Control apparatus for vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus

A control apparatus for a drive-force transmitting apparatus that is to be provided in a vehicle having a drive force source and drive wheels,

• wherein the drive-force transmitting apparatus includes:
• an input rotary member to which a drive force is to be transmitted from the drive force source;
• an output rotary member from which the drive force is to be outputted to the drive wheels;
• a gear mechanism configured to provide at least one gear ratio;
• a continuously-variable transmission mechanism including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, and a transfer element that is looped over the primary and secondary pulleys, and configured to provide a variable gear ratio that is lower than at least one of the at least one gear ratio provided by the gear mechanism;
• and
• first and second engagement devices,
• wherein the drive-force transmitting apparatus defines a plurality of drive-force transmitting paths that are provided in parallel with each other between the input rotary member and the output rotary member such that the drive force is to be transmitted from the input rotary member to the output rotary member through the drive-force transmitting paths,
• wherein the plurality of drive-force transmitting paths include a first drive-force transmitting path that is to be established by engagement of the first engagement device, such that the drive force is to be transmitted by the gear mechanism through the first drive-force transmitting path in a first state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus in which the first drive-force transmitting path is established,
• wherein the plurality of drive-force transmitting paths include a second drive-force transmitting path that is to be established by engagement of the second engagement device, such that the drive force is to be transmitted by the continuously-variable transmission mechanism through the second drive-force transmitting path in a second state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus in which the second drive-force transmitting path is established,
• wherein said control apparatus comprises a state determining portion configured, when a target gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is set to a highest gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism, to determine whether the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is in a failure state in which the an actual gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is not the highest gear ratio,
• wherein said control apparatus comprises a transmission-shifting control portion configured, when said state determining portion determines that the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is in the failure state, to set the target gear ratio to a transient target gear ratio that is changed toward the highest gear ratio, for causing the actual gear ratio to be changed toward the highest gear ratio, and
• wherein said transmission-shifting control portion is configured to make a rate of change of the transient target gear ratio higher in the first state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus than in the second state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus.