US 12,187,265 B2
Vehicle control apparatus
Jun Oosawa, Tokyo (JP); and Masaki Komuro, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to SUBARU CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by SUBARU CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/692,412.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-059528 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0314962 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B60W 20/40 (2016.01); B60W 10/02 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60W 20/40 (2013.01) [B60W 10/02 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 2710/083 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle control apparatus configured to control a vehicle, the vehicle control apparatus comprising:
a motor generator coupled to a first drive wheel;
an engine coupled to at least one of the first drive wheel and a second drive wheel via a power transmission path;
a transmission mechanism disposed in the power transmission path;
a clutch mechanism disposed in the power transmission path between the engine and the transmission mechanism; and
a control system comprising a processor and a memory communicably coupled to each other and configured to control the motor generator, the engine, the transmission mechanism and the clutch mechanism,
wherein the control system has:
a first traveling mode to control the clutch mechanism to be in an engagement state, control the engine to be in a driving state, control the motor generator to be in a rotation state, and the vehicle to be in a hybrid electric vehicle mode; and
a second traveling mode to control the clutch mechanism to be in a disengagement state, control the engine to be in a stopped state, control the motor generator to be in the rotation state, and the vehicle to be in an electric vehicle mode, and
wherein the control system is configured to set a shift period based on a transmission gear ratio of the transmission mechanism, and
wherein the control system is configured to:
control, upon switching from the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode, the clutch mechanism to be in a state where the clutch mechanism is engaged for an entirety of the shift period; and
under the state where the clutch mechanism is engaged, decrease a torque of the engine and increase a power running torque of the motor generator.