Transmission control with cylinder deactivation

A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle during cylinder deactivation, comprising:

• receiving and processing a zero or negative torque requirement for the vehicle;
• receiving and processing vehicle speed data to determine a vehicle speed for the vehicle;
• implementing a cylinder deactivation mode for a valvetrain of a multi-cylinder engine of the vehicle, wherein the cylinder deactivation mode comprises deactivating one or more intake valve, one or more exhaust valve, and fuel injection for one or more cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine;
• and
• selecting one of an in-gear mode and a neutral mode for a transmission of the vehicle while implementing the cylinder deactivation mode and while maintaining the determined vehicle speed.

A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle during cylinder deactivation, comprising:

• receiving and processing a zero or negative torque requirement for the vehicle;
• receiving and processing vehicle speed data to determine a vehicle speed for the vehicle;
• implementing a friction determination to select a cylinder deactivation mode to reduce friction losses;
• implementing the cylinder deactivation mode on one or more first selected cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine of the vehicle, wherein the cylinder deactivation mode comprises deactivating one or more intake valve, one or more exhaust valve, and fuel injection for the one or more first selected cylinders;
• selectively implementing engine braking on one or more second cylinders of the multi-cylinder engine by actuating one or more corresponding exhaust valves to release cylinder pressure from within the one or more second cylinders;
• selecting one of an in-gear mode or a neutral mode for a transmission of the vehicle while implementing the cylinder deactivation mode;
• and
• coupling the transmission of the vehicle to a driveline of the vehicle.

A method for controlling torque output in a vehicle comprising a selected transmission gear of a transmission, comprising:

• receiving and processing a command to shift from a zero or negative torque output in the vehicle to a positive torque output;
• maintaining the selected transmission gear;
• implementing a cylinder deactivation mode for a valvetrain of a multi-cylinder engine of the vehicle, wherein the cylinder deactivation mode comprises deactivating one or more intake valve, one or more exhaust valve, and fuel injection for one or more cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine;
• and
• adjusting fuel injection to selected ones of the multi-cylinders to control torque output without interruption.