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 of the drive force source is to be transmitted;
- an output rotary member through which the drive force is to be transmitted to the drive wheels;
- a gear mechanism configured to provide at least one gear ratio;
- a continuously-variable transmission mechanism configured to provide a continuously-variable gear ratio that is lower than the at least one gear ratio of the gear mechanism;
- a first frictional engagement device;
- a second frictional engagement device;
- and a dog clutch that is provided with a synchromesh mechanism,
- 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,
- wherein the plurality of drive-force transmitting paths include a first drive-force transmitting path that is to be established by engagements of the first frictional engagement device and the dog clutch, such that the drive force is to be transmitted from the input rotary member to the output rotary member through the gear mechanism along the first drive-force transmitting path when 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 frictional engagement device, such that the drive force is to be transmitted from the input rotary member to the output rotary member through the continuously-variable transmission mechanism along the second drive-force transmitting path when the second drive-force transmitting path is established, and
- wherein said control apparatus comprises:
- a transmission-shifting control portion configured, during running of the vehicle in a second running mode in which the vehicle is to run with the driving force being transmitted through the continuously-variable transmission mechanism along the second drive-force transmitting path, to place the dog clutch in a released state when a running speed of the vehicle is higher than a first speed value, and to place the dog clutch in an engaged state when the running speed of the vehicle is not higher than the first speed value;
- an accumulated-heat-quantity calculating portion configured, when the dog clutch is placed in the engaged state during the running of the vehicle in the second running mode, to calculate an accumulated heat quantity that is a quantity of heat accumulated in the synchromesh mechanism;
- and
- a synchronization-operation limiting portion configured, during the running of the vehicle in the second running mode, to inhibit the dog clutch from being switched from the engaged state to the released state when the accumulated heat quantity in the synchromesh mechanism is larger than a first quantity value, and to allow the dog clutch to be switched from the engaged state to the released state when the accumulated heat quantity in the synchromesh mechanism is not larger than the first quantity value.