Patent ID: 7328095

Claim:
A lock-up clutch control device which controls a lock-up clutch provided in a torque converter which is mounted between an engine and a transmission provided in a vehicle, the lock-up clutch control device switching a state of the torque converter between a converter state and a lock-up state by controlling a differential pressure supplied to the lock-up clutch, the lock-up clutch control device comprising: a sensor for detecting a rise of a vehicle speed; a differential pressure generator which generates the differential pressure supplied to the lock-up clutch; and a controller programmed to: command the differential pressure generator to lock the lock-up clutch when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined low vehicle speed, after the vehicle is started; subsequently monitor the rise of the vehicle speed; and command the differential pressure generator to unlock the lock-up clutch when the monitored rise of the vehicle speed is lower than a preset value.