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 an engine and drive wheels,

• wherein the drive-force transmitting apparatus includes a continuously variable transmission, a first clutch, a second clutch and a third clutch, and defines first and second drive-force transmitting paths that are provided in parallel with each other between the engine and the drive wheels, such that the first clutch and the third clutch are provided in the first drive-force transmitting path, and such that the continuously variable transmission and the second clutch are provided in the second drive-force transmitting path,
• wherein the first drive-force transmitting path is to be established by engagement of the first clutch and release of the second clutch, such that a drive force is to be transmitted along the first drive-force transmitting path through the first clutch and the third clutch when the first drive-force transmitting path is established,
• wherein the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established by release of the first clutch and engagement of the second clutch, such that the drive force is to be transmitted along the second drive-force transmitting path through the continuously variable transmission and the second clutch when the second drive-force transmitting path is established,
• wherein the third clutch is a two-way clutch that is to be placed in a selected one of a plurality of operation modes that include at least an one-way mode and a lock mode, such that the two-way clutch is configured to transmit the drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and to cut off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle when the two-way clutch is placed in the one-way mode, and such that the two-way clutch is configured to transmit the drive force during the driving state of the vehicle and during the driven state of the vehicle when the two-way clutch is placed in the lock mode,
• wherein said control apparatus is configured to switch the two-way clutch from the lock mode to the one-way mode, when the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path,
• wherein said drive-force transmitting apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator configured to control switching of the two-way clutch between the lock mode and the one-way mode, and
• wherein said control apparatus comprises a dither control portion that is configured, when a request for establishing the second drive-force transmitting path in place of the first drive-force transmitting path is made during forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being placed in the lock mode, to execute a dither control for fluctuating a hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic actuator by which the switching of the two-way clutch is controlled.