Control apparatus for controlling driving device of vehicle

• US 20050272555A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tabata, Atsushi, Taga, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0043 the gear ratios comprising four forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/201 with three sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control apparatus for controlling a driving device of a vehicle, the driving device including a transmission system including (A) a non-step speed change portion which includes (a1) a differential device including a first rotary element connected to an engine, a second rotary element connected to a first electric motor, and a third rotary element connected to a transmission member, and (a2) a second electric motor provided in a power transmission path between the transmission member and drive wheels, and which functions as an electric CVT, and (B) a stepwise speed change portion which constitutes a portion of the power transmission path and functions as a stepwise automatic transmission, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching device which selectively switches the differential device to a differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion operates as the electric CVT, and to a non-differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion does not operate as the electric CVT; and a rotation speed synchronization controller which, when a stepwise speed change control of the transmission system is performed, performs, with the first and/or second motors, a synchronization control of respective rotation speeds of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to respective rotation speeds thereof after completion of the stepwise speed change control.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for controlling a driving device of a vehicle, the driving device including a transmission system including (A) a non-step speed change portion which includes (a1) a differential device including a first rotary element connected to an engine, a second rotary element connected to a first electric motor, and a third rotary element connected to a transmission member, and (a2) a second electric motor provided in a power transmission path between the transmission member and a plurality of drive wheels, and which functions as an electric, continuously variable transmission, and (B) a stepwise speed change portion which constitutes a portion of the power transmission path and functions as a stepwise automatic transmission, the control apparatus comprising:

a differential-state switching device which is associated with the differential device and selectively switches the differential device to a differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion can operate as the electric continuously variable transmission, and to a non-differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion cannot operate as the electric continuously variable transmission; and

a rotation speed synchronization controller which, when a stepwise speed change control of the transmission system is performed, performs, with at least one of the first and second electric motors, a synchronization control of respective rotation speeds of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to respective rotation speeds thereof after completion of the stepwise speed change control.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differential-state switching device selectively establishes, as the non-differential state, one of a first non-differential state in which the first, second, and third rotary elements are rotated as a unit, and a second non-differential state in which the second rotary element is not rotated, and wherein the rotation speed synchronization controller selects, when the stepwise speed change control is performed, one of a plurality of different rotation speed synchronization control methods that corresponds to a judgment about whether a switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the stepwise speed change control is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller temporarily switches, when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed, the differential device to the differential state thereof, and performs the synchronization control owing to an operation of the non-step speed change portion as the electric continuously variable transmission.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the stepwise speed change control is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller keeps, when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is not performed, the differential device to the non-differential state thereof, and performs the synchronization control.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotation speed synchronization controller performs, when said at least one of the first and second electric motors cannot be used, one of the stepwise speed change control of the stepwise speed change portion and the switching between the first and second non-differential states.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the differential-state switching device comprises at least one of (a) a clutch which connects at least two rotary elements of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to each other, so as to establish the first non-differential state and (b) a brake which connects the second rotary element to a non-rotary element so as to establish the second non-differential state.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the differential-state switching device comprises the clutch and the brake, wherein when the clutch and the brake are disengaged, the differential device is switched to the differential state thereof in which the first, second, and third rotary elements are rotated relative to each other and the non-step speed change portion operates as the electric continuously variable transmission, wherein when the clutch is engaged and the brake is disengaged, the differential device is switched to the first non-differential state thereof and the non-step speed change portion operates as a transmission whose speed ratio is equal to 1, and wherein when the brake is engaged and the clutch is disengaged, the differential device is switched to the second non-differential state thereof and the non-step speed change portion operates as a speed increase transmission whose speed ratio is smaller than 1.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differential device comprises a planetary gear set including a carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, and the first, second, and third rotary elements of the differential device comprise the carrier, the sun gear, and the ring gear, respectively.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the planetary gear set comprises a single-pinion planetary gear set including a pinion.

18. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the differential device comprises a speed increase transmission.

19. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the differential-state switching device comprises at least one of (a) a clutch which connects at least two rotary elements of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to each other, so as to establish the first non-differential state, and (b) a brake which connects the second rotary element to a non-rotary element so as to establish the second non-differential state, and wherein when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller performs a quick control of said at least one of the clutch and the brake.

2. A control apparatus for controlling a driving device of a vehicle, the driving device including a transmission system including (A) a non-step speed change portion which includes (a1) a differential device including a first rotary element connected to an engine, a second rotary element connected to a first electric motor, and a third rotary element connected to a transmission member, and (a2) a second electric motor provided in a power transmission path between the transmission member and a plurality of drive wheels, and which functions as an electric, continuously variable transmission, and (B) a stepwise speed change portion which constitutes a portion of the power transmission path and functions as a stepwise automatic transmission, the control apparatus comprising:

a differential-state switching device which is associated with the differential device and selectively switches the differential device to a differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion can operate as the electric continuously variable transmission, and to a non-differential state thereof in which the non-step speed change portion cannot operate as the electric continuously variable transmission; and

a rotation speed synchronization controller which, when a stepwise speed change control of the transmission system is performed, performs, with at least one of the first and second electric motors, a synchronization control of a rotation speed of the engine to a rotation speed thereof after completion of the stepwise speed change control.

11. A control apparatus for controlling a driving device of a vehicle, the driving device including a transmission system including (A) a differential system which includes (a1) a differential device including a first rotary element connected to an engine, a second rotary element connected to a first electric motor, and a third rotary element connected to a transmission member, and (a2) a second electric motor provided in a power transmission path between the transmission member and a plurality of drive wheels, and (B) a stepwise speed change portion which constitutes a portion of the power transmission path and functions as a stepwise automatic transmission, the control apparatus comprising:

a differential-state switching device which is associated with the differential device and selectively switches the differential device to a differential state thereof in which the differential system exhibits a differential function, and to a non-differential state thereof in which the differential system does not exhibit the differential function; and

a rotation speed synchronization controller which, when a stepwise speed change control of the transmission system is performed, performs, with at least one of the first and second electric motors, a synchronization control of respective rotation speeds of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to respective rotation speeds thereof after completion of the stepwise speed change control.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the differential-state switching device selectively establishes, as the non-differential state, one of a first non-differential state in which the first, second, and third rotary elements are rotated as a unit, and a second non-differential state in which the second rotary element is not rotated, and wherein the rotation speed synchronization controller selects, when the stepwise speed change control is performed, one of a plurality of different rotation speed synchronization control methods that corresponds to a judgment about whether a switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the stepwise speed change control is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller temporarily switches, when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed, the differential device to the differential state thereof, and performs the synchronization control.

15. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the stepwise speed change control is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller keeps, when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is not performed, the differential device to the non-differential state thereof, and performs the synchronization control.

16. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the rotation speed synchronization controller performs, when said at least one of the first and second electric motors cannot be used, one of the stepwise speed change control of the stepwise speed change portion and the switching between the first and second non-differential states.

17. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the differential-state switching device comprises at least one of (a) a clutch which connects at least two rotary elements of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to each other, so as to establish the first non-differential state and (b) a brake which connects the second rotary element to a non-rotary element so as to establish the second non-differential state.

20. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the differential-state switching device comprises at least one of (a) a clutch which connects at least two rotary elements of the first, second, and third rotary elements, to each other, so as to establish the first non-differential state, and (b) a brake which connects the second rotary element to a non-rotary element so as to establish the second non-differential state, and wherein when the switching between the first and second non-differential states is performed, the rotation speed synchronization controller performs a quick control of said at least one of the clutch and the brake.

12. A control apparatus for controlling a driving device of a vehicle, the driving device including a transmission system including (A) a differential system which includes (a1) a differential device including a first rotary element connected to an engine, a second rotary element connected to a first electric motor, and a third rotary element connected to a transmission member, and (a2) a second electric motor provided in a power transmission path between the transmission member and a plurality of drive wheels, and (B) a stepwise speed change portion which constitutes a portion of the power transmission path and functions as a stepwise automatic transmission, the control apparatus comprising:

a differential-state switching device which is associated with the differential device and selectively switches the differential device to a differential state thereof in which the differential system exhibits a differential function, and to a non-differential state thereof in which the differential system does not exhibit the differential function; and

a rotation speed synchronization controller which, when a stepwise speed change control of the transmission system is performed, performs, with at least one of the first and second electric motors, a synchronization control of a rotation speed of the engine to a rotation speed thereof after completion of the stepwise speed change control.