Patent ID: 8172721

Claim:
A control apparatus for a powertrain, said powertrain comprising: an electrical differential portion being configured such that a differential operation of an input rotation speed of an input shaft and an output rotation speed of an output shaft is controlled by an electric motor having its operation state controlled, said electric motor being coupled to a first rotary element of said electrical differential portion so as to be capable of transmitting motive power; a shift portion including an engagement element allowing the motive power to be transmitted from said electrical differential portion to a driving wheel by receiving an available supply hydraulic pressure, the available supply hydraulic pressure being an available hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic control apparatus; and a differential state switching mechanism configured to switch said electrical differential portion between a differential state where differential is performed and a locked state where the differential is not performed, wherein said electrical differential portion is brought into said locked state by said differential state switching mechanism, when a reduction in the available supply hydraulic pressure to said engagement element is sensed to be below a prescribed determination value, but before the available supply hydraulic pressure becomes insufficient to maintain the engagement element in an engaged state, said electrical differential portion includes said first rotary element, a second rotary element coupled to the input shaft, and a third rotary element coupled to the output shaft, and said electrical differential portion is configured such that said first to third rotary elements are rotatable relative to one another in said differential state, and said first to third rotary elements rotate integrally in said locked state.