There is proposed a gearshift control device which can reduce a transmission load due to preshift, and improve fuel efficiency of a vehicle. A gearshift control device which controls a transmission 50 including two systems of power transmission mechanisms, and preshifts the transmission 50 based on a traveling plan during automatic driving of a vehicle. The gearshift control device makes automatic driving preshift execution decision of planning control contents of the transmission 50 based on the traveling plan, and preshift execution decision of deciding whether or not to preshift the transmission based on a control plan of the transmission 50.

Apparatus for a vehicle is provided such that the throttle pedal can act as a virtual footrest. The apparatus comprises a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver and a restriction mechanism adapted to restrict the displacement of the pedal. The apparatus also comprises a visual sign which enters a first illuminated state in response to activation of the footrest mode. The visual sign remains in the first illuminated state whilst the restriction mechanism retains the pedal in the footrest position, and is extinguished when footrest mode or cruise control is cancelled. The visual sign enters a second illuminated state when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than a first threshold value, so as to push the pedal past through the footrest position whilst in the footrest mode.

A method of operating an electric or a fuel cell motor vehicle. The vehicle has an electric machine which can operate as motor or generator and serves as a drive assembly. The electric machine is connected, via an AC/DC converter, to a high-voltage distributor. A high-voltage battery, high-voltage loads, and, via a high-voltage low voltage DC/DC converter, low-voltage loads are connected to the distributor. When the electric machine is operated as a generator in an overrun operation of the vehicle, the electric energy generated by the electric machine is calculated. The high-voltage battery, the high-voltage loads, and possibly the low-voltage loads, are operated, depending on driver and/or non-driver settings, such that the energy produced by electric machine is distributed between the high voltage battery, the high-voltage loads, and, if necessary, the low-voltage loads so as to minimize a difference between the energy produced and consumed by the electric machine.

A method for controlling a transmission provided in a vehicle may include providing a reference data for automatic shift of the transmission according to a speed reference of the vehicle, collecting a detected data delivered from at least one detector or operation state information related to an in-vehicle device, wherein the at least one detector and the in-vehicle device is attached or mounted on the vehicle configured for recognizing a driving condition, determining a mode for the automatic shift based at least on the detected data or the operating state information, and performing the automatic shift according to the mode.

Apparatus for a vehicle is provided such that the throttle pedal can act as a virtual footrest. The apparatus comprises a pedal adapted to be depressed by a driver and a restriction mechanism adapted to restrict the displacement of the pedal. The apparatus also comprises a visual sign which enters a first illuminated state in response to activation of the footrest mode. The visual sign remains in the first illuminated state whilst the restriction mechanism retains the pedal in the footrest position, and is extinguished when footrest mode or cruise control is cancelled. The visual sign enters a second illuminated state when the pedal is subjected to a force greater than a first threshold value, so as to push the pedal past through the footrest position whilst in the footrest mode.

A control method for a power train system that includes a clutch position sensor, a processor, and a manual transmission includes converting a gear stage selected by a shift lever of the manual transmission to a control shift range of an automatic transmission, sending specific information that enables identification of the converted control shift range to the control device configured to control motion of a vehicle in cooperation with the power train system, and holding, when operation of a clutch is detected by the clutch position sensor configured to detect operation of the clutch, specific information that enables identification of the control shift range at a time at which operation of the clutch is started, as the specific information to be sent to the control device.

A vehicle driving force control device controls a driving force of an engine in accordance with an operation of a handlebar grip attached to a motorcycle. The handlebar grip is nonrotatably secured to a handlebar of the motorcycle. The vehicle driving force control device includes a strain gauge and a control section. The strain gauge acts as twisting force detection means for detecting a twisting force that is oriented in a normal rotation direction or in a reverse rotation direction and applied to the handlebar grip. The control section controls the driving force in accordance with the detected twisting force. The control section exercises control to increase the driving force in accordance with the twisting force oriented in the normal rotation direction.

A vehicle display control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The vehicle display control device is configured such that the processor controls a vehicle display device for displaying an image on a display region so as to be superimposed on a portion of a view ahead of a vehicle. The processor is configured so as to detect a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side of a host vehicle, and in cases in which the preceding vehicle has been detected, causes an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side to be displayed in the display region, and causes sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side.

A method for controlling a transmission provided in a vehicle may include providing a reference data for automatic shift of the transmission according to a speed reference of the vehicle, collecting a detected data delivered from at least one detector or operation state information related to an in-vehicle device, wherein the at least one detector and the in-vehicle device is attached or mounted on the vehicle configured for recognizing a driving condition, determining a mode for the automatic shift based at least on the detected data or the operating state information, and performing the automatic shift according to the mode.

A vehicle driving force control device controls a driving force of an engine in accordance with an operation of a handlebar grip attached to a motorcycle. The handlebar grip is nonrotatably secured to a handlebar of the motorcycle. The vehicle driving force control device includes a strain gauge and a control section. The strain gauge acts as twisting force detection means for detecting a twisting force that is oriented in a normal rotation direction or in a reverse rotation direction and applied to the handlebar grip. The control section controls the driving force in accordance with the detected twisting force. The control section exercises control to increase the driving force in accordance with the twisting force oriented in the normal rotation direction.