Patent ID: 8437933

Claim:
A vehicle control apparatus comprising: an engine configured to output a torque for driving a vehicle; an electric motor configured to output a torque for driving the vehicle; a clutch including an electric motor side element and a driving wheel side element, wherein the electric motor side element is connected to the electric motor and the driving wheel side element is connected to a driving wheel of the vehicle, wherein the clutch is configured to set according to hydraulic pressure a transmitted torque capacity for torque transmission between the electric motor side element and the driving wheel side element, and wherein the hydraulic pressure is regulated to a control setpoint; and a controller configured to set the control setpoint, wherein the controller is further configured to: implement an electric motor speed control drive mode by allowing slippage between the electric motor side element and the driving wheel side element of the clutch and controlling rotational speed of the electric motor in a manner that the electric motor side element of the clutch rotates faster by a controlled difference than the driving wheel side element of the clutch; implement an engine speed control drive mode by allowing the slippage of the clutch and controlling rotational speed of the engine in a manner that the electric motor side element of the clutch rotates faster by a controlled difference than the driving wheel side element of the clutch; determine whether the vehicle is stationary; perform a procedure of reducing the control setpoint in response to determination that the vehicle is stationary when the slippage of the clutch is being allowed and controlled; permit the procedure when in the electric motor speed control drive mode; and inhibit the procedure when in the engine speed control drive mode.