Power output apparatus for hybrid vehicle

A motor vehicle that is driven by outputting power from an internal combustion engine and power from a motor to a drive shaft linked to an axle of said motor vehicle, where the internal combustion engine is drivable with a changeable supply of an exhaust gas to an intake system of the internal combustion engine, said motor vehicle comprising:

• a changeover state control module that, under a changeover operation of the supply of the exhaust gas, controls the internal combustion engine to prevent a variation in load of the internal combustion engine until completion of the changeover operation, while controlling the motor to ensure output of a required driving force to the drive shaft;
• an accumulator unit that is charged with electric power received from the motor and discharges electric power to give a supply to the motor;
• and
• an engine target power setting module that sets a target power to be output from the internal combustion engine corresponding to the required driving force,
• wherein said changeover state control module executes a specific control procedure that keeps unchanged a last target power, which has been set by said engine target power setting module immediately before the changeover operation of the supply of the exhaust gas, and controls the internal combustion engine to be driven with the unchanged last target power, while regu1ating an output power level of the motor, accompanied with the charge and the discharge of electric power to and from the accumulator unit, to compensate for a difference between the last target power and a power equivalent to the required driving force.

A control method of a power output apparatus that outputs power from an internal combustion engine and power from a motor to a drive shaft, where the internal combustion engine is drivable with a changeable supply of an exhaust gas to an intake system of the internal combustion engine, said power output method comprising the step of:

• under a changeover operation of the supply of the exhaust gas, controlling the internal combustion engine to prevent a variation in load of the internal combustion engine until completion of the changeover operation, while controlling the motor to ensure output of a required driving force to the drive shaft;
• charging an accumulator unit with electric power received from the motor and discharging electric power from the accumulator to give a supply to the motor;
• and
• setting a target power with an engine target power setting module, the target power being outputted from the internal combustion engine corresponding to the required driving force,
• wherein said changeover state control module executes a specific control procedure that keeps unchanged a last target power, which has been set by said engine target power setting module immediately before the changeover operation of the supply of the exhaust gas, and controls the internal combustion engine to be driven with the unchanged last target power, while regulating an output power level of the motor, accompanied with the charge and the discharge of electric power to and from the accumulator unit, to compensate for a difference between the last target power and a power equivalent to the required driving force.