Vehicle driving force control device

A driving force control device for a vehicle, comprising:

• a motor configured to generate torque for the vehicle to travel by being supplied with electric power;
• an engine configured to combust fuel in a cylinder to generate torque for the vehicle to travel;
• and
• a controller configured to receive an accelerator operation signal and output a control signal corresponding to the accelerator operation to the motor and the engine,
• wherein the controller sets a target torque of the vehicle corresponding to the accelerator operation, and distributes a target engine torque according to a predefined distribution rule, based on the target torque of the vehicle, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the target engine torque to the engine,
• wherein, during acceleration while in motion, the controller estimates a future amount of intake air to the cylinder at a predetermined time from a present time based on the target engine torque, and estimates a torque of the engine at the predetermined time based on the estimated future amount of intake air, wherein
• during acceleration while in motion, the controller sets a target motor torque at the predetermined time based on the estimated torque of the engine so that the target torque of the vehicle is achieved, and outputs a control signal corresponding to the target motor torque to the motor,
• the controller estimates the torque of the engine at the predetermined time from the present time based on the estimated future amount of intake air and an optimal ignition timing defined based on an operating state of the engine,
• the controller sets the target motor torque higher than a minimum torque that is generatable by the motor, and
• when the target motor torque is limited by the minimum torque, the controller retards the ignition timing of the engine from the optimal ignition timing so that the torque of the engine is reduced.