Patent ID: 7396317
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: B60W,F16H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising a drivetrain, having an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) and a gearbox ( 9 ) coupled to the internal combustion engine, and a control unit ( 45 ) for automatic gear selection as a function of the current rotational speed of an input shaft to the gearbox ( 9 ), in which the control unit ( 45 ) has a first operating mode ( 56 ) with a first working speed range ( 81 ) defined by a first lower limit ( 68 ) for downshifting to a gear with a higher transmission ratio, wherein the control unit ( 45 ) has a second operating mode ( 57 ) with a second working speed range ( 70 ) defined by a second lower limit ( 69 ) for downshifting to a gear with a higher transmission ratio, in which the second limit ( 69 ) is lower than the idling speed ( 80 ) of the internal combustion engine and is equal to a lower rotational speed than the first lower limit ( 68 ), wherein the control unit ( 45 ) comprises a memory unit ( 72 ) in which a representation ( 74 ) of a highest permitted gear in the second working speed range ( 70 ) is stored, wherein the representation ( 74 ) of the highest permitted gear comprises a representation ( 74 ) defining the highest permitted gear when driving at idling speed as a function of the current weight of the vehicle and the current gradient of the road on which the vehicle is being driven.