Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus selects one of a power-on control and a power-off control for execution of a shift-down action in a transmission of a vehicle, and implements the selected power-on or power-off control. When a running speed of the vehicle is not lower than a predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on a target input torque that is to be inputted to the transmission. When the vehicle running speed is lower than the predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on an actual input torque that is actually inputted to the transmission.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a step-variable transmission which is disposed between drive wheels and a drive power source including at least an engine, and which is shifted by changing operating states of coupling devices, the control apparatus including an engine stability time estimating portion configured to estimate a length of stability time required for stabilization of an output state of the engine, when a determination to implement a power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission is made, and a control portion configured to delay a moment of generation of a shift-down command to implement the power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission, with respect to a moment of the determination to implement the power-on shift-down action, where the estimated length of stability time is longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle driving control portion configured to permit reverse driving of the vehicle in a reverse direction while the automatic transmission is placed in a forward-drive low-speed gear position, with the motor/generator being operated in a negative direction to generate a negative torque, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, when switching from forward driving of the vehicle to its reverse driving of the vehicle is required in the process of a shifting action of the automatic transmission to the forward-drive low-speed gear position. The transmission shifting control portion implements the control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, according to a state of control of the engaging-side coupling device to be brought into its engaged state for establishing the forward-drive low-speed gear position.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a shifting delay control portion configured to delay a moment of generation of a shift-down command to implement a power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission, with respect to a moment of determination to implement the power-on shift-down action, for thereby reducing a shifting shock of the step-variable transmission in the process of the power-on shift-down action. The shifting delay control portion adjusts a delay time from the moment of determination to implement the power-on shift-down action to the moment of generation of the shift-down command, on the basis of at least one of an output state of the drive power source; an inertia power required in the process of the power-on shift-down action; a consumption power to be consumed by the coupling devices; and a state of a battery to and from which an electric power is respectively supplied from and to the motor/generator.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus selects one of a power-on control and a power-off control for execution of a shift-down action in a transmission of a vehicle, and implements the selected power-on or power-off control. When a running speed of the vehicle is not lower than a predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on a target input torque that is to be inputted to the transmission. When the vehicle running speed is lower than the predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on an actual input torque that is actually inputted to the transmission.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a shifting delay control portion configured to delay a moment of generation of a shift-down command to implement a power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission, with respect to a moment of determination to implement the power-on shift-down action, for thereby reducing a shifting shock of the step-variable transmission in the process of the power-on shift-down action. The shifting delay control portion adjusts a delay time from the moment of determination to implement the power-on shift-down action to the moment of generation of the shift-down command, on the basis of at least one of an output state of the drive power source; an inertia power required in the process of the power-on shift-down action; a consumption power to be consumed by the coupling devices; and a state of a battery to and from which an electric power is respectively supplied from and to the motor/generator.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle driving control portion configured to permit reverse driving of the vehicle in a reverse direction while the automatic transmission is placed in a forward-drive low-speed gear position, with the motor/generator being operated in a negative direction to generate a negative torque, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, when switching from forward driving of the vehicle to its reverse driving of the vehicle is required in the process of a shifting action of the automatic transmission to the forward-drive low-speed gear position. The transmission shifting control portion implements the control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, according to a state of control of the engaging-side coupling device to be brought into its engaged state for establishing the forward-drive low-speed gear position.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a step-variable transmission which is disposed between drive wheels and a drive power source including at least an engine, and which is shifted by changing operating states of coupling devices, the control apparatus including an engine stability time estimating portion configured to estimate a length of stability time required for stabilization of an output state of the engine, when a determination to implement a power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission is made, and a control portion configured to delay a moment of generation of a shift-down command to implement the power-on shift-down action of the step-variable transmission, with respect to a moment of the determination to implement the power-on shift-down action, where the estimated length of stability time is longer than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An object oil temperature is determined by adopting a gradual change process for an oil temperature of a cooling lubricant oil, which is used to lubricate and cool down a motor and a transmission constructed to cause an output power of the motor to be subjected to speed change and to be transmitted to a driveshaft. A load factor of the motor is subsequently set based on the set object oil temperature and a motor coil temperature. A motor torque command is set with the load factor, and the motor is then driven and controlled to ensure output of a torque equivalent to the set motor torque command. This arrangement drives and controls the motor with consideration of the oil temperature of the cooling lubricant oil and thus ensures more adequate actuation of the motor, compared with a conventional drive control without consideration of the oil temperature of the cooling lubricant oil.

Abstract: The controller includes motor control means for controlling the drive RPM of a motor generator to reach a specified RPM less than the idle RPM when the braking condition of a foot brake is detected by a brake-operating-state detecting means while a motor generator is being rotated at an idle RPM or more. This reduces uncomfortable shock which tends to occur because of a change in the rotation of the motor during braking as much as possible to improve drive feeling.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which an assist prime mover is connected through a transmission mechanism to an output member, to which a torque outputted by a main prime mover is transmitted, comprises gear shift controller for switching a shift control condition of said transmission in accordance with the action state of said main prime mover. A gear shift is inhibited in case a vehicle is run by an assist prime mover, and the gear shift is inhibited also in case the assist prime mover outputs a torque in connection with starting the main prime mover. A transmission is operated into a state just before starting the shifting operation in case the gear shift is inhibited in connection with starting the main prime mover.

Abstract: A vehicle and method of operating a vehicle including a motor that supplies a driving force to a wheel, a battery that supplies electric power to the motor and receives regenerative electric power from the motor and a controller that detects a state of the battery and sets, based on a detected state of the battery, a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value for a voltage value and an electric current value that is output from the battery to the motor, and a second upper limit value and second lower limit value for the voltage value and the electric current value that is input from the regenerative electric power to the battery.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including a motor, an engine, wherein the motor can be drivingly connected with the engine, a torque converter, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive torque, which is transmitted via the torque converter from the engine and the motor, to drive wheels, and a controller that controls a driving state of the motor, controls a driving state of the engine, and outputs a torque reduction command for controlling a drive torque of the motor in order to place the drive torque of the motor within a maximum input torque of the transmission mechanism, wherein the maximum input torque is calculated based on a torque ratio of the torque converter when the engine begins driving after the motor begins driving.

Abstract: A controller of a vehicle for igniting, i.e., starting-up an engine on the basis of a load condition. When a starting condition judging device judges that the vehicle is advanced, i.e., starts moving, during an idle stop, an engine water temperature detector and a lubricating oil temperature detector of a load condition detector detect, e.g., the water temperature of the engine and the temperature of lubricating oil of an automatic speed change gear as a load condition having an influence on the magnitude of the load torque given to a motor. When an ignition condition setting device sets an ignition condition for starting the engine on the basis of the load condition and an ignition condition judging device judges that the ignition condition occurs, an engine ignition device ignites the engine. Thus, when the load with respect to the motor is large, the engine is ignited from low speed rotation and electric power consumption is reduced.

Abstract: The controller includes motor control means for controlling the drive RPM of a motor generator to reach a specified RPM less than the idle RPM when the braking condition of a foot brake is detected by a brake-operating-state detecting means while a motor generator is being rotated at an idle RPM or more. This reduces uncomfortable shock which tends to occur because of a change in the rotation of the motor during braking as much as possible to improve drive feeling.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which an assist prime mover is connected through a transmission mechanism to an output member, to which a torque outputted by a main prime mover is transmitted, comprises gear shift controller for switching a shift control condition of said transmission in accordance with the action state of said main prime mover. A gear shift is inhibited in case a vehicle is run by an assist prime mover, and the gear shift is inhibited also in case the assist prime mover outputs a torque in connection with starting the main prime mover. A transmission is operated into a state just before starting the shifting operation in case the gear shift is inhibited in connection with starting the main prime mover.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle that judges whether the vehicle is running on a congested road based on an output from a sensor, causes a take-off from a first state where a gear ratio of an automatic transmission is large at a time of taking-off when running on a congested road, causes the take-off from a second state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is small at the time of taking-off when not running on the congested road and replenishes, by driving a motor/generator, a part of an under torque of the driving source created by taking-off from a state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is large, when a temporary high acceleration take-off request is made while a judgment of congested road running is maintained.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including a motor, an engine, wherein the motor can be drivingly connected with the engine, a torque converter, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive torque, which is transmitted via the torque converter from the engine and the motor, to drive wheels, and a controller that controls a driving state of the motor, controls a driving state of the engine, and outputs a torque reduction command for controlling a drive torque of the motor in order to place the drive torque of the motor within a maximum input torque of the transmission mechanism, wherein the maximum input torque is calculated based on a torque ratio of the torque converter when the engine begins driving after the motor begins driving.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle accurately determines the start (i.e. ignition) of an internal combustion engine and suppresses the peak PK in the actual rotational speed. The hybrid vehicle is provided with a motor control unit for, at the time of starting the internal combustion engine, driving the motor to rotate at a target motor rotational speed and with a vehicle control unit for, when the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine has reached a predetermined value, outputting an ignition command to start the internal combustion engine. After the ignition command is output to the internal combustion engine, the vehicle control unit calculates the difference between the target rotational speed of the motor and the actual rotational speed of the motor, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined value, determines that the ignition of the internal combustion engine has been effected. In this manner, the start of the internal combustion engine can be accurately detected.

Abstract: A controller of a vehicle for igniting, i.e., starting-up an engine on the basis of a load condition. When a starting condition judging device judges that the vehicle is advanced, i.e., starts moving, during an idle stop, an engine water temperature detector and a lubricating oil temperature detector of a load condition detector detect, e.g., the water temperature of the engine and the temperature of lubricating oil of an automatic speed change gear as a load condition having an influence on the magnitude of the load torque given to a motor. When an ignition condition setting device sets an ignition condition for starting the engine on the basis of the load condition and an ignition condition judging device judges that the ignition condition occurs, an engine ignition device ignites the engine. Thus, when the load with respect to the motor is large, the engine is ignited from low speed rotation and electric power consumption is reduced.