Control apparatus for automatic transmission detects driver's intention to shift

摘要

The apparatus computes the need for a down-shift by comparing a computed drive force with a computed value for running resistances, but only allows the down-shift if it is detected that the driver intend to shift, particularly signified by an engine load as indicted by throttle valve movement being more than a threshold value. A down-shift command is particularly only output when a summed value of a maximum drive force and a further threshold is smaller than the running resistance. The further threshold may be set in dependence on vehicle speed, incline resistance and a speed change step.