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. 01, 2014
Filed:
Dec. 09, 2011
Matthew Luke Fyie, Canton, MI (US);
Todd Curtis Spaulding, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Brian J Deurloo, Howell, MI (US);
Mark Edward Zyskowski, Dearborn, MI (US);
Charles C Poon, Canton, MI (US);
William Russell Goodwin, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Christopher Lee Danks, Northville, MI (US);
Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Livonia, MI (US);
Jeffrey James Tumavitch, Livonia, MI (US);
Matthew Luke Fyie, Canton, MI (US);
Todd Curtis Spaulding, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Brian J Deurloo, Howell, MI (US);
Mark Edward Zyskowski, Dearborn, MI (US);
Charles C Poon, Canton, MI (US);
William Russell Goodwin, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Christopher Lee Danks, Northville, MI (US);
Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Livonia, MI (US);
Jeffrey James Tumavitch, Livonia, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and system provides a Neutral Tow mode in a vehicle with a shift-by-wire transmission by displaying a Neutral Tow mode option when the transmission control mechanism has been used to select Park, an ignition switch is on, and an engine is off or an information button has been pushed and entering a Neutral Tow mode upon detecting a triggering event. The Neutral Tow mode is canceled upon detecting a certain sequence of events, such as turning on the ignition switch, depressing and holding a brake pedal, and selecting Park. When in Neutral Tow mode the transmission will stay in Neutral, without automatically shifting to Park or using battery power, thereby enabling the vehicle to be towed long distances without draining battery power.