Patent ID: 7674203

Claim:
A method of operating a drivetrain for a motor vehicle comprising at least an automatic transmission and a drive motor, the method improving a shift speed of at least one of successive upshifts and successive downshifts in an overlapped manner such that during a first upshift or a first downshift at least one shift element required for a successive upshift or a successive downshift is prepared during the first upshift or the first downshift such that when a synchronization point of the first upshift or the first downshift is reached, the successive upshift or the successive downshift can be immediately carded out, the method comprising the steps of: carrying out one of two successive upshifts or two successive downshifts as overlapping single shifts by actuating three shift elements in such manner that: a) during implementation of the first upshift or the first downshift a first shift element is disengaged, in accordance with a first alternative, or the first shift element is engaged, in accordance with a second alternative, and a second shift element is engaged, in accordance with the first alternative, or the second shift element is disengaged, in accordance with the second alternative; b) during implementation of the first upshift or the first downshift, for the successive upshift or the successive downshift, the second shift element is prepared for disengagement, in accordance with the first alternative, or the second shift element is prepared for engagement, in accordance with the second alternative, and a third shift element is prepared for engagement, in accordance with the first alternative, or the third shift element is prepared for disengagement in accordance with the second alternative; and c) actuating the second shift element, upon transiting from the first upshift or the first downshift to the successive upshift or the successive downshift, by a minimum selection, according to the first alternative, or by a maximum selection, according to the second alternative.