Apparatus for controlling a vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorAtsushi Tabata
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle which prevents a frequent gear shift called “busy-shift” caused by a varying driving condition. A plurality of wheels, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources are mounted in the vehicle. The apparatus for controlling the vehicle includes a detecting and a torque change. The detecting means detects a selected gear ratio of the transmission. Since torque of the second power source is increased or decreased in response to the selected gear ratio which is detected by the detecting, a fluctuation of the driving torque of the vehicle is restrained. Consequently, a frequent gear shift “busy-shift” can be avoided.
Claims49
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a detecting means for detecting a selected gear ratio of the transmission;
- and
- a torque change means for increasing or decreasing a torque of the second power source in response to the selected gear ratio of the transmission.
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a detecting means for detecting a selected gear ratio of the transmission and a driving condition of the vehicle;
- and
- an assist zone change means for changing an assist zone in response to the selected gear ratio of the transmission, the assist zone being set in response to the driving condition of the vehicle.
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a detecting means for detecting at least one of a driving condition of the vehicle, a condition of the first power source, a condition of the second power source, a condition of the electric power supply, and a condition of the transmission;
- a mode setting means for setting a plurality of control modes of increasing or decreasing a torque of the second power source in response to the condition detected by the detecting means;
- a mode change means for selecting and changing the control mode in response to the condition detected by the detecting means;
- and
- an executing means for executing the control mode selected by the mode change means.
A method for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting at least one of a driving condition of the vehicle, a condition of the first power source, a condition of the second power source, a condition of the electric power supply, and a condition of the transmission;
- setting a plurality of control modes of increasing or decreasing a torque of the second power source in response to the detected condition;
- selecting and changing the control mode in response to the detected condition;
- and
- executing the selected control mode.
An apparatus for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a detecting means for detecting a condition that causes a power outputted by the electric motor to fall;
- a mode setting means for setting a plurality of control modes of increasing or decreasing a torque of the electric motor in response to the condition detected by the detecting means;
- a mode change means for selecting and changing the control mode in response to the condition detected by the detecting means;
- and
- an executing means for executing the control mode selected by the mode change means.
A method for controlling a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, the transmission transmitting driving power to the wheel, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a condition where a power outputted by the electric motor falls;
- setting a plurality of control modes of increasing and decreasing a torque of the electric motor in response to the detected condition;
- selecting and changing the control mode in response to the detected condition;
- and
- executing the selected control mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.