Patent ID: 7559871

Claim:
A power output apparatus that outputs power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine; a power conversion transmission structure that is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and to the drive shaft, said power conversion transmission structure converting at least part of output power of the internal combustion engine into electric power while transmitting a residual of the output power to the drive shaft as power in a preset rotating direction through input and output of electric power and mechanical power; a motor that is capable of outputting power both in a normal rotating direction and in a reverse rotating direction to the drive shaft with the electric power converted by the power conversion transmission structure; a driving force demand setting module that sets a required driving force of the drive shaft in response to an operator's instruction; and a control module that, when the drive shaft is to be rotated in another direction different from the preset rotating direction simultaneously with output of power from the internal combustion engine, sets a target drive point to an offset drive point, which has an offset of a rotation speed toward a higher rotation speed from a preset drive point that ensures power output from the internal combustion engine under a predetermined condition, while keeping an output power level of the internal combustion engine unchanged, and drives and controls the internal combustion engine, the power conversion transmission structure, and the motor to drive the internal combustion engine at the set target drive point and to rotate the drive shaft in the another direction with the required driving force.