Abstract: When the power transmitting path in an automatic shifting portion (20) is interrupted, a Co-lock control is executed to allow a differential portion (11) to be placed in a non-differential or nearly non-differential state with rotary elements (RE1 to RE3) kept in a unitary rotation. Thus, an engine (8), a first electric motor (M1) and a second electric motor (M2) rotate at an identical or nearly identical speed. Then, for the purpose of controlling the second electric motor (M2) at a rotation speed below a permit rotation speed, it may suffice for the first and second electric motors (M1) and (M2) to be driven in a direction to lower relevant rotation speeds while monitoring any one of an engine rotation speed, a first-motor rotation speed and a second-motor rotation speed. This allows such a control to be easily executed, thereby preventing the second electric motor from reaching a high speed rotation.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system includes an engine; at least one rotating electric machine, wherein the engine and the at least one rotating electric machine are capable of driving a vehicle; and a controller. The controller starts a load limit control that limits a load exerted to the rotating electric machine when a temperature of the rotating electric machine exceeds a load limit start temperature; detects a loading state or a towing state of the vehicle; and determines the load limit start temperature based on the loading state or the towing state detected.

Abstract: When a reduction in a supply hydraulic pressure to a second shift portion is sensed, an engagement command of C0 clutch is generated so that a power split device (electrical differential portion) is brought into a locked state. In the locked state, a sun gear, a carrier rotated by an engine and a ring gear rotated by a second MG integrally rotate, whereby inertia is increased. Thus, high-speed rotation of a transmission member corresponding to an input shaft of the second shift portion can be prevented.

Abstract: When a reduction in a supply hydraulic pressure to a second shift portion is sensed, an engagement command of C0 clutch is generated so that a power split device (electrical differential portion) is brought into a locked state. In the locked state, a sun gear, a carrier rotated by an engine and a ring gear rotated by a second MG integrally rotate, whereby inertia is increased. Thus, high-speed rotation of a transmission member corresponding to an input shaft of the second shift portion can be prevented.

Abstract: When an engine is driven on a different type of fuel (for example, ethanol-containing fuel) from a reference fuel (for example, gasoline) and the engine torque is thus greater than that produced when the engine is driven on the reference fuel, a differential state control device expands a non-differential range compared to that at the time when the reference fuel is used. Thus, in the case where a plurality of types of fuel including the reference fuel are supplied to the engine, the advantage of switching a power distribution mechanism between a differential enabled state and a non-differential state can be fully utilized in correspondence with engine torque characteristics which may vary in accordance with the type of fuel for the engine. As a result, the fuel consumption rate can be reduced in correspondence with the plurality of types of fuel supplied to the engine, for example.

Abstract: An oil return structure for a vehicle drive apparatus includes a hydraulic control apparatus disposed below an oil supply target device to which oil for lubricating and cooling is supplied; and an oil pan that retains the oil that is supplied to the oil supply target device is provided below the hydraulic control apparatus, wherein a bypass oil path is formed in a body of the hydraulic control apparatus, the bypass oil path being structured in order to guide the oil from the oil supply target device from an upper surface of the body, inside the body and then discharge the oil from a side surface of the body.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a drive system including an engine and a transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path, the engine control including an engine control portion configured to change a timing of initiation or a method of a control of the engine according to contents of a requirement for implementing the control of the engine, when the control of the engine and a shifting control of said transmission portion are concurrently required to be implemented.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling two oil pumps which are provided on a vehicle wherein the two oil pumps are selectively driven by respective different drive power sources such that one of the two oil pumps is operated while the other oil pump is held at rest, the control apparatus including an air removal control portion configured to temporarily operate the above-indicated other oil pump during an operation of the above-indicated one oil pump, to remove air staying at and around an oil inlet of the above-indicated other oil pump.

Abstract: A control device for hybrid vehicle is provided with property alter means 88 that is operative based on whether or not an EV running mode is set and alters a given property used for determining demanded output torque TOUTt of a transmission mechanism by referring to an accelerator opening Acc. This suppresses occurrence of engine startup to meet a requirement for the EV running mode to be initiated. The property alter means alters the given property such that during an EV running mode turn-on state, demanded output torque TOUTt determined based on the accelerator opening Acc has a lower value than that set for an EV running mode turn-off state. That is, this causes a drop in sensitivity of demanded output torque TOUTt determined based on the accelerator opening Acc. Thus, the occurrence of engine startup induced upon depressive operation of an accelerator pedal during the EV running mode is suppressed.

Abstract: In a vehicular power transmitting apparatus provided with an electrically-controlled differential portion in which controlling an operating state of an electric motor controls a differential state of a differential mechanism, a control device for starting up a drive force source in an appropriate mode depending on a vehicle condition can be provided. The control device includes drive-force source start control means 86 for switching start modes of an engine 8 depending on a vehicle condition to achieve an appropriate start mode for the engine 8 depending on the vehicle condition, so that for instance a contracted drive range by a second electric motor can be avoided.

Abstract: When shifts are performed at the same time in first and second transmitting portions and the gear ratios of those transmitting portions change in opposite directions, a simultaneous shift control unit controls the shift in the first transmitting portion using a first electric motor and controls the shift in the second transmitting portion using a second electric motor such that the shift in one transmitting portion, from among the first and second transmitting portions, ends while the shift in the other transmitting portion is being performed. The shifts in the two transmitting portions will not end at the same time so the amount of shift shock felt by an occupant can be reduced. Also, the shifts in the two transmitting portions are controlled by the first and second electric motors so the progress of the shifts in those transmitting portions can be actively adjusted.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism disposed between an engine and a vehicle drive wheel, and a differential-portion electric motor operatively connected to the differential mechanism such that a differential state of the differential mechanism is controllable by controlling an operating sate of the electric motor, and (b) a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path, the control apparatus including a shifting-point changing portion configured to change a shifting point at which a determination to perform a shifting action of the transmission portion is made, such that the shifting point is changed according to a shifting response of the transmission portion.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle power transmitting apparatus is disclosed, having an electrically controlled differential portion operative to control an operating state of an electric motor to control a differential state, and a shifting portion forming part of a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels, which can minimize deterioration in power performance and degradation in controllability during the shifting. Shift interval altering means 70 is provided for altering an interval L from an operation initiation causing an automatic shifting portion 20 to execute a shifting, to an actual shift initiation depending on a kind of the shifting. This enables an appropriate interval L to be determined for the shifting, thereby obtaining adequate power performance while capable of avoiding a first electric motor M1 from operating in a region outside an operating range. Thus, degradation in controllability is minimized.

Abstract: In one embodiment, when a switching clutch or a switching brake is engaged and thus a differential of a differential unit is limited, the gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission unit is adjusted. On the other hand, when the switching clutch and the switching brake are both released and thus the differential of the differential unit is not limited, an overall gear ratio obtained from the gear ratio of the differential unit and the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission unit is adjusted.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle controls the rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric differential portion to a predetermined rotational speed until at least one of a control that starts a main power source and a control that stops the main power source ends, if at least one of a shift position and a shift range is changed from a parking position to a neutral position while the at least one of the control that starts the main power source and the control that stops the main power source is being executed.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle includes: a first shift unit; a second shift unit; an electric motor connected to a rotating element of the first shift unit or the second shift unit so that the rotational speed changes in accordance with a gear-shift of the first shift unit or the second shift unit; and a control unit that controls at least one of start timings of inertia phases of the gear-shifts of the first and second shift units using the electric motor, when the gear-shifts of the first and second shift units are performed simultaneously and gear ratios of the first and second shift units are changed in opposite directions. With this control, in the simultaneous gear-shift, the gear-shift of one of the shift units is started and completed in a period from start of the gear-shift of the other shift unit until completion of this gear-shift.

Abstract: A control method for an apparatus which includes a first shift portion that includes a motor and a differential portion, and that is able to function as an electric differential portion; and a second shift portion that is a stepped shift portion, and that is connected to the first shift portion, wherein the apparatus transmits power output from an engine to a drive wheel, the control method includes: determining whether a degree of progress of an upshift of the second shift portion that is performed when a vehicle is driven using solely the motor as a drive power source, has reached a predetermined level; determining whether the engine should be started; and stopping the upshift, and starting the engine, when it is determined that the degree of the progress of the upshift has not reached the predetermined level, and it is determined that the engine should be started.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle includes a main drive power source; a first shift unit that has an input shaft connected to the main drive power source; a second shift unit; at least one electric motor connected to a rotating element of the first shift unit or a rotating element of the second shift unit so that the rotational speed of the electric motor is changed in accordance with a gear-shift of the first shift unit or the second shift unit, and that is able to control the rotational speed of the main drive power source by changing its rotation; and a control unit that executes control so that the direction in which the rotational speed of the main drive power source is changed is maintained constant throughout a gear-shift, when the gear-shift is a simultaneous gear-shift in which the gear-shift of the first shift unit and the gear-shift of the second shift unit are performed simultaneously and a gear ratio of the first shift unit and a gear ratio of the second shift unit are changed in oppos

Abstract: A drive system of a hybrid vehicle, including an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor operatively connected to a drive wheel of the hybrid vehicle, and two planetary gear mechanisms, and wherein the two planetary gear mechanisms have at least four rotary elements arranged to permit the drive system to be placed in a selected one of a first operation mode in which the rotary element connected to the engine and the rotary element connected to the first electric motor are disposed on opposite sides of the rotary element connected to the drive wheel and the second electric motor, as seen in a collinear chart in which the four rotary elements are located at respective four different positions along a base line, and a second operation mode in which the rotary element connected to the first electric motor and the rotary element connected to the drive wheel and the second electric motor are disposed on opposite sides of the rotary element connected to the engine, as seen in said collinear chart.

Abstract: A vehicle power transmission system has a first electric motor, a differential section, a power interruption element forming part of a power transmission path, a second electric motor connected to a power transmission path, and a control device that maintains the output rotational speed of the differential section at a predetermined constant value or at a value within a predetermined range until the engagement of the power interruption element is completed, so as to control a rotational speed of a primary power source by the first electric motor during the period when the state of the vehicle power transmission system is being switched front a non-drive mode to a drive mode.