Method and device for controlling automatic transmission between two speed change patterns

Claim 1

An automatic transmission for a vehicle driven by an engine, comprising: a gear mechanism; friction engaging means; and a control system for controlling engagement and disengagement of said friction engaging means; said gear mechanism providing a plurality of speed stages, including a first, a second next to said first and a third next to said second speed stages, according to selective engagement and disengagement of said friction engaging means; and said control system controlling said friction engaging means so as to shift said gear mechanism between said first and second speed stages and between said second and third speed stages according to a first shift pattern of coordination between load on the engine and road speed of the vehicle, and to shift said gear mechanism between said first and third speed stages while skipping said second speed stage according to a second shift pattern of coordination between load on the engine and road speed of the vehicle, wherein a shift line bordering said first speed stage from said second speed stage for upshifting in said first shift pattern is located on a lower vehicle road speed side than a shift line bordering said first speed stage from said third speed stage for upshifting in said second shift pattern.