Patent ID: 7255662

Claim:
A power output apparatus that outputs power to a drive shaft, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine; a power conversion mechanism that converts at least part of output power of the internal combustion engine into electric power; a motor that consumes the electric power converted by the power conversion mechanism to output power to the drive shaft; an accumulator unit that transmits electric power to and from the power conversion mechanism and the motor; a rotation speed measurement unit that measures a rotation speed of the drive shaft; and a control unit including :a target idle rotation speed setting module that sets a target idle rotation speed of the internal combustion engine corresponding to the measured rotation speed of the drive shaft; a power demand specification module that specifies a power demand required for the drive shaft; a target power setting module that sets a target power to be output from the internal combustion engine corresponding to the specified power demand; and a control module that, when the target power requires idling of the internal combustion engine, controls the internal combustion engine, the power conversion mechanism, and the motor to idle the internal combustion engine at the target idle rotation speed and to ensure output of a required power corresponding to the specified power demand to the drive shaft, when the target power does not require idling of the internal combustion engine, said control module controlling the internal combustion engine, the power conversion mechanism, and the motor to ensure output of the target power from the internal combustion engine and to ensure output of a required power corresponding to the specified power demand to the drive shaft.