Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle (HV) idles first an internal combustion engine (ICE) when it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or a motor will increase, and thereafter switches to a travelling mode in which the ICE is used. Based on output of a vehicle weight sensor, a gradient sensor, a towing sensor, a start/power mode switch and other on-board sensors or switches, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Otherwise, based on information obtained from a navigation system or from another vehicle to be towed, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Based on a difference of output between an open air temperature sensor and a cabin temperature sensor, a load on an on-board appliance is detected, and based on the detected load, it is determined in advance that a load on the HV or the motor will increase. Thus, a delay in following the ICE in response to the switching of travelling modes can be decreased or remedied.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, including an engine, a motor/motor, an automatic transmission disposed between the engine and a vehicle drive wheel, a regenerative braking device for applying to the vehicle a regenerative braking force corresponding to an amount of electric energy generated by the motor/generator during an operation of the motor/generator by a kinetic energy of the running vehicle, and at least one of (a) a shift inhibiting device for inhibiting a shifting action of the automatic transmission during an operation of the regenerative braking device so as to prevent a change of an engine braking force applied to the vehicle, (b) a braking shift control device which is operated when the regenerative braking device is inoperable to provide the required regenerative braking force, for changing the speed ratio of the automatic transmission to increase the engine braking force, or operated prior to the operation of the regenerative braking device, for controlling the speed ratio of the tra

Abstract: A regenerative brake controller for controlling a value of regenerative braking torque to simulate engine braking torque. When the shift lever is in the D range, from a first control map which correlates the vehicle speed and the like with target braking torque or target deceleration, the controller reads the target braking torque or target deceleration corresponding to the vehicle speed immediately before the release of the accelerator pedal, and controls the vehicle components on the basis of the read target braking torque or target deceleration such that the regenerative braking torque corresponding to the engine braking torque is produced.

Abstract: A power transmitting system for a motor vehicle having a manually operated member for selecting one of operating states of the power transmitting system, which include a neutral state, wherein a power transmitting path between a drive power source and a drive wheel of the motor vehicle is electrically disconnected by a first power disconnecting device, and is mechanically disconnected by a second power disconnecting device which is operated in response to an operation the manually operated member to the neutral state. Also disclosed is a hybrid drive system including a start-up control device operated upon operation of the manually operated member from a non-drive state to a drive state, for controlling the reaction torque of a motor/generator to rise according to one of predetermined rise characteristics which is selected depending upon a vehicle running condition.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for outputting the power of an internal combustion engine and the power of a motor generator through a transmission. The transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft. The motor generator is arranged to have an input/output motor shaft in parallel with the input shaft and the output shaft. The internal combustion engine is arranged to have its output crankshaft on the same axis as that of the input shaft.

Abstract: Hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, wherein an automatic transmission disposed between a drive wheel of the vehicle and a drive power source including an engine and an electric motor is controlled by a shift control device, to change the speed ratio according to a normal shift pattern in a normal vehicle operating state, and according to a special shift pattern in a predetermined special vehicle operating state such that the speed ratio according to the special shift pattern is smaller than the speed ratio according to the normal shift pattern, and wherein at least the engine is selected by a substitute drive power source selecting device, as the drive power source for driving the vehicle in the special operating state in which the automatic transmission is controlled according to the special shift pattern.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy, a motor/generator connected to the electric energy storage device, and a synthesizing/distributing mechanism which includes a first rotary element, a second rotary element connected to the motor/generator, and a third rotary element, and an output member connected to the third rotary element, wherein a first clutch is provided for connecting the first rotary element and the engine, and a second clutch is provided for connecting two elements of the first, second and third rotary elements of the synthesizing/distributing mechanism, for rotation of the two elements as a unit.

Abstract: A hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, having a power drive state in which there is available a power drive mode in which an engine and an electric motor are both operated as a drive power source for driving the vehicle, and wherein a manually operated power drive selector is provided for selecting the power drive mode, and a power drive restricting device is provided to inhibit the vehicle from being driven in the power drive state and therefore in the power drive mode if the power drive selector is not manually operated. The hybrid drive system may have an engine assist drive mode in which the electric motor is operated as an auxiliary drive power source, together with the engine operated as a primary drive power source, according to a selected one of different drivability modes of the vehicle selected by a manually operated drivability performance selector.

Abstract: A shift control apparatus for controlling a variable-speed ratio automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having an engine, and a motor/generator which function as a vehicle driving electric motor and/or an electric generator, the automatic transmission being operatively connected to a drive wheel and an assembly of the engine and the motor/generator, the shift control apparatus including a target determining device for determining a pattern of change of a target value of the rotating speed of a rotary member of the automatic transmission or a target value of the output torque of the automatic transmission, during a shifting action thereof, and a motor torque feedback control device for feedback controlling a torque of the motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission such that the rotating speed of the rotary member or the output torque changes according to the pattern of change of the target value.

Abstract: A starting control apparatus of the present invention prevents a variation in output torque of an internal combustion engine at a time of starting the internal combustion engine, while effectively reducing an emission. In response to a requirement for starting an engine (150) (S212), a controller (180) calculates an idle revolving speed Ni that is a target at a starting time and a required amount of the air Qi for maintaining the idle revolving speed Ni (S213). The idle revolving speed Ni and the required amount of the air Qi are respectively set equal to a target engine speed Ne* and a target amount of air intake Q* (S214). The controller (180) sets torque command values Tm1* and Tm2* of first and second motors MG1 and MG2, in order to enable the motors MG1 and MG2 to generate a cranking torque required for revolving the engine (150) at the target revolving speed Ne* (S216 and S218), and controls the first motor MG1 and the second motor MG2 (S220 and S222).

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an electric motor and an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, the drive control apparatus including a drive source selecting device for selecting an engine drive mode or a motor drive mode on the basis of a first value in the engine drive mode of a physical quantity relating to a condition of the engine and a second value of the same physical quantity reflecting energy conversion efficiencies of the electric motor, an electric generator and an electric energy storage device during an electricity generating mode. The physical quantity is preferably a fuel consumption amount by the engine. The drive control apparatus may also include an engine output determining device that optimizes the efficiency of the system by determining the output of the engine so as to power the vehicle and also provide surplus power to operate the electric generator and charge the electric energy storage device.

Abstract: A gear transmission unit for an automatic transmission comprises: a single pinion type first planetary gear unit including a first sun gear, a first ring gear arranged concentrically with the first sun gear, and a first carrier retaining a pinion meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear; a single pinion type second planetary gear unit including a second sun gear, a second ring gear arranged concentrically with the second sun gear and connected to the first carrier, and a second carrier retaining a pinion meshing with both the second sun gear and the second ring gear and connected to the first ring gear; and a double pinion type third planetary gear unit including a third sun gear connected to the first sun gear, a third ring gear arranged concentrically with the third sun gear, and a third carrier retaining both one pinion meshing with the third sun gear and another pinion meshing with the one pinion and the third ring gear. The first carrier is connected to the third ring gear.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having a function for reducing the pumping loss. When the shift is in the reverse position, when an appliance is to be driven while the vehicle is in its stopped state and when the electric motor alone is able to drive the vehicle, the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is cut off and one of the following is performed: the engine's throttle is widely opened; the engine is decompressing by opening the intake and exhaust valves; or the engine is decompressed by closing the intake valve while opening the exhaust valve. In such a manner, the pumping loss in the internal combustion engine can be reduced. Thus, the drag on the electric motor which would ordinarily be caused by stopping the internal combustion engine can be prevented without the provision of a one-way clutch or other equipment between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an electric motor operated by an electric energy generated by an electric generator and stored in an energy storage device, and an engine operated by combustion of a fuel, the apparatus having an electricity generating drive mode in which the vehicle is driven by the engine while the electric generator is operated by the engine to charge the electric energy storage device, wherein a changing control device is operable in the electricity generating drive mode, for controlling the engine to operate in a substantially steady state so as to provide a steady state output, and controlling electric power to be generated by the electric generator such that the electric power corresponds to surplus power of the engine which is equal to a difference between the steady state output of the engine and required vehicle drive power which is currently required to drive the vehicle and which is smaller than the steady state output.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has a clutch between the engine and the rotational electrodynamic unit. A driving energy transmission mechanism is provided between the clutch and the rotational electrodynamic unit for transmitting driving energy to an appliance such as an alternator. When driving the engine, the clutch is closed by a clutch controlling unit, and the engine makes the rotational electrodynamic unit function as a generator to operate the appliances. When the engine is stopped, the clutch is opened by the clutch controlling means, and the rotational electrodynamic unit is caused to operate as a motor to operate the appliances. In the system where the appliances are driven by the engine, the appliances are kept being operated even after the engine stops. This structure is applicable to both a series hybrid vehicle and a parallel hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A gear transmission which is enabled to set six forward gear stages by spraying a Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism and a double-pinion planetary gear mechanism coaxially with an input shaft. The double-pinion planetary gear mechanism and its associated frictional engagement elements are arranged at the side of the input shaft across a partition protruded from the inner face of a casing, whereas tile Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism is arranged at the opposite side to the double-pinion planetary gear mechanism. Moreover, the Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism has a ring gear acting as an output element, and a counter gear is connected to the ring gear and arranged adjacent to the partition while being supported by the partition.

Abstract: A gear shift system for an automatic transmission, in which a plurality of planetary gear sets arrayed on a common axis and each including a plurality of rotating elements are arranged in a casing, and in which an extension housing is attached to the axial end portion of the casing. The gear shift system comprises: a one-way clutch arranged in the extension housing for selectively fixing the rotating elements of a predetermined one of the planetary gear sets arranged at the end side of the casing; and a multi-disc brake in a parallel relation to the one-way clutch.