# US 11,993,243 B2 · Control apparatus for all-wheel drive vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,243 B2 - Document ID: US11993243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/465,257 - Filed: 2023-09-12 - Published: 2024-05-02 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-11-01 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsushi Kawamata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993243B2 ## CPC - B60K 23/0808: {for varying torque distribution between driven axles, e.g. by transfer clutch} - B60W 10/119: including control of all-wheel-driveline means, e.g. transfer gears or clutches for dividing torque between front and rear axle (B60W10/14 takes precedence) - B60W 10/12: including control of differentials - B60W 10/184: with wheel brakes - B60K 17/3467: {combined with a change speed gearing, e.g. range gear} - B60W 10/024: {including control of torque converters} - B60W 2510/1005: Transmission ratio engaged - B60W 2520/06: Direction of travel - B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed - F16H 3/54: one of the central gears being internally toothed and the other externally toothed - F16H 48/11: having intermeshing planet gears - F16H 48/24: using positive clutches or brakes - F16H 2200/0034: the gear ratios comprising two forward speeds - F16H 2200/2005: with one sets of orbital gears - F16H 2200/2035: with two engaging means - F16H 2200/2064: using at least one positive clutch, e.g. dog clutch - F16H 2200/2092: at least five freewheel mechanisms - F16H 2200/2094: using positive clutches, e.g. dog clutches - 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 - 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 - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A control apparatus for an all-wheel drive vehicle that includes (i) a power source, (ii) a power distribution device for distributing a power from the power source to front and rear wheels, (iii) a differential limiting mechanism for placing the power distribution device in a differential limiting state in which a rotational difference between the front wheels and the rear wheels is limited, and (iv) a braking device for applying a wheel braking torque to each of the front and rear wheels. When the power distribution device is placed in the differential limiting state and the wheel braking torque is applied to each of the front wheels and the rear wheels, a torque limiting control is executed for setting an upper limit value of a torque of the power source to a smaller value when the wheel braking torque is large than when the wheel braking torque is small. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus for an all-wheel drive vehicle that includes (i) front wheels, (ii) rear wheels, (iii) a power source, (iv) a power distribution device configured to distribute a power from the power source to the front wheels and the rear wheels, (v) a differential limiting mechanism configured to place the power distribution device in a differential limiting state in which a rotational difference between the front wheels and the rear wheels is limited, and (vi) a braking device configured to apply a wheel braking torque to each of the front wheels and the rear wheels, the control apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to, when the power distribution device is placed in the differential limiting state and the wheel braking torque is applied to each of the front wheels and the rear wheels, execute a torque limiting control for setting an upper limit value of a torque of the power source to a smaller value when the wheel braking torque is large than when the wheel braking torque is small. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution device is provided with a step-variable transmission configured to transmit the power from the power source to the front wheels and the rear wheels while changing a rotational speed of the power source, and wherein the circuitry is configured to execute the torque limiting control when a lowest gear position is established in the step-variable transmission. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, circuitry is configured to execute the torque limiting control when a running speed of the vehicle is not higher than a predetermined speed value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes: a power transmission device provided between the power source and the power distribution device, and a shift operation device that is to be operated to switch between power transmission states of the power transmission device, and wherein the circuitry is configured to execute the torque limiting control when the shift operation device is operated to select one of the power transmission states of the power transmission device that enables forward running of the vehicle or another one of the power transmission states of the power transmission device that enables reverse running of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes a transmission provided between the power source and the power distribution device, and wherein the circuitry is configured to execute the torque limiting control when a lowest forward gear position or a reverse gear position is established in the transmission.