The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1999
Dennis Allen Light, Canton, MI (US);
Michael John Cullen, Northville, MI (US);
Richard John Hippley, Canton, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
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.