# US 10,369,983 B2 · Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

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- Number: US 10,369,983 B2
- Document ID: US10369983B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/846,888
- Filed: 2017-12-19
- Published: 2018-06-21
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-19
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata; Hiromichi Kimura; Kazuyuki Shiiba; Tooru Matsubara; Takeshi Kitahata; Kenta Kumazaki; Nobufusa Kobayashi; Masato Yoshikawa; Takahiro Kimura; Daisuke Suyama; Kazuomi Okasaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369983B2

## CPC

- B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
- B60K 6/365: with the gears having orbital motion
- B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type
- B60K 6/448: Electrical distribution type
- B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines
- B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
- B60W 10/10: including control of change-speed gearings
- B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)}
- B60W 20/30: Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio {(control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H)}
- B60W 30/19: Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
- B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling}
- B60W 2510/0652: Speed change rate
- B60W 2510/0657: Engine torque
- B60W 2510/082: Speed change rate
- B60W 2510/083: Torque
- B60W 2510/1005: Transmission ratio engaged
- B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed
- B60W 2710/0661: Speed change rate
- B60W 2710/0666: Engine torque
- B60W 2710/082: Speed change rate
- B60W 2710/083: Torque
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y10S 903/911: with two or more gear sets
- Y10S 903/93: Conjoint control of different elements
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such that an angular acceleration value of the second motor/generator and an angular acceleration value of the engine coincide with respective target values; a limited state determining portion for determining whether the output torque of the first motor/generator is in a limited state of being limited lower than a predetermined load capable of ensuring a shift-progressing torque necessary for progress of a power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission; and an output limiting portion for limiting the output torque of the engine to a predetermined torque or less if the output torque of the first motor/generator is in the limited state during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising:
a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such that an angular acceleration value of the second motor/generator and an angular acceleration value of the engine coincide with respective target values;
a limited state determining portion configured to determine whether the output torque of the first motor/generator is in a limited state of being limited lower than a predetermined load ensuring a shift-progressing torque necessary for progress of a power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission; and
an output limiting portion configured to limit the output torque of the engine to a predetermined torque or less if the output torque of the first motor/generator is in the limited state during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limited state determining portion sets the predetermined load based on at least one of a kind of a shifting action of the automatic transmission, a vehicle running speed, and a change amount of an operating speed of the engine during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the predetermined torque is an upper limit output torque of the engine enabling the output torque of the first motor/generator to achieve a torque acquired by adding the shift-progressing torque to a reaction torque receiving the output torque of the engine, and wherein
the output limiting portion sets the predetermined torque based on at least one of a limit value of the output torque of the first motor/generator, the kind of the shifting action of the automatic transmission, the vehicle running speed, and the change amount of the operating speed of the engine during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output limiting portion initiates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the output torque of the engine is stably output.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output limiting portion initiates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the output torque of the engine is stably output.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined torque is an upper limit output torque of the engine enabling the output torque of the first motor/generator to achieve a torque acquired by adding the shift-progressing torque to a reaction torque receiving the output torque of the engine, and wherein
the output limiting portion sets the predetermined torque based on at least one of a limit value of the output torque of the first motor/generator, a kind of a shifting action of the automatic transmission, a vehicle running speed, and a change amount of an operating speed of the engine during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output limiting portion initiates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the output torque of the engine is stably output.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output limiting portion initiates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the output torque of the engine is stably output.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output limiting portion terminates limitation of the output torque of the engine when the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission is completed, or when a progress degree of the power-on shift-down action has reached a predetermined progress degree, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of control of the power-on shift-down action, or when a predetermined length of time has elapsed from start of change in a rotating speed of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission due to the power-on shift-down action.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if a shift-down action is allowed to progress as a power-off shift-down action due to switching to a power-off state during limitation of the output torque of the engine, the output limiting portion cancels the limitation of the output torque of the engine.