A launch device coupling a prime mover to a transmission. The launch device includes a front cover for connecting to the output of the prime mover and an output hub for connecting to the input of the transmission. A rear cover is connected to the front cover and cooperates to define a chamber. Within the chamber are an impeller and a turbine having a plurality of opposing blades such that hydraulic fluid is directed from the impeller blades and toward the turbine blades. A main damper is provided between the turbine and output hub of the launch device. Coupled to the main damper is a lock-out clutch configured to releasably lock the main damper for rotation with one of the front and rear covers. The launch device also includes an active dynamic damper system coupled to the main damper and configured to reduce resonance influence on the main damper.

A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a control-subject component provided in a vehicle, by using a learning value of a control parameter which is obtained by a learning operation. The control apparatus includes an obtaining portion for obtaining information related to converged values of learning values of control parameters in a plurality of vehicles provided with respective control-subject components which are the same in type as the control-subject component provided in the vehicle, and a variation determination portion for determining whether a degree of variation among the converged values in the respective vehicles is smaller than a threshold value. The vehicle control apparatus causes the learning value to be converged by a smaller number of times of execution of the learning operation when the degree of the variation is smaller than the threshold value, than when the degree of the variation is not smaller than the threshold value.

A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a control-subject component provided in a vehicle, by using a learning value of a control parameter which is obtained by a learning operation. The control apparatus includes an obtaining portion for obtaining information related to converged values of learning values of control parameters in a plurality of vehicles provided with respective control-subject components which are the same in type as the control-subject component provided in the vehicle, and a variation determination portion for determining whether a degree of variation among the converged values in the respective vehicles is smaller than a threshold value. The vehicle control apparatus causes the learning value to be converged by a smaller number of times of execution of the learning operation when the degree of the variation is smaller than the threshold value, than when the degree of the variation is not smaller than the threshold value.

Provided is a lockup control device and a lockup control method for a vehicle power transmission device provided with a fluid transmission device including a lockup clutch. The lockup clutch is controlled to perform slip-engagement such that a differential rotation between an input-side rotating member and an output-side rotating member of the fluid transmission device is a target differential rotation set in advance, and the target differential rotation is corrected based on transition of a heat accumulation amount applied to friction members of the lockup clutch.

A method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) includes, during a downshift, disengaging at least one shift element (A through F) from a power flow of the transmission (5), guiding a power transmission capacity of a torque converter lockup clutch (4) to a level at which the torque converter lockup clutch (4) is in a non-slip operating condition during a positive engine override when a rotational speed of a prime mover (2) is guided towards a synchronous speed of a demanded desired ratio, and guiding the power transmission capacity of the torque converter lockup clutch (4)—no later than a point in time of the downshift at which the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) is equal to the synchronous speed of the desired ratio—to a level at which the torque converter lockup clutch (4) is transferred into a continuous slip operation due to torque.

An automatic transmission comprising a control valve body adapted to control oil flow within the transmission, a torque converter having a torque converter clutch operable in one of an open and an applied condition, a first control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter and a second control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter, a first oil path that provides a fluid connection between the first control circuit and the torque converter, a second oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter, a third oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter clutch, and an orifice that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter.

An automatic transmission comprising a control valve body adapted to control oil flow within the transmission, a torque converter having a torque converter clutch operable in one of an open and an applied condition, a first control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter and a second control circuit between the control valve body and the torque converter, a first oil path that provides a fluid connection between the first control circuit and the torque converter, a second oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter, a third oil path that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter clutch, and an orifice that provides a fluid connection between the second control circuit and the torque converter.

A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with (i) a power source, (ii) drive wheels and (iii) a fluid transmission device disposed between the power source and the drive wheels and including a lockup clutch to which a fluid pressure is supplied. A feedback control is executed for correcting a command value of the fluid pressure by a correction amount such that an actual value of a slip amount of the lockup clutch becomes substantially equal to the target value of the slip amount in a slip control. When the actual value has been converged into a given range with respect to the target value, the correction amount is obtained, and the command value for a next execution of the slip control is corrected by learning with use of the obtained correction amount. The given range is set depending on the target value of the slip amount.

A continuously variable transmission (2) has a torque convertor (3) having a lock-up clutch (30) and a continuously variable transmission mechanism (5). A control unit (10) has a shift control unit (10C) configured to be able to perform a pseudo stepwise up-shift control that varies a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism (5) stepwise, a lock-up control unit (10A) configured to control an engagement state of the lock-up clutch (30), and a torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform a torque-down control of a driving source (1). When the engagement control of the lock-up clutch (30) and the pseudo stepwise up-shift control are performed at the same time, the torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform the torque-down control with a greater torque reduction amount.

A continuously variable transmission (2) has a torque convertor (3) having a lock-up clutch (30) and a continuously variable transmission mechanism (5). A control unit (10) has a shift control unit (10C) configured to be able to perform a pseudo stepwise up-shift control that varies a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism (5) stepwise, a lock-up control unit (10A) configured to control an engagement state of the lock-up clutch (30), and a torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform a torque-down control of a driving source (1). When the engagement control of the lock-up clutch (30) and the pseudo stepwise up-shift control are performed at the same time, the torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform the torque-down control with a greater torque reduction amount.