Vehicle driving force control apparatus

• US 7,004,018 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimizu, Kouichi, Kadota, Keiji, Nishio, Keigo, Kamata, Tatsuya, Chen, Ping, Ohya, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, Eric S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, Octavia
• Application Number:
  US10/636,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 731/16, 701/85, 701/90, 701/88, 701/84, 701/55, 701/51, 701/29, 180/197, 180/248, 180/243, 477/14
• US Class Current: 73/115.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/00 Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units arrangement or mounting in vehicles of electrical gearing, in which an electrical machine serves only as reduction gearing and not as the prime mover and in which no electrical storing means are used B60K17/12; control and regulation of purely electrical prime movers B60L; prime-movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors in a common engine block or housing per se F02B65/00; electric motors or motor-generators used for starting the combustion engine F02N11/04; electric motors for synchronising gearing F16H3/12 Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/465 Slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/10 Indicating wheel slip ; Correction of wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/004 of the clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 : Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/263 : Slip values between front and rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 : Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicle driving force control apparatus controls a control torque command of an electric motor based on a power supplying condition of an electric power source. The power source supplies electric power to the electric motor that drives at least one wheel of the vehicle. An electric power supplying status detecting section determines an electric power supplying capacity of the electric power source based on the power supplying condition of the power source, while an electric motor torque control section controls the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by the electric power supplying status detecting section. Preferably, an internal combustion engine that drives at least one other wheel also drives a generator that acts as the power source of the electric motor. The vehicle driving force control apparatus is especially useful in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle driving force control apparatus of a vehicle provided with at least one first drive wheel, and a second drive wheel driven independently of the first drive wheel, the driving force control apparatus comprising:

a power source configured to supply electric power;

an electric motor configured to be supplied with electric power from the power source and transfer a drive torque to the first drive wheel;

an electric power supplying status detecting section configured to determine an electric power supplying capacity of the power source based on a power supplying condition of the power source; and

an electric motor torque control section configured to control a control torque command of the electric motor such that a target motor torque is limited based on the power supplying capacity determined by the electric power supplying status detecting section.

2. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the power supplying condition used in the electric power supplying status detecting section to determine the power supplying capacity is an electric power supplying capacity amount of the power source.

3. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the power supplying condition used in the electric power supplying status detecting section to determine the power supplying capacity is an electricity generation shortage determination of the power source.

4. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section that is configured to detect an acceleration command amount;

and

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to estimate the power supplying condition of the power source based on the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section such that the electric power supplying capacity is estimated to be smaller as the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes smaller.

5. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes a gear ratio detecting section that is configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle that is operatively connected to the second drive wheel;

and

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to estimate the power supplying condition of the power source based on the gear ratio of the transmission detected by the gear ratio detecting section such that the electric power supplying capacity is estimated to be smaller as the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section results in a lower engine speed.

6. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration slippage detection section configured to detect an acceleration slippage amount in the second drive wheel;

and

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to estimate the power supplying condition of the power source based on the acceleration slippage amount detected by the acceleration slippage detection section such that the electric power supplying capacity is estimated to be smaller as the acceleration slippage amount detected by the acceleration slippage detection section becomes smaller.

7. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a maximum voltage that the power source can supply to the electric motor and an induced voltage of the electric motor.

8. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a rotational speed of a generator of the power source and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a drive torque determining section and a field current control section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the drive torque determining section being configured to determine whether the drive torque of the electric motor is at most equal to a prescribed threshold torque;

and

the field current control section being configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by reducing a field current of the electric motor toward a prescribed field current limit value at a reduction rate, when the drive torque determining section determines that the drive torque of the electric motor is no greater than the prescribed threshold torque, the field current control section being further configured to set the reduction rate to a larger value as the electric power supplying capacity of the power source is estimated to become smaller.

10. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a field current control section, a gear ratio detecting section and a field current correcting section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the field current control section being configured to control a field current of the electric motor,

the gear ratio detecting section being configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle that is operatively connected to the second drive wheel, and

the field current correcting section configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by changing the field current to a smaller field current value, when the electric power supplying status detecting section determines based on the gear ratio that the power source will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver a target torque.

11. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to connect a clutch installed between the first drive wheel and the electric motor when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch,

the clutch connection control section including a target motor torque determining section configured to determine a prescribed drive torque value for releasing the clutch based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section,

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor such that the drive torque of the electric motor matches a target drive torque, and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch upon the target drive torque falling below the prescribed drive torque value such that the vehicle shifts to the non-all wheel drive mode in which at least the clutch disconnects the electric motor from the first drive wheel through the clutch, while the vehicle is traveling.

12. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to connect a clutch installed between the first drive wheel and the electric motor when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch, and release the clutch to disconnect the electric motor from the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a non-all wheel drive mode;

and

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor by setting the drive torque of the electric motor to decrease during shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode, based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section.

13. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to connect a clutch installed between the first drive wheel and the electric motor when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch, and release the clutch to disconnect the electric motor from the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a non-all wheel drive mode,

the electric motor torque control section configured to control the drive torque of the electric motor to a prescribed clutch release torque prior to the vehicle shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode;

and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch, based on the electric power supplying status detecting section determining that the power source will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver the drive torque at an amount that exceeds the prescribed clutch release torque.

14. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the power source includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive at least the second drive wheel, and a generator driven by the internal combustion engine and operatively coupled to the electric motor.

15. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a drive torque determining section and a field current control section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the drive torque determining section being configured to determine whether the drive torque of the electric motor is at most equal to a prescribed threshold torque;

and

the field current control section being configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by reducing a field current of the electric motor toward a prescribed field current limit value at a reduction rate, when the drive torque determining section determines that the drive torque of the electric motor is no greater than the prescribed threshold torque, the field current control section being further configured to set the reduction rate to a larger value as the electric power supplying capacity of the generator is estimated to become smaller.

16. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section that detects an acceleration command amount;

and

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to estimate the electric power supplying capacity limit based on the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section such that the electric power supplying capacity limit is estimated to be smaller as the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes smaller.

17. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a field current control section, a gear ratio detecting section and a field current correcting section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the field current control section being configured to control a field current of the electric motor,

the gear ratio detecting section being configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle that is operatively connected between the internal combustion engine and the second drive wheel, and

the field current correcting section configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by changing the field current to a smaller field current value, when the electric power supplying status detecting section determines based on the gear ratio that the generator will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver a target torque.

18. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to determine that the generator will enter the state of insufficient power generation, based on detecting that the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section falls below a prescribed gear ratio.

19. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising

an electric motor rotational speed detecting section configured to detect a rotational speed of the electric motor, and the field current correcting section being further configured to adjust the field current controlled by the field current control section by calculating an electric motor field current target value based on the electric motor rotational speed detected by the electric motor rotational speed detecting section.

20. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein

the field current correcting section is further configured to adjust the field current controlled by the field current control section to the smaller field current value by multiplying the electric motor field current target value by a correction coefficient that is less than one, when the gear ratio falls below the prescribed gear ratio.

21. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a clutch operatively disposed in a torque transmission path between the electric motor and the first drive wheel and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel.

22. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to release the clutch to disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel, when the drive torque of the electric motor is no greater than a prescribed threshold torque and the clutch has a clutch-releasing torque at which torque at the clutch is substantially zero.

23. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch,

the clutch connection control section including a target motor torque determining section configured to determine a prescribed drive torque value for releasing the clutch based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section,

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor such that the drive torque of the electric motor matches a target drive torque, and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch upon the target drive torque falling below the prescribed drive torque value such that the vehicle shifts to the non-all wheel drive mode in which at least the clutch disconnects the electric motor from the first drive wheel through the clutch, while the vehicle is traveling.

24. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, when the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section is smaller than a prescribed capacity value.

25. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section configured to detect an acceleration command amount;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, based on detecting that the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section is no greater than a prescribed acceleration command value.

26. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes a gear ratio detecting section configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle installed between the internal combustion engine and the second drive wheel;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, based on detecting that the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section is no greater than a prescribed gear ratio value.

27. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration slippage detection section configured to detect an acceleration slippage amount in the second drive wheel;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, as the acceleration slippage amount becomes smaller as detected by the acceleration slippage detection section.

28. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch, and release the clutch to disconnect the electric motor from the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a non-all wheel drive mode;

and

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor by setting the drive torque of the electric motor to decrease during shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode, based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section.

29. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, when the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section is at least below a prescribed capacity value.

30. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section configured to detect an accelerator instruction command amount;

and

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, as the accelerator instruction command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes smaller.

31. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes a gear ratio detecting section configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle operatively connected to the second drive wheel;

and

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, as the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section becomes smaller.

32. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first drive wheel driven by the electric motor connected through the clutch is driven and at least one other drive wheel is driven by a drive source not connected by the clutch, and release the clutch to disconnect the electric motor from the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in a non-all wheel drive mode,

the electric motor torque control section configured to control the drive torque of the electric motor to a prescribed clutch release torque prior to the vehicle shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode;

and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch, based on the electric power supplying status detecting section determining that the power source will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver the drive torque at an amount that exceeds the prescribed clutch release torque.

33. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a maximum voltage that the power source can supply to the electric motor and an induced voltage of the electric motor.

34. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 33, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to estimate the induced voltage of the electric motor based on at least one of a rotational speed of the electric motor and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

35. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a rotational speed of a generator of the power source and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

36. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is configured to control the drive torque of the electric motor to the prescribed clutch release torque such that the prescribed clutch release torque is substantially equal to an output torque of the electric motor to bring a torque at the clutch to substantially zero.

37. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to maintain the drive torque of the electric motor at the prescribed clutch release torque during a release operation of the clutch.

38. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes

an acceleration instruction detecting section that configured to detect an accelerator instruction command amount;

a torque calculation section configured to set a boundary drive torque for the electric motor by adding a prescribed tolerance torque value to the prescribed clutch release torque; and

a tolerance torque adjusting section configured to set the prescribed tolerance torque value to a larger amount as the accelerator instruction command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes larger.

39. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 32, further comprising

a clutch engagement prohibiting section configured to prohibit the clutch from engagement when the electric power supplying status detecting section determines that the power source cannot supply sufficient electric power for the electric motor to deliver the drive torque at an amount that exceeds the prescribed clutch release torque.

40. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a drive source configured to transfer a drive torque to the second wheel; and

a drive mode selection section configured to select a multi-wheel drive mode in which at least the first and second wheels are driven and a non-all wheel drive mode in which one of the first and second wheels is not driven.

41. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 40, further comprising:

a clutch operatively disposed in a torque transmission path between the electric motor and the first drive wheel and configured to selectively connect and disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel; and

a clutch release control section configured to output a clutch release command to disengage the clutch when the multi-wheel drive mode is selected by the drive mode selection section.

42. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 41 further comprising

the clutch release control section being configured to output the clutch release command when the drive torque of the electric motor is no greater than the prescribed threshold torque and the clutch has a clutch-releasing torque at which torque at the clutch is substantially zero.

43. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the multi-wheel drive mode, and release the clutch to disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the non-all wheel drive mode, and

the clutch connection control section including a target motor torque determining section configured to determine a prescribed drive torque value for releasing the clutch based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section,

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor such that the drive torque of the electric motor matches a target drive torque, and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch upon the target drive torque falling below the prescribed drive torque value such that the vehicle shifts to the non-all wheel drive mode in which at least the clutch disconnects the electric motor from the first drive wheel through the clutch, while the vehicle is traveling.

44. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, when the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section is smaller than a prescribed capacity value.

45. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section configured to detect an acceleration command amount;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, based on detecting that the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section is no greater than a prescribed acceleration command value.

46. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 43, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes a gear ratio detecting section configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle installed between the drive source and the second drive wheel;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, based on detecting that the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section is no greater than a prescribed gear ratio value.

47. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration slippage detection section configured to detect an acceleration slippage amount in the second drive wheel;

and

the clutch connection control section is further configured to increase the prescribed drive torque value, as the acceleration slippage amount becomes smaller as detected by the acceleration slippage detection section.

48. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the multi-wheel drive mode, and release the clutch to disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the non-all wheel drive mode, and

the electric motor torque control section being further configured to control the control torque command of the electric motor by setting the drive torque of the electric motor to decrease during shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode, based on the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section.

49. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, when the electric power supplying capacity detected by the electric power supplying status detecting section is at least below a prescribed capacity value.

50. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section configured to detect an accelerator instruction command amount;

and

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, as the accelerator instruction command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes smaller.

51. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 48, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes a gear ratio detecting section configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle installed between the drive source and the second drive wheel;

and

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to decrease the drive torque at a faster rate, as the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section becomes smaller.

52. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising

a clutch connection control section configured to engage the clutch to connect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the multi-wheel drive mode, and release the clutch to disconnect the drive torque of the electric motor to the first drive wheel when the vehicle is in the non-all wheel drive mode, and

the electric motor torque control section configured to control the drive torque of the electric motor to a prescribed clutch release torque prior to the vehicle shifting from the multi-wheel drive mode to the non-all wheel drive mode;

and

the clutch connection control section being further configured to release the clutch, based on the electric power supplying status detecting section determining that the power source will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver the drive torque at an amount that exceeds the prescribed clutch release torque.

53. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a maximum voltage that the power source can supply and an induced voltage of the electric motor.

54. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 53, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to estimate the induced voltage of the electric motor based on at least one of a rotational speed of the electric motor and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

55. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is configured to determine the electric power supplying capacity that can be generated based on a rotational speed of a generator of the power source and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

56. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is configured to control the drive torque of the electric motor to the prescribed clutch release torque such that the prescribed clutch release torque is substantially equal to an output torque of the electric motor to bring a torque at the clutch to substantially zero.

57. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 56, wherein

the electric motor torque control section is further configured to maintain the drive torque of the electric motor at the prescribed clutch release torque during a release operation of the clutch.

58. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 52, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes

an acceleration instruction detecting section that configured to detect an accelerator instruction command amount;

a torque calculation section configured to set a boundary drive torque for the electric motor by adding a prescribed tolerance torque value to the prescribed clutch release torque; and

a tolerance torque adjusting section configured to set the prescribed tolerance torque value to a larger amount as the accelerator instruction command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes larger.

59. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 52, further comprising

a clutch engagement prohibiting section configured to prohibit the clutch from engagement when the electric power supplying status detecting section determines that the power source cannot supply sufficient electric power for the electric motor to deliver the drive torque at an amount that exceeds the prescribed clutch release torque.

60. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 40, wherein

the drive source includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive the second drive wheel, and

the power source includes a generator driven by the internal combustion engine and operatively coupled to the electric motor.

61. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 60, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a drive torque determining section and a field current control section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the drive torque determining section being configured to determine whether the drive torque of the electric motor is at most equal to a prescribed threshold torque;

and

the field current control section being configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by reducing a field current of the electric motor toward a prescribed field current limit value at a reduction rate, when the drive torque determining section determines that the drive torque of the electric motor is no greater than the prescribed threshold torque, the field current control section being further configured to set the reduction rate to a larger value as the electric power supplying capacity of the internal combustion engine is estimated to become smaller.

62. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 61, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section includes an acceleration instruction detecting section that detects an acceleration command amount;

and

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to estimate the electric power supplying capacity limit based on the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section such that the electric power supplying capacity limit is estimated to be smaller as the acceleration command amount detected by the acceleration instruction detecting section becomes smaller.

63. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 60, wherein

the electric motor torque control section cooperates with a field current control section, a gear ratio detecting section and a field current correcting section to control the control torque command of the electric motor,

the field current control section being configured to control a field current of the electric motor,

the gear ratio detecting section being configured to detect a gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle that is operatively connected to the second drive wheel, and

the field current correcting section configured to adjust the control torque command of the electric motor based on the power supplying condition determined by changing the field current to a smaller field current value, when the electric power supplying status detecting section determines based on the gear ratio that the power source will enter a state of insufficient electric power supplying capacity for the electric motor to deliver a target torque.

64. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 63, wherein

the electric power supplying status detecting section is further configured to determine that the generator will enter the state of insufficient power generation, based on detecting that the gear ratio detected by the gear ratio detecting section falls below a prescribed gear ratio.

65. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 63, further comprising

an electric motor rotational speed detecting section configured to detect a rotational speed of the electric motor, and the field current correcting section being further configured to correct the field current controlled by the field current control section by calculating an electric motor field current target value based on the electric motor rotational speed detected by the electric motor rotational speed detecting section.

66. The vehicle driving force control apparatus as recited in claim 65, wherein

the field current correcting section is further configured to correct the field current controlled by the field current control section to the smaller field current value by multiplying the electric motor field current target value by a correction coefficient that is less than one, when the gear ratio falls below the prescribed gear ratio.

67. A vehicle driving force control apparatus of a vehicle provided with at least one first drive wheel, and a second drive wheel driven independently of the first drive wheel, the driving force control apparatus comprising:

electric power supply means for supplying electric power;

electric driving means for transferring a drive torque to the first drive wheel based on the electric power from the electric power supply means;

electric power supplying status detecting means for determining an electric power supplying capacity of the electric power supply means based on a power supplying condition of the electric power supply means; and

electric motor torque control means for controlling a control torque command of the electric driving means such that a target motor torque is limited based on the power supplying capacity determined by the electric power supplying status detecting means.

68. A method of controlling a vehicle driving force of a vehicle provided with at least one first drive wheel, and a second drive wheel driven independently of the first drive wheel, the method comprising:

supplying electric power from a power source to an electric motor;

transferring a drive torque to the first drive wheel based on the electric power supplied to the electric motor from the power source;

determining an electric power supplying capacity of the power source based on a power supplying condition of the power source; and

controlling a control torque command of the electric motor to limit a target motor torque based on the electric power supplying capacity of the power source.