Control apparatus

A control apparatus that controls a vehicle drive system that has a fluid coupling including a direct connection clutch, and a transmission and outputs rotation of an input member that is drivingly connected to an engine and a rotating electric machine to an output member, the control apparatus comprising:

• a differential speed acquisition unit that acquires a differential speed representing a difference in speed between an input side drivingly connected to the input member of the fluid coupling and an output side drivingly connected to the transmission;
• a state determination unit that determines a shift speed in the transmission and an operating state of the direct connection clutch based on an accelerator opening and a vehicle speed of a vehicle;
• and
• a direct connection control unit that engages, if the differential speed is equal to or less than a predetermined engagement permitting threshold value when the state determination unit determines an upshift of the shift speed and a transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state of the direct connection clutch in a condition in which the accelerator opening is decreasing, the direct connection clutch regardless of an upshift operation of the shift speed.