Patent ID: 8091661

Claim:
A power output apparatus for outputting a power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine; a first motor capable of inputting and outputting a power; a second motor capable of inputting and outputting a power; a power distribution and integration mechanism including a first element connected to a rotating shaft of said first motor, a second element connected to a rotating shaft of said second motor, and a third element connected to an engine shaft of said internal combustion engine, said power distribution and integration mechanism configured such that these three elements can be differentially rotated with each other; and a transmission mechanism including a transmission differential rotation mechanism that has an input element connected to one of said first and second elements of said power distribution and integration mechanism, a fixing element, and an output element, said transmission differential rotation mechanism configured such that said input element and said output element can be differentially rotated with each other; and a coupling mechanism capable of selectively coupling said output element of said transmission differential rotation mechanism and the other of said first and second elements of said power distribution and integration mechanism with said drive shaft; and a control module for controlling said coupling mechanism so as to enable selectively switching between a state in which said output element of said transmission differential rotation mechanism and said drive shaft are coupled; a state in which both of said output element of said transmission differential rotation mechanism and the other of said first and second elements of said power distribution and integration mechanism are coupled with said drive shaft; and a state in which the other of said first and second elements of said power distribution and integration mechanism and said drive shaft are coupled.