Patent ID: 7771309

Claim:
A control apparatus for a drive apparatus for a vehicle, the drive apparatus having an engine, and a continuously variable transmission portion including a differential mechanism through which an engine output is distributed to a first electric motor and a transmitting member and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the transmitting member and drive wheels, and being operative to act as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission, the control apparatus comprising: a differential state switch device incorporated in the differential mechanism and selectively switched to an uncoupling state under which the continuously variable transmission portion is placed in a continuously variable shifting state rendered operative to perform an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation, and a coupling state under which the continuously variable transmission portion is placed in a non-continuously variable shifting state rendered inoperative to perform the electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation; on-engine-start switching control means operative to place the continuously variable transmission portion in the continuously variable shifting state upon a start-up of the engine; and engine start control means operative to increase an engine rotation speed to a level higher than a given engine rotation speed using the first electric motor for thereby starting up the engine.