor. Therefore, for example, when the engine torque Te immediately after initiation of ignition of the engine 12 becomes temporarily smaller than the command value and the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU is insufficient for the temporary engine torque fluctuations, the lockup clutch LU being slipped can be inadvertently completely engaged, and, as a result, an engagement shock can occur. In contrast to this, when the electronic control unit 58 shifts from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode by starting the engine 12, the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU is reduced as the ignition initiation required time TIMEig from the slip initiation timing of the engine separating clutch K0 to the ignition initiation timing of the engine 12 extends. That is, as the controllability of the engine torque Te at the time of the engine start deteriorates, the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU is increased, so it is possible to avoid occurrence of the engagement shock by the adequate slip amount DNslip. In addition, as the ignition initiation required time TIMEig extends, the controllability of the engine torque Te improves and an engagement shock of the lockup clutch LU becomes hard to occur, so it is possible to improve fuel economy by reducing the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU accordingly. In this way, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability at the time of shifting from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode. In the present embodiment, the length of the ignition initiation required time TIMEig based on which the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU is determined depends on which one of the first to third engine start methods is used to start the engine 12, so the length of the ignition initiation required time TIMEig is fixed at the timing at which the method of starting the engine 12 is determined.
According to the present embodiment, as shown in
If the slip amount DNslip of the lockup clutch LU remains unchanged, the width of increase by which the engine rotation speed Ne is increased from zero at the time of the engine start increases as the transmission input rotation speed Natin increases, so a period of time required to completely engage the engine separating clutch K0 extends. The engine load factor reduces with a lapse of time at the time of the engine start (see
According to the present embodiment, the electronic control unit 58 starts the engine 12 with the use of any one of the first engine start method (the engine start method through the ignition start), the second engine start method and the third engine start method. In the first engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated simultaneously with initiation of a slip of the engine separating clutch K0 or before the initiation of the slip. In the second engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated within a period from when a slip of the engine separating clutch K0 is initiated to when the engine separating clutch K0 is completely engaged. In the third engine start method, ignition of the engine 12 is initiated after the engine separating clutch K0 has been completely engaged from a state where the engine separating clutch K0 is slipped. As shown in the slip amount setting value map of
The embodiment of the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the above embodiment is only illustrative. The invention may be modified or improved in various forms on the basis of the knowledge of persons skilled in the art.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic transmission 18 is a step-shift transmission; instead, the automatic transmission 18 may be a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that is able to continuously vary a speed ratio. The automatic transmission 18 may not be provided.
In the above-described embodiment, the engine 12 is a V-engine; instead, the engine 12 may be an engine of another type, such as a straight engine and a horizontally opposed engine. The engine 12 does not need to be limited to an eight-cylinder type. The engine 12 may be, for example, a three-cylinder engine, a four-cylinder engine, a six-cylinder engine or a ten-cylinder engine.
In the above-described embodiment, fuel that is used in the engine 12 is gasoline; instead, the fuel may be ethanol or a mixed fuel of ethanol and gasoline, or may be hydrogen, LPG, or the like.
In the above-described embodiment, the engine 12 is a direct-injection engine; instead, the engine 12 may be not such a direct-injection engine but, for example, an engine that injects fuel into the intake passage 86. When the engine 12 is not a direct-injection engine, the ignition start cannot be carried out, so, for example, the method of starting the engine 12 is determined to one of the second and third engine start methods.
In the above-described embodiment, the method of starting the engine 12 is selected from among the first to third engine start methods; however, the start method does not need to be limited to those three patterns. For example, another engine start method may be selected.
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in
In the above-described embodiment, the torque converter 16 is used as a fluid transmission device; instead, for example, the torque converter 16 may be replaced with a fluid coupling having no torque amplifying action.
In the above-described embodiment, the slip amount setting value DNslipt is determined in SA4 of
The first engine start method may be a method in which the engine is started through the ignition start by carrying out ignition while fuel is injected into a cylinder of the engine from the very beginning of rotation of the engine.
In the ignition start, fuel may be initially injected into one of the plurality of cylinders of the direct-injection engine, of which a piston position is in an expansion stroke, and may be ignited.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-220768 | Oct 2012 | JP | national |