Patent ID: 7356400

Claim:
A clutch control apparatus for a power transmission system including an input rotating member and an output rotating member, the clutch control apparatus comprising: a friction clutch adapted to couple the input rotating member and the output rotating member with a variable degree of engagement, to transmit a clutch torque from the input rotating member to the output rotating member; a clutch actuator arranged to regulate the degree of engagement of the friction clutch to control the clutch torque; and a control unit connected for signal communication to the clutch actuator, and configured to perform the following: setting a first desired clutch torque setting in accordance with a clutch slip indicator indicative of an amount of slip between the input rotating member and the output rotating member; setting a second desired clutch torque setting to an amount of torque input from the input rotating member to the friction clutch; controlling the clutch torque to be the first desired clutch torque setting during a starting stage of the friction clutch; controlling the clutch torque to be the second desired clutch torque setting during a steady-state stage of the friction clutch; and controlling the clutch torque to gradually change from the first desired clutch torque setting to the second desired clutch torque setting during a transition stage between the starting stage and the steady-state stage.