Patent ID: 7484816
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: B60T,B60W,F02N,F16H

Abstract:
1. A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a prime mover and wheel brakes which are equipped in a vehicle with an automatic transmission having a clutch, the vehicle control apparatus comprising: a prime mover stopping unit which stops and restarts the prime mover under predetermined conditions; said prime mover stopping unit being operable to automatically stop operation of the prime mover when the vehicle is fully stopped due to application of the wheel brakes; and a braking force retaining unit which retains braking force of each of the wheel brakes, wherein when the automatic transmission is set in a neutral range, the braking force retaining unit retains the braking force of the wheel brakes for a first predetermined time after an operation of a brake operation member is disengaged; and wherein said braking force retaining unit retains braking force to counteract any remaining torque of said clutch of the automatic transmission, so as to minimize dragging of the vehicle.