A power transmission mechanism

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promptly start an internal combustion engine in a stop state while its own vehicle is traveling. SOLUTION: In a state where the internal combustion engine is in a stop state, and the engine and a transmission are separated by a main clutch, it is determined whether the vehicle is in an EV traveling mode where the vehicle is driven by a motor (STEP S01). When in the mode, a vehicle speed V is determined from among 1-5 speed ranges in which the engine can be started by not less than a prescribed start possible number of revolutions #NS, and a pair of gears corresponding to each range is selected to connect the input and output shafts of the transmission (STEP S03-S12). It is determined whether an output required by a driver is not more than an output limit value that the motor can output (STEP S13). When it is YES, it is determined whether the residual capacity SOC of the battery that supplies power to the motor is outside of an immediate power generation requiring range (STEP S14). When it is NO, the engine and the transmission are connected via the main clutch. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO