Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that is startable by a motor driven by electric power supplied by an electric storage device, includes: a starting mode selection device for selecting either a first mode or a second mode as starting mode of the internal combustion engine; a control device for setting an output mode during outputting the electric power to the motor from the electric storage device, according to a result selected by the starting mode selection device, wherein the control device is adapted to set a flat mode, corresponding to the first mode, in which a predetermined electric power is continuously output and a pulse mode, corresponding to the second mode, in which electric power that varies with amplitude greater than a predetermined amplitude is output.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which has an engine selectively set in one of a normal fuel-consumption operation mode and a low fuel-consumption operation mode for obtaining a lower fuel consumption; a generator selectively used for one of being driven by the engine and assisting driving of the engine; a motor for generating a driving force of the vehicle by electric power supplied by the generator or a battery device; and a clutch between the generator and wheels of the vehicle. The drive control apparatus has a control part for performing a low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode when the engine is set in the low fuel-consumption operation mode. In the low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode, the clutch is connected, and driving of the vehicle is assisted using one of the generator and the motor, which is selected in accordance with an operation state of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention includes temperature transition estimating means 24, 25 for estimating a temperature transition of an electric motor 1 caused by the passage of electric current through the electric motor 1, an electric pump 8 as coolant supplying means for supplying a coolant to the electric motor, and coolant supply control means 26 to 28 for controlling the pump 8 according to the temperature transition of the electric motor 1 and the coolant temperature. The amount of operation of the electric pump 8 is determined from the temperature transition and the coolant temperature. This structure makes it possible to prevent overheating o the electric motor properly using the coolant while minimizing the energy consumption involved in using the coolant.

Abstract: A supercharger of an engine comprises a motor/generator, a compressor provided in an air intake system of the engine, and a planetary gear mechanism. The planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear connected to a driving shaft of the engine, planetary gears connected to the motor/generator and a ring gear connected to the compressor. The controller drives the motor/generator to control a rotational speed of the planetary gears. Through the control of the rotational speed of the planetary gears, a rotational speed of the compressor is controlled independently of a rotational speed of the engine. Thus, the rotation speed of the compressor can be continuously changed over a range from zero to a higher rotational speed than the engine rotational speed. Any desired supercharged pressure can be generated independently of the engine rotational speed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine starting control system for a vehicle which has an internal combustion engine as a driving source of the vehicle. The system includes a motor for driving the internal combustion engine; and a control device for performing driving control of the motor by making an actual rotation speed of the motor approach a predetermined target rotation speed. The driving control is a response designation feedback control based on a predetermined state quantity of the vehicle. Typically, the control device changes a response condition in the response designation feedback control in accordance with one of possible starting states of the internal combustion engine, by using a response designation parameter for designating the response condition, by which an approach condition in the operation for making the actual rotation speed of the motor approach the predetermined target rotation speed is changeable.

Abstract: A torque variation control device for a vehicle which has a motor providing rotational torque to a drive shaft of a vehicle, a motor control means controlling the motor based on drive torque, and a rotational velocity detection means detecting a rotational velocity of the drive shaft or a rotational shaft of the motor. The device has a feature that the device includes a torque variation detection means detecting a torque variation of the vehicle caused by a variation of the rotational velocity, and a compensation torque setting means setting compensation torque in an opposite phase relative to the torque variation.

Abstract: A vehicle drive device substantially has a motor and a power supplying apparatus. The power supplying apparatus has a main battery, a sub-battery, a power drive unit, a capacitor, a contactor, and a control unit. Under control by the control unit, misjudgment of failure of precharge contactor owing to a voltage drop of the battery can be prevented from being occurred.

Abstract: A supercharger of an engine comprises a motor/generator, a compressor provided in an air intake system of the engine, and a planetary gear mechanism. The planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear connected to a driving shaft of the engine, planetary gears connected to the motor/generator and a ring gear connected to the compressor. The controller drives the motor/generator to control a rotational speed of the planetary gears. Through the control of the rotational speed of the planetary gears, a rotational speed of the compressor is controlled independently of a rotational speed of the engine. Thus, the rotation speed of the compressor can be continuously changed over a range from zero to a higher rotational speed than the engine rotational speed. Any desired supercharged pressure can be generated independently of the engine rotational speed.

Abstract: A vehicle drive device substantially has a motor and a power supplying apparatus. The power supplying apparatus has a main battery, a sub-battery, a power drive unit, a capacitor, a contactor, and a control unit. Under control by the control unit, misjudgment of failure of precharge contactor owing to a voltage drop of the battery can be prevented from being occurred.

Abstract: A remaining charge detecting system of an electric double layer capacitor to be usable, for example, as an energy source of a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor separately driving wheels. The system includes a current-voltage sensor which generates an output indicative of a terminal voltage across terminals of the capacitor and an output indicative of charge/discharge current charged into and discharged from the capacitor and an electronic control unit, comprising a microcomputer, which inputs the outputs of the current-voltage sensor indicative of the terminal voltage and charge/discharge current and calculates a remaining charge of the capacitor based on a state equation (mathematical model) having the remaining charge of the capacitor as a state variable and an observer that observes the state equation, thereby enabling simple and accurate detection of the remaining charge of the electrical double layer capacitor without need for a high-precision current sensor.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: a metal V-belt type infinitely variable gear-change mechanism 20 whereby the rotation of an engine E is subjected to change in gear ratio, a forwards clutch 14 and a reverse brake 15 that perform engagement/disengagement control of the engine and the infinitely variable gear-change mechanism, and a second motor generator 50 capable of driving the drive wheels arranged parallel with the engine. The control device is provided with a first hydraulic pump 3 for engine drive, a second hydraulic pump 56 that is driven by an electric motor 55 for pump drive, and a forwards/reverse clutch control valve 73 that performs changeover control of supply of working hydraulic pressure to the forwards clutch 14 etc.

Abstract: A corrected torque command value P_TRQ which is produced by correcting a torque command value TRQ with a torque command correcting unit 34 is substantially proportional to the armature current of an electric motor. Using the corrected torque command value P_TRQ and its average value P_ATRQ, an inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf of the electric motor is determined in each predetermined cycle time. The inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf calculated in a fuzzy inference operation, for example. The inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf is integrated by an integrating unit 37 to determine an accumulated temperature change &Dgr;Tf. The output of the electric motor is limited when the accumulated temperature change &Dgr;Tf exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and a control method of the hybrid vehicle is provided, capable of suppressing discharge of the battery at the time of starting a DC/DC converter and suppressing temporal voltage drop of the battery. When the engine is in the idle state and the power generated by the motor is not sufficient, the motor controller starts the DC/DC converter at a low output voltage state, and the amount of power generated by the motor is gradually increased at a speed without disturbing the idle rotation of the engine, and when it is determined that the power generation by the motor is sufficiently high by comparing the amount of power generation with the amount of power consumption at the output of the DC/DC converter, the operation mode of the output variable DC/DC converter is switched from the low voltage mode to the high voltage mode.

Abstract: A torque variation control device for a vehicle which has a motor providing rotational torque to a drive shaft of a vehicle, a motor control means controlling the motor based on drive torque, and a rotational velocity detection means detecting a rotational velocity of the drive shaft or a rotational shaft of the motor. The device has a feature that the device includes a torque variation detection means detecting a torque variation of the vehicle caused by a variation of the rotational velocity, and a compensation torque setting means setting compensation torque in an opposite phase relative to the torque variation.

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 hybrid vehicle and a control method of the hybrid vehicle is provided, capable of suppressing discharge of the battery at the time of starting a DC/DC converter and suppressing temporal voltage drop of the battery. When the engine is in the idle state and the power generated by the motor is not sufficient, the motor controller starts the DC/DC converter at a low output voltage state, and the amount of power generated by the motor is gradually increased at a speed without disturbing the idle rotation of the engine, and when it is determined that the power generation by the motor is sufficiently high by comparing the amount of power generation with the amount of power consumption at the output of the DC/DC converter, the operation mode of the output variable DC/DC converter is switched from the low voltage mode to the high voltage mode.

Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine, first and second power distributors, and first and second motors includes a rotation transmitting unit for transmitting a drive power of the second motor to a power output shaft at a speed reduction ratio &agr;1 greater than a speed reduction ratio &agr;2 at the first power distributor and a speed reduction ratio &agr;3 (<&agr;2) at the second power distributor, a second clutch assembly for selectively connecting an output shaft of the first motor to the first power distributor and an output shaft of the engine, and a first clutch assembly for selectively connecting an output shaft of the second motor to the second power distributor and the rotation transmitting unit. A controller controls operation of the clutch assemblies and the motors depending on an operating state of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A corrected torque command value P_TRQ which is produced by correcting a torque command value TRQ with a torque command correcting unit 34 is substantially proportional to the armature current of an electric motor. Using the corrected torque command value P_TRQ and its average value P_ATRQ, an inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf of the electric motor is determined in each predetermined cycle time. The inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf calculated in a fuzzy inference operation, for example. The inferred temperature change &Dgr;tf is integrated by an integrating unit 37 to determine an accumulated temperature change &Dgr;Tf. The output of the electric motor is limited when the accumulated temperature change &Dgr;Tf exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A remaining charge detecting system of an electric double layer capacitor to be usable, for example, as an energy source of a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor separately driving wheels. The system includes a current-voltage sensor which generates an output indicative of a terminal voltage across terminals of the capacitor and an output indicative of charge/discharge current charged into and discharged from the capacitor and an electronic control unit, comprising a microcomputer, which inputs the outputs of the current-voltage sensor indicative of the terminal voltage and charge/discharge current and calculates a remaining charge of the capacitor based on a state equation (mathematical model) having the remaining charge of the capacitor as a state variable and an observer that observes the state equation, thereby enabling simple and accurate detection of the remaining charge of the electrical double layer capacitor without need for a high-precision current sensor.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid car is provided, capable of reliably protecting an electric double layer capacitor from being subjected to an excess voltage.