Automatic transmission controller having automatic-shifting-to-neutral control

• US 20010049575A1
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Muratomi, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 6,542,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/62
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/207 by neutral control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/20 Preventing gear creeping ; Transmission control during standstill, e.g. hill hold control

Abstract

An automatic transmission controller having automatic-shifting-to-neutral control is provided, wherein automatic-shifting-to-neutral control is notified to a driver so as not give him a sense of incongruity and it is prohibited on a slope so as to prevent backward moving of a vehicle. In an automatic transmission controller having automatic-shifting-to-neutral control for shifting the automatic transmission to neutral when a vehicle is continuously stopped in an idling state for a predetermined time, the automatic transmission controller comprises automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means for notifying the automatic-shifting-to-neutral state, slope detecting means for detecting that the vehicle is on a slope, and automatic-shifting-to-neutral control prohibiting means for prohibiting the automatic-shifting-to-neutral control when it is detected that the vehicle is on the slope.

Claims

1. An automatic transmission controller having automatic-shifting-to-neutral control for shifting the automatic transmission to neutral when a vehicle is continuously stopped in an idling state for a predetermined time, the automatic transmission controller comprising automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means for notifying that the state has automatically shifted to neutral.

2. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 1

, wherein an exclusive lamp of the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means is operated by one of switching on and flashing.

3. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 1

, wherein in the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means, a lamp for the N range of a range select display is operated by one of switching on and flashing along with a lamp for the present range.

4. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 1

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during control sections which are an entering control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral, a stationary control section thereof, and a canceling control section thereof.

5. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 2

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during control sections which are an entering control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral, a stationary control section thereof, and a canceling control section thereof.

6. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 3

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during control sections which are an entering control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral, a stationary control section thereof, and a canceling control section thereof.

7. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 1

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during a stationary control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral and a canceling control section thereof.

8. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 2

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during a stationary control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral and a canceling control section thereof.

9. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 3

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns a shifting-to-neutral state during a stationary control section of automatic-shifting-to-neutral and a canceling control section thereof.

10. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 7

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns the shifting state to neutral for a predetermined time after the completion of the canceling control section.

11. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 8

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns the shifting state to neutral for a predetermined time after the completion of the canceling control section.

12. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 9

, wherein the automatic-shifting-to-neutral notifying/warning means notifies/warns the shifting state to neutral for a predetermined time after the completion of the canceling control section.

13. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

slope detecting means for detecting that the vehicle is on a slope; and

automatic-shifting-to-neutral control prohibiting means for prohibiting the automatic-shifting-to-neutral control when it is detected that the vehicle is on a slope.

15. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 13

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises an inclination angle sensor for detecting the slope from the output of the sensor.

17. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 13

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises a suspension stroke sensor for detecting the slope from the output of the sensor.

19. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 13

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises a navigation system for detecting the slope from the output of the system.

14. An automatic transmission controller having automatic-shifting-to-neutral control for shifting the automatic transmission to neutral when a vehicle is continuously stopped in an idling state for a predetermined time, the automatic transmission controller comprising:

slope detecting means for detecting that the vehicle is on a slope; and

automatic-shifting-to-neutral control prohibiting means for prohibiting the automatic-shifting-to-neutral control when it is detected that the vehicle is on a slope.

16. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 14

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises an inclination angle sensor for detecting the slope from the output of the sensor.

18. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 14

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises a suspension stroke sensor for detecting the slope from the output of the sensor.

20. An automatic transmission controller according to

claim 14

, wherein the slope detecting means comprises a navigation system for detecting the slope from the output of the system.