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. 17, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2017
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Guopeng Hu, Northville, MI (US);
Zhengyu Dai, Canton, MI (US);
Christoph Henel, Mettman, DE;
Sathish Atluri, Novi, MI (US);
Yang Xu, Dearborn, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A transmission controller implements a neutral idle feature to reduce fuel consumption. A brake controller implements a Hill Start Assist feature to prevent roll-back when a vehicle is launching on an uphill grade. The transmission controller and the brake controller communicate to implement these features in a synergistic manner. Within certain road grade ranges, the transmission requests Hill Start Assist before activating neutral idle and does not activate neutral idle until it receives confirmation that Hill Start Assist is active. The transmission controller provides a powertrain torque estimate to the brake controller which the brake controller uses to determine when to release the brakes during an assisted start.