System and method for improved vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions

• US 20070213909A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Riedle, Brad, Redmon, Scott, Eckenrode, William, Ciarrocchi, Rob, Page, Frederick, Doering, Jeff, Kwong, Hank
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2011/102 at least one throttle being moved only by an electric actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/12 Engine control specially adapted for a transmission comprising a torque converter or for continuously variable transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0215 in relation with elements of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1504 with particular means during a transient phase, e.g. acceleration, deceleration, gear change during starting F02P5/1506
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising in response to a driver tip-out during at least some conditions, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels, and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in, and at least during transitioning to transmission of positive powertrain torque to the wheels, retarding ignition timing while adjusting engine airflow until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed, and then advancing spark angle to rapidly provide output torque.

Claims

1. A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising:

in response to a driver tip-out during at least some conditions, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels;

and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in, and at least during transitioning to transmission of positive powertrain torque to the wheels, retarding ignition timing while adjusting engine airflow until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed, and then

advancing spark angle to rapidly provide output torque.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said engine airflow is adjusted to increase during said transitioning.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said retarding of ignition timing is from a maximum torque timing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said retarding of ignition timing and adjustment of engine airflow is responsive to engine speed, acceleration or converter slip and configured to correct for system errors that produce more than or less than a desired engine torque output.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said advancing of ignition timing is toward a maximum torque timing.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein in response to said tip-out, at least one fuel injector is deactivated.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said ignition timing is retarded until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed plus a threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said threshold varies with operating conditions.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said retarding of ignition timing and adjusting of engine airflow is coordinated to provide a rapid driver response while reducing clunk.

10. A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising:

in response to a driver tip-out during at lest some conditions, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels; and

after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in under a first operating condition,

increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more advanced than a first ignition timing to increase torque converter input speed toward torque converter output speed;

further increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more retarded than said first ignition timing to limit a torque increase during a transition from torque converter input speed less than torque converter output speed to torque converter input speed greater than torque converter output speed; and

then

further increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more advanced than said first ignition timing to provide a torque output increase.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

after said tip-out and in response to said driver tip-in under a second operating condition,

increasing engine airflow while performing ignition timing more advanced than said first ignition timing to increase torque converter input speed toward and above torque converter output speed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein in response to said tip-out, at least one fuel injector is deactivated.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said ignition timing is retarded from said first timing until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed plus a threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said threshold varies with operating conditions.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein a limit of said torque increase varied with operating conditions.

16. A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising:

in response to a tip-in and during a transition from output speed greater than input speed to output speed less than input speed, continuing to increase engine airflow while retarding spark timing to limit torque increases; and

then

advancing spark timing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein adjustment of said airflow and spark timing are coordinated during said transition and wherein airflow is adjusted to rapidly accelerate the engine speed up to torque converter output speed while retarding and then advancing spark timing to achieve a desired engine torque level once positive torque transmission is achieved.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein airflow and spark timing are coordinated so that airflow increases rapidly during said transition and spark timing retard limits a rate of engine torque increase to reduce a gear lash effect.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein engine airflow and spark timing are further adjusted in response to an overriding driver input via a pedal position or rate of pedal actuation.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein engine airflow and spark timing are further adjusted in response to an overriding input from a transmission responsive to a transmission shift.