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US 7,785,230 B2Granted
Variable displacement engine powertrain fuel economy mode
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAlex O'Connor Gibson, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle drive system for adjusting vehicle fuel economy is described. In one example, the vehicle drive system includes an operator interface for adjusting vehicle operation so as to increase or decrease fuel consumption according to a driver preference.
Claims16
A vehicle drive system, comprising:
- a variable displacement engine including a plurality of cylinders, where at least one of the plurality of cylinders is deactivated to decrease engine displacement;
- a torque converter operatively coupled to the variable displacement engine configured to operate with variable slip;
- a driver interface for receiving a preference setting from a driver, the driver interface including a first setting indicating increased fuel economy where said torque converter is locked at a first engine speed, and a second setting indicating reduced noise or vibration where said torque converter is locked at a second engine speed, said first engine speed less than said second engine speed;
- and
- a control system for receiving the preference setting from the driver, and adjusting torque converter slip based on the preference setting from the driver.
2 more elements
A method for controlling vehicle operation, comprising:
- receiving a driver preference from a driver by way of a driver interface, the driver interface including a first setting for reduced noise or vibration and decreased fuel economy, the first setting specifying cylinder deactivation in a first engine speed range and increased torque converter slip, and a second setting specifying increased noise or vibration and increased fuel economy, the second setting with an increased engine speed range for cylinder deactivation and with reduced torque converter slip;
- and
- adjusting cylinder deactivation and torque converter slip based on the driver preference.
A method for controlling vehicle operating parameters of a variable displacement engine having a torque converter and a driver interface, comprising:
- sensing a vehicle operating condition;
- selectively activating or deactivating one or more cylinders based on the vehicle operating condition and based on a drive preference setting selected by a driver through the driver interface;
- and
- decreasing slip of the torque converter based on the drive preference setting selected by the driver when the drive preference setting indicates a preference for increased fuel economy, the drive preference setting selected by said driver through the driver interface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.