Patent ID: 7252619

Claim:
A control device for a vehicular drive system which is arranged to transmit an output of an engine to a drive wheel of a vehicle and which comprises a switchable transmission mechanism including a power distributing mechanism which has a first element fixed to said engine, a second element fixed to a first electric motor, and a third element fixed to a second electric motor and a power transmitting member, and a coupling device operable to connect any two of said first through third elements to each other and/or fix said second element to a stationary member, said switchable transmission mechanism being switchable between a continuously-variable shifting state in which the switchable transmission mechanism is operable as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission, and a step-variable shifting state in which the switchable transmission mechanism is operable as a step-variable transmission, said control device comprising: switching control means for selectively releasing and engaging said coupling device, on the basis of a condition of the vehicle, to place said switchable transmission mechanism selectively in one of said continuously-variable shifting state and said step-variable shifting state; and electric motor control means for controlling said first electric motor so as to generate a reaction torque upon releasing of said coupling device, and/or so as to reduce speed differences among said first element, said second element and said third element or a speed difference between said second element and said stationary member, upon engaging of said coupling device.