Patent ID: 7426881

Claim:
An operating position select device for an automatic transmission whose operation modes are shiftable, the operating position select device comprising: a select lever unit having a select lever that is operated by a driver between a plurality of select positions corresponding to the operation modes; an operating position sensor that detects an operating position of said select lever and outputs an operating position signal; a mode shift unit mounted on the automatic transmission to shift operation modes of the automatic transmission; a mechanically connecting means that mechanically connects said select lever and said mode shift unit with each other; an assist actuator that is arranged between said select lever and said mode shift unit and supplies assist force to said shift lever; an operating force sensor that detects operating force acting on said select lever; and a control unit that controls said assist actuator based on at least the operating position signal, said control unit having an improper halt detecting part that detects the improper halt of said select lever between the select positions and an improper halt preventing part that prevents said select lever from being kept halted improperly between the select positions and provides said select lever with adjustment force so that said select lever moves to one of the select positions when the improper halt of said select lever is detected during select operation.