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US 10,895,206 B2Granted
Method and system for engine idle speed control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRalph Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel economy by opportunistically lowering engine idle speed below a base idle speed when electrical loads are not present. A hydraulic brake pressure is increased when the idle speed is raised, in anticipation of vehicle propulsion. The brake pressure counteracts any creep torque and unintended vehicle acceleration resulting from the rising engine idle speed.
Claims7
A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:
- lowering an engine rotational speed to a first target non-zero speed that is less than transmission input shaft speed in response to an accelerator pedal being fully released and a brake pedal being applied;
- and
- raising the engine rotational speed from the first speed to a second speed that is greater than the transmission input shaft speed in response to the brake pedal being at least partially released.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.