Patent ID: 7530923

Claim:
A shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission having an automatic shift mode for performing a shift operation by using a first shift characteristic such that a gear position or gear ratio to be set is set according to a vehicle running condition and a manual shift mode for performing a shift operation instructed by a manual operation by an operator, said shift control apparatus comprising: shift characteristic changing means for changing said first shift characteristic to a second shift characteristic such that a region for outputting an upshift signal is displaced toward higher vehicle speeds after performing a downshift operation by the manual operation by the operator; delaying means for delaying the output of said upshift signal by a predetermined time period according to the vehicle running condition when the vehicle running condition becomes a condition where said upshift signal is to be output according to said second shift characteristic; and upshift allowing means for once allowing the output of said upshift signal when the above condition where said upshift signal is to be output according to said second shift characteristic continues after the elapse of said predetermined time period determined by said delaying means.