Control device and control method for automatic transmission

A control device for a hybrid vehicle automatic transmission for use in a hybrid vehicle having an automatic transmission including a friction engagement element provided in a power transfer path between an internal combustion engine and drive wheels and actuated by oil from a mechanical oil pump driven by the internal combustion engine, the hybrid vehicle being capable of EV travel in which drive wheels are driven by only a rotary electric machine with the internal combustion engine stopped, the control device comprising:

• electric oil pump control means for driving an electric oil pump that supplies oil to the friction engagement element;
• neutral control means for performing disengagement control on the friction engagement element to bring the automatic transmission into a neutral state during the EV travel;
• drag determination means for determining whether conditions under which drag of the friction engagement element occurs are met because of a shortage in amount of oil to be supplied to a cancellation oil chamber of the friction engagement element by the electric oil pump during the EV travel started from a state in which the hybrid vehicle is stationary;
• and
• drag elimination control means for providing a command to start the internal combustion engine to rotationally drive the mechanical oil pump in the case where the drag determination means determines that the conditions under which drag occurs are met.