Abstract: The present invention is intended to make it possible to automatically drive a test object without performing pre-learning for a running performance map for each vehicle. There is provided an automatic test object driving device that automatically drives a test vehicle based on a command vehicle speed, and that includes a driving actuator for performing driving operation of the test vehicle, and a driving control unit for controlling the driving actuator. The driving control unit includes a first accelerator map and a second accelerator map each of which indicates a relationship among a vehicle-speed-related value, an acceleration-related value, and an accelerator-depression-amount-related value. The driving control unit uses the first accelerator map to determine an accelerator depression amount corresponding to the command vehicle speed, and uses the second accelerator map to correct the accelerator depression amount by feeding back a vehicle speed and an acceleration of the test vehicle.

Abstract: When an accelerator pedal operation amount is large enough to generate a driving force after switching from a stopping range to a starting range is performed, in order to prevent a sudden starting immediately after the range switching, an upper limit of the driving force of a driving source is limited to a driving force larger than a holding threshold value for releasing holding of a stopping state of a vehicle and smaller than a required driving force based on the accelerator pedal operation amount.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes: an engine; a throttle operator moveable by a driver; a throttle valve regulating airflow to the engine; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine; at least one ground engaging member including at least one of: a wheel and a track; a piston operatively connected to a driving pulley of the CVT for applying a piston force to the driving pulley when actuated and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley; and a control unit for controlling actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes: determining a driven pulley speed of a driven pulley of the CVT; detecting an uphill stand condition indicative of the vehicle being stopped on an uphill; responsive to the detection of the uphill stand condition, controlling the piston force based on the driven pulley speed.

Abstract: A vehicle electronic control system includes a center device and a vehicle master device. The center device includes: a campaign information obtainer obtaining campaign information of a program update; a vehicle state obtainer obtaining a vehicle state of a target vehicle of the program update; an execution requirement setter setting an execution requirement of a phase in the program update based on the campaign information obtained by the campaign information obtainer and the vehicle state obtained by the vehicle information obtainer; an execution requirement notifier notifying the vehicle master device of the execution requirement set by the execution requirement setter; and an update data deliverer delivering the update data to the vehicle master device.

Abstract: A method for holding a vehicle on a gradient. The vehicle has a transmission with an output, a first clutch and a second clutch. The primary sides of the first and second clutches are mechanically operatively connected to one another. The secondary sides of the first and second clutches are mechanically operatively connected to one another and to the output of the transmission. Different transmission ratios can be engaged by way of the first clutch and the second clutch, and the first clutch is in an engaged state. The method includes the additional closure of the second clutch in order to block the transmission and thus hold the vehicle at a standstill on a gradient.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission device in a vehicle includes determining a basic shift pattern according to whether towing is performed and road inclination during vehicle driving, determining first energy consumption according to loads of operating devices in the vehicle, determining second energy consumption according vehicle speed and the road inclination, comparing the first and second energy consumptions and a state of charge (SoC) of a battery to determine an energy compensation pattern, and determining a last shift pattern so as to correspond to the basic shift pattern and the energy compensation pattern.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vacuum to a vehicle are described. In one example, a method adjusts an application force of a transmission clutch in response to a request for additional vacuum.

Abstract: A stop/start system of a micro-hybrid vehicle may selectively initiate an engine auto start in response to a PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted out of DRIVE after an engine auto stop and a determination that the vehicle is located, for example, in an intersection or railroad crossing prior to the PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted into REVERSE.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a battery powered traction motor, and an automatic step-ratio transmission selectively coupled in series by a clutch include engaging the clutch to couple the engine and the motor and controlling motor torque to provide braking torque through the transmission to substantially maintain a cruise control speed. In one embodiment, a hybrid electric vehicle includes a battery powered traction motor connected to a transmission, an engine selectively coupled in series with the motor by a clutch, and a controller communicating with the traction motor and the engine and configured to control the motor to provide braking torque when the clutch is engaged and engine braking torque is insufficient to maintain cruise control speed of the vehicle as the vehicle travels downhill.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating a propulsion-related operating parameter of a vehicle for a road segment, and for determining routes based on the estimate. The method may be employed, for example, in a vehicle navigation system. In one example method, at least one operating parameter of the vehicle is estimated for the road segment based on information corresponding to the road segment. The propulsion-related operating parameter is estimated for the road segment using the at least one estimated operating parameter and at least one vehicle specific parameter. The at least one vehicle specific parameter is determined by acquiring driving data to determine a plurality of vehicle operating parameters while the vehicle is in operation. At least two of the determined vehicle operating parameters are used in a predetermined relationship that includes the at least one vehicle specific parameter.

Abstract: An acceleration-based method and device for the safety monitoring of a drive is provided. In the method a setpoint torque is calculated in a safety function as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal. An expected vehicle acceleration is determined, as a function of the setpoint torque, in the safety function. An actual vehicle acceleration is determined, preferably by an acceleration sensor. A fault situation may be detected by comparing the actual vehicle acceleration and the expected vehicle acceleration. A device, preferably included in the vehicle electronics, is configured to implement the acceleration-based method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for shift control for vehicular transmission. A transmission may shift gears at designated transmission shift points. When the slope of the road grade encountered by a vehicle changes, the transmission shift points may be altered to provide better vehicle performance. According to one embodiment, road slope may be calculated based upon vehicle acceleration and acceleration caused by pedal depression. In such an embodiment, brake indication may be calculated from the same road slope calculation without the use of a brake signal switch. If brake application is indicated by the road slope calculation, transmission shifting may be adjusted to prevent poor vehicle performance.

Abstract: A method and system for automated manual transmission shift methodologies for coasting conditions are disclosed. A coast condition is detected in a vehicle having a transmission that couples prime mover power from a transmission input to a transmission output at a plurality of different gear ratios. A target gear ratio is selected based on the power loss attributes associated with each gear ratio. Each gear ratio is associated with a power loss attribute indicative of a power loss between the transmission input and transmission output when prime mover power is coupled from the transmission input to the transmission output using that gear ratio. The transmission is shifted from a current gear ratio to the target gear ratio if the target and current gear ratios differ. By selecting the target gear ratio, vehicle fuel efficiency is improved, while keeping the vehicle under constant prime mover braking or continuous prime mover control.

Abstract: A feed forward method for controlling the distribution of torque between the front and rear axle in a four wheel drive vehicle where the slope of a hill upon which the vehicle is traveling is calculated based on measured vehicle longitudinal acceleration and estimated longitudinal acceleration. The hill slope estimation is made and implemented before the wheels of the vehicle begin to slip due to the slope and low friction coefficient of the road surface. Under conditions of high vehicle speeds or severe vehicle turning, the change of torque distribution is not implemented because there is a lesser tendency for the vehicle to slip on the hill surface.

Abstract: An automated gear shift transmission and method of controlling the same are described. The transmission is installed in a motor vehicle comprising several forward gears and at least one reverse gear and that allows choosing from several different driving modes by means of a driving mode selector lever. A forward gear is maintained in engagement in case of an uphill orientation of the motor vehicle when the parking mode is chosen. Instead of the forward gear, a reverse gear is maintained in engagement in case of a downhill orientation of the motor vehicle when the parking mode is chosen. This allows taking specific driving conditions or driving situations into account with relatively simple means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an automatic transmission having a torque converter, with the transmission having three gear sets and with the first gear set which has a first brake clutch and a second brake clutch being braked relative to the housing by means of simultaneous actuation of the first and second brake clutches, as a result of which an output shaft which is directly connected to the first gear set is likewise braked. The third gear set is connected in terms of gearing to an input shaft and to the first gear set and can be fixed relative to the housing by means of a third brake clutch. The simultaneous actuation of the first and second brake clutches takes place at least intermittently with the third brake clutch in a slipping state, controlling the speed of the torque converter relative to the engine.

Abstract: A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes engaging a gear of a transmission that driveably connects the engine and wheels of the vehicle; maintaining a current brake pressure greater than a reference brake pressure; initiating an automatic engine restart; using a timer to count down during a period of predetermined length; using a pump to produce a desired magnitude of brake pressure sufficient to suppress a wheel torque surge produced by restarting the engine and to hold the vehicle stationary; and releasing the brake pressure if either the timer expires or a peak in engine speed occurs.

Abstract: A shift control device comprises: a thermal load prediction unit which predicts a thermal load state of a friction element upon completion of a shift from a current thermal load state of the friction element; and a shift control unit which, when the thermal load state upon shift completion predicted by the thermal load prediction unit corresponds to a predetermined state, either performs the shift in a modified shift mode in which a heat generation amount of the friction element is smaller than the heat generation amount of the friction element when the predetermined state is not established, or prohibits the shift. The predetermined state is set at a different state in a case where the shift is an upshift and in a case where the shift is a downshift, and is set on the basis of a gradient of a traveling road.

Abstract: In a vehicle that includes an engine driveably connected to the vehicle wheels, an accelerator pedal, and an electric motor for transmitting power to at least some of the vehicle wheels, a method for indicating that the vehicle is operating on a grade having positive slope includes determining that displacement of the accelerator pedal is greater than a reference displacement, determining that a rate of change of the accelerator pedal displacement is greater than a reference rate of change of displacement, determining that vehicle deceleration is greater than a reference vehicle deceleration, and producing a signal representing that the vehicle is operating on a grade having positive slope.

Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission having a torque converter with a lock-up clutch provided between an engine and the automatic transmission, and a lock-up control device for controlling an engaged condition of the lock-up clutch.

Abstract: The invention is based on a drive train (10) of a motor vehicle in which a control device (16) limits an output torque of a drive machine (14) to a first maximum value or a second, higher maximum value. The object of the invention is to propose a drive train which permits low fuel consumption. According to the invention, the control device (16) has a signal transmitting connection to a roadway information device (camera 53) which supplies information relating to a profile of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle. The control device (16) can thus predictively change from the first maximum value to the second maximum value or carry out shifting back in the transmission (19).

Abstract: A method for starting or stopping a vehicle on a gradient. In order to protect the clutch (12) against overheating and therefore against excessive wear during the actuation of at least one brake (48) and simultaneous pressing of the accelerator pedal (44), a torque reduction in the form of a torque reduction request is transmitted to the engine control unit (40) taking into account the position of an accelerator pedal, and a reduced torque is transmitted to the clutch on the basis of said torque reduction request.

Abstract: A method for controlling or regulating a clutch torque of a startup clutch of a motor vehicle, which first of all reliably prevents an unintentional rolling of the motor vehicle down a gradient and second enables a comfortable maneuvering mode, which requires no separate actuation of an operating element for activating a maneuvering mode, and also enables a precisely dosed speed definition during maneuvering on gradients, wherein the adjusted speed is substantially independent from the gradient of the ground and the motor vehicle load. A startup and maneuvering control device is provided according to the invention, which reads in driving resistance data, determines therefrom a driving resistance value, and determines a base value of the clutch torque of the automated startup clutch in dependence thereof, which is adjusted in dependence upon the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A creep control device for a vehicle having an automatic transmission including a torque converter with a lock-up clutch. The creep control device includes a throttle angle sensor for detecting a throttle angle, a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle, a slope sensor for detecting a road surface slope, and a lock-up clutch engagement control unit for controlling the degree of engagement of the lock-up clutch. When the throttle angle is detected to be nearly zero by the throttle angle sensor and the running speed is detected to be vary small or zero by the vehicle speed sensor in the condition where the shift position is in a running range, the degree of engagement of the lock-up clutch is controlled to decrease with an increase in the road surface slope by the lock-up clutch control unit.

Abstract: In a vehicle powertrain that includes an engine and an electric machine, a method for preventing rollback of a wheeled vehicle located on an incline includes determining a magnitude of wheel torque required to prevent the vehicle from rolling back, using the electric machine to produce the required magnitude of wheel torque at the wheels, transmitting engine torque to the wheels, and reducing torque produced by the electric machine while increasing engine torque such that the sum of wheel torque produced by the engine and electric machine is substantially equal to said required magnitude of wheel torque.

Abstract: An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) executes a program including a step of detecting a driver's preference potential Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine output Ptgt using Hdr when a deceleration request is detected, a step of calculating a target slippage tsl using Hdr, a step of calculating a target engine speed tne, a step of calculating a target ISC (Idle Speed Control) opening tidle from Ptgt and tne, a step of assigning a guard value to tidle when tidle is smaller than the guard value, a step of calculating a current engine output Pnow and a step of calculating a motor output (regeneration quantity) Phv from (Ptgt-Pnow).

Abstract: A vehicle driving force control apparatus is provided to prohibit a change in a shift schedule that will cause insufficient power generation of a generator that supplies power to an electric motor to drive a first drive wheel. The vehicle driving force control apparatus has a shift schedule change section, a power sufficiency determining section and a shift schedule change prohibit section. The shift schedule change section is configured to change a shift schedule of a transmission of the main drive source. The power sufficiency determining section is configured to determine whether generated power of the generator will be insufficient by a change in the shift schedule by the shift schedule change section, when an electromotive force of the generator is driving the electric motor that supplies torque to the first drive wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a first fuel-cut duration extending portion that, when a fuel-cut is being executed during deceleration of the vehicle, slows the decrease in the engine speed by executing a slip control of a lock-up clutch; and a second fuel-cut duration extending portion which, when the engine speed has decreased to a coast-downshift threshold, which is higher by a given amount than a fuel-cut cancellation threshold, while the slip control is being executed, allows to downshift the automatic transmission if the road on which the vehicle is presently traveling has a downhill gradient that is larger than a reference value.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for facilitating hill-starting of a stationary motor vehicle. The method includes applying at least one braking device using a brake pedal and estimating the traveling resistance of the vehicle using a control unit (30). The control unit (30) determines a starting gear, a starting torque and a starting speed with regard to the estimated traveling resistance. The driver releases the brake pedal and the brakes are kept applied for a certain time. The driver operates an accelerator pedal to a position at least corresponding to the minimum transmitted torque and a clutch device (2) for a gearbox (3) is activated by the control unit (30) when the starting speed has been achieved. The control unit (30) releases the braking devices as a function of the increase in the transmitted driving torque of the clutch.

Abstract: In the method for kick-down switching speed optimization in a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission, the kick-down upshift point is determined as a function of the load conditions and the road inclination in each case.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which executes a neutral control by which an input clutch that transmits driving force from a driving source to the automatic transmission is released when conditions, being i) a shift lever is in a position corresponding to a forward speed range, ii) an accelerator operation is not being performed, iii) a brake operation is being performed, and iv) a vehicle speed is equal to, or less than, a predetermined vehicle speed, are fulfilled, is provided a controller which detects a road gradient and outputs a command to release the input clutch when i) the detected road gradient is equal to, or less than, a predetermined value, and ii) the conditions are fulfilled. After the command has been output, the controller compares the detected road gradient and the predetermined value and cancels the output of the command if the road gradient is greater than the predetermined value. Accordingly, fuel efficiency is able to be further improved during the neutral control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calculating a modification to the predetermined amount of torque needed to provide an urge to move sensation for a vehicle, the modification to take account of the weight at which and gradient on which the vehicle is operating and then commanding the engine to generate said modified torque and to transmit the modified urge torque to a clutch device to provide the urge to move according to the current operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for carrying out an automated clutch actuation of a motor vehicle with a drive engine and a transmission, connected to said drive engine by way of a clutch, in which process the clutch exhibits both an opened and a closed operating position, whereby to introduce unpowered operating phases the clutch is transferred by means of automation into the opened operating position and to introduce powered operating phases it is transferred by means of automation into the closed operating position. To design such a process more reliably and comfortably, the variables, from which a dangerous situation in time or its termination can be concluded with a certain probability, are measured, according to the invention, so that the clutch can be moved into an operating position (opened or closed), which makes it possible to carry out faster the subsequent request of the driver—such as an acceleration request or a braking request.

Abstract: A shift control apparatus of a transmission for a vehicle having an input shaft driven by an engine and an output shaft connecting with a drive wheel for automatically changing a speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, comprises accelerator pedal operating amount detecting means for detecting an operating amount of an accelerator pedal, road gradient detecting means for detecting a gradient of a road on which the vehicle travels, vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, kick-down mode establishing means for establishing a kick-down mode when the operating amount of the accelerator pedal exceeds a threshold value and control means for changing the threshold value based on the road gradient and the vehicle speed.

Abstract: The improved CVT control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. By using the CVT control apparatus, it becomes possible that the drive feeling is constant independently of a running state, the vehicle is accelerated as the driver's intention if accelerated due to the actuation of an accelerator pedal, and the run of the vehicle is performed so as to improve the fuel consumption rate if the acceleration is not required. By always calculating a correct driving torque, the transmission gear ratio is calculated to obtain the target driving torque set based on the amount of actuation of an accelerator pedal, and the obtained target driving torque is corrected by the gradient of a road obtained from the calculated driving torque. Further, the gear ratio which aims at the improvement of acceleration and the gear ratio which aims at the improvement of the rate of fuel consumption are weighted and combined with each other, and the optimum gear ratio is obtained by using fuzzy inference.

Abstract: A shift control system of a toroidal CVT for a vehicle is arranged to calculate a command gear ratio by adding a desired gear ratio and a torque shift compensation quantity for compensating a difference between the desired gear ratio and an actual gear ratio which difference is generated by a shifting operation of the toroidal CVT, and to set a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in an automatic shift range to be larger than a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in other shift range except for the automatic shift range when the actual gear ratio is in a first gear ratio region except for a second gear ratio region including a largest gear ratio.

Abstract: A control device for an electric vehicle stopping at a slope road which reduces a power consumption of the electric motor when the vehicle is stopping at the slope road with the generation of a drive torque. The device judges the stopping state of the vehicle at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree is not zero, that the drive torque is not zero, and that a vehicle speed is zero continues for a predetermined time, applies a hydraulic pressure P relative to wheel cylinder, and decreases the drive torque outputting to the motor to be zero. The device judges a release of the stopping state at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree becomes greater than a throttle opening degree under the vehicle stopping state at the slope road, recovers the drive torque, and gradually releases an application of the hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder.

Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission which prevents an automatic transmission from executing a “busy-shift” caused by a lower gear ratio of the highest gear, and which reduces revolutions of a driving power source at high speed. The control device includes an automatic shift mode, an independent manual shift mode, and a highest gear control. The automatic shift mode automatically determines a gear ratio of the automatic transmission on the basis of a driving condition of a vehicle having the automatic transmission. The manual shift mode determines a gear ratio of the automatic transmission by a driver's intention. The highest gear control controls the automatic transmission, so that the smallest gear ratio set by the manual shift mode is smaller than the smallest gear ratio set by the automatic shift mode. If the gear ratio of the highest gear of the automatic shift mode is not so small, a shift caused by a change of a driving condition does not easily occur.

Abstract: A torque transfer system of a motor vehicle has a clutch, a transmission, a control device, and a traction load detecting device. The traction load is the variable resistance that a vehicle has to overcome to start or to keep moving, e.g., going uphill or downhill, with a heavy or light load, with or without a trailer or a roof load. The control device controls the torque transfer system, in particular the clutch, dependent on input signals received from the traction load detecting device.

Abstract: In the case where a cooperative gear change control of an automatic transmission is executed on the basis of information with respect to a condition around a vehicle or in front of a vehicle, in a cooperative gear change control means, a gear change of the automatic transmission is directly determined on the basis of actual curve information and road surface inclination information in accordance with a previously stored downshift map, and a gear stage is switched such that a determined gear change is executed. Therefore, it is possible to directly obtain the gear stage or the gear ratio corresponding to the curve of the road and the inclination of the road surface.

Abstract: A shift control method for an automatic transmission based on one of a first shift pattern based on vehicle speed and an opening degree of a throttle valve and a second shift pattern based on the vehicle speed and a road condition includes the steps of switching a vehicle shifting condition to the second shift pattern when the opening degree of the throttle valve is a first predetermined opening degree or smaller than the first predetermined opening degree, and switching the vehicle shifting condition to the first shift pattern when the opening degree of the throttle valve is a second predetermined opening degree or larger than the second predetermined opening degree which is larger than the first predetermined opening degree.

Abstract: A hill hold control apparatus of an automatic transmission having a plurality of drive gears mounted on an input shaft, a plurality of driven gears meshing with the respective drive gears and mounted on an output shaft and a bypass clutch for engaging the input shaft with the output shaft, includes a grade judging means for judging that the vehicle travels on a grade, a shift gear train detecting means for detecting a shift gear train of the automatic transmission, a foot brake operation detecting means for detecting an operation of a foot brake and a control means for engaging the bypass clutch when it is judged that the vehicle is in standstill and the shift gear train is a start gear train and the foot brake is inoperative based on respective signals of the grade, the shift gear train and the operation of the foot brake.

Abstract: A working vehicle for work such as a turf grass management is provided, which has an improved climb-up performance and an improved engine-break force at a stage of climbing down a slope. The working vehicle mounts a working machine driven by an engine and also a continuously variable transmission thereon, and has a climb-up or climb-down mode Df which sets a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission at a maximum value during travel of a slope. The climb-up or climb-down mode Df is selected by an operation of a shift lever or automatically detected by climb-up or climb-down detectors. When the mode Df is set, a pulley ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled so as to have the maximum transmission ratio based on a command signal of a control unit.

Abstract: A control system (a control valve CV and an electronic control unit ECU) for an automatic transmission TM performs an automatic control to select and establish a speed ratio from a plurality of speed ratios in response to the condition of a vehicle which is set in a drive range. This control system creates a neutral condition if the vehicle is stationary with the brake of the vehicle being actuated and the accelerator for the engine being turned off while the transmission is set in a drive range. The control system is also equipped with an engine output control device 50 that adjusts the engine output which is input into the transmission when the transmission in the drive range leaves the neutral condition and starts to establish any of the speed ratios in the drive range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a starting gear step for a vehicle with a stepped variable speed transmission with several gear steps. It is proposed that a maximum admissible value for a slip time (12) and/or a maximum admissible value for a frictional work (14) of the starting clutch during the starting process, the same as an available engine torque (10) for starting be determined, that beginning with a highest suitable gear step (18) for starting, values for the slip time (20) and/or the frictional work (22) be calculated in advance depending on the vehicle mass (8), that the precalculated values (20, 22) be compared with the maximum admissible values (12, 14), that the calculation loop be repeated with the next smaller suitable gear step for starting when at least one of the precalculated values is greater than the maximum admissible values and that a gear step be issued as starting gear step when the precalculated values are smaller than or equal to the maximum admissible values.

Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission which prevents an automatic transmission from executing a “busy-shift” caused by a lower gear ratio of the highest gear, and which reduces revolutions of a driving power source at high speed. The control device includes an automatic shift mode, an independent manual shift mode, and a highest gear control means. The automatic shift mode automatically determines a gear ratio of the automatic transmission on the basis of a driving condition of a vehicle having the automatic transmission. The manual shift mode determines a gear ratio of the automatic transmission by a driver's intention. The highest gear control means controls the automatic transmission, so that the smallest gear ratio set by the manual shift mode is smaller than the smallest gear ratio set by the automatic shift mode. If the gear ratio of the highest gear of the automatic shift mode is not so small, a shift caused by a change of a driving condition does not easily occur.

Abstract: A shift control method for an automatic transmission while a vehicle runs up a slope while towing a trailer includes the steps of determining if present shift lever position indicates a driving range 2, calculating weight-slope resistance if the shift lever position indicates the driving range 2, determining if the weight-slope resistance is greater than a threshold weight-slope resistance, measuring time duration during which the weight-slope resistance is maintained over the threshold value if the weight-slope resistance is greater than the threshold weight-slope resistance, determining if the time duration is longer than a threshold time, converting a present normal shift pattern into a trailer-towing shift pattern if the time duration is longer than a threshold time, and returning the trailer-towing shift pattern to the normal shift pattern if the weight-slope resistance becomes equal to or less than the threshold weight-slope resistance and this condition is maintained over a second threshold time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a starting gear step for a vehicle with a multi-speed stepped variable transmission, wherein the starting gear step is determined by an electronic control device which is dependent on the vehicle mass; and a second variable which depends on the vehicle state is determined from the vehicle mass, the current traction and the current vehicle acceleration resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A hill hold control apparatus of an automatic transmission having a plurality of drive gears mounted on an input shaft, a plurality of driven gears meshing with the respective drive gears and mounted on an output shaft and a bypass clutch for engaging the input shaft with the output shaft, includes a grade judging means for judging that the vehicle travels on a grade, a shift gear train detecting means for detecting a shift gear train of the automatic transmission, a foot brake operation detecting means for detecting an operation of a foot brake and a control means for engaging the bypass clutch when it is judged that the vehicle is in standstill and the shift gear train is a start gear train and the foot brake is inoperative based on respective signals of the grade, the shift gear train and the operation of the foot brake.

Abstract: A driving force control unit for a vehicle, which allows transmission of driving force from a driving motor to driving wheels irrespective of releasing an accelerator pedal at a certain or lower vehicle speed when a transmission is set in a driving range, and which switches the magnitude of the driving force while the accelerator pedal is released at vehicle speed no more than the certain vehicle speed between a greater condition and a smaller condition in accordance with depression of the brake pedal so that the driving force is made lower at a depression of the brake pedal than at a release of the brake pedal. In the driving force control unit, the driving force value in said greater condition upon switching from said smaller condition to said greater condition, at a release of the brake pedal during the time the vehicle stops, is increased or decreased according to an inclination angle of the vehicle at the time of stopping.