Control system for automatic transmission having plural running modes

• US 5,983,154 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Morisawa, Kunio
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/813,069
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 701/55, 701/56, 701/65, 701/208, 701/213, 701/201, 701/210, 477/34, 477/97
• US Class Current: 701/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/666 Determining road conditions by using vehicle location or position, e.g. from global navigation systems [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery

Abstract

A control system for executing a control of the output torque of an automatic transmission on the basis of any of a plurality of running modes. This control system is given a route selecting function to select a route to be followed by the vehicle, with reference to the running characteristics of the running mode.

Claims

1. A control system for executing a control of the output torque of an automatic transmission on the basis of any of a plurality of transmission running modes having different running characteristics, comprising:

means for selecting one of the plurality of running modes to be used for a run to a destination;

means for selecting a route to be followed by the vehicle to the destination, with reference to the running characteristics of the selected one of said running modes.

2. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 1, further comprising:

first decision means for deciding whether or not the route to be followed, as selected by said route selecting means, has been approved by the driver; and

first control means for controlling said automatic transmission, when the vehicle runs on the route to be followed, as approved, on the basis of the running mode which has provided the reference for selecting said route to be followed.

3. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 2, further comprising:

running state detecting means for detecting the running state of the vehicle while said vehicle is running with said automatic transmission being controlled by said first control means on the basis of said running mode; and

change means for changing the running mode being selected for controlling said automatic transmission into another on the basis of the running state which is detected by said running state detecting means.

4. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 3,

wherein said running state detecting means includes means for detecting at least any of a frequency of executing speed changes, a frequency in which a throttle opening exceeds a preset reference value, a frequency in which a changing speed of a throttle opening exceeds a preset reference value, a stagnant situation on said route to be followed and ahead of the vehicle, an average speed of the vehicle, and a time interval between the start/stop of the vehicle.

5. A control system for executing a control of the output torque of an automatic transmission on the basis of any of a plurality of transmission running modes, comprising:

running mode selecting means for selecting the running mode on the basis of a route to be followed, as selected as a followed route to a destination;

decision means for deciding whether or not the route and running mode to be followed, as selected by said running mode selecting means, has been approved by a driver; and

control means for controlling said automatic transmission, when the vehicle runs on the route to be followed, as approved, on the basis of the running mode which has provided the reference for selecting said route to be followed.

6. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 5, further comprising:

running state detecting means for detecting the running state of the vehicle while said vehicle is running with said automatic transmission being controlled by said control means on the basis of said running mode; and

change means for changing the running mode being selected for controlling said automatic transmission into another on the basis of the running state which is detected by said running state detecting means.

7. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 6,

wherein said running state detecting means includes means for detecting at least any of a frequency of executing speed changes, a frequency in which a throttle opening exceeds a preset reference value, a frequency in which a changing speed of a throttle opening exceeds a preset reference value, a stagnant situation on said route to be followed and ahead of the vehicle, an average speed of the vehicle, and a time interval between the start/stop of the vehicle.

8. A control system for executing a control of the output torque of an automatic transmission on the basis of any of a plurality of transmission running modes, comprising:

destination setting means for setting a destination of the vehicle;

route selecting means for selecting the routes to be followed to the destination, as set by said destination setting means, for the individual running modes with reference to the running characteristics of said running modes;

decision means for deciding a route and running mode, as approved by a driver, of the routes to be followed selected by said route selecting means and the running modes corresponding to the selected routes to be followed; and

control means for controlling said automatic transmission on the basis of the running mode, as decided by said decision means.

9. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 8, further comprising:

running state detecting means for detecting the running state of the vehicle while said vehicle is running with said automatic transmission being controlled by said control means on the basis of said running mode; and

change means for changing the running mode being selected for controlling said automatic transmission into another on the basis of the running state which is detected by said running state detecting means.

10. A control system for an automatic transmission according to claim 9, wherein said running state detecting means includes means for detecting at least any of a frequency of executing a shift, a frequency in which a throttle opening exceeds a present reference value, a frequency in which a changing speed of a throttle opening exceeds a present reference value, a stagnant situation on the route to be followed and ahead of the vehicle, an average speed of the vehicle, and a time interval between a start/stop of the vehicle.