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:
Apr. 24, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2007
John D. Zalewski, Liverpool, NY (US);
Charles Fairbanks, Liverpool, NY (US);
Gunter Niederbacher, Clarkston, MI (US);
John D. Zalewski, Liverpool, NY (US);
Charles Fairbanks, Liverpool, NY (US);
Gunter Niederbacher, Clarkston, MI (US);
MAGNA Powertrain USA, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A method controls a powertrain that directs power from an engine and a transmission to all four wheels or to just front wheels or to just rear wheels. The method includes monitoring information transmitted over a communications network. The method determines whether one or more components of the powertrain are in an active condition or in an inactive condition. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the inactive condition when not connected to the transmission and not connected to the front wheels or the rear wheels. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the active condition when connected to the transmission and connected to the front wheels and the rear wheels. The method switches the one or more components of the powertrain between the inactive condition and the active condition based only on the information from the communications network and without intervention from a user.