Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle, including: first means for detecting operating conditions of the vehicle including an engine load and a vehicle speed; second means for obtaining an index indicative of a running resistance of the vehicle based on the detected operating conditions; third means for comparing the index with a reference value to determine if the vehicle is hill climbing or hill descending; and control means for changing a gear shifting characteristic adapted to hill climbing or hill descending in response to the determination to carry out a gear shifting control for hill climbing or hill descending in accordance with the changed gear shifting characteristic; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: said control means discontinues carrying out the gear shifting control for hill climbing or hill descending when the vehicle operation is in a specific condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said condition is a condition in which the engine load changes abruptly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said specific condition is a condition in which a braking is in progress.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
30 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the braking is determined to be in progress for a predetermined period after a brake pedal was released.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
26 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said specific condition is a condition in which a gear shifting is in progress.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
50 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein said control means continues the gear shifting control for hill climbing or hill descending if a gear is to be upshifted at a vehicle speed less than a predetermined speed even when a gear shifting is in progress.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
41 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein an apparatus to be driven by the vehicle engine is equipped with, and said specific condition is a condition in which the apparatus is driven by the vehicle engine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
34 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein a traction control system is equipped with, and said specific condition is a condition in which the traction control is in operation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
45 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein said automatic transmission includes a plurality of range gear positions manually switched by a driver, and said specific condition is a condition in which the range gear is being switched between the positions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
37 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein said specific condition is a condition in which the engine load increases beyond a predetermined load when the vehicle is determined to be hill descending.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
A system according to any of preceding claims 1 to 10, wherein said control means determines a gear shifting in accordance with a characteristic which has its upshifting point at a position set relatively high with respect to the vehicle speed when the vehicle is determined to be hill descending, and when the engine load increases beyond the predetermined load, said control means forcibly changes the characteristic to a characteristic which has its upshifting point at a position set relatively less high with respect to the vehicle speed.