Abstract: A control device of a vehicle, the vehicle having: a power source including an engine and an electric motor; and a power transmission shaft to which the power source is coupled in a power transmittable manner; the vehicle comprising: a power transmission device transmitting a torque of the power source input to the power transmission shaft, to driving wheels; and an electric-power accumulator supplying/receiving electric power to/from the electric motor, the control device comprising: a power source control unit performing charge control for increasing a torque of the engine that achieves a drive demand amount during running of the vehicle in a driving state; and a charge limit control unit performing charge limit control for limiting a charging power in the charge control.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an engine as a drive power source, a rotating machine as an electric power generator, and an electric storage device. The control apparatus executes an automatic drive control for automatically controlling a torque of the drive power source in accordance with a requested drive torque without requiring an acceleration/deceleration operation by a driver of the vehicle. During an engine running of the vehicle, the rotating machine is rotated by the engine to generate an electric power, and a charging amount, by which the electric storage device is to be charged, is controlled by controlling the electric power generated by the rotating machine. The control apparatus is configured, during an automatic driving of the vehicle, to set the charging amount such that the charging amount is smaller when the requested drive torque is small than when the requested drive torque is large.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle including a continuously variable transmission mechanism, a mechanical stepped transmission mechanism, and a drive wheel is provided. The controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute gear change control of the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism so as to establish any simulated gear stage of a plurality of simulated gear stages and to change a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism stepwise. When determining that the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism has failed, the electronic control unit is configured to fix the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism at a limp-home mode mechanical gear stage, prohibit a stepped gear change of the continuously variable transmission mechanism, and change the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism in a stepless manner on the basis of a vehicle state.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle including a continuously variable transmission mechanism, a mechanical stepped transmission mechanism, and a drive wheel is provided. The controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute gear change control of the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism so as to establish any simulated gear stage of a plurality of simulated gear stages and to change a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism stepwise. When determining that the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism has failed, the electronic control unit is configured to fix the mechanical stepped transmission mechanism at a limp-home mode mechanical gear stage, prohibit a stepped gear change of the continuously variable transmission mechanism, and change the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism in a stepless manner on the basis of a vehicle state.

Abstract: A plurality of virtual gear positions are established by an electric continuously variable transmission, and the number of speeds of the virtual gear positions is equal to or larger than the number of speeds of mechanical gear positions of a mechanical stepwise variable transmission. One or two or more virtual gear positions is/are assigned to each mechanical gear position, and shifts among the mechanical gear positions are performed in the same timing as the shift timing of the virtual gear positions. Thus, shifting of the mechanical stepwise variable transmission is accompanied by change of the engine speed Ne, and the driver is less likely to feel uncomfortable even if shift shock occurs during shifting of the mechanical stepwise variable transmission.

Abstract: An upper limit charging rate is limited when a speed position of an automatic transmission is high as compared to when the speed position is low, so an engine is hard to enter a high torque state even when the speed position is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress vibrations and noise that tend to occur at the time when the engine is driven at a low rotation speed and high torque. On the other hand, the upper limit charging rate increases when the speed position is low as compared to when the speed position is high, with the result that a charging rate increases, so it is possible to keep a state of charge of a battery within an appropriate range.

Abstract: Control device of hybrid vehicle including an engine connected via a clutch to power transmission path and a rotator acting at least as an electric motor, hybrid vehicle being configured to execute an engine running mode in which clutch is engaged to use at least engine as a drive force source for running and a motor running mode in which clutch is released to use rotator as drive force source for running, control device putting clutch into slip engagement to crank and start engine before clutch is completely engaged at time of switching to engine running mode during stop of engine with clutch released, control device of hybrid vehicle, when clutch temperature reaches predefined value at time of switching to the engine running mode, releasing clutch and causing rotator to generate drive force for running while controlling rotation speed of engine to synchronize rotation speeds before and after clutch.

Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for a drive line includes first and second switching valves and first and second solenoid valves. Each switching valve is alternatively switched by a switching hydraulic pressure to connect any two of three ports. The first port of the first switching valve is connected to a hydraulic actuator. The first port of the second switching valve is connected to the second port of the first switching valve. The first solenoid valve supplies the switching hydraulic pressure to the switching valves. The second solenoid valve regulates a control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator. Any one of three oil paths is communicated with the hydraulic actuator by supplying the control hydraulic pressure via the third port of the first switching valve or the second or third port of the second switching valve and supplying the switching hydraulic pressure to at least one switching valve.

Abstract: An upper limit charging rate is limited when a speed position of an automatic transmission is high as compared to when the speed position is low, so an engine is hard to enter a high torque state even when the speed position is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress vibrations and noise that tend to occur at the time when the engine is driven at a low rotation speed and high torque. On the other hand, the upper limit charging rate increases when the speed position is low as compared to when the speed position is high, with the result that a charging rate increases, so it is possible to keep a state of charge of a battery within an appropriate range.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting of an engine and a shift-down action of a transmission, while assuring a reduction of heat generated by a clutch and an improvement of a response of the hybrid vehicle to a vehicle operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that, when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, a rate of change of the input speed of said transmission is lower than when only the shift-down action is required to be performed, such that the rate of change of the input speed is relatively low when the input speed of the transmission to be established upon completion of the shift-down action is relatively high.

Abstract: Control device of hybrid vehicle including an engine connected via a clutch to power transmission path and a rotator acting at least as an electric motor, hybrid vehicle being configured to execute an engine running mode in which clutch is engaged to use at least engine as a drive force source for running and a motor running mode in which clutch is released to use rotator as drive force source for running, control device putting clutch into slip engagement to crank and start engine before clutch is completely engaged at time of switching to engine running mode during stop of engine with clutch released, control device of hybrid vehicle, when clutch temperature reaches predefined value at time of switching to the engine running mode, releasing clutch and causing rotator to generate drive force for running while controlling rotation speed of engine to synchronize rotation speeds before and after clutch.

Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a first electric motor; a second electric motor coupled to a drive shaft of the engine; a clutch disposed in a power transmission path between the engine and the first electric motor; an electric oil pump generating an oil pressure by electric power; a mechanical oil pump included in a power transmission path closer to the first electric motor relative to the clutch, the mechanical oil pump generating an oil pressure by a drive force of at least one of the engine and the first electric motor; and an electric storage device giving/receiving electric power to/from the second electric motor and supplying electric power to the electric oil pump. When an open failure occurs in the clutch, the second electric motor generates electricity by driving the engine and an oil amount supplied from the electric oil pump is larger than an oil amount supplied from the mechanical oil pump.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.

Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for a drive line includes first and second switching valves and first and second solenoid valves. Each switching valve is alternatively switched by a switching hydraulic pressure to connect any two of three ports. The first port of the first switching valve is connected to a hydraulic actuator. The first port of the second switching valve is connected to the second port of the first switching valve. The first solenoid valve supplies the switching hydraulic pressure to the switching valves. The second solenoid valve regulates a control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator. Any one of three oil paths is communicated with the hydraulic actuator by supplying the control hydraulic pressure via the third port of the first switching valve or the second or third port of the second switching valve and supplying the switching hydraulic pressure to at least one switching valve.

Abstract: Control apparatus for hybrid vehicles are described which reduce the heat generated by a clutch and improve the response of the hybrid vehicle when an operator requests a high degree of acceleration while starting the engine and the transmission is required to perform a shift-down. In one embodiment, when the engine is required to start while the transmission is required to perform a shift-down action, the control apparatus holds a hydraulic pressure of a releasing side clutch of the transmission at a predetermined lowest stand-by value preventing a slipping action of the releasing side clutch, while a clutch K0 between the motor and engine is placed in a slipping state, and reduces the hydraulic pressure of the releasing side clutch from the lowest stand-by value in the slipping state of the clutch K0 after the clutch K0 is placed in the fully engaged state.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmitting system of a vehicle provided with a transmission portion having a plurality of speed ratios to be established in steps, and an electric motor operatively connected to an input-side rotary member of said transmission portion and controlled to generate a regenerative torque in a decelerating state of the vehicle, the control apparatus is configured: to implement a shifting control to perform a shifting operation of said transmission portion under the condition of a determination in the decelerating state of the vehicle that an input torque of said transmission portion including said regenerative torque is substantially zero; and to implement the shifting control to perform the shifting operation of said transmission portion under the condition of an improvement of a fuel economy rather than the determination that the input torque of said transmission portion is substantially zero, when a target deceleration value of the vehicle is larger than a predetermined threshol

Abstract: Embodiments of control apparatus for hybrid vehicles are described which reduce the heat generated by a clutch and improve the response of the hybrid vehicle when an operator requests a high degree of acceleration while starting the engine and the transmission is required to perform a shift-down. In one embodiment, when the engine is required to start while the transmission is required to perform a shift-down action, the control apparatus holds a hydraulic pressure of a releasing side clutch of the transmission at a predetermined lowest stand-by value preventing a slipping action of the releasing side clutch, while a clutch K0 between the motor and engine is placed in a slipping state, and reduces the hydraulic pressure of the releasing side clutch from the lowest stand-by value in the slipping state of the clutch K0 after the clutch K0 is placed in the fully engaged state.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting of an engine and a shift-down action of a transmission, while assuring a reduction of heat generated by a clutch and an improvement of a response of the hybrid vehicle to a vehicle operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that, when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, a rate of change of the input speed of said transmission is lower than when only the shift-down action is required to be performed, such that the rate of change of the input speed is relatively low when the input speed of the transmission to be established upon completion of the shift-down action is relatively high.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle that includes an engine, a motor, and a clutch provided in a power transmission path between the engine and the motor. The control device includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to switch travel states of the vehicle from a first to a second travel state. In the first travel state, the vehicle travels by using driving force generated by at least the engine while the clutch is engaged. In the second travel state, the vehicle travels by using driving force generated by the motor while the engine is stopped and the clutch is disengaged. The ECU is configured to maintain an operation of the engine and keep the clutch engaged after target driving force of the engine changes to a negative value when disengagement of the clutch is prohibited in switching from the first travel state to the second travel state.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.