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:
Jun. 30, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2006
Yasuo Shimizu, Toki, JP;
Hideto Watanabe, Toyota, JP;
Yasuo Shimizu, Toki, JP;
Hideto Watanabe, Toyota, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota-shi, JP;
Abstract
In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor that are connected to a driveshaft linked to an axle via a gear mechanism, on condition that an output torque of the motor (previous Tm) is not lower than a preset reference output torque Tmref (step S) at a moment of a start requirement of the engine (steps Sand S), the drive control of the invention starts the engine (step S). On conditions that the output torque of the motor (previous Tm) is lower than the preset reference output torque Tmref (step S), that a torque demand Tr* is lower than a preset reference torque level Tref (step S), and that a state of charge SOC of a battery is not lower than a preset reference charge level Sref (step S), the drive control keeps the engine at a stop (step S), regardless of the start requirement. This arrangement effectively reduces the potential for backlash or gear rattle in the gear mechanism due to a torque pulsation applied to the driveshaft at a start of the engine.