Gear shift indication device

摘要

In a hybrid vehicle provided with a continuously variable electric transmission mechanism capable of sequential shift mode, a minimum engine rotational speed is specified for each gear specified in the sequential shift mode so that the lower the gear, the greater the minimum engine rotational speed. When the engine rotational speed has decreased to the minimum rotational speed while driving in the sequential shift mode, an upshift lamp of a gear shift indication device is turned on to prompt the driver to manually shift to a higher gear. As the driver shifts to a higher gear in response to the prompt, the minimum engine rotational speed is specified to a lower value. That allows for further decrease of the engine rotational speed and improves fuel consumption rate.

主权项

1. A gear shift indication device for use in a vehicle having a driving force transfer system capable of transferring a driving force from a driving force source to drive wheels and capable of manual gear selection, the driving force source having a minimum rotational speed specified for each gear, and the vehicle being driven by a driver, the gear shift indication device comprising:
an electronic control unit configured to:
prompt the driver to shift gears;determine if the driving force has a rotational speed decreasing below a current minimum rotational speed; andprompt the driver to shift to a gear that allows for a minimum rotational speed lower than the current minimum rotational speed in response to the rotational speed of the driving force being determined as decreasing below the current minimum rotational speed.