CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE

摘要

Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.

主权项

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, an electric motor, a clutch for placing a power transmitting path between said engine and said electric motor in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state, and a transmission disposed in a power transmitting path between said electric motor and drive wheels,
the hybrid vehicle being switchable between a motor drive mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven with said electric motor being used as a vehicle drive power source while said clutch is placed in a released state, and an engine drive mode in which the hybrid vehicle is driven with said engine being used as a main vehicle drive power source while said clutch is placed in an engaged state, and an operating speed of said engine being raised by said electric motor in a slipping state of said clutch when the hybrid vehicle is switched from said motor drive mode to said engine drive mode, wherein: said control apparatus comprises a processor and a memory storing a computer readable and executable instruction set, such that, when said transmission is selected to undergo a shift-down action while said hybrid vehicle is switched from said motor drive mode to said engine drive mode, said processor executes said computer readable and executable instruction set to:
determine a temperature of said clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control; anddelay a point of time of initiation of said shift-down action of said transmission by a delay time, wherein said delay time is increased when said temperature of said clutch increases.