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:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2000
Applicant:
Inventors:
Brian Michael O'Neil, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Bradley Dean Riedle, Northville, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 7/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 7/00 ;
Abstract
A method is described for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle. In particular, the method attempts to minimize transmission gear separation, or “clunk”. Under some circumstances, it is determined whether torque converter output speed has become greater than torque converter input speed while the torque converter was unlocked. Such a situation represents a change from positive powertrain output to negative powertrain output. If such a situation has occurred, under certain circumstances, the torque converter is then locked.