Control of a vehicle powertrain in response to brake pedal input

A system for controlling engine torque output provided to wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• a powertrain coupled to at least one axle of the vehicle;
• brakes coupled to vehicle wheels;
• a brake pedal coupled to the vehicle and the brakes;
• a brake sensor providing a signal indicating a magnitude of brake pedal input;
• an accelerator pedal coupled to the vehicle;
• an accelerator pedal sensor coupled to the accelerator pedal;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the powertrain, the brake sensor, and the accelerator pedal sensor;
• wherein the ECU is configured to determine whether the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are simultaneously actuated;
• wherein when the ECU determines simultaneous actuation of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal the ECU is configured to decrease engine torque output according to a first relationship for brake input in a lower range of brake input and according to a second relationship for brake input in a higher range of brake input.

A computer-implemented method of controlling a vehicle having a powertrain, comprising:

• detecting a magnitude of a brake pedal input;
• detecting a magnitude of an accelerator pedal input;
• decreasing an output supplied by the powertrain directly proportional to the magnitude of brake pedal input while the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal are simultaneously actuated;
• minimizing brake actuation on wheels coupled to the vehicle the magnitude of the brake pedal input is in a first range;
• and
• allowing brakes to actuate on wheels coupled to the vehicle when the magnitude of the brake pedal input is in a second range.

A computer-implemented method of controlling a vehicle powertrain, comprising:

• determining whether brake and an accelerator pedals are applied simultaneously;
• and
• when the brake and accelerator pedals are applied simultaneously, reducing engine torque output as a directly proportional function of brake pedal depression, including decreasing engine torque by
• a first multiplier that correlates to a first magnitude of brake pedal depression and
• a second multiplier that correlates to a second magnitude of brake pedal depression.