Method and apparatus for entering neutral idle from a forward drive mode

A transmission for a vehicle having a torque converter, the transmission comprising:

• a plurality of clutches that are selectively engageable, alone or in combination with each other, to establish a plurality of forward drive modes, including first gear and second gear, wherein one of the clutches is also configured as a neutral idle (NI) clutch that is selectively actuated to cause the transmission to directly enter an NI state while in one of the plurality of forward drive modes;
• and
• a controller adapted to determine when torque multiplication via the torque converter will occur, and to transition the transmission into the NI state during a coast-down maneuver from first gear or second gear prior to the transmission reaching a zero output speed and before the torque multiplication occurs, wherein the controller is configured to selectively reduce hydraulic pressure to the designated NI clutch as part of the transition into the NI state;
• wherein the transmission is configured as one of a 6-speed transmission and an 8-speed transmission.

A method for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having a torque converter into a neutral idle (NI) state, the transmission having a plurality of clutches that are selectively engageable, alone or in combination with each other, to establish a plurality of forward drive modes, the method comprising:

• determining when torque multiplication via the torque converter will occur;
• determining the presence of a predetermined one of the forward drive modes using a controller;
• and
• actuating a designated one of the clutches as an NI clutch using the controller to thereby directly enter the NI state from the predetermined forward drive mode, including reducing hydraulic pressure to the designated NI clutch;
• wherein entry into the NI state occurs during a coast-down maneuver of the vehicle prior to the transmission reaching a zero output speed and before the torque multiplication occurs.