Patents by Inventor Hiromichi Kimura
Hiromichi Kimura 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).
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Patent number: 11285811Abstract: A vehicle display device pointer includes a translucent pointer that has a pointer main body disposed on a front side of a dial plate having a penetration hole and extending along the dial plate, a shaft protruding toward the penetration hole, and a light guide connecting the pointer main body and the shaft; a lightproof first shielding member that covers a proximal end portion of the pointer main body and the light guide from a front side and a lateral side; and a lightproof second shielding member that covers the proximal end portion of the pointer main body and the light guide from the back side. The pointer main body emits light by light emitted from a light source and incident on the shaft, and the second shielding member has protrusions that protrude toward the front side, and close gaps.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Toshiki Kobayashi, Mao Nakashima, Akihiro Yatsuzuka
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Publication number: 20210071726Abstract: A friction plate (11) includes a plate (1A) with a disc shape and a friction material (F1, F2) that is fixed to aside face (1a) of the plate (1A). The friction material (F1, F2) is disposed so that one or both of an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side is nonuniform in an inner and outer peripheral direction with respect to a circumferential direction around a center (CT1) of the plate (1A). Thus, there is an increase in the amount of lubrication oil that is fed to a surface of friction material segments (F1, F2) and there is an increase in a separation force in an axial direction between a friction plate (11) and a separator plate or an end plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2018Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaki YOSHIDA, Tomoo ATARASHI, Junji MATSUSHITA, Takuya KOMATSU, Yusuke TAKATSUKA, Kuniyoshi TAKEDA, Kenichi KIZAWA, Yusuke KOJIMA, Keita IMAI, Koichi OKUDA, Atsushi TABATA, Koji HAYASHI, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Hiromichi KIMURA
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Patent number: 10611377Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicular drive system (12; 105) having a step-variable transmission portion (20; 110) which is shifted to a selected one of speed positions having respective speed ratio values, with engaging and releasing actions of coupling devices (B, C), and a drive power source portion (39; 103) operatively connected to an input shaft (30) of the step-variable transmission portion, the control apparatus being configured to implement a speed synchronizing control upon a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a coasting run of a vehicle (10; 100), wherein an input shaft speed of the step-variable transmission portion is raised with an input shaft torque transmitted from the drive power source portion to the input shaft, from a pre-shift-down synchronizing speed to a post-shift-down synchronizing speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Goto, Kenta Kumazaki, Masato Yoshikawa, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata
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Patent number: 10597021Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes a control portion configured to control an input torque to an automatic transmission such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value; a racing determining portion configured to determine whether a rotating speed of an engine is predicted to exceed a predetermined rotating speed when control is provided such that the value representing the rotating state of the input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with the target value during a power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission; and an output limiting portion configured to limit the output torque of the engine to a predetermined torque or less if the rotating speed of the engine is predicted to exceed the predetermined rotating speed during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
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Patent number: 10583825Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, having an engine, an electric motor, and an automatic transmission which is placed in a selected speed position with engagement of selected at least one of coupling devices, includes: an input torque control portion controlling the electric motor for controlling an input torque transmitted to the automatic transmission during a shifting action of the automatic transmission, based on output torque of the engine and torque transmitted through the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an automatic transmission input rotary member coincides with a target value. The input torque control portion controls the input torque to be not smaller than a predetermined lower limit, when a running state of the hybrid vehicle is switched from a power-on state to a power-off state during a shift-down action of the automatic transmission in the power-on state.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
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Patent number: 10569662Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle having an electric motor, and a step-variable transmission selectively placed in a speed position with engagement of a coupling device, wherein the vehicle runs rearward with a reverse drive torque of the electric motor generated in a forward-drive low-speed position of the transmission, is provided. The control apparatus includes: a first shift control portion temporarily increasing an input torque of the transmission to raise its input speed toward a synchronizing speed in the low-speed position, and commands an engaging-side coupling device to be brought into its engaged state after the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a second shift control portion increasing an engaging force of the engaging-side coupling device to bring the engaging-side coupling device into the engaged state.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Takeshi Kitahata, Masato Yoshikawa, Hisashi Ishihara, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Mitsuru Maeda
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Patent number: 10543831Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, and a mechanically operated transmission mechanism which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the motor/generator and drive wheels, the control apparatus including a motor/generator control portion configured to implement a regenerative torque control of the motor/generator so as to generate a regenerative torque according to a braking operation by an operator of the vehicle in a decelerating run of the vehicle, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to initiate a shift-down action of the mechanically operated transmission mechanism after a rate of change of the regenerative torque has been held within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined length of time, where a determination to implement the shift-down action is made in the process of the regenerative torque control of the motor/generator according to the braking operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Masayuki Baba, Shun Sato, Takahiro Kawaguchi
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Publication number: 20200023737Abstract: A vehicle display device pointer includes a translucent pointer that has a pointer main body disposed on a front side of a dial plate having a penetration hole and extending along the dial plate, a shaft protruding toward the penetration hole, and a light guide connecting the pointer main body and the shaft; a lightproof first shielding member that covers a proximal end portion of the pointer main body and the light guide from a front side and a lateral side; and a lightproof second shielding member that covers the proximal end portion of the pointer main body and the light guide from the back side. The pointer main body emits light by light emitted from a light source and incident on the shaft, and the second shielding member has protrusions that protrude toward the front side, and close gaps.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Toshiki Kobayashi, Mao Nakashima, Akihiro Yatsuzuka
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Patent number: 10407075Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromasa Tatsushiro, Hiromichi Kimura, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kitahata, Shinichi Sasade, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura
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Patent number: 10369983Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such tType: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
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Patent number: 10343508Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20180354495Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, and a mechanically operated transmission mechanism which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the motor/generator and drive wheels, the control apparatus including a motor/generator control portion configured to implement a regenerative torque control of the motor/generator so as to generate a regenerative torque according to a braking operation by an operator of the vehicle in a decelerating run of the vehicle, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to initiate a shift-down action of the mechanically operated transmission mechanism after a rate of change of the regenerative torque has been held within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined length of time, where a determination to implement the shift-down action is made in the process of the regenerative torque control of the motor/generator according to the braking operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Masayuki BABA, Shun SATO, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI
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Patent number: 10094377Abstract: An oil pump for a vehicle includes a driven gear, a drive gear, a pump body, and a plate. The drive gear engages the driven gear. The pump body is secured to a rear cover of a transaxle case. The plate is interposed between the rear cover and the pump body. A pump chamber is formed between the rear cover and the pump body. The driven gear and the drive gear are housed in the pump chamber. The pump chamber is formed: between the plate and the pump body, or between the plate and the rear cover.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Tatsuo Obata, Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Katsuhide Kitagawa, Kunio Morisawa, Masamitsu Seno, Hirotaka Yata, Tomoo Atarashi
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Publication number: 20180178774Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a hybrid vehicle (10; 100) provided with an engine (14; 102) and an electric motor (MG2; MG) which function as a drive power source, and an automatic transmission (20; 110) which is placed in a selected one of speed positions with engagement of selected at least one of coupling devices (CB), the control apparatus including: an input torque control portion (84) to control the electric motor for controlling an input torque (Ti) transmitted to the automatic transmission (20; 110) during a shifting action of the automatic transmission, on the basis of an output torque (Te) of the engine and a torque (Tcb) transmitted through the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member (30; 124) of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
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Publication number: 20180170346Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such tType: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
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Publication number: 20180170390Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiromasa TATSUSHIRO, Hiromichi KIMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Shinichi SASADE, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA
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Publication number: 20180170345Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, and an electric storage device giving/receiving electric power to/from the motor/generator, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion configured to control an input torque to the automatic transmission by the motor/generator during a shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value; a racing determining portion configured to determine whether a rotating speed of the engine is predicted to exceed a predetermined rotatingType: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
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Publication number: 20180170166Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20180154796Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicle (10; 100) having an electric motor (MG2; MG), and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which is selectively placed in a plurality of speed positions with engagement of at least one of a plurality of coupling devices (CB), wherein the vehicle runs rearward with a reverse drive torque (TmR) of the electric motor generated in a forward-drive low-speed position of the transmission. The control apparatus includes: a first shift control portion (86) operated during a coasting shift-down action of the transmission to the low-speed position and configured to temporarily increase the forward drive torque (TmF) of the electric motor above its required value, for thereby temporarily increasing an input torque of the transmission to raise its input speed toward a synchronizing speed in the low-speed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Hisashi ISHIHARA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Mitsuru MAEDA
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Patent number: 9991760Abstract: A vehicular drive system is provided with at least one electric motor and a helical gear portion which are accommodated within a casing formed by a plurality of casing members fixed to each other, wherein: said casing includes a first casing member to which a stator of each of said at least one electric motor is fixed, and a second casing member which is fixed to said first casing member so as to cooperate with said first casing member to form a space accommodating said at least one electric motor and which has a support portion supporting said helical gear portion; and a rotor of said each electric motor is rotatably supported at opposite ends thereof by said first casing member and said second casing member, respectively, while said helical gear portion is rotatably supported by said second casing member through said support portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuo Obata, Kunio Morisawa, Tsuyoshi Kitahata, Takeshi Kuwahara, Hiromichi Kimura, Masahiro Tanae, Toru Saitou