A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.

A synchronous machine drive control device such that a rotation angle correction amount can be detected even when a synchronous machine is rotating at high speed, and the rotation angle correction amount can be detected over a wide range, is obtained. A rotation angle correction amount calculation unit that calculates a correction amount of a rotation angle of a synchronous machine is included in an inverter control device, and the correction amount of the rotation angle is calculated based on a current detected by a current sensor by a three-phase short circuit being implemented in a state wherein the synchronous machine is rotating.

A transaxle may include a motor, an input shaft, first and second output shafts, and first and second clutches. The input shaft has first and second ends. The first end of the input shaft is structured to receive an engine power from an engine. The second end of the input shaft is structured to receive motor power from the motor. The first output shaft is driven by power outputted from the input shaft. The second output shaft is driven by the motor power. The second output shaft is extended coaxially to the input shaft. The first clutch is interposed between the motor and the input shaft. The second clutch is interposed between the motor and the second output shaft. The first clutch and the second clutch are coaxially disposed between the second end of the input shaft and an axial end of the second output shaft.

A method of controlling a mode transition of a hybrid vehicle includes determining whether a mode transition from a first mode to a second mode is required based on a first torque, the first torque being a current required torque. A second torque, which is a required torque expected to be generated at a near-future time from a current time, is also determined. A predicted gear shift time point and a predicted engagement time point of an engine clutch are determined based on the second torque. The mode transition to the second mode is performed when it is determined that the mode transition to the second mode is required and the predicted engagement time point is earlier than the predicted gear shift time point.

A transfer case capable of multiple drive ratios (i.e. high and low) in all operating modes of a hybrid all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle. The transfer case comprises an input shaft, a primary output shaft, a secondary output shaft, an electric motor, and a planetary gear set. The secondary output shaft is selectively rotatably coupled to the primary output shaft. The planetary gear set has a ring gear rotatably fixed to the input shaft, a planet carrier rotatably fixed to the primary output shaft, and a sun gear rotatably fixed to an output of the electric motor.

Disclosed is a method for control a vehicle with a drive system comprising an output shaft of a combustion engine and a planetary gear with a first and a second electrical machine, connected via their rotors to the components of the planetary gear, the vehicle is started by controlling the first electrical machine to achieve a torque thereof, so that the requested torque is transmitted to the planetary gear's output shaft, and controlling the second electrical machine to achieve a torque, so that the desired power to electrical auxiliary aggregates and/or loads in the vehicle, and/or electric energy storage means, if present in the vehicle, for exchange of electric energy with the first and second electrical machine is achieved.

A device and a method for controlling vehicle speed in a vehicle equipped with brake cruise control when the vehicle is travelling downhill are provided. The method involves driving a vehicle downhill with the brake set speed set to a first brake set speed; detecting a current vehicle speed; automatically applying a brake torque using at least an auxiliary brake to maintain the first brake set speed; and detecting a manual application of a vehicle service brake, in order to decrease vehicle speed. If a control unit detects that the driver is applying the service brake, then the control unit is automatically arranged to set the brake set speed to a second brake set speed that is lower than the first brake set speed; and to apply a brake torque using at least the auxiliary brake if a detected current vehicle speed exceeds the second brake set speed.

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in which by at least one ultrasonic sensor, operated in the active operation mode, of an ultrasonic sensor device of the motor vehicle ultrasonic waves are emitted into an environmental region of the motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle as hybrid vehicle is equipped with an internal combustion engine (and an electric drive machine and in the active operation mode of the ultrasonic sensor arranged on a rear part of the motor vehicle the motor vehicle at least temporarily is operated by means of the electric drive machine. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a second motor, a battery, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: set a shift stage based on a depression amount of an accelerator and a vehicle speed or a driver's operation; set a base driving force based on the degree of the depression amount of the accelerator, the vehicle speed, and a target rotation speed; set a correction driving force such that the correction driving force increases with an increase in elapsed time after upshifting or an increase in the vehicle speed after upshifting when the shift stage upshifts; and control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that a driving force obtained by correcting the base driving force using the correction driving force is output to the drive shaft.

Disclosed is a method for managing the starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid drive system including a combustion engine and an electric machine, as well as a drive shaft, the electric machine producing torque to start the combustion engine and drive the drive shaft at least during an initial phase of the start. In a transient starting phase, the combustion engine drives the drive shaft and the electric machine is stopped. The electric machine is regulated, during the initial phase and transient phases, with a first engine speed setpoint. The transient phase begins when the drive shaft reaches the first engine speed setpoint and remains steady. Torque control produced by the electric machine during the transient starting phase being configured so that the electric machine is stopped as soon as the control determines that the torque produced by the electric machine is tending toward zero torque.