DRIVE FORCE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100121546A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Akifumi, Ikushima, Yoshihiro, Yokoo, Takami, Kurosaki, Shin
• Application Number:
  US12/451,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/67
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2023/043 Control means for varying left-right torque distribution, e.g. torque vectoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 23/04 for differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/16 Axle differentials, e.g. for dividing torque between left and right wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0012 Feedforward or open loop systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/406 between left and right wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/204 Control of arrangements for suppressing differential actions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/368 using additional orbital gears in combination with clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/22 using friction clutches or brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/30 using externally-actuatable means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs

Abstract

A drive force control apparatus for a vehicle, having at least one engaging element and configured to implement drive force control to control transmitting of a drive force generated by a drive power source, to left and right drive wheels by controlling an engaged state of the at least one engaging element in accordance with a demand for control of the drive force, includes control demand determining means determining possibility that the demand for control of the drive force is made on the basis of a predetermined standard, and engagement control means implementing preliminary control to control the engaged state of the at least one engaging element to a stage prior to implementing of the drive force control if the control demand determining means determines that it is possible that the demand for control would be made.

Claims

1. A drive force control apparatus for a vehicle, having at least one engaging element and configured to implement drive force control to control transmitting of a drive force generated by a drive power source, to left and right drive wheels by controlling an engaged state of the at least one engaging element in accordance with a demand for control of the drive force, comprising:

control demand determining means determining possibility that the demand for control of the drive force is made on the basis of a predetermined standard, and

engagement control means implementing preliminary control to control the engaged state of the at least one engaging element to a stage prior to implementing of the drive force if the control demand determining means determines that it is possible that the demand for control would be made.

2. The drive force control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preliminary control controls the engaged state of the at least one engaging element such that a torque transmitting capacity is lower than that in the drive force control.

3. The drive force control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preliminary control controls the engaged states of fewer engaging elements that are selected from the at least one engaging elements than engaging elements in the drive force control.

4. The drive force control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive force control is differential limitation control that limits differential control of the left and right drive wheels, and the predetermined standard is whether the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed.

5. The drive force control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive force control is drive force distributing control that distributes the drive force to the left and right drive wheels in a predetermined ratio, and the predetermined standard is whether the vehicle is turning.