초록 ▼

A method for shifting an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle to a “neutral” position such that the shift position of the transmission and a parking lock, provided for keeping the motor vehicle stationary, are engaged as a function of a shift position selected with a driver oper

A method for shifting an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle to a “neutral” position such that the shift position of the transmission and a parking lock, provided for keeping the motor vehicle stationary, are engaged as a function of a shift position selected with a driver operated selector device and as a function of other operating parameters of the motor vehicle. A holding phase, in which the transmission is in the neutral position, free from friction force locking, can be activated by a separate operating device which is provided, in addition to the selector device, but only when the motor vehicle is simultaneously at least approximately stationary, an ignition current circuit that acts on a drive engine of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted, and the “neutral” (N) shift position is specified by a selector device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of shifting either an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle to a neutral position such that a shift position of the transmission and a parking lock, which restrains movement of the motor vehicle, are engaged as a function of a shift position (P, R, N, D) of a selector

1. A method of shifting either an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle to a neutral position such that a shift position of the transmission and a parking lock, which restrains movement of the motor vehicle, are engaged as a function of a shift position (P, R, N, D) of a selector device operated by a driver of the motor vehicle and as a function of other operating parameters of the motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: activating a holding phase, in which the transmission is in a neutral position free from friction force locking, by a separate operating device which is provided in addition to the selector device only when, substantially simultaneously, each of:the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary;an ignition current that functions on a drive engine of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted; andthe selector device is shifted to a “neutral” shift position (N). 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating, with a control unit of the separate operating device of the motor vehicle, at least one of: when the holding phase is activated, engagement of the neutral position in the transmission; andwhen the holding phase is deactivated, engagement of the parking lock in the transmission; andwhen the holding phase is deactivated, engagement of a vehicle parking brake. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of only activating the holding phase when the motor vehicle is in an at least approximately horizontal position. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of only activating the holding phase if an ignition key either has not been removed from an associated one of a mechanical or an electro-mechanical ignition lock or is not outside a defined zone around an electronic ignition lock of the motor vehicle which is associated with the ignition key. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of only activating the holding phase when the method determines that either the driver wishes to leave or is leaving the motor vehicle. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of only activating the holding phase if a measured current speed of the motor vehicle is lower than a predefined low threshold value. 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of manually deactivating a previously activated holding phase, via the separate operating device employed by the driver for such purpose. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when a previously activated holding phase is terminated manually by the driver, particularly if the driver is not in the motor vehicle, automatically engaging at least one of the parking lock and a parking brake of the vehicle regardless of the shift position of the selector device. 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when a previously activated holding phase is terminated manually, engaging the shift position of the transmission that is selected with the selector device such engagement is possible by virtue of a motor vehicle system. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically deactivating a previously activated holding phase. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of automatically deactivating a previously activated holding phase, if an ignition key is either removed from an associated one of a mechanical or an electro-mechanical ignition lock or is outside a defined zone around an electronic ignition lock that is associated with the ignition key. 12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, when a current speed of the motor vehicle is higher than a predefined threshold value, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of, when activating the holding phase, defining the predefined speed threshold as being higher than a low speed threshold value that must not be exceeded. 14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, if the motor vehicle is not in an at least approximately horizontal position, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, if the method detects that the driver either wishes to leave or has left the motor vehicle, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, when a predefined time interval has lapsed, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, if at least one of a current charge condition and a current electrical voltage of an electrical energy source of the motor vehicle, which is provided for at least one of supplying a control unit of the transmission and starting the engine, falls to a value below a predefined discharge threshold, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, if an amount of energy drawn, for the method, from an electrical energy source of the motor vehicle which is provided for at least one of supplying a transmission control unit and for starting the engine, has either reached or exceeded a predefined threshold value, automatically deactivating the previously activated holding phase. 19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of determining the amount of energy drawn by a mathematical integration of either an actual current uptake of the control unit over time or a product of an actual operating voltage and the actual current uptake of the control unit over time. 20. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, when the previously activated holding phase is automatically deactivated, automatically engaging at least one of the parking lock and a parking brake of the vehicle regardless of the selected shift position of the selector device. 21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of actuating at least one other aggregate of the motor vehicle by the separate operating device provided for activating the holding phase. 22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of issuing a command signal, substantially simultaneously with the activation of the holding phase, to close at least one of: an electrically actuated sliding roof;an electrically driven or an electro-hydraulically actuated folding or tilting cover; andelectrically actuated windows of the motor vehicle. 23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of at least one of activating and deactivating the holding phase by manual operation of a switch by the driver. 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of, if an ignition current circuit is electrically interrupted by an ignition lock, with the switch for at least one of activating and deactivating the holding phase being integrated in the ignition lock, activating the holding phase. 25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of at least one of activating and deactivating the holding phase by operating a remote-controlled switch from outside the motor vehicle. 26. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of at least one of activating and deactivating the holding phase by a sensor that evaluates signals from a surrounding of the motor vehicle. 27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of when the holding phase one of is and has been activated, at the same time an ignition lock block (key lock) one of is and has been activated, which prevents the mechanical ignition key from being removed from its mechanical or electro-mechanical ignition lock, or the electronic ignition key (ID card) from being taken too far away from its electronic ignition lock. 28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, when the holding phase either has been or is activated, at least one of triggering and emitting at least one of an acoustic and a visual indication. 29. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of when at least one of: a driver door of the motor vehicle is open;a driver seat belt is disengaged; anda driver seat occupation sensor indicates that the driver seat is unoccupieddetermining that the driver either wishes to leave or is leaving the motor vehicle. 30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating, with a transmission control unit, at least one of: when the holding phase is activated, engaging the neutral position in the transmission;when the holding phase is deactivated, engaging the parking lock in the transmission; andwhen the holding phase is deactivated, activating a vehicle parking brake. 31. A motor vehicle with either an automatic or an automated transmission, the vehicle comprising: a selector device that is driver operated to specify a shift position (P, R, N, D) of the transmission;at least one of a parking lock in the transmission and a parking brake in the vehicle;a control unit for controlling the transmission and the parking brake as a function of a shift position (P, R, N, D) of the selector device and as a function of other operating parameters of the motor vehicle;an additional separate operating device for activating a holding phase in which the transmission is shifted to a neutral shift position, free from friction force locking, and the method comprising the steps of:activating the holding phase, in which the transmission is in a neutral position, free from friction force locking, by the separate operating device which is provided in addition to the selector device only when, substantially simultaneously, each of:the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary;an ignition current that functions on a drive engine of the motor vehicle is electrically interrupted; andthe selector device is shifted to a “neutral” shift position (N). 32. The motor vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the separate operating device for activating and deactivating the holding phase is a switch that can be operated by the driver. 33. The motor vehicle according to claim 32, wherein the switch for activating and deactivating the holding phase is integrated in the ignition lock. 34. The motor vehicle according to claim 32, wherein the switch is one of formed as part of and integrated in the selector device. 35. The motor vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the separate operating device, for activating and deactivating the holding phase, is a remotely operated switch which can be actuated from outside the motor vehicle. 36. The motor vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the separate operating device, for activating and deactivating the holding phase, is a sensor which evaluates signals from a surrounding of the motor vehicle.