Abstract: A control apparatus for a power train that includes an engine and a motor generator that generates power to a wheel. Furthermore, a clutch is disposed in a power transmission path from the engine to the wheel includes a driving power controller for controlling power generated from the motor generator to the wheel when the clutch fails.

Abstract: A vehicle control device is installed in a hybrid vehicle which can run by a driving force of at least one of an engine and a motor, and charges a battery by driving the engine when an amount of electric power stored in a battery which supplies the electric power to a motor becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined lower limit. The vehicle control device preheats the engine, a catalyst and the like when an amount of the electric power stored in the battery becomes equal to a value which is set as an amount of stored electric power that is larger than the lower limit. Thus, since the engine and the like have already been warmed when the engine is started, deterioration of emission can be prevented, and the vehicle can run properly.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a generator, a battery, and a catalytic converter disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, a determination is made as to whether a condition for stopping the engine is established, based on an operating state of the vehicle. Then, the fuel supply to the engine is cut off when the condition for stopping the engine is established, and a load (for example, a load of the generator) is applied to the engine so as to restrict rotation of the engine.

Abstract: An amount of oxygen accumulated in a catalytic converter after an engine stop by discontinuing a fuel supply to an engine is controlled to be within a preset range by controlling an engine speed into a preset range, controlling an engine revolution phase into a preset range, feeding air into the catalytic converter until the accumulated amount of oxygen becomes saturated, and controlling a catalytic converter temperature into a preset temperature range. Increase of an appropriate amount of the fuel at re-starting of the engine may prevent oxygen from deteriorating the NOx removing function without degrading an emission and the fuel efficiency.

Abstract: The priority sequence in a control of adjusting the drive power with respect to a vehicle drive power request is set in the sequence of: (1) an engine output increase, (2) a motor output increase, and (3) a gear speed change in a gear ratio increasing direction. More specifically, a gear speed of a least gear ratio is selected within such a range that an engine revolution speed higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable. A requested drive power is achieved singly by an engine output with the gear speed selected. When the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output, the requested drive power is achieved by the engine output and a motor output. When the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output, the gear speed is changed in a gear ratio increasing direction.

Abstract: In a vehicle equipped with a motor generator and a starter, if an ignition key has been switched from OFF to ON, preferably an engine is started by using the starter. However, if the temperature T of the engine is high (B≦T), the engine is started by the motor generator. When the engine is restarted after automatic stop thereof, preferably the engine is started by using the motor generator. However, if the temperature T of the engine is low (T≦A), the engine is started by using the starter. The engine is started by suitably selecting between the starter and the motor generator, whereby it becomes possible to improve responsive characteristics and startability and abate oscillatory noise.

Abstract: An apparatus and method determine a state of a power train that includes a power transmission apparatus that is configured to transmit power of a first driving power source to an input side of a second driving power source via a clutch and a transmission, and is capable of changing a torque capacity of the clutch and a gear ratio of the transmission. The apparatus and method determine a state of the clutch or the transmission based on a revolution speed of the first driving power source and information indicating a state of the second driving power source, e.g., a revolution speed of the input side of the second driving power source.

Abstract: A method of controlling an engine-operating-characteristic changing device operable between a first and a second operating state and including a locking device for locking the changing device in the first operating state in which a compression ratio of an intake air of an internal combustion engine is maintained at a value higher than that in the second operating state, the method including steps of determining whether there is a possibility that the engine-operating-characteristic changing device is locked in the first operating state by the locking device, where the changing device should not be placed in the first operating state, and if it is determined that there is the possibility, implementing a preventive operation to prevent the locking unit from locking the changing device in the first operating state.

Abstract: A transmission control apparatus is used with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a transmission connected to the engine and having a plurality of gear positions, and a generator which is disposed between the transmission and drive wheels and which is capable of generating electric power through regenerative braking during deceleration of the vehicle. The control apparatus operates to detect a revolution speed of the internal combustion engine, and to place the transmission in a highest gear position selected from one or more gear positions that enable the engine revolution speed to be maintained at a level not lower than a predetermined lower limit above which the engine can operate by itself (i.e., re-start), when the generator generates electric power through regenerative braking.

Abstract: In a vehicular engine control apparatus, the engine is stopped upon fulfillment of a predetermined stopping condition even in the case where the shift position of the vehicle is a running position, and the engine is restarted afterwards upon fulfillment of a predetermined starting condition. The predetermined starting condition is switched depending on whether the detected shift position is a running position or a non-running position. This reduces a sense of incongruity or unpleasantness caused to the driver in stopping and starting an engine during operation of a vehicle and thereby improves driveability of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lithium manganese oxide having a cubic crystal spinel structure, which has a composition represented by {Li}[LixMn2−x]O4 wherein { } represents 8a site, [ ] represents 16d site, and 0.08<x≦0.15, wherein the lattice constant (a) (unit: angstrom) of the cubic crystal is represented by the following formula: a≦8.2476−0.25×x.

Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which guarantees excellent startability regardless of the nature of the fuel used. In addition, a fuel nature determining apparatus designed to prevent mistakes in the determining of the nature of the fuel. When conditions for beginning the starting of an internal combustion engine have been established, normal start control is performed in order to start the internal combustion engine. After the starting of the internal combustion engine has begun using the normal start control, if the starting is completed within a predetermined length of time, a determination is made that the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is of a light nature. If, however, the starting is not completed within a predetermined length of time, a determination is made that the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is of a heavy nature.

Abstract: A control apparatus is used to control a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a stepwise variable transmission capable of automatic speed shifting, a clutch disposed between the internal combustion engine and the stepwise variable transmission for discontinuing and establishing power transfer to and from the stepwise variable transmission, an electric motor, etc. The control apparatus calculates a timing of the stepwise variable transmission starting an automatic shifting operation, and gradually decreases the torque assist based on the motor torque Tm of the electric motor prior to the start of the shifting operation, so as to reduce the stepped change in the drive torque that occurs when the engine torque Te is eliminated upon disengagement of the clutch during the shifting operation. This operation of the control apparatus also gentles or reduces the gradient of torque change. The shock at the time of shifting is thus reduced.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle so as to purify an exhaust emission from an internal combustion engine with an exhaust-emission purifying catalyst disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, and such that the engine is brought into a temporary engine-stop state while a predetermined vehicle condition is satisfied, wherein the engine is operated for heating the catalyst, when a temperature of the catalyst has been lowered below a predetermined lower limit threshold, even while the predetermined vehicle condition is still satisfied. The catalyst maintains an exhaust-emission purifying ability at a temperature above the lower limit threshold. When the catalyst temperature has been raised to a predetermined upper limit threshold, as a result of the engine operation, the engine is restored to the temporary engine-stop state if the predetermined condition is still satisfied.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor vehicle detects a catalyst temperature during fuel cut. If the catalyst temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the control apparatus almost completely opens a throttle valve and increases an amount of intake air to thereby reduce pumping loss. If the catalyst temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the throttle valve is almost completely closed. Thereby it becomes possible to reduce pumping loss of the engine while preventing an excessive decrease in catalyst temperature.

Abstract: An amount of oxygen accumulated in a catalytic converter after an engine stop by discontinuing a fuel supply to an engine is controlled to be within a preset range by controlling an engine speed into a preset range, controlling an engine revolution phase into a preset range, feeding air into the catalytic converter until the accumulated amount of oxygen becomes saturated, and controlling a catalytic converter temperature into a preset temperature range. Increase of an appropriate amount of the fuel at re-starting of the engine may prevent oxygen from deteriorating the NOx removing function without degrading an emission and the fuel efficiency.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a generator, a battery, and a catalytic converter disposed in an exhaust system of the engine, a determination is made as to whether a condition for stopping the engine is established, based on an operating state of the vehicle. Then, the fuel supply to the engine is cut off when the condition for stopping the engine is established, and a load (for example, a load of the generator) is applied to the engine so as to restrict rotation of the engine.

Abstract: An engine of a hybrid vehicle that is to be preheated before being started is connected to a heat accumulator that stores a portion of a cooling water that is kept warmed. During cold start of the vehicle, when a temperature of the cooling water in the heat accumulator is equal to or higher than a temperature of the cooling water in the engine by a preset amount, the cooling water kept warmed in the heat accumulator is fed into the engine. The motor is driven to operate the vehicle until the engine is sufficiently preheated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method determine a state of a power train that includes a power transmission apparatus that is configured to transmit power of a first driving power source to an input side of a second driving power source via a clutch and a transmission, and is capable of changing a torque capacity of the clutch and a gear ratio of the transmission. The apparatus and method determine a state of the clutch or the transmission based on a revolution speed of the first driving power source and information indicating a state of the second driving power source, e.g., a revolution speed of the input side of the second driving power source.

Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a plurality of driving power sources for transmitting torque to a wheel, and a starter for starting a first driving power source of the plurality of diving power sources. The first driving power source is stopped when a prescribed stopping condition is satisfied, and the stopped first driving power source is started by the starter when a prescribed restarting condition is satisfied. When the startability of the first driving power source has been degraded, stopping of the first driving power source is inhibited even when the prescribed stopping condition is satisfied.