Patent ID: 8070653

Claim:
A method for increasing engine speed and engine torque during a launch event in a vehicle equipped with a turbocharged engine, comprising: opening a pump clutch for a torque converter; applying, to initiate said launch event, engine torque to a damper for the torque converter, wherein the engine is rotating at a first speed when the engine torque is applied to the damper; for a first time period beginning at the initiation of the launch event, maintaining the pump clutch in the torque converter in an open position such that a pump for the torque converter is not receiving torque from the damper; during the first time period, increasing the first speed for the engine; after the expiration of the first time period, controllably slipping said pump clutch to transfer said torque to the pump; reducing slippage in said pump clutch at a predetermined rate; and, fully closing said pump clutch.