System and method for improved vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands
Claims17
A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising:
- in response to a driver tip-out, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels;
- and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in, and at least during transitioning to transmission of positive powertrain torque to the wheels, retarding ignition timing while adjusting engine airflow until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed, and then
- advancing spark angle to rapidly provide output torque.
10-20. (canceled)
A vehicle control method, the comprising:
- in response to a driver tip-out, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels;
- and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in, and at least during transitioning to transmission of positive powertrain torque to the wheels, retarding ignition timing while transitioning through a gear lash zone and adjusting engine airflow while retarding ignition timing until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed, and
- advancing spark angle to rapidly provide output torque after exiting the gear lash zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.