The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1997
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
A power output apparatus includes a planetary gear having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear. A crankshaft of an engine is mechanically linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor with the sun gear, and a second motor with the ring gear. A controller drives the second motor with electric power regenerated by the first motor or drives the first motor with electric power regenerated by the second motor, based on a gear ratio of the sun gear to the ring gear of the planetary gear, thereby enabling the power output from the engine to be converted to a desired power and output to a power transmission gear mechanically connected with the ring gear. The engine may be driven at any driving point that can output energy identical with the energy output to the ring gear. This structure allows the engine to be driven at a desired driving point of highest possible efficiency, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the whole apparatus.