Abstract: A vehicle control device for front and rear wheel drive vehicles, which have one wheel pair driven with an engine and the other pair driven with an electrical motor, and a torque converter with a lock-up mechanism controlling the engagement amount, has a lock-up control means changing the target slip amount to be set in accordance with driving conditions, a motor drive power setting means which sets the drive power distribution ratio of the motor and a compensation means which compensates the target slip amount according to the drive power distribution ratio set by the motor drive power setting means. The control device enables the setting of the optimum slip ratio of the torque converter to improve the fuel consumption, avoiding problems associated with: noise and vibration during the motor assisting.

Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle 1 in which a transmission 14 is connected via a first clutch 13 to an internal combustion engine 11 and a first motor 12 that are coupled in series to front wheels Wf, a second motor 16 which is a three-phase brushless DC motor is connected to the transmission 14 via a second clutch 15. When the vehicle in an idling stop state of the internal combustion engine 11 is to be started, a motor output control portion 18 calculates a torque which is required of the second motor 16 in accordance with the inclination angle of the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling, and also a continuous energization time period T1 of a stator winding of one phase in the second motor 16.

Abstract: A running motor for assisting an engine in driving a vehicle or singly driving the vehicle and an auxiliary unit motor for driving a compressor for an air conditioner are controlled by a common inverter via a changeover switch. According to this construction, the running motor and the auxiliary unit motor can be driven by the single inverter, and this can contribute to the reduction in the number of components, costs, space and weight, when compared with a case where inverters are provided to be used exclusively for the running motor and the auxiliary unit motor, respectively.

Abstract: An engine is connected to front wheels via a primary motor, a clutch and a transmission, and a secondary motor is connected to rear wheels. A vehicle is driven by the secondary motor while performing a combustion suspended idle operating condition in which the engine which has been brought to a combustion suspended condition is run idly by the primary motor according to driving conditions of the vehicle. The necessity for idling the engine is obviated so as to reduce the fuel consumption. Further, the engine can also be started up in quick and secured fashions by resuming the control of fuel supply and injection to the engine which is being run idly with its combustion being suspended and driving the primary motor while reducing the consumed power to a minimum level by reducing the load of the primary motor which runs the engine idly with its combustion being suspended.

Abstract: A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels. The drive force distribution apparatus includes a first clutch, a second clutch, and a battery. The apparatus further includes a first unit for deciding the distribution between a drive for driving the first drive wheels and a drive force for driving the second drive wheels, a second unit for deciding the distribution between a drive force for driving one of the second drive wheels and a drive force for driving the other of the second drive wheels according to a detected vehicle speed, steering angle, and yaw rate, and a clutch control unit for controlling a degree of engagement of each of the first and second clutches according to the distribution decided by the second unit.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle which comprises an engine and a motor-generator that is capable of generating electrical power as power sources, and in which the power of at least one of the engine and the motor-generator is transmitted to an output shaft for driving the hybrid vehicle. The control device comprises a battery which is capable of supplying energy to the motor-generator, a state of charge measuring section for measuring the state of charge of the battery, and a drive control section that preliminarily stores information of a motor drive permissible vehicle speed below which a motor drive mode, in which the engine outputs no power and the motor is operated solely for driving the hybrid vehicle, is employed. The drive control section is adapted to control so to increase the motor drive permissible vehicle speed when the state of charge of the battery measured by the state of charge measuring section is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle which comprises an engine and a motor-generator that is capable of generating electrical power as power sources, and in which the power of at least one of the engine and the motor-generator is transmitted to an output shaft for driving the hybrid vehicle. The control device comprises a battery which is capable of supplying energy to the motor-generator, a state of charge measuring section for measuring the state of charge of the battery, and a drive control section that preliminarily stores information of a motor drive permissible vehicle speed below which a motor drive mode, in which the engine outputs no power and the motor is operated solely for driving the hybrid vehicle, is employed. The drive control section is adapted to control so to increase the motor drive permissible vehicle speed when the state of charge of the battery measured by the state of charge measuring section is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle improves drivability during switching operation between an engine cruise mode and a motor cruise mode.

Abstract: A hydraulic control device for valve trains of an engine having cylinders which are optionally deactivated by applying oil pressure to the valve train so as to suspend the operations of associated intake and exhaust valves, the hydraulic control device comprising a plurality of rocker shafts which are arranged in line, and each of which is provided with hydraulic passages therein for applying oil pressure to each of the valve trains so as to activate and deactivate the cylinders, a plurality of sets of hydraulic circuits, which are provided to the rocker shafts, respectively, for applying oil pressure to each of the rocker shafts, and oil pressure measuring sections provided to the hydraulic circuits, respectively, for measuring oil pressure in each of the hydraulic circuits.

Abstract: An engine control device is provided, capable of restarting the engine when starting the vehicle rapidly and without giving any feeling of unease to the driver at the time of starting the vehicle by restarting the engine from the idle stop state.

Abstract: A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for assisting the engine in rotating the drive axle and converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, and an electric energy storage unit connected through a drive control circuit to the electric motor, for storing electric energy. The control system has a regenerative quantity determining unit which includes first, second, and third first regenerative quantity establishing units. The first regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a first regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the supply of fuel to the engine is stopped upon deceleration of the hybrid vehicle. The second regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a second regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage unit.

Abstract: A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels. The drive force distribution apparatus includes a first clutch interposed between the electric motor and one of the second drive wheels, a second clutch interposed between the electric motor and the other of the second drive wheels, and a battery for supplying electric energy to the electric motor and storing electric energy regenerated by the electric motor.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus which has a simple structure and which can efficiently cool a plurality of electric devices is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooling circuit including serially-connected cooling systems for cooling electric devices by circulating a refrigerant; a circulating pump for circulating the refrigerant through the cooling circuit; and a radiator which is serially connected to the cooling systems in the cooling circuit and has a refrigerant outlet from which a refrigerant is supplied. The serially-connected cooling systems are arranged in a manner such that heat resisting allowable temperatures, assigned to the electric devices which respectively correspond to the cooling systems, increase from the cooling system closest to the refrigerant outlet to the cooling system farthest from the refrigerant outlet in the cooling circuit, wherein each heat resisting allowable temperature is the maximum temperature at which the relevant electric device can operate.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus which has a simple structure and which can efficiently cool a plurality of electric devices is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooling circuit including serially-connected cooling systems for cooling electric devices by circulating a refrigerant; a circulating pump for circulating the refrigerant through the cooling circuit; and a radiator which is serially connected to the cooling systems in the cooling circuit and has a refrigerant outlet from which a refrigerant is supplied. The serially-connected cooling systems are arranged in a manner such that heat resisting allowable temperatures, assigned to the electric devices which respectively correspond to the cooling systems, increase from the cooling system closest to the refrigerant outlet to the cooling system farthest from the refrigerant outlet in the cooling circuit, wherein each heat resisting allowable temperature is the maximum temperature at which the relevant electric device can operate.

Abstract: A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for assisting the engine in rotating the drive axle and converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, and an electric energy storage unit connected through a drive control circuit to the electric motor, for storing electric energy. The control system has a regenerative quantity determining unit which includes first, second, and third first regenerative quantity establishing units. The first regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a first regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the supply of fuel to the engine is stopped upon deceleration of the hybrid vehicle. The second regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a second regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage unit.

Abstract: A control device for front and rear wheel drive vehicles, in which one of front and rear wheel pairs is driven with an engine and the other one of front and rear wheel pairs is driven with an electrical motor, and a torque converter with a lock-up mechanism capable of controlling the engagement amount is disposed between the engine and the one of wheel pairs, the control device comprising: a lock-up control means 68 and 69 for controlling the lock-up mechanism in such a manner that the engagement amount is changed to the target slip amount to be set in accordance with driving conditions of the front and rear wheel drive vehicle; a motor drive power setting means 61, 62 and 63 which sets the drive power of the motor; a compensation means (a target slip ratio setting unit) 67 which compensates the target slip amount according to the motor drive power set by the motor drive power setting means.

Abstract: By preventing engagement of an engaging part (clutch) under appropriate conditions, it is possible to effectively avoid the so-called surging phenomenon. When there is an engaging directive for the clutch, the rotational speed of the engaging element positioned at the output shaft side of the drive/regeneration motor (the clutch output rotational speed) is detected, and the gear ratio of the CVT is detected, and when the product of the rotational speed of the engaging element and the gear ratio of the CVT is equal to or below a predetermined value, complete engagement between the engaging elements is prevented, and control is conducted which makes the gear ratio large.

Abstract: A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for assisting the engine in rotating the drive axle and converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, and an electric energy storage unit connected through a drive control circuit to the electric motor, for storing electric energy. The control system has a regenerative quantity determining unit which includes first, second, and third first regenerative quantity establishing units. The first regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a first regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the supply of fuel to the engine is stopped upon deceleration of the hybrid vehicle. The second regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a second regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage unit.

Abstract: A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for assisting the engine in rotating the drive axle and converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, and an electric energy storage unit connected through a power drive unit to the electric motor, for storing electric energy. The control system has a regenerative quantity determining unit which includes first, second, and third first regenerative quantity establishing units. The first regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a first regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the supply of fuel to the engine is stopped upon deceleration of the hybrid vehicle. The second regenerative quantity establishing unit establishes a second regenerative quantity for the electric motor based on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage unit.

Abstract: A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, a drive control circuit for controlling the electric motor, and electric energy storage device for storing electric energy. The control system has an intake air control unit for controlling an amount of intake air supplied to the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation control valve for controlling recirculation of exhaust gases from an exhaust system of the engine to an intake system of the engine. A control unit operates the intake air control unit to reduce the amount of intake air and operating the exhaust gas recirculation control valve in an opening direction when the electric motor operates in the regenerative mode while the hybrid vehicle is decelerating.