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.

Abstract: There is provided a control device for a vehicular power transmitting apparatus of equipped with a differential portion is provided for suppressing a durability decrease of the differential portion or component parts related thereto upon preventing a rotary element of the differential portion from reaching a high-speed rotation. Rotation-stop determining means 72 makes a query as to whether the first rotary element RE1 is lowered in a rotation speed to be stopped during an engine drive mode. If the answer is YES and differential-portion rotation speed determining means 74 makes a positive determination, then engaging-element control-executing means 78 executes engaging element control. This allows a third rotary element RE3 of the differential portion 11, connected to drive wheels 38 via an engaging element of an automatic shifting portion 20, to approach a state available to freewheel.

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 device for a vehicular power transmitting apparatus, having engaging devices including a one-way clutch, is disclosed which prevents a locked state of the one-way clutch from causing the occurrence of slippages of other engaging devices to avoid a drop in durability of the engaging device. To achieve this object, engaging a plurality of engaging devices in combined operations allows a plurality of gear positions to be established. A shifting mechanism (vehicular power transmitting apparatus) 10 is provided wherein at least one of the plural engaging devices includes a one-way clutch F1. The shifting mechanism switches a method of selecting a gear position at S3 depending on a shift position of a shift lever 52, determined at S1, and a vehicle running direction determined at S2.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system of a vehicle including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion having (i) a differential mechanism, (ii) a first electric motor operatively connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism, (iii) a drive power source, an input shaft (14) connected to the drive power source, and (iv) an output shaft, a differential state between rotating speeds of the input and output shafts being controlled by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path between the output shaft and a drive wheel of the vehicle, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, and (c) a second electric motor connected to the power transmitting path, the control apparatus including an excessive speed preventing portion configured to limit a rotating speed of the output shaft or an operating speed of the second electric motor when the power transmitting path is switched by the switching p

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle power transmission device including an electrical differential motion portion in which a differential state between input shaft rotation speed and output shaft rotation speed is controlled through control of the operation state of an electric motor linked to a rotating element of a differential motion portion, and a power connection-disconnection device constituting a portion of a power transmission path, includes a controller that lessens a transmission capacity of the power connection-disconnection device if during a switch of the state of the vehicle power transmission device from a non-driving state to a driving state, a change in input torque to the vehicle power transmission device occurs, in comparison with when the change in the input torque does not occur. Therefore, the control device reduces the shift shock when the vehicle power transmission device is switched from the non-driving to the driving state.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and a first electric motor connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between a rotating speed of its input shaft connected to a drive power source and a rotating speed of its output shaft by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, and (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path for transmitting power from the drive power source, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, the control apparatus including a control range setting portion configured to set one of two different control ranges of a rotating speed of the output shaft, depending upon whether the power transmitting path is placed in the power transmitting state or said power cut-off state, by the switching portion.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including (a) a first drive power source, (b) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and a second drive power source connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between a rotating speed of its input shaft connected to the first drive power source and a rotating speed of its output shaft by controlling an operating state of the second drive power source, (c) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of a vehicle, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, and (d) a third drive power source operatively connected to the power transmitting path, the control apparatus including a power-source torque-variation reducing portion configured to reduce an amount of variation of a torque of the first drive power source or the third drive power so

Abstract: A control apparatus and a control method for a vehicular drive apparatus that includes a driving power source, and a power transmission device that transmits power from the driving power source to a drive wheel are provided. It is determined that a malfunction occurs in the power transmission device, when a comparison value remains equal to or above a predetermined value for a predetermined period. The comparison value is obtained by making a comparison between an actual value and a theoretical value that relate to a rotational speed of a predetermined rotational member that constitutes at least a part of the vehicular drive apparatus. The predetermined period is set according to an operating state of the power transmission device. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility that it is erroneously determined that a malfunction occurs, and to quickly determine that a malfunction occurs.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system controls an engine rotation speed (NE) in a way not to exceed an engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM). The engine upper limit rotation speed is altered depending on a second electric motor rotation speed (NM2) such that a second electric motor increasing possible rotation speed (NM2max), influenced with the engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM), is altered depending on the second electric motor rotation speed (NM2). Consequently, when the second electric motor rotation speed (NM2) is relatively high, the engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM) can be lowered, and the second electric motor increasing possible rotation speed (NM2max) can be altered to a lower level for suppressing an increase in rotation speed of a second electric motor (M2). Thus, the second electric motor is improved in durability thereof.

Abstract: A rotation speed of a transmitting member is controlled such that a predetermined rotation speed difference or predetermined rotation speed ratio is obtained between the rotation speed of the transmitting member and an eighth rotating element or a fourth rotating element. By detecting a change in the rotation speed of a second motor that is connected to the transmitting member when an apply device is applied, it is possible to determine the time at which a first clutch or a second clutch starts to be applied and the time at which the first clutch or the second clutch is completely applied. As a result, it is possible to control the apply pressure of the first clutch or the second clutch and thus rapidly execute a shift.

Abstract: A drive system has an electrically controlled differential portion (11) in which a differential state between an input-shaft rotation speed and an output-shaft rotation speed is controlled upon controlling a first electric motor (M1), and a shifting portion (20) and a second electric motor (M2) disposed in a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels (34). In a control device for controlling the drive system, a rotation direction of an output shaft (18) of the shifting portion is able to be determined without increasing the number of component parts such as a rotation speed sensor. The control device includes rotation direction determination means (86) for determining a rotation direction of an output shaft (22) of an automatic shifting portion (20) based on an engagement of a given coupling element and a detected result of rotation direction detection means (92).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicular drive system which properly controls a shift in a transmission portion upon receipt of a shift demand to the transmission portion for precluding a given element of the differential portion 11 from high rotation. For a shift demand to an automatic transmission (20), the transmission portion shift limiting means (86) determines a permissible range in terms of a speed ratio of an automatic transmission (20) in consideration of a rotational speed of a given element of a differential portion (11) for thereby limiting a shifting of the automatic transmission portion (20) based on the permissible range. Thus, when the shift demand to the automatic transmission (20) is present, the given element of the differential portion (11) can be avoided from high rotation.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electric differential portion and a mechanical power transmitting portion which are disposed in series in a power transmitting path between an engine and a drive wheel of a vehicle, the control apparatus being configured to limit an output of the engine according to a difference between an actual rotating speed of an input rotary member of the mechanical power transmitting portion, and a theoretical rotating speed calculated from an actual vehicle speed and a presently established speed ratio of the mechanical power transmitting portion, whereby reduction of torque capacity of an input clutch provided in the mechanical power transmitting portion does not cause an excessive rise of the rotating speed of a rotary member which is located on one side of the input clutch nearer to the engine, and an excessive rise of the rotating speed of an electric motor connected to the input rotary member.