Patent ID: 7462129

Claim:
A method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve, the method comprising: changing gears from a first discrete gear ratio to a second discrete gear ratio of the transmission; and increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change, wherein said increasing engine torque during said torque phase of said gear change includes coordinated adjusting of valve timing of an electrically actuated intake valve and moving of a throttle plate, wherein said coordinated adjusting involves first reducing intake valve opening timing to reduce engine torque until reaching a minimum valve opening amount, and then further reducing a number of cylinders carrying out combustion along with adjustment of the throttle.