Abstract: A front and rear wheel drive vehicle having a front wheel pair and a rear wheel pair, one of which is driven with an engine and the other one of which is driven with a motor. The vehicle includes an engine driving force setting section which sets a target driving force of the engine based on driving conditions of the vehicle, a motor driving force setting section which sets a target driving force of the motor based on driving conditions of the vehicle and a control section of the motor in accordance with changes of the target engine driving force and the target motor driving force.

Abstract: A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels. The drive force distribution apparatus includes a first clutch, a second clutch, and a battery. The apparatus further includes a first unit for deciding the distribution between a drive for driving the first drive wheels and a drive force for driving the second drive wheels, a second unit for deciding the distribution between a drive force for driving one of the second drive wheels and a drive force for driving the other of the second drive wheels according to a detected vehicle speed, steering angle, and yaw rate, and a clutch control unit for controlling a degree of engagement of each of the first and second clutches according to the distribution decided by the second unit.

Abstract: An engine stop and start control system for securing a normal line pressure in a hydraulic circuit of the transmission. The system has an engine as a power source for driving the vehicle; a transmission; a mechanical oil pump, operated by the power produced by the engine, for supplying oil pressure to the transmission; an automatic engine stopping and starting section for automatically stopping the engine under predetermined stopping conditions and automatically starting the engine under predetermined starting conditions; and an electric oil pump operated when the predetermined stopping conditions are satisfied, so as to supply the oil pressure to the transmission. The automatic engine stopping and starting section has a control section for prohibiting the automatic engine stop when the line pressure in a hydraulic circuit for supplying oil pressure to the transmission is equal to or lower than a predetermined value while the engine is operated.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, power is transmitted via a torque converter provided with a lock-up clutch, and a force input through wheels during deceleration is transmitted to the motor via the torque converter so that a regenerative operation may be carried out by the motor to convert deceleration energy into regenerative energy. The hybrid vehicle includes a throttle opening degree detection unit which detects an opening degree of the throttle; a lock-up clutch engaging state determination unit which determines an engaged state of the lock-up clutch; and a lock-up clutch engagement control unit which controls an engagement of the lock-up clutch. The lock-up clutch engagement control unit, if the throttle opening degree detection unit detects a completely closed state of the throttle, controls the lock-up clutch so as to be engaged regardless of an engaged state of the lock-up clutch determined by the lock-up clutch engaging state determination unit.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle controls a motor-driven pump at an appropriate timing when an internal combustion engine is stopped or starts. An ECU of the control device comprises an operation determination section which determines whether or not the motor-driven pump is operated depending on the value of an idling stop flag that makes the internal combustion engine stop, depending on a measured value output from an oil pressure sensor for measuring oil pressure in oil lines providing operation oil to a torque converter and a transmission, and depending on a measured value output from an oil temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the operation oil; and a target electrical current calculation section for calculating a target value of electrical current to be supplied during the operation of the motor-driven oil pump depending on the determination result by the operation determination section.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle is described which enables preventing a decrease in the efficiency of regeneration even when the revolution rate of an internal combustion engine is decreased during deceleration of the vehicle. The control device for a hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine and a motor connected in series with respect to each other, a torque converter which is connected to the rotational axis of the motor and which is provided with a lockup clutch, a transmission, a mechanical oil pump producing oil pressure for controllably operating the torque converter and the transmission, a motor-driven oil pump producing oil pressure for controllably operating the lockup clutch, and an ECU. The ECU operates the motor-driven oil pump depending on the deceleration state of the vehicle, and sets the lockup clutch in an engaged state. A method for operating the concerned control device is also described.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle prevents a decrease in the total amount of regenerated energy in the entire vehicle while ensuring the stability of the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates. When the vehicle decelerates and regenerated energy is recovered by the regeneration operation of front motor and rear motor, the ECU sets the amount of regeneration, which is transferred from front wheels to rear wheels, depending on the steered angle of the front wheels and on the deceleration state of the vehicle. In addition, the ECU subtracts the amount of regeneration to be transferred from regeneration torque command value for rear wheels demanding from the rear motor, and adds the same amount of regeneration to regeneration torque command value for front wheels demanding from the front motor.

Abstract: A driving force control system for a front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle, which is capable of charging a battery based on a traveling condition of the vehicle. The front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle is driven while switching between a drive mode for driving front wheels by an engine and driving rear wheels by a motor, and a recharge mode for recovering running energy of the vehicle and charging the battery with the recovered running energy. Parameters (accelerator pedal opening &THgr;AP and a vehicle speed Vcar, or drive wheel speeds of the respective front and rear wheels) indicative of a driving condition of the vehicle are detected. A traveling condition of the vehicle is determined based on the parameters. It is determined, based on the traveling condition of the vehicle and the state of charge of the driving energy in the drive source, whether charging of the battery is to be executed.

Abstract: There is provided a driving force control system for a front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle, which is capable maintaining an optimum slip condition of the drive wheels even on a low-friction road surface, ensuring a proper grip of rear wheels even on a low-friction road surface or a downhill slope, even when the driver operates the steering wheel while the vehicle is performing decelerating travel on such a road, and smoothly performing the assistance of an electric motor when the vehicle is accelerated without developing a torque step, thereby ensuring stable traveling and excellent acceleration and drivability. The front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle drives the front wheels by an engine, and rear wheels by an electric motor via an electromagnetic clutch. The target driving force for driving the vehicle is calculated based on at least a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening. The present traveling condition of the vehicle is determined.

Abstract: A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels. The drive force distribution apparatus includes a first clutch interposed between the electric motor and one of the second drive wheels, a second clutch interposed between the electric motor and the other of the second drive wheels, and a battery for supplying electric energy to the electric motor and storing electric energy regenerated by the electric motor.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle is provided in which the main driven wheels are driven by an engine via a torque converter and the auxiliary driven wheels are driven by an electric motor. The response of the vehicle to the operation of the accelerator is improved by suppressing in advance the slip of the main driven wheels due to an excess output of the engine. The main driven wheels are driven by an engine via a torque converter and auxiliary driven wheels are driven by an electric motor. The vehicle is started by the output of the electric motor in the region in which the speed ratio of the torque converter is small (that is to say, the region in which the efficiency is low) such as when the vehicle is starting, and when it enters the region in which the speed ratio of the torque converter exceeds 0.8 and the efficiency exceeds 85% the drive of the electric motor is stopped or suspended and the vehicle is made to travel by means of the output of the engine.

Abstract: A front and rear wheel drive vehicle 1 having a front wheel pair 7, 7 and a rear wheel pair 11, 11, one of which is driven with an engine 2 and the other one of which is driven with an motor 3, comprising: a target engine driving force setting means (an engine driving force setting section 12c) for obtaining a target driving force of the engine based on driving conditions of the vehicle; a target motor driving force setting means (a motor driving force setting section 12d) for obtaining a target driving force of the motor based on driving conditions of the vehicle; and a control means (a control section 12a) for controlling the driving force of the motor by way of modifying a change amount of a motor driving force command value associated with a change amount of the target motor driving force obtained by said target motor driving force setting means in accordance with an instance where the target driving force of the engine and the target driving force of the motor are both increasing or decreasing to thereby

Abstract: There is provided a driving force control system for a front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle, which is capable maintaining an optimum slip condition of the drive wheels even on a low-friction road surface, ensuring a proper grip of rear wheels even on a low-friction road surface or a downhill slope, even when the driver operates the steering wheel while the vehicle is performing decelerating travel on such a road, and smoothly performing the assistance of an electric motor when the vehicle is accelerated without developing a torque step, thereby ensuring stable traveling and excellent acceleration and drivability. The front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle drives the front wheels by an engine, and rear wheels by an electric motor via an electromagnetic clutch. The target driving force for driving the vehicle is calculated based on at least a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening. The present traveling condition of the vehicle is determined.

Abstract: There is provided a driving force control system for a front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle, which is capable of charging a battery properly and easily in dependence on a traveling condition of the vehicle and the intention of the driver, thereby improving fuel economy and drivability and ensuring traveling stability of the vehicle. The front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle is driven while switching between a drive mode for driving front wheels by an engine and driving rear wheels by a motor, and a recharge mode for recovering running energy of the vehicle and charging the battery with the recovered running energy. Parameters (accelerator pedal opening &thgr;AP and a vehicle speed Vcar, or drive wheel speeds of the respective front and rear wheels) indicative of a driving condition of the vehicle are detected. A traveling condition of the vehicle is determined based on the parameters.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle is provided in which the main driven wheels are driven by an engine via a torque converter and the auxiliary driven wheels are driven by an electric motor. The response of the vehicle to the operation of the accelerator is improved by suppressing in advance the slip of the main driven wheels due to an excess output of the engine. The main driven wheels are driven by an engine via a torque converter and auxiliary driven wheels are driven by an electric motor. The vehicle is started by the output of the electric motor in the region in which the speed ratio of the torque converter is small (that is to say, the region in which the efficiency is low) such as when the vehicle is starting, and when it enters the region in which the speed ratio of the torque converter exceeds 0.8 and the efficiency exceeds 85% the drive of the electric motor is stopped or suspended and the vehicle is made to travel by means of the output of the engine.