A CVT drive train including a continuously adjustable variator and having a transmission input shaft situated on a primary drive side of the drive train and operatively connected with a primary drive source that is an internal combustion engine. A start-up device and a secondary drive source that includes an electrical machine are disposed co-axially. A first additional clutch serves to couple the secondary drive source to a direct drive stage, and a second additional clutch serves to couple the secondary drive to the variator input.

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.

A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, and a mechanically operated transmission mechanism which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the motor/generator and drive wheels, the control apparatus including a motor/generator control portion configured to implement a regenerative torque control of the motor/generator so as to generate a regenerative torque according to a braking operation by an operator of the vehicle in a decelerating run of the vehicle, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to initiate a shift-down action of the mechanically operated transmission mechanism after a rate of change of the regenerative torque has been held within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined length of time, where a determination to implement the shift-down action is made in the process of the regenerative torque control of the motor/generator according to the braking operation.

An electric drive direction confirmation system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system and method include receiving a gear selector input signal corresponding to a gear selection from an electronic gear selector on the vehicle, and sending a drive command to temporarily urge the vehicle in a direction corresponding to the gear selection.

Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, values of an engine spark to engine torque relationship are adjusted to improve engine torque control. The engine is subsequently operated responsive to adjusted values of the engine spark to engine torque relationship.

A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine; a gearbox with an input shaft connected to the combustion engine and an output shaft; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; first gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and second gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft. The method comprises: a) engaging gears corresponding to the first gear pair and to the second gear pair; and b) connecting a second sun wheel, arranged in the second planetary gear and a second planetary wheel carrier with each other, with the use of a second coupling device.

An electric drive direction confirmation system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system and method include receiving a gear selector input signal corresponding to a gear selection from an electronic gear selector on the vehicle, determining whether the gear selector input signal corresponds to a directional movement gear selection, and, when determined that the gear selector input signal corresponds to the directional movement gear selection, sending a drive command to temporarily urge the vehicle in a direction corresponding to the gear selection.

A method is provided to start a combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain, comprising a gearbox with input and output shafts; a first planetary gear, connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; one gear pair connected with the first main shaft, and therefore with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and one gear pair connected with the second main shaft. The method comprises: a) connecting an output shaft of the combustion engine with the input shaft of the gearbox, via a coupling device arranged between the output shaft and the input shaft; and b) controlling the first and second electrical machines to start the combustion engine.

Disclosed is an automatic transmission for a hybrid vehicle, the automatic transmission including an input shaft driven by the combustion engine, an output gearwheel, ring gear or pinion, a stationary element such as a casing for example, an electric machine of which the stator is secured to the stationary element, first, second, third, fourth and fifth selective torque transmitting members that can be selectively engaged or activated in order to establish different transmission ratios, a single double planetary gearset of the Ravigneaux type (TPR) the constituent functional elements of which are arranged as two sets of planetary gears connected by the aforementioned members to the input shaft and to the stationary element, the rotor of the electric machine being mounted on a functional element that injects the movement of the gearset.

A method controls a hybrid transmission for a motor vehicle that can operate according to at least two kinematic modes involving various connections of at least one internal combustion engine, at least one electric motor, and at least two drive wheels. The method includes controlling the transition between kinematic modes in accordance with the current kinematic mode during the start of the transition and a kinematic mode setting, if it is determined that the current kinematic mode is not equal to the kinematic mode of the transition and that the kinematic mode setting is not equal to the final kinematic mode, making a decision regarding the suitability of a transition interruption, during a change of request of the driver during which it is determined whether an interruption of the action is underway, and then continuing the transition or undertaking a new transition according to the result.