A drivability target engine speed is set based on a shift stage based on an accelerator opening level and a vehicle speed and the vehicle speed, and a base driving force is set based on an accelerator required driving force and the drivability target engine speed. When an elapsed time after an accelerator depression amount increases is less than a threshold value, a correction driving force is set based on an increase in accelerator depression amount and an engine, a first motor, and a second motor are controlled such that an effective driving force obtained by adding the correction driving force to the base driving force is output to a drive shaft for a hybrid vehicle to travel.

A hybrid vehicle control method is provided for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a generator directly connected via a gear train having a plurality of gears that are engaged with each other. In this hybrid vehicle control method, a prescribed torque is continuously applied to the generator upon determining the engine is in a rotating state such that a transmission torque of the gear train does not continuously fluctuate above and below zero torque. Preferably, in one embodiment, the prescribed torque continuously applied to the second motor/generator is a negative torque value during a power generation operation in which the generator is rotated by the engine and is a positive torque value during a motoring operation in which the engine is rotated by the generator.

A power transmission device includes a rotor shaft, a gear shaft, and a rattling suppression member. The rattling suppression member is provided between a first shaft end portion and the gear shaft or between a second shaft end portion and the rotor shaft. The first shaft end portion is a portion, protruding to the gear shaft side from one of a pair of first bearings, of the rotor shaft, while the second shaft end portion is a portion, protruding to the rotor shaft side from one of a pair of second bearings, of the gear shaft.

A hybrid vehicle control method is provided for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a generator directly connected via a gear train having a plurality of gears that are engaged with each other. In this hybrid vehicle control method, a prescribed torque is continuously applied to the generator upon determining the engine is in a rotating state such that a transmission torque of the gear train does not continuously fluctuate above and below zero torque. Preferably, in one embodiment, the prescribed torque continuously applied to the second motor/generator is a negative torque value during a power generation operation in which the generator is rotated by the engine and is a positive torque value during a motoring operation in which the engine is rotated by the generator.

The control apparatus executes a pulsation compensating control where pulsation compensating torque is calculated for suppressing torque pulsation of an internal combustion engine by a pulsation-compensating-torque calculating portion and an MG1 controlling portion controls a first motor generator to output the pulsation compensating torque, while executes a pressing control where pressing torque is calculated for preventing torque of a second motor generator from crossing 0 Nm by a pressing-torque calculating portion and an MG2 controlling portion controls the second motor generator to output the pressing torque.

A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift in a vehicle having a driveline and an electric motor operable to output torque to the driveline includes applying a negative motor torque to the driveline to reduce driveline oscillations resulting from the transmission gear shift. The negative motor torque is based on vehicle conditions occurring after the transmission gear shift has begun and before the transmission gear shift is complete.

A drivability target engine speed is set based on a shift stage based on an accelerator opening level and a vehicle speed and the vehicle speed, and a base driving force is set based on an accelerator required driving force and the drivability target engine speed. When an elapsed time after an accelerator depression amount increases is less than a threshold value, a correction driving force is set based on an increase in accelerator depression amount and an engine, a first motor, and a second motor are controlled such that an effective driving force obtained by adding the correction driving force to the base driving force is output to a drive shaft for a hybrid vehicle to travel.

The control apparatus executes a pulsation compensating control where pulsation compensating torque is calculated for suppressing torque pulsation of an internal combustion engine by a pulsation-compensating-torque calculating portion and an MG1 controlling portion controls a first motor generator to output the pulsation compensating torque, while executes a pressing control where pressing torque is calculated for preventing torque of a second motor generator from crossing 0 Nm by a pressing-torque calculating portion and an MG2 controlling portion controls the second motor generator to output the pressing torque.

A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift in a vehicle having a driveline and an electric motor operable to output torque to the driveline includes applying a negative motor torque to the driveline to reduce driveline oscillations resulting from the transmission gear shift. The negative motor torque is based on vehicle conditions occurring after the transmission gear shift has begun and before the transmission gear shift is complete.

A power transmission device includes a rotor shaft, a gear shaft, and a rattling suppression member. The rattling suppression member is provided between a first shaft end portion and the gear shaft or between a second shaft end portion and the rotor shaft. The first shaft end portion is a portion, protruding to the gear shaft side from one of a pair of first bearings, of the rotor shaft, while the second shaft end portion is a portion, protruding to the rotor shaft side from one of a pair of second bearings, of the gear shaft.