Patent ID: 7970505

Claim:
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electrically controlled differential portion having an input shaft connected to the engine, an output shaft, a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between rotating speeds of the input and output shafts, (c) a hydraulically operated automatic transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and a drive wheel of a hybrid vehicle, said control apparatus comprising: (d) a hydraulic control unit for controlling the hydraulically operated automatic transmission portion, (e) a mechanical oil pump operable by the engine to deliver a pressurized working fluid to the hydraulic control unit, and (f) an electric oil pump electrically operated independently of the mechanical oil pump, to deliver a pressurized working fluid to the hydraulic control unit, and a hybrid-drive-system starting means configured for determining starting of the hybrid vehicle drive system, inhibiting injection of a fuel and to operate the engine by the electric motor upon determination of starting of the hybrid vehicle drive system, operating the mechanical oil pump to deliver the pressurized working fluid of a predetermined pressure to the hydraulic control unit while the injection of the fuel is inhibited and the engine is operated by the electric motor, stopping the mechanical oil pump and operating the electric oil pump only after obtaining the pressurized working fluid of the predetermined pressure, and injecting the fuel to the engine only after obtaining the pressurized working fluid of the predetermined pressure.