Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Richard John Hippley

Michael John Cullen

Dennis Allen Light

Alex O'Connor Gibson

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

David Oshinsky

Ahmed Awadi

Danny Zdravkovski

Craig Cabadas

David Karl Bidner

Eric Michael Rademacher

Anthemios Philemon Petridis

Bruce J Palansky

Hank Kwong

Chad Everette Griffin

Paul Joseph Szuszman

Kevin Joseph Rzemien

Dong Da

Marek Jaroslaw Jastrzebski

Daniel Yeaw

Stephen Howell

Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine following an engine idle-stop. In one example, a method may include, following a first unsuccessful engine restart attempt, prompting a driver, via a human machine interface (HMI) to apply a brake pedal and upon application of the brake pedal, carrying out one or more restart attempts. If the driver does not apply the brake pedal within the threshold duration, the driver may be prompted to manually restart the engine.

Methods and systems for engine start following an idle-stop

Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. The throttle may be adjusted to a more open position if the starter engages the flywheel or to a more closed position if the starter does not engage the flywheel.

Methods and systems for stopping an engine

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

A method of controlling the stopping and starting of an engine is disclosed in which, during an engine shut-down period, if a signal indicative of a request for restarting the engine is generated, the engineis restarted if the engine speed (N) is within a predefined speed range and the absolute pressure (MAP) in a manifold of the engine is below a predefined limit MAP.

Method of controlling the stopping and starting of an engine of a motor vehicle

Method and electronic control system using a unique driver demand (calibration) table stored in system memory to provide torque output values specific to a 4&#xd7;4 mode of operation of the vehicle drive unit. For example, the torque output of the electronic control system for a 4&#xd7;4 low mode of operation is controlled using a unique calibration table stored in system memory for 4&#xd7;4 low mode of operation, while the torque output of the electronic control system for other modes of operation is controlled using one or more different, other calibration tables stored in system memory.

Vehicle drive control for 4&#xd7;4 mode

A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle is described. The method determines a desired vehicle condition based on three driver actuated elements. In a preferred embodiment the first element can be pedal position, the second element can be a brake actuator or, more specifically, brake actuation duration, and the third element can be a gear selection lever. Further, the desired vehicle condition can be desired powertrain output, vehicle acceleration, or various other parameters.

Vehicle trajectory control system and method

A powertrain controller and a method for calculating feed-forward torque for use by the controller, including a powertrain control module that calculates current and leading indicators of engine torque. The leading indicator of engine torque is used by a multiple-ratio transmission in the powertrain to control transmission line pressure for actuating pressure-operated clutches and brakes for the gearing. The same information that is used for establishing transmission line pressure control is used for commanding an electronic throttle actuator for the engine. The electronic throttle actuator responds to an engine torque request generated by the powertrain controller to achieve a relatively instantaneous response of the engine throttle to a driver command for engine torque.

Powertrain controller using a feed-forward torque calculation

A system and method for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine include determining a currently available maximum torque, determining a driver demanded torque based on a current accelerator pedal position and reference ambient conditions, and controlling the engine to deliver the lesser of the driver demanded torque corresponding to the reference ambient conditions and a calibratable percentage of the currently available maximum torque corresponding to the current ambient conditions. A similar torque is provided at high altitudes as that provided at sea level for a given low pedal position while smoothly blending into the currently available peak torque.

Adjustment of driver demand for atmospheric conditions

A method for monitoring an electronically controlled drive unit of a vehicle uses actual vehicle acceleration and a preselected vehicle acceleration. Actual acceleration is determined from any of an acceleration sensor or vehicle speed sensors. When actual acceleration is greater than the preselected acceleration, a reaction is initiated to reduce vehicle acceleration.

Engine control monitor for vehicle equipped with engine and transmission

A method for monitoring an electronically controlled drive unit of a vehicle uses actual vehicle acceleration and a preselected vehicle acceleration. Actual acceleration is determined from any of an acceleration sensor or vehicle speed sensors. When actual acceleration is greater than the preselected acceleration, a reaction is initiated to reduce vehicle acceleration. A method for controlling vehicle acceleration is also disclosed where desired acceleration is determine from either the operator command or a cruise control system.

Powertrain control system for a vehicle utilizing vehicle acceleration

A speed control method for vehicles having an internal combustion engine smoothly controls engine torque to control vehicle speed. Torque is controlled via airflow in a first torque control range. Torque is controlled via a coordination of air/fuel ratio, ignition timing, and cylinder deactivation is a second torque control range. The torque range is selected based on the required airflow to deliver the required torque. If the required airflow is less than a lower allowable value, then the airflow is fixed at this lower allowable value and the second range is selected. Otherwise, the first range is selected.

Vehicle speed control system and method

A method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine upon initial entry into a speed control mode and upon transitions between dynamic operating modes of a speed control system includes means for determining an actual vehicle acceleration and means for determining an actual wheel torque. A controller determines an initial desired wheel torque based on the actual vehicle acceleration and the actual wheel torque and controls the torque generated by the engine based on the initial desired wheel torque so as to smoothly control the speed of the vehicle.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Richard John Hippley