Patents by Inventor Atsushi Ayabe

Atsushi Ayabe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8768590
    Abstract: A transmission ECU 12 determines whether or not the conditions for executing a neutral control operation are satisfied (step S11), and measures hydraulic oil temperature if it determines that the execution conditions are satisfied (step S12). Then, the transmission ECU 12 sets a target speed ratio for a torque converter 3 corresponding to the measured hydraulic oil temperature (step S13), and performs a neutral control operation to bring the speed ratio of the torque converter 3 equal to the target speed ratio (step S14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Publication number: 20140025269
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle drive device in which an output of a power source is input from a hydraulic power transmission device via a friction engagement device to a continuously variable transmission and transmitted toward drive wheels after speed is changed by the continuously variable transmission, the control device includes: an abnormality detecting portion configured to make a determination of abnormality indicating that the friction engagement device is in a complete release state or a slip state; and an abnormality distinguishing portion, if the abnormality detecting portion makes a determination of abnormality, configured to judge that the friction engagement device is in the slip state when an input/output rotation speed difference between an input rotation speed and an output rotation speed of the hydraulic power transmission device is equal to or greater than a predetermined slip determination value and that the friction engagement device is in the complete release state when the input/output
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Shinya Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8596041
    Abstract: An ECU executes the program including the step acquiring a catalyst temperature when the execution condition for fuel-cut control is satisfied; the step selecting a throttle opening degree based on the catalyst temperature; the step executing fuel-cut control; and the step executing return control from fuel-cut control when the condition for returning from fuel-cut control is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20130218429
    Abstract: A control device of a continuously variable transmission that controls an input-side thrust force of an input-side variable pulley and an output-side thrust force of an output-side variable pulley to set an actual gear ratio to a target gear ratio and prevent a slip of the transmission belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Shinya Toyoda, Kunio Hattori
  • Patent number: 8498789
    Abstract: An ECT torque controlling system sets a torque demand amount. The torque demand amount set by the ECT torque controlling system is converted by a converter of a power train manager into a torque demand amount changing with a delay relative to the set torque demand amount. A selector of the power train manager switches between a state of converting the set torque demand amount into the torque demand amount changing with the delay relative to the set target value and a non-conversion state. An engine controlling system controls an engine so as to achieve the torque demand amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chinbe, Hiroyuki Otsuki, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Publication number: 20130165282
    Abstract: A control device of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle having a pair of variable pulleys with variable effective diameters of an input-side variable pulley and an output-side variable pulley and a transmission belt wound around between the pair of the variable pulleys, the continuously variable transmission respectively controlling an input-side thrust force in the input-side variable pulley and an output-side thrust force in the output-side variable pulley to set an actual gear ratio to a target gear ratio while preventing a slip of the transmission belt, the continuously variable transmission includes: a hydraulic control circuit capable of accurately controlling one of the input-side variable pulley and the output-side variable pulley in terms of thrust force as compared to the other, in the case that a target thrust force on the one side for assuring belt slip prevention of the both pulleys on the one side is set, based on a target thrust force on the one side, a target thrust force on the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Shinya Toyoda, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 8392079
    Abstract: Damping control, by which an engine is controlled to output torque for reducing up-and-down vibrations such as pitching and bouncing of a vehicle, is performed. When the damping control is interrupted, the behavior of engine torque after the damping control is interrupted is predicted. Shift of an automatic transmission is controlled in accordance with the predicted behavior of the engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Oda, Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Patent number: 8335621
    Abstract: When downshift control is performed during fuel cut control (when coast-down gearshift control is performed), fuel cut reset revolutions are lowered and set to revolutions Ndwn that are lower than fuel cut reset revolutions Nnor for normal control. By such a setting, it becomes possible to maintain fuel cut control and deceleration lockup slippage control even when engine revolutions NE temporarily drop during execution of coast-down gearshift control, so an improvement in fuel consumption can be achieved. Moreover, it becomes unnecessary to set a downshift gearshift line to a higher vehicle speed side, so fuel cut can be maintained while suppressing the occurrence of a gearshift shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20120060479
    Abstract: An ECU executes the program including the step acquiring a catalyst temperature when the execution condition for fuel-cut control is satisfied the step selecting a throttle opening degree based on the catalyst temperature; the step executing fuel-cut control; and the step executing return control from fuel-cut control when the condition for returning from fuel-cut control is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20120022755
    Abstract: Damping control, by which an engine is controlled to output torque for reducing up-and-down vibrations such as pitching and bouncing of a vehicle, is performed. When the damping control is interrupted, the behavior of engine torque after the damping control is interrupted is predicted. Shift of an automatic transmission is controlled in accordance with the predicted behavior of the engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Oda, Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20110313628
    Abstract: An ECT torque controlling system sets a torque demand amount. The torque demand amount set by the ECT torque controlling system is converted by a converter of a power train manager into a torque demand amount changing with a delay relative to the set torque demand amount. A selector of the power train manager switches between a state of converting the set torque demand amount into the torque demand amount changing with the delay relative to the set target value and a non-conversion state. An engine controlling system controls an engine so as to achieve the torque demand amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chinbe, Hiroyuki Otsuki, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Publication number: 20110196590
    Abstract: A start control device and a start control method of a vehicular power transmission system including a lock-up clutch and a start clutch are provided in which start-time lock-up slip control is performed, and neutral control is performed. When the start-time lock-up slip control is additionally executed during cancellation of the neutral control, the gradient of an output rotational speed of the hydraulic power transmission which is changed, through engagement of the start clutch, toward an input rotational speed of the automatic transmission at the time of completion of engagement of the start clutch is controlled, using at least one of a start clutch pressure that is increased so as to engage the start clutch, and a lock-up clutch pressure that is increased so as to bring the lock-up clutch into slip engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi AYABE, Tomohiro Asami, Hidenori Saito
  • Publication number: 20100250050
    Abstract: When vehicle speed after determining that a downshift is to be performed is equal to or smaller than first permission vehicle speed VON or second permission vehicle speed VOFF, a controller of an ECT_ECU controls an automatic transmission so that the downshift is performed. When the vehicle speed after determining that the downshift is to be performed is larger than first permission vehicle speed VON or second permission vehicle speed VOFF, a first inhibitor inhibits the downshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 7740559
    Abstract: A shift control device of a vehicular automatic transmission, if during a first shift in a power-off state, a second shift judgment for a second shift that is a power-on downshift is made, performs a second shift control of lowering an input shaft rotation speed to a synchronous rotation speed of a post-second shift gear step through an engagement control of the friction engagement devices, and when the second shift is performed, performs a control of reducing a throttle valve opening degree of the engine to a predetermined degree that causes the engine to output a torque that is able to bring the input shaft rotation speed to a rotation speed that is higher than the synchronous rotation speed of the post-second shift gear step. The control device also executes a retardation control of retarding an ignition timing of the engine when the input shaft rotation speed is dropped through the second shift control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Toshio Sugimura, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hisashi Ishihara, Kazuhiro Iketomi, Yosuke Takaie
  • Publication number: 20100131160
    Abstract: When downshift control is performed during fuel cut control (when coast-down gearshift control is performed), fuel cut reset revolutions are lowered and set to revolutions Ndwn that are lower than fuel cut reset revolutions Nnor for normal control. By such a setting, it becomes possible to maintain fuel cut control and deceleration lockup slippage control even when engine revolutions NE temporarily drop during execution of coast-down gearshift control, so an improvement in fuel consumption can be achieved. Moreover, it becomes unnecessary to set a downshift gearshift line to a higher vehicle speed side, so fuel cut can be maintained while suppressing the occurrence of a gearshift shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20100121542
    Abstract: A transmission ECU 12 determines whether or not the conditions for executing a neutral control operation are satisfied (step S11), and measures hydraulic oil temperature if it determines that the execution conditions are satisfied (step S12). Then, the transmission ECU 12 sets a target speed ratio for a torque converter 3 corresponding to the measured hydraulic oil temperature (step S13), and performs a neutral control operation to bring the speed ratio of the torque converter 3 equal to the target speed ratio (step S14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 7625313
    Abstract: In a shift control device and a shift control method of a vehicular automatic transmission that performs a coast downshift by engagement switch between a release-side engagement element and an element-side engagement element at a time of deceleration of a vehicle, it is determined whether or not there is a driver's intention to decelerate the vehicle during the coast downshift. If an affirmative determination is made regarding the intention to decelerate the vehicle, the rise of engagement pressure of the engagement-side engagement element is stopped so as to cause the coast downshift not to progress. If a negative determination is made regarding the intention to decelerate the vehicle while the rise of the engagement pressure has been stopped, the engagement pressure of the engagement-side engagement element is raised again so as to cause the coast downshift to progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kondo, Yoji Takanami, Atsushi Ayabe, Masami Kondo, Masaharu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7563197
    Abstract: In a shift control device and a shift control method of an automatic transmission that establishes a plurality of gear steps of different speed change ratios by selectively engaging a plurality of friction engagement devices, one of a shift start time point and an inertia phase start time point is used as a reference time. In a power-off shift, the shift action is compulsorily ended when the elapsed time from the reference time exceeds a first time. In a power-on shift, the shift action is compulsorily ended when the elapsed time from the reference time exceeds a second time that is set shorter than the first time. If a switch from the power-off shift to the power-on shift occurs halfway through the power-off shift, the shift action is compulsorily ended when the elapsed time from the time point of the switch exceeds a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Toshio Sugimura, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hisashi Ishihara, Kazuhiro Iketomi, Yosuke Takaie
  • Patent number: 7563198
    Abstract: A shift control device of a vehicular automatic transmission that establishes a plurality of gear steps of different speed change ratios by selectively engaging a plurality of friction engagement devices ends the shift control by making an engagement end determination regarding an engagement-side friction engagement device if it has been determined continuously for a predetermined time that the input shaft rotation speed of the automatic transmission is in the vicinity of the synchronous rotation speed of the post-shift gear step. The predetermined time is set at a first time if the downshift is a power-on downshift due to a shift judgement in a power-on state, and is set at a second time that is shorter than the first time if the downshift is a power-off?on downshift selected in connection with a change to the power-on state during a power-off shift due to the shift judgment in a power-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Toshio Sugimura, Ayumu Sagawa, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hisashi Ishihara, Kazuhiro Iketomi, Yosuke Takaie
  • Patent number: 7549946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission, that executes a torque reduction control when the transmission executes a second downshift in response to a second downshift determination made during first downshift. The shift control apparatus includes a multiple shift execution unit that starts the second downshift operation in response to the second downshift determination, and a torque reduction control execution unit that executes a torque reduction control when the rotational speed of the input member is increased to at least a predetermined first determination speed, which is determined in accordance with a shift ratio of a gear stage after the second downshift operation, after the second downshift starts. This allows the rotational speed of the input shaft to be quickly changed to the appropriate synchronous rotational speed. Thus, the desired driving force is provided upon completion of the second downshift without overspeeding the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ayabe, Ayumu Sagawa, Toshio Sugimura, Toshinari Suzuki, Hisashi Ishihara