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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2001
Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Anjo, JP;
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a first electric motor mechanically connected to the engine and to a drive wheel. The engine is startable by the first electric motor. The hybrid vehicle further includes: start condition satisfaction determination processing system and method for determining whether a variable that varies corresponding to the rotation of the drive wheel is equal to or greater than a threshold set within a range that does not exceed an upper limit value prescribed by a maximum torque of the first electric motor and a torque of the first electric motor needed to start the engine; and engine start instruction output processing system and method for outputting an engine start instruction if the variable is equal to or greater than the threshold. If the variable is greater than or equal to the threshold, the engine start instruction is outputted, and the engine is immediately started.