Patent ID: 7431111
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,H02J,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A power output apparatus that outputs power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine; an electric power-mechanical power input-output unit that is linked with an output shaft of said internal combustion engine and with the drive shaft to maintain or vary a driving state of said internal combustion engine and to output at least part of power from said internal combustion engine to the drive shaft through inputs and outputs of electric power and mechanical power; a motor that is capable of inputting and outputting power from and to the drive shaft; a secondary battery that is capable of supplying and receiving electric power to and from said electric power-mechanical power input-output unit and said motor; an input restriction setting module that sets an input restriction of said secondary battery; a charge-discharge electric power measurement module that measures a charge-discharge electric power used to charge said secondary battery or obtained by discharging said secondary battery; a power demand setting module that sets a power demand required to the drive shaft, in response to an operator's manipulation; a driving state varying mode changeover module that, in response to setting of an abruptly decreasing power demand by said power demand setting module, selects a driving state varying mode to vary the driving state of said internal combustion engine, based on the charge-discharge electric power measured by said charge-discharge electric power measurement module and the input restriction set by said input restriction setting module; and a controller that controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input-output unit, and said motor to ensure a variation in driving state of said internal combustion engine in the selected driving state varying mode and output of a power corresponding to the setting of the power demand to the drive shaft, wherein said driving state varying mode changeover module selects an ordinary state varying mode to gradually vary the driving state of said internal combustion engine when the measured charge-discharge electric power is less than a predetermined first electric power set on the basis of the input restriction, said driving state varying mode changeover module selecting an independent state varying mode to idle said internal combustion engine at a specified revolution speed without torque output and thereby vary the driving state of said internal combustion engine when the measured charge-discharge electric power is not less than the predetermined first electric power but is less than a predetermined second electric power set on the basis of the input restriction, said driving state varying mode changeover module selecting a fuel supply shutoff state varying mode to shut off fuel supply to said internal combustion engine and thereby vary the driving state of said internal combustion engine when the measured charge-discharge electric power is not less than the predetermined second electric power.