Apparatus for controlling engine idle and uses thereof

A method for controlling an idle speed of an internal combustion engine comprising:

• detecting a transmission neutral engagement of a transmission;
• detecting a forward or reverse gear engagement of the transmission;
• detecting a vehicle speed;
• setting an engine target idle speed to a first idle speed during the neutral engagement;
• and
• setting an engine target idle speed to a second idle speed when a vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed when the forward or reverse gear is activated, wherein the engine idle speed is set to a third idle speed when the vehicle speed is greater than the threshold speed while the forward or reverse gear is activated.

A system for controlling a target idle speed of a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising:

• a controller capable of determining a neutral engagement of a transmission;
• a speed detection device providing a signal corresponding to a vehicle speed to the controller;
• and
• a transmission forward or reverse gear engagement detection device providing a signal corresponding to a forward or reverse gear engagement state of the transmission, wherein the controller sets an engine target idle speed to a first target idle speed when the transmission is determined to be in a neutral engagement;
• the controller sets an engine target idle speed to a second target idle speed when the controller determines that a vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed and the forward or reverse gear is activated, and the controller sets the engine idle speed to a third target idle speed when the controller determines that a vehicle speed is greater than the threshold speed and the forward or reverse gear is activated.