Patent ID: 8062177
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting a neutral position of one of an automatic or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle and selecting a motor vehicle parking device provided for immobilizing the motor vehicle, the neutral position and the parking device being one of set or actuated depending on a gear (P, R, N, D) selected with a selector device by a driver of the motor vehicle and other operating parameters of the motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: immobilizing and retaining the vehicle immobilized by actuating the parking device IF simultaneously the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary AND an ignition circuit, which operates a drive motor of the motor vehicle, is electrically interrupted AND a “Park” (P) gear is selected with the selector device; automatically immobilizing the vehicle by actuating the parking device IF simultaneously the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary AND the ignition circuit, which operates the drive motor of the motor vehicle, is electrically interrupted AND one of a “Drive” (D) gear or a “Reverse” (R) gear is selected with the selector device; automatically shifting and temporarily retaining the transmission in the neutral position, free of frictional connection, IF simultaneously the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary AND the ignition circuit, which operates the drive motor of the motor vehicle, is electrically interrupted AND a “Neutral” (N) gear is selected with the selector device AND an Neutral-holding phase is simultaneously activated by a separate control device, provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows activation of the Neutral-holding phase; and automatically retaining the transmission in the neutral position free of any frictional connection, until it is detected that the driver one of wants to leave or is leaving the vehicle, upon which the parking device is automatically actuated to immobilize the motor vehicle IF simultaneously the motor vehicle is at least approximately stationary AND the ignition circuit, which operates the drive motor of the motor vehicle, is electrically interrupted AND the “Neutral” (N) gear is selected with the selector device AND the Neutral-holding phase is not activated.