System and method for improved vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9227619-B2
Application number	US-201314109151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2006
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle control method for a vehicle, comprising:
operating 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;
via a processor of the vehicle, in response to a pedal tip-in sense from a pedal position sensor, and during a transition from output speed greater than input speed to output speed less than input speed, continuing to increase engine airflow while retarding spark timing to limit torque increases; and then
advancing spark timing in response to the transition from output speed greater than input speed to output speed less than input speed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein adjustment of said airflow and spark timing are coordinated during said transition and wherein airflow is adjusted to rapidly accelerate engine speed up to torque converter output speed while retarding and then advancing spark timing to achieve a desired engine torque level once positive torque transmission is achieved.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein airflow and spark timing are coordinated so that airflow increases rapidly during said transition and spark timing retard limits a rate of engine torque increase to reduce a gear lash effect.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein engine airflow and spark timing are further adjusted in response to an overriding driver input via a pedal position or rate of pedal actuation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein engine airflow and spark timing are further adjusted in response to an overriding input from a transmission responsive to a transmission shift.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Doering Jeff
• Riedle Bradley D
• Ciarrocchi Rob
• Redmon Scott
• Kwong Hank
• Eckenrode William
• Page Frederick

Classifications

• Y10T477/677

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F02D2250/18

  Control of the engine output torque · CPC title

• Y10T477/6333

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60W10/06 Primary

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title

• F02D41/0002 Primary

  Controlling intake air · CPC title