Control of an automatic transmission by the evaluation of the speed of activation of the gear stage range

Abstract

A procedure for controlling an automatic transmission. Via a gear range shifter, a change of gear range both between the forward travel gear range and the reverse travel gear range as well as also between a fast gear mode and a creeper gear mode can be carried out. A control apparatus selects a transmission gear to be engaged, with consideration given to data, which has been input by an operator with the aid of a gear range shifter for the manual choice of a driving gear area. The gear range shifter possesses a D-shifting position for selecting a forward travel gear range, an N-position for the selection of an idle running position of the automatic transmission and an R-position for the selection of a reverse travel gear range, and that the automatic transmission can be driven in a fast gear mode as well as in a creeper gear mode.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A method for controlling an automatic transmission, the method comprising the steps of; selecting with a control apparatus, one transmission gear to be engaged, from a plurality of transmission gear stages, giving consideration to data, which is input from an operator with aid of a gear range shifter for a manual choice of a gear range, the gear range shifter possessing at least a D-shift position for a choice of a forward gear range, an N-position for selecting an idle position of the automatic transmission and an R-shift position for a choice of a reverse direction gear area, and the automatic transmission can be driven in a fast gear mode as well as in a creeper gear mode, the control apparatus contributing to evaluation of an adjustment speed of the gear range shifter to determine as to whether one of a creeper gear mode or a fast gear mode should be activated.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus, in a creeper gear mode, by an adjustment of the gear range shifter from the N-position into one of the D-position or into the R-position, if the adjusting speed of the gear range shifter is less than a first limiting value and shifts, in a fast gear mode, if the adjusting speed is at a value greater than a limiting value.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus, in a creeper gear mode, by an adjustment of the gear range shifter from the N-position into one of the D-position or into the R-position, if the adjusting speed of the gear range shifter is greater than a first limiting value and shifts, in a fast gear mode, if the adjusting speed is less than a limiting value.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus shifts by an adjustment of the gear range shifter from one of the R-position into the D-position or by an adjustment from the D-position into the R-position, therewith retaining the prior engaged mode, if the speed of adjustment lies greater than a second limiting value and changes into the respective other mode, if the adjustment speed is less than the second limiting value.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus by an adjustment of one of the gear range shifter from the R-position into the D-position or by an adjustment from the D-position into the R-position, therewith retaining the prior engaged mode, if the speed of adjustment is less than a second limiting value and changes into the respective other mode if the adjustment speed is in excess of the second limiting value.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus by an adjustment of one of the gear range shifter from the R-position into the D-position or by an adjustment from the D-position into the R-position and engages the creeper gear mode, if the adjustment speed is less than the a third limiting value and the fast gear mode is engaged if the adjusting speed is in excess of the third limiting value.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus by an adjustment of one of the gear range shifter from the R-position into the D-position or by an adjustment from the D-position into the R-position and engages the creeper gear mode, if the adjustment speed is in excess of a third limiting value and engages the fast gear mode, if the adjustment speed is less than a third limiting value.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus by an adjustment of one of the gear range shifter from the R-position or the D-position into the N-position and places a retention of the gear range shifter in the N-position in the creeper gear mode for a time interval in excess of a fourth limiting value.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of shifting the automatic transmission with the control apparatus by an adjustment of the gear range shifter from one of the R-position or the D-position into the N-position and places a retention of the gear range shifter in the fast gear mode in the N-position for a time interval greater than a fourth limiting value.  
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of declaring one or more of the respectively active mode and the change of the mode to the driver by one of acoustically, optically and by sense of touch.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission, according to a method comprising the steps of selecting with a control apparatus, one transmission gear to be engaged, from a plurality of transmission gear stages, giving consideration to data, which is input from an operator with aid of a gear range shifter for a manual choice of a gear range, the gear range shifter possessing at least a D-shift position for a choice of a forward gear range, an N-position for selecting an idle position of the automatic transmission and an R-shift position for a choice of a reverse direction gear area, and the automatic transmission can be driven in a fast gear mode as well as in a creeper gear mode, the control apparatus contributing to evaluation of an adjustment speed of the gear range shifter to determine as to whether one of a creeper gear mode or a fast gear mode should be activated, the gear range shifter is a rotary shifter with exactly three shifting positions.