Patent ID: 7615950

Claim:
A control device for a hybrid electric vehicle arranged such that a driving force of an engine and a driving force of an electric motor can be transmitted to driving wheels, and that the engine and the driving wheels can be mechanically connected and disconnected by means of a clutch, comprising: revolution speed detecting means for detecting a revolution speed of the electric motor; and control means for setting an upper limit torque as a torque that is generable by the electric motor in accordance with the revolution speed detected by the revolution speed detecting means, and setting a required torque that should be output from at least one of the engine and the electric motor as a torque required for traveling of the vehicle, wherein the control means disengages the clutch and controls the electric motor to generate the required torque when the upper limit torque is equal to or greater than the required torque, and, on the other hand, engages the clutch and controls the engine and the electric motor in such a manner that a sum of a torque of the engine and a torque of the electric motor becomes the required torque when the upper limit torque is smaller than the required torque, and wherein the control means engages the clutch even if the upper limit torque is equal to or greater than the required torque when the revolution speed detected by the revolution speed detecting means becomes equal to or higher a predetermined revolution speed during traveling of the vehicle.