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:
Dec. 04, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2004
John G. Bate, Oak Ridge, NC (US);
Christiano Blume, Curitiba, BR;
John G. Bate, Oak Ridge, NC (US);
Christiano Blume, Curitiba, BR;
Abstract
A method of controlling a vehicle includes reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing, if the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, enabling the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level, and stopping the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. A control system for a vehicle includes a processor that reduces a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal. The processor monitors at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle and determines whether the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is decreasing. If the monitored at least one of the speed and torque is not decreasing, the processor enables the engine of the vehicle to operate at a reduced power level. The processor causes the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the monitored at least one of the speed and torque has reached a predetermined level. In addition, a computer-readable medium containing a computer program for controlling a vehicle.