Abstract: When a vehicle is to be started solely by a motor immediately after an engine is started or the shift position has been changed from N range to D range, a delay time for delaying pre-charge of first and second clutches is set in accordance with operating oil temperature. The pre-charge is executed after a lapse of the delay time.

Abstract: If, in uphill deceleration determination procedure, it is determined that the vehicle is being decelerated on an uphill slope, a transmission shift lever is in D range, the motor is in order, the start gear is a first specified gear or lower, a to-be-selected traveling gear is a second specified gear or lower, an actual even-numbered gear is a third specified gear or higher, and actual odd-numbered gear is a fourth specified gear or higher, a first, a second and a third synchronizer mechanisms are put in neutral position to create a state in which no gear is selected. Then, a shift to a gear suited for re-acceleration is conducted by activating operating the first, second and the third synchronizer mechanisms.

Abstract: If, in uphill deceleration determination procedure, it is determined that the vehicle is being decelerated on an uphill slope, a transmission shift lever is in D range, the motor is in order, the start gear is a first specified gear or lower, a to-be-selected traveling gear is a second specified gear or lower, an actual even-numbered gear is a third specified gear or higher, and actual odd-numbered gear is a fourth specified gear or higher, a first, a second and a third synchronizer mechanisms are put in neutral position to create a state in which no gear is selected. Then, a shift to a gear suited for re-acceleration is conducted by activating operating the first, second and the third synchronizer mechanisms.

Abstract: When a vehicle is to be started solely by a motor immediately after an engine is started or the shift position has been changed from N range to D range, a delay time for delaying pre-charge of first and second clutches is set in accordance with operating oil temperature. The pre-charge is executed after a lapse of the delay time.

Abstract: A drive controller for hybrid vehicles, the hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine; a motor which is able to assist the driving force from the engine; an automatic clutch mechanism which is able to engage/disengage the transmission of the driving force between the engine and the motor; an automatic transmission disposed downstream of the motor; a filter for collecting particulates in exhaust gas; and a controller for controlling operations of these devices, wherein the controller operates in such a way that, for regenerating the filter, the idling speed while the vehicle is halted is set higher, and the predetermined rotational speed for initiating the clutch engagement is set higher than the rotational speed at the time of non-regeneration of the filter in light of increase in the engine rotational speed for the fast-idle control.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle is arranged such that a driving force of an electric motor can be transmitted to driving wheels and that a rotary shaft of the electric motor can be coupled with an output shaft of an engine. The vehicle comprises a starter motor provided separately from the electric motor, an electric power source provided separately from a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, to supply power to the starter motor, and a braking force maintaining device configured to be activated by power from the power source to maintain a braking force on the vehicle. When a request for starting the engine is made, if a specified abnormal condition which makes the starting of the engine by the electric motor impracticable is detected, an ECU causes the engine to be started by the starter motor when the braking force maintaining device is not active.

Abstract: A drive controller for hybrid vehicles, the hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine; a motor which is able to assist the driving force from the engine; an automatic clutch mechanism which is able to engage/disengage the transmission of the driving force between the engine and the motor; an automatic transmission disposed downstream of the motor; a filter for collecting particulates in exhaust gas; and a controller for controlling operations of these devices, wherein the controller operates in such a way that, for regenerating the filter, the idling speed while the vehicle is halted is set higher, and the predetermined rotational speed for initiating the clutch engagement is set higher than the rotational speed at the time of non-regeneration of the filter in light of increase in the engine rotational speed for the fast-idle control.

Abstract: A roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed which can carry out roll-over suppressing control appropriately in response to the type of turning. Upon turning of the vehicle, if a parameter corresponding to the rolling behavior of the vehicle becomes higher than a control start criterion value set in advance, then roll-over suppressing control of suppressing rolling of the vehicle is started. Then, if the parameter becomes lower than a control end criterion value set in advance, then the roll-over suppressing control is ended. As the control end criterion value, a steady turning control end criterion value is used when the turning of the vehicle is steady turning, but when the turning of the vehicle is non-steady turning such as lane change turning, a non-steady turning control end criterion value set to a value lower than that of the steady turning control end criterion value is used.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle wherein appropriate braking force can be applied to a turning outer wheel in response to a situation and a rolling state of the vehicle to suppress otherwise possible roll-over of the vehicle while assuring the traveling performance. A roll parameter value detection section detects a parameter value corresponding to a rolling state of a vehicle, and a turning type decision section decides a type of turning of the vehicle. A roll-over suppressing control section controls a braking mechanism in a predetermined period so that, when the rolling state of the vehicle upon turning of the vehicle is excessive with respect to a first reference state, an amount of braking force corresponding to the magnitude of the roll parameter value and the type of turning. By the control, while the traveling performance of the vehicle is assured, roll-over of the vehicle can be suppressed effectively to assure the stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle which can suppress overturning of the vehicle while securing the traveling performance of the vehicle through appropriate slowing down control.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle is arranged such that a driving force of an electric motor can be transmitted to driving wheels and that a rotary shaft of the electric motor can be coupled with an output shaft of an engine. The vehicle comprises a starter motor provided separately from the electric motor, an electric power source provided separately from a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, to supply power to the starter motor, and a braking force maintaining device configured to be activated by power from the power source to maintain a braking force on the vehicle. When a request for starting the engine is made, if a specified abnormal condition which makes the starting of the engine by the electric motor impracticable is detected, an ECU causes the engine to be started by the starter motor when the braking force maintaining device is not active.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle which can make a decision of a start of roll suppressing control appropriately in response to the degree of the possibility of turning over on its side of the vehicle. The roll-over suppressing control apparatus includes a braking mechanism for braking wheels of the vehicle, a roll rate sensor for detecting a roll rate of the vehicle, and a roll-over suppressing control section for controlling the braking mechanism so that, if the roll rate detected upon turning of the vehicle becomes equal to or higher than a control starting threshold value, then it is decided that the vehicle is in an excessively rolling state and braking force is applied to the wheels. The control starting threshold value is set to different values depending upon different types of turning of the vehicle (depending upon whether the turning is sudden steering back turning, moderate steering back turning or one-directional turning).

Abstract: An automatic slowdown control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed wherein automatic slowdown control can be ended appropriately and automatic slowdown is prevented from being performed excessively on a road of an ascending gradient. The automatic slowdown control apparatus starts automatic slowdown control of rendering a braking mechanism operative to slow down the vehicle when the stability of the posture and/or behavior of the vehicle upon turning is deteriorated. A control end threshold value is set such that the stability of the vehicle is displaced to the instability side as the ascending gradient of the uphill road increases.

Abstract: A steering characteristic control apparatus and method for a vehicle is disclosed which can carry out behavior control of the vehicle regarding a steering characteristic and so forth appropriately in accordance with the type of turning and the road surface situation. To this end, if the steering characteristic of the vehicle is placed into an oversteer or understeer state exceeding a reference level, then the control end condition when the steering characteristic is controlled to the neutral steer side by control of a braking mechanism is set in accordance with an estimated road surface ? state and the type of turning (steady turning or non-steady turning) of the vehicle. Upon steady turning, during traveling on a low ? road, it is set as the control end condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored sufficiently, but during traveling on a high ? road, it is set as the condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored to some degree so that the control can be ended rapidly.

Abstract: A roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed which can carry out roll-over suppressing control appropriately in response to the type of turning. Upon turning of the vehicle, if a parameter corresponding to the rolling behavior of the vehicle becomes higher than a control start criterion value set in advance, then roll-over suppressing control of suppressing rolling of the vehicle is started. Then, if the parameter becomes lower than a control end criterion value set in advance, then the roll-over suppressing control is ended. As the control end criterion value, a steady turning control end criterion value is used when the turning of the vehicle is steady turning, but when the turning of the vehicle is non-steady turning such as lane change turning, a non-steady turning control end criterion value set to a value lower than that of the steady turning control end criterion value is used.

Abstract: A behavior control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed which allows a driver to select permission or inhibition of control. The apparatus includes a braking control section for performing, when the vehicle behavior detected is displaced to the behavior instability side with respect to a control start reference, braking control to stabilize the vehicle behavior, and an engine output suppressing control section for performing, when the vehicle behavior detected is displaced to the behavior instability side with respect to another control start reference, control to suppress the engine output power to stabilize the vehicle behavior. If it is selected by a selection section that the engine output suppressing control should be inhibited, then the engine output suppressing control is inhibited, and further, if it is decided by a decision section that the driver has an acceleration intention, then the braking control for the stabilization of the vehicle behavior is ended.

Abstract: An automatic slowdown control apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed wherein automatic slowdown control can be ended appropriately and automatic slowdown is prevented from being performed excessively on a road of an ascending gradient. The automatic slowdown control apparatus starts automatic slowdown control of rendering a braking mechanism operative to slow down the vehicle when the stability of the posture and/or behavior of the vehicle upon turning is deteriorated. A control end threshold value is set such that the stability of the vehicle is displaced to the instability side as the ascending gradient of the uphill road increases.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle which can suppress overturning of the vehicle while securing the traveling performance of the vehicle through appropriate slowing down control.

Abstract: A steering characteristic control apparatus and method for a vehicle is disclosed which can carry out behavior control of the vehicle regarding a steering characteristic and so forth appropriately in accordance with the type of turning and the road surface situation. To this end, if the steering characteristic of the vehicle is placed into an oversteer or understeer state exceeding a reference level, then the control end condition when the steering characteristic is controlled to the neutral steer side by control of a braking mechanism is set in accordance with an estimated road surface ? state and the type of turning (steady turning or non-steady turning) of the vehicle. Upon steady turning, during traveling on a low ? road, it is set as the control end condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored sufficiently, but during traveling on a high ? road, it is set as the condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored to some degree so that the control can be ended rapidly.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for learning a stability factor of a vehicle by which the stability factor of the vehicle can be calculated in response to a state of the vehicle. To this end, a state of the vehicle during traveling is detected, and it is decided based on the detection information whether or not the current traveling state of the vehicle is a stable turning state. If it is decided that the current traveling state of the vehicle is a stable turning state, then the stability factor of the vehicle is calculated in accordance with a predetermined arithmetic operation expression based on a vehicle speed, a steering angle and a yaw rate detected during traveling, and the calculated value is determined as a learned value of the stability factor of the vehicle thereby to determine the stability factor in the current state of the vehicle.