Patent attributes
A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including a continuously-variable transmission portion operable as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission having a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and a drive wheel of a vehicle. The control apparatus includes: (a) a differential-state limiting device provided in the differential mechanism, and operable to limit a differential function of the differential mechanism, for limiting an operation of the continuously-variable transmission portion as the electrically controlled continuously variable transmission; and (b) a differential-state switching controller operable, when acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle is required, for removing the limitation imposed by the differential-state limiting device on the operation of the continuously-variable transmission portion as the electrically controlled continuously variable transmission.
