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. 14, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2000
Brian Michael O'Neil, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Bradley Dean Riedle, Northville, MI (US);
Dennis Allen Light, Monroe, MI (US);
Michael John Cullen, Northville, MI (US);
Michelle S. Grytzelius, Canton, MI (US);
Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Milan, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle control system is described for controlling a torque converter coupled to an engine. The controller engages the torque converter before negative powertrain output becomes less than a predetermined value. Such an approach allows for torque converter locking in the negative powertrain output region. Such an approach is especially suited to vehicles having certain torque converters, which are difficult to lock at large negative torque values.