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:
Jul. 21, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2006
Yasuo Shimizu, Toki, JP;
Hideto Watanabe, Toyota, JP;
Yasuo Shimizu, Toki, JP;
Hideto Watanabe, Toyota, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, 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 a torque demand Tr* required for the driveshaft is lower than a preset reference torque level Tref (step S) and that a vehicle speed V is lower than a preset reference speed level Vref (step S), the drive control of the invention idles the engine (step S) regardless of a stop request of the engine (steps Sand S). This arrangement effectively reduces the potential for backlash or gear rattle in the gear mechanism. On condition that the vehicle speed V is not lower than the preset reference speed level Vref (step S), on the other hand, the drive control of the invention stops the operation of the engine (step S) in response to the stop request of the engine (steps Sand S) even under the torque demand Tr* of lower than the preset reference torque level Tref (step S). This arrangement desirably enhances the energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle.