초록 ▼

A method of controlling a power output apparatus including an engine, a drive shaft, first and second electric motors and a coupling device is provided. When a hybrid vehicle starts from rest, ECU operates to run the vehicle in EV mode only by means of one of the electric motors. When the operating

A method of controlling a power output apparatus including an engine, a drive shaft, first and second electric motors and a coupling device is provided. When a hybrid vehicle starts from rest, ECU operates to run the vehicle in EV mode only by means of one of the electric motors. When the operating point of the drive shaft passes a boundary that separates the underdrive region from the overdrive region, and enters the overdrive region, fuel supply to the engine is started so as to start the engine, and the coupling device is controlled so that coupling of the rotary shaft of the second electric motor is switched from the first coupling state in which the rotary shaft is coupled with the drive shaft to the second coupling state in which the rotary shaft is coupled with the output shaft of the engine. After switching, the ECU operates to run the vehicle in HV mode, utilizing the engine and the first and second electric motors.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of controlling a power output apparatus which includes an engine including an output shaft, a drive shaft that outputs power, a power adjusting device that includes a first electric motor and is coupled with the output shaft and the drive shaft, said power adjusting device being capable

1. A method of controlling a power output apparatus which includes an engine including an output shaft, a drive shaft that outputs power, a power adjusting device that includes a first electric motor and is coupled with the output shaft and the drive shaft, said power adjusting device being capable of adjusting at least the power transmitted to the drive shaft by means of the first electric motor, a second electric motor having a rotary shaft, and a coupling device operable to couple the rotary shaft of the second electric motor to at least one of the drive shaft and the output shaft, said power output apparatus having an operating region represented by the relationship between the torque and the speed of rotation, said operating region being divided by a predetermined boundary into a first region in which the rotary shaft of the second electric motor is coupled with the drive shaft, and a second region in which the rotary shaft of the second electric motor is coupled with the output shaft, said method comprising the steps of:(a) operating the second electric motor while keeping the engine stopped when an operating point of the drive shaft lies in the first region and the rotary shaft of the second electric motor is coupled with the drive shaft through the coupling device; and (b) when the operating point of the drive shaft passes the boundary and enters the second region, starting fuel supply to the engine so as to start the engine, while at the same time causing the coupling device to switch coupling of the rotary shaft of the second electric motor from a first coupling state in which the rotary shaft is coupled with the drive shaft, to a second coupling state in which the rotary shaft is coupled with the output shaft of the engine.