Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Hank Kwong

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Eric Michael Rademacher

Jeff Doering

Frederick Page

Kirk Pebley

Brad Riedle

Ahmed Awadi

Rob Ciarrocchi

William Eckenrode

Scott Redmon

John Eric Rollinger

Siraj Siddiqui

Tuan Anh Be

Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini

Jeff Malcolm Travis

Rob Ciarrochi

Bradley Dean Riedle

Mark Douglas Malone

David Hesketh

Hussam Makkiya

William Najib Mansur

George Edmund Walley

Chad Michael Korte

Richard John Hippley

Filip Tomik

Chad Everette Griffin

Bang Kim Cao

Chris Edward Pedlar

Gary Paisley

Dilli Poudel

Yunjiao Cai

Methods and systems are provided for an engine. In one example, a method of operating an engine of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a brake pedal, a clutch pedal and a transmission having a neutral position and at least one in-gear position, comprises starting the engine if either the brake pedal of the vehicle is released or the transmission has been in neutral for a predetermined period of time, and the clutch pedal of the vehicle is depressed concurrently with the transmission being moved out of the neutral position into an in-gear position.

Methods and systems for an engine

Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine start/stop function in a vehicle with a detachable door. In one example, a method may include, adjusting an engine start/stop strategy responsive to a driver side door of the vehicle been detected to be absent. The adjustment to the start/stop strategy further may be modified based on a type of transmission system coupled to the vehicle.

Methods and systems for enabling engine start/stop function

A vehicle engine start/stop control method includes shifting an automatic transmission to a park or neutral position and auto-stopping the engine in response the automatic transmission being in the park or neutral position for a predetermined period of time that begins with a shift of the automatic transmission to the park or neutral position.

Vehicle and start/stop method for a vehicle engine

A vehicle includes a powertrain and an electric parking brake. A controller activates the electric parking brake in response to the powertrain transitioning to an off state that inhibits production of propulsive torque during an ignition cycle when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed and in a presence of conditions that inhibit the powertrain from transitioning to an on state that permits production of propulsive torque.

Electric parking brake usage for vehicle powertrain out of operation conditions

A vehicle includes an engine and a controller programmed to autostop and autostart the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to receiving signals indicative of a driver exiting the vehicle while the engine is auto stopped, autostart the engine, and after expiration of a predetermined duration, autostop the engine and inhibit vehicle propulsion until an ignition cycle is initiated.

Automatic engine start-stop control during driver exit events

A stop/start hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured for stopping and restarting during travel, a multiple-ratio transmission, a brake pedal, and an electronic parking brake. The transmission can be shifted into reverse gear either when the brake pedal is applied or unapplied. At least one controller is programmed to control the vehicle under these scenarios. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is applied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller restarts the engine. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is unapplied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller inhibits the engine from restarting until the brake pedal is applied. The controller can also be programmed to apply the electronic parking brake while the brake pedal remains unapplied after a predetermined time from the transmission being shifted into the reverse gear.

Controlling engine auto-start while in reverse

A vehicle includes an engine, automatic transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to auto-start and auto-stop. The automatic transmission has a shift-by-wire gear selector. The controller is programmed to, in response to shifting the gear selector to a neutral position while the engine is running, command the engine to auto-stop.

Vehicle and start/stop method for a vehicle

A start-stop vehicle includes an engine configured to automatically stop and start during travel. The vehicle further includes a gear lever, a brake pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to restart the engine or inhibit restarting of the engine depending upon one or more sets of conditions of the vehicle. A method is also present for operating the vehicle based upon the one or more sets of conditions.

System and method for controlling a stop-start system for a vehicle engine

Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.

System and method for optimizing availability of vehicle energy conserving modes

Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.

User interface for automatic start-stop system and method of controlling the same

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.

System and method for improved vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions

A vehicle control method for a vehicle having powertrain with an internal combustion engine and a transmission having a clutch, the method comprising of transitioning through a lash region of the transmission during clutch slipping conditions in response to a driver tip-in; and during the transition, first retarding ignition timing past maximum torque timing while increasing engine airflow, and then second, advancing ignition timing from the retarded timing while continuing to increase engine airflow.

Vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions

A vehicle control method for transitioning through transmission lash regions is described using a variety of information, such as, for example, gear ratio, clutch slippage, etc. Further, different adjustment of spark and throttle angle is used to provide a rapid torque response while still reducing effects of the lash. Finally, transitions taking into account both slipping and non-slipping transmissions are described.

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Hank Kwong