Vincent E Marchese, 59424 Burgess Dr, White Lake, MI 48386

6401853, Jun 11, 2002

Nov 13, 2000

09/710278

Michael Paul Turski - Rochester Hills MI
Michael Douglas Rizzo - White Lake MI
Luke Sewell - Linden MI
Eric Edward Krueger - Ann Arbor MI
Vincent Marchese - White Lake MI
Loren Michael Trotter - Linden MI
Paul Stephen Zombory - Northville MI
Stephen William Smerika - Fenton MI

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
Delphi Technologies Inc. - Troy MI

B60K 2816

180197, 180284, 701 86

An improved engine torque control method uses existing powertrain sensors and controls to reliably detect and suppress power-hop with minimum degradation of vehicle acceleration. Power-hop is detected by identifying a characteristic wheel jerk magnitude and oscillation frequency based on driven wheel speeds. Once a power-hop condition is detected, the control method computes a desired engine torque output for suppressing the detected power-hop without unnecessarily degrading vehicle performance, based on the wheel jerk magnitude, the engine speed and vehicle acceleration. A combination of engine cylinder fuel cut-off and spark retard is then scheduled for reducing the engine output torque to the desired level for the duration of the power-hop condition. The control method has minimal impact on vehicle cost since it is performed (preferably) by engine or other control software, and has been shown to quickly and effectively suppresses power-hop and its disadvantages without significantly degrading vehicle performance.

6535809, Mar 18, 2003

Nov 8, 2000

09/708867

Keith Wayne Beyer - Novi MI
Eric Edward Krueger - Ann Arbor MI
Vincent E Marchese - White Lake MI
Todd David Brown - Brooklyn MI
Alan Rae Lustre - Novi MI

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

B60K 2816

701 84, 180197

A vehicle powertrain torque control provides an engine drag control mode of operation during periods of undesired engine drag induced wheel slip by modifying the torque of the vehicle engine in closed loop control to maintain a driven wheel speed at a predetermined target velocity lower than the vehicle speed by a target velocity difference providing as much engine braking as is consistent with a desired degree of lateral traction. The control derives a velocity error as the difference between the driven wheel speed and the target velocity and derives and delivers to the powertrain a torque command for reducing the velocity error. The torque control determines the engine drag control mode in response to the wheel speed sensors, preferably causing entry of the engine drag control mode when the driven wheel speed that is closest to the vehicle speed falls below the target velocity while powertrain delivered torque and throttle position are below predetermined values indicative of deceleration. The target velocity difference is preferably determined as a weighted difference between vehicle speed and vehicle turn curvature, the difference being reduced by the latter for quicker response in vehicle turns.