Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sathish Atluri

Zhengyu Dai

Yang Xu

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Daniel Joseph Styles

Eric Matthew Kurtz

Guopeng Hu

Paul Joseph Tennison

Jason Brian Martz

Daniel William Kantrow

Qi Wang

Christoph Henel

Joshua Zachary Fried

Clayton Mikush

Christopher Cundy

David Peterson

Methods and systems are provided for cylinder deactivation to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase exhaust temperature. In one example, a method may include operating a first set of cylinders in a first combustion cycle over modified eight strokes and a second set of cylinders in a second combustion cycle over modified four strokes. Each cylinder in the first set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via a variable displacement engine (VDE) mechanism while each cylinder in the second set of cylinders may be selectively deactivated via an active decompression technology (ADT) mechanism.

Methods and systems for reducing engine exhaust emissions

Methods and systems are provided for improving catalyst function during an engine cold-start. In one example, at key-off, a duration elapsed till a subsequent key-on is predicted based on drive history and spatial awareness data. Then, based on the duration, an identity and order of operating one or more catalyst heating devices is selected.

Method and system for catalyst temperature control

Systems and methods for reducing perception of transitions from shifting a transmission from neutral to drive are described. In one example, the transmission is shifted from neutral to drive in response to brake pedal motion before the brake pedal is fully released so that timing of pressurizing clutches and engaging a forward gear is advanced to occur while the brake pedal is still applied.

Methods and system for operating a vehicle

A vehicle includes a transmission, friction brakes, and a controller. The transmission has a clutch that is configured to transfer torque from an input of the transmission to a drive wheel. The controller is programmed to, in response to application of the friction brakes resulting in a stationary position of the vehicle, disengage the clutch to establish a neutral condition of the transmission. The controller is also programmed to, in response to a command to launch the vehicle while the transmission is in the neutral condition, engage the clutch. The controller is further programmed to, in response to an estimated wheel torque exceeding a rollback threshold during the clutch engagement, release the friction brakes. The wheel torque is based on an estimated clutch torque which is based on a clutch pressure and a transmission input torque.

Vehicle and vehicle launch method

A transmission controller implements a neutral idle feature to reduce fuel consumption. A brake controller implements a Hill Start Assist feature to prevent roll-back when a vehicle is launching on an uphill grade. The transmission controller and the brake controller communicate to implement these features in a synergistic manner. Within certain road grade ranges, the transmission requests Hill Start Assist before activating neutral idle and does not activate neutral idle until it receives confirmation that Hill Start Assist is active. The transmission controller provides a powertrain torque estimate to the brake controller which the brake controller uses to determine when to release the brakes during an assisted start.

Vehicle idle and launch control

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Novi, MI, United States of America

Sathish Atluri