Vehicle drive control apparatus and method

A vehicle drive control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle including a first motor generator and a second motor generator, the vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a planetary gear set including a first rotating element drivingly connected to the first motor generator, a second rotating element drivingly connected to the second motor generator, and a third rotating element drivingly connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle;
• a rotation control mechanism selectively restricting rotation of one of the first and second rotating elements of the planetary gear set to establish a fixed speed ratio mode, and releasing the one of the first and second rotating elements to establish a variable speed ratio mode;
• a wheel slip detector configured to detect a slip state of the drive wheel with respect to a road surface;
• and
• a control unit configured to control each operating state of the rotation control mechanism, the first motor generator, and the second motor generator, the control unit being configured to establish the variable speed ratio mode when the slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the fixed speed ratio mode,
• wherein the wheel slip detector is configured to detect a braking slip state of the drive wheel with respect to the road surface, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to establish the variable speed ratio mode when the braking slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the fixed speed ratio mode, and configured to control the first and second motor generators in such a manner to apply a braking effort to the drive wheel in the established variable speed ratio mode.

A vehicle drive control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle including a first motor generator and a second motor generator, the vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a planetary gear set including a first rotating element drivingly connected to the first motor generator, a second rotating element drivingly connected to the second motor generator, and a third rotating element drivingly connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle;
• a rotation control mechanism selectively restricting rotation of one of the first and second rotating elements of the planetary gear set to establish a fixed speed ratio mode, and releasing the one of the first and second rotating elements to establish a variable speed ratio mode;
• a wheel slip detector configured to detect a slip state of the drive wheel with respect to a road surface;
• and
• a control unit configured to control each operating state of the rotation control mechanism, the first motor generator, and the second motor generator, the control unit being configured to establish the variable speed ratio mode when the slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the fixed speed ratio mode,
• wherein the wheel slip detector is configured to detect a driving slip state of the drive wheel with respect to the road surface, and
• wherein the control unit is configured to establish the variable speed ratio mode when the driving slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the fixed speed ratio mode, and configured to control the first and second motor generators in such a manner to apply a driving effort to the drive wheel in the established variable speed ratio mode.

A vehicle drive control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle including a first motor generator and a second motor generator, the vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a planetary gear set including a first rotating element drivingly connected to the first motor generator, a second rotating element drivingly connected to the second motor generator, and a third rotating element drivingly connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle;
• a rotation control mechanism selectively restricting rotation of one of the first and second rotating elements of the planetary gear set to establish a fixed speed ratio mode, and releasing the one of the first and second rotating elements to establish a variable speed ratio mode;
• a wheel slip detector configured to detect a slip state of the drive wheel with respect to a road surface;
• a control unit configured to control each operating state of the rotation control mechanism, the first motor generator, and the second motor generator, the control unit being configured to establish the variable speed ratio mode when the slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the fixed speed ratio mode;
• and
• a wheel slip controller configured to control the slip state of the drive wheel in accordance with a desired slip state when the slip state of the drive wheel is detected,
• wherein the control unit is configured to inhibit establishment of the fixed speed ratio mode for a predetermined period of time after a control process of the wheel slip controller is completed in the established variable speed ratio mode.

A vehicle drive control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle including an engine, a first motor generator, and a second motor generator, the vehicle drive control apparatus comprising:

• a case;
• a first single-pinion planetary gear comprising a first sun gear, a first planet-pinion carrier, and a first ring gear;
• a second single-pinion planetary gear comprising a second sun gear, a second planet-pinion carrier, and a second ring gear;
• a third single-pinion planetary gear comprising a third sun gear, a third planet-pinion carrier, and a third ring gear, the third planet-pinion carrier being drivingly connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle;
• a first rotating member coupling the first sun gear and the second sun gear, the first rotating member being drivingly connected to the second motor generator;
• a second rotating member coupling the first ring gear and the third sun gear;
• a third rotating member coupling the second planet-pinion carrier and the third ring gear;
• a first clutch selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the engine and the first motor generator;
• a second clutch selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the second ring gear and the first motor generator;
• a third clutch selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the first planet-pinion carrier and the second motor generator;
• a fourth clutch selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the third rotating member and the engine;
• a first brake selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the second ring gear and the case;
• a second brake selectively and drivingly connecting and disconnecting the first planet-pinion carrier and the case;
• a wheel slip detector configured to detect a slip state of the drive wheel with respect to a road surface;
• and
• a control unit configured to control each operating state of the first, second, third, and fourth clutches, the first and second brakes, and the first and second motor generators to establish at least a fixed speed ratio mode in which a speed ratio of the third planet-pinion carrier to the third rotating member is fixed and at least a variable speed ratio mode in which the speed ratio is allowed to vary,
• the control unit being configured to establish the at least variable speed ratio mode when the slip state of the drive wheel is detected in the at least fixed speed ratio mode.