VEHICLE TRANSMISSION INPUT DEVICE AND VEHICLE SPEED CHANGE METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for changing over the speed change mode of a vehicle in accordance with the intent of a driver while securing the operability of a steering wheel, the means being used for setting others than speed change function. SOLUTION: When a control mode (the speed change mode) is an automatic speed change mode and when one of four switches is operated (S201), a manual mode is set. When upper and lower switches on either the right or left side of the four switches are depressed at the same time (S202), the automatic speed change mode is reset from the manual mode. When the control mode is the automatic speed change mode and when the upper and lower switches on either the right or left side are depressed at the same time (S203), a controlled object change mode is set or the automatic speed change mode remains set, depending on whether the vehicle is being parked or not. Besides, when the control mode is the controlled object change mode and when the four switches are all depressed at the same time (S204), the automatic speed change mode is reset. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI