While a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode, an auto-driving oil pressure changing unit makes the engagement pressure of hydraulic oil supplied to a release-side engagement device to be released during a downshift of a stepwise shifting unit, higher than the engagement pressure set during traveling in a manual driving mode, so that retraction of the acceleration due to a drop of drive torque during the downshift is reduced. At this time, an auto-driving rotating machine controller makes drive-side MG2 torque generated from a second rotating machine, larger than that generated during traveling in the manual driving mode, so as to speed up the progress of the downshift, and prevent retraction of the acceleration from being prolonged.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that may be propelled via a primary axle and a secondary axle. In one example, a propulsion source of a secondary axle may be decoupled from at least one wheel via a dog clutch that includes teeth. The dog clutch may be disengaged in a way that reduces driveline noise and may reduce a possibility of driveline degradation.

Methods and systems are provided for a differential disconnect assembly of a vehicle, the differential disconnect assembly including a dog clutch used to engage and disengage a gear of a differential of the vehicle from a transmission of the vehicle. In one example, a method for operating a dog clutch comprises de-energizing a solenoid coupled to the dog clutch to initiate dog clutch disengagement; and during disengagement of the dog clutch when a return spring coupled to a first toothed interface of the dog clutch applies a first force on the first toothed interface in a first direction away from a second toothed interface, transiently re-energizing the solenoid that applies a second force to the first toothed interface in a second direction which is opposite the first direction.

The present invention teaches an apparatus for consistent and accurate on-site readings of fluorescence signals of coronavirus test result, with which a user directly reads a fluorescent light qualitatively instead of using electronic sensors. The fluorescent light is excited from a fluorescent source in a site of interest in a target assay. The device comprises a light source for generating an excitation light for exciting the fluorescent source of the target assay to generate a fluorescent light, a component for accurately transmitting the excitation light and the fluorescent light with less noise or reflection, a component for consistent detecting of the fluorescent source by bare eyes with minimal health risks, and a user control system that requires minimal training.

A vehicle drive device includes a control device, and the control device controls an electric motor, a first pressing mechanism and a second pressing mechanism such that a relational expression of T<T.sub.1+T.sub.2 is satisfied, where T represents a torque that is input to an input rotation member, T.sub.1 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a first multi-disc clutch and T.sub.2 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a second multi-disc clutch.

A drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle comprises at least one drive unit, a drive shaft driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft comprising a first wheel and a second output shaft comprising a second wheel, and a first clutch connecting the drive shaft to the first output shaft, and a second clutch connecting the drive shaft to the second output shaft, and furthermore, a control unit for regulating the clutches. In a stable first driving condition, the clutches are regulated such that a total locking power of the two clutches corresponds at least or substantially to a drive torque generated by the drive shaft; wherein a method comprises at least the following steps: a) determining an unstable second driving condition in which at least one first wheel has a first slip or a second wheel has a second slip; and b) modifying at least one locking ratio of the clutch connected to the at least one slipping wheel, wherein the first clutch has an adjustable first locking ratio and the second clutch has an adjustable second locking ratio.

Methods and systems for operating a clutch of an axle are provided. In one example, the clutch may be characterized in static or dynamic conditions. The clutch characterization may be a basis for subsequently operating the clutch during gearbox shifting. In particular, an amount of torque that is transferred via the clutch may be controlled or adjusted according to the clutch characterization.

A vehicle drive device includes: an electric motor; a multi-plate clutch including a plurality of clutch plates; a pressing mechanism configured to press the multi-plate clutch; an output rotary member to which a drive force of the electric motor is transferred through the multi-plate clutch; and a control device configured to control the electric motor and the pressing mechanism. The control device is configured to control the pressing mechanism using information on the result of test operation performed while the vehicle is stationary.

A vehicle drive device includes a control device, and the control device controls an electric motor, a first pressing mechanism and a second pressing mechanism such that a relational expression of T<T.sub.1+T.sub.2 is satisfied, where T represents a torque that is input to an input rotation member, T.sub.1 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a first multi-disc clutch and T.sub.2 represents a maximum of a torque that is able to be transmitted by a second multi-disc clutch.

Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a higher gear range to a lower gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a higher gear range to a lower gear range without stopping a vehicle.