System and method for improved vehicle response during vehicle acceleration conditions

• US 7,917,275 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• 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, Kwong, Hank, Doering, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amin; Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US11/370,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/87
• 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 is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.

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, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 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.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein in response to said tip-out, at least one fuel injector is deactivated.

4. The method of claim 3 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.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said threshold varies with operating conditions, and where decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels includes transitioning from torque converter output speed greater than torque converter input speed to torque converter output speed less than torque converter input speed, the torque converter being unlocked during the transitioning.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a limit of said torque increase varies with operating conditions.

7. 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, 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, the engine airflow continually increasing from torque converter input speed being less than torque converter output speed to torque converter input speed being greater than torque converter output speed.