Patents by Inventor Ichiro Kitaori

Ichiro Kitaori 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: 8175778
    Abstract: If a mode-detection value is switched from an automatic shift-mode to a manual shift-mode, a T-ECU changes a shift-stage to a speed lower than a speed that is obtained before the switching of the mode-detection value. The T-ECU determines that a state of the T-ECU returns to a recognizable-state, in which a mode-selection value can be recognized, from an unrecognizable-state, in which the mode-selection value cannot be recognized. The T-ECU sets the shift-stage to a hold value after the return. The T-ECU controls the shift-stage in the automatic shift-mode “D” over a standby-period after the return. The T-ECU controls the shift-stage in the automatic shift-mode “D” until the detection of the operation of the shift-lever after the standby-period passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Kitaori
  • Publication number: 20120072083
    Abstract: When initial drive control for an actuator driving a shift switch mechanism is completed, a P-ECU determines whether an IG signal is received. In the case where the P-ECU has not received the IG signal at the time when the initial drive control is completed, the P-ECU temporarily keeps the actuator in a state where the initial drive control is completed. In the case where the P-ECU receives the IG signal in the period from completion of the initial drive control to the time when a predetermined time T2 has elapsed since completion of the initial drive control, the P-ECU executes P wall press control when the P-ECU receives the IG signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori, Koki Ueno, Keisuke Sekiya, Toshinari Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120022756
    Abstract: A shift control device is provided for a vehicle of shift-by-wire type having shift operation detecting means electrically detecting a shift operation of a driver, range switching means switching a shift range in response to the shift operation of the driver, failure detecting means detecting a failure in a shift operation detection executed by the shift operation detecting means, and vehicle state detecting means detecting a vehicle state upon detection of the failure in the shift operation detection, the range switching means being switched to a fail-safe mode, when the shift operation detection is recovered from a failed state to a normal state and the range switching means is switched from the fail-safe mode to a normal control mode, a recovery condition for determining switching of the fail-safe mode to the normal control mode being altered depending on the vehicle state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroatsu Endo, Takashi Yuma, Masayuki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20120010785
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the HV-ECU is in an auto-P execution state; determining whether or not a predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since an auto-P was requested; and permitting determination of the shifting operation if the HV-ECU is in the auto-P execution state and if it is determined that the predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since the auto-P was requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori
  • Publication number: 20110202231
    Abstract: An ECU is connected to a multi-system shift sensor detecting a shift lever position in a shift direction associated with detection of the R position, and to a multi-system select sensor detecting a shift lever position in a select direction not associated with detection of the R position. When only one or more, but not all, of sensors in the select sensor are abnormal, the ECU controls the shift range according to the shift position detected based on the remaining proper sensor. When only one or more of sensors in the shift sensor are abnormal, the ECU maintains the current range until an operation of a shift lever is detected, and switches the shift range to the N range at the point of time of detecting an operation of the shift lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Ichiro Kitaori, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hiroatsu Endo, Takashi Yuma, Masayuki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20110130910
    Abstract: When a charge connector has been removed from a vehicle-side connector while parking lock is set, an ECU determines whether or not there is return history that a momentary shift lever has moved to a home position after removal of the charge connector from the vehicle-side connector. When there is return history and when a brake-on state is set, the shift lever has been operated from the home position to any position of N, D and R, and the resultant position is continuously maintained for a prescribed period of time, the ECU unlocks the parking lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori
  • Publication number: 20110098881
    Abstract: A vehicle control device having an actuator operative to prevent a movement of a vehicle and a shift operating device including a shift position detection means detecting a shift position, the vehicle control device outputting, when the shift operating device is shift-operated to a predetermined shift position to release prevention of the movement of the vehicle, a control signal for permitting the actuator to release the prevention of the movement of the vehicle, the vehicle control device includes: an abnormality detecting means that detects an abnormality in at least part of the shift position detection means; a shift operation determining means that determines, based on a detection signal from the shift position detection means, whether the shift operating device is shift-operated or not by a driver, and a vehicle movement prevention control means that, in a case where the movement of the vehicle is prevented by the actuator and in a case where the abnormality in part of the shift position detection means
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Takashi Inoue, Ichiro Kitaori, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Takashi Yuma
  • Patent number: 7900533
    Abstract: A controller of an automatic transmission can be set to be in a first control mode and a second control mode for controlling a transmission gear ratio of the automatic transmission. The controller in the second control mode automatically changes the transmission gear ratio. The controller obtains an index value and upper limit speed of rotation speed of a transmission output shaft. The controller in the first control mode allows the transmission gear ratio to be changed when an operation member is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio and the index value is equal to or lower than the upper limit speed. The controller has a setting section that sets the upper limit speed. The setting section sets the upper limit speed based on vehicle acceleration when the controller is in the first control mode and the operation member is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Seiji Kuwahara, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Ichiro Kitaori, Toshihiro Fukumasu, Atsushi Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20100305823
    Abstract: An ECU controls an automatic transmission that can be manually shifted. The ECU executes a program that includes i) the step of, when there are a plurality of allowed gears that are allowed at the time of a downshift operation (i.e., YES in S150), continuously determining whether the engine speed NE after a downshift will be in a preset overspeed region for each allowed gear when the second and subsequent allowed gears are lower than an output gear (YES in S152; S151), and when there is an allowed gear that will result in the engine speed NE being in the overspeed region, ii) the step of cancelling that allowed gear (S158). Thus this control appropriately suppresses overspeeding of the engine while executing a manual shift in response to an operation by the driver without bothering the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroyuki Sawada, Yoshio Hasegawa, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Toshihiro Fukumasu, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Publication number: 20100292899
    Abstract: When an automatic transmission is in a manual mode, a transmission ECU calculates a speed sftrng manually requested by the driver and a speed sftrngmap set by a shift map and then performs a shift prohibition procedure. In this procedure, if the engine coolant temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined coolant temperature or the AT fluid temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined fluid temperature, a prohibition, determination flag xthlow is set to “on”, and if the engine coolant temperature is higher than the predetermined coolant temperature and the AT fluid temperature is higher than the predetermined fluid temperature, the prohibition determination flag xthlow is set to “off”. When the prohibitions determination flag xthlow is “on”, the speed sftrngmap is set as the upper limit of the speed sftrng.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Seiji Kuwahara, Hiroyuki Sawada, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Toshihiro Fukumasu
  • Publication number: 20100004094
    Abstract: A controller (30) of an automatic transmission (13) can be set to be in a first control mode and a second control mode for controlling a transmission gear ratio (SR) of the automatic transmission (13). The controller (30) in the second control mode automatically changes the transmission gear ratio (SR). The controller (30) obtains an index value and upper limit speed (Lim) of rotation speed (Nout) of a transmission output shaft. The controller (30) in the first control mode allows the transmission gear ratio (SR) to be changed when an operation member (22) is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio (SR) and the index value is equal to or lower than the upper limit speed (Lim). The controller (30) has a setting section (S13) that sets the upper limit speed (Lim). The setting section (S13) sets the upper limit speed (Lim) based on vehicle acceleration (AR) when the controller (30) is in the first control mode and the operation member (22) is operated to increase the transmission gear ratio (SR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Seiji Kuwahara, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Ichiro Kitaori, Toshihiro Fukumasu, Atsushi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7635318
    Abstract: An automatic transmission shift control apparatus includes a shift point learning-correcting unit and a high acceleration time upshifting unit. The shift point learning-correcting unit executes learning-correction of a shift point during an upshift such that an input rotational speed of the automatic transmission reaches a predetermined target maximum rotational speed. The high acceleration time upshifting unit executes, when predetermined high acceleration is requested, an upshift control based on the shift point in which a learning value of the shift point learning-correcting unit is reflected. When the high acceleration is not requested, the upshift control is performed based on a reference value of the shift point in which the learning value of the shift point learning-correcting unit is not reflected. The shift point learning-correcting unit executes the learning-correction of the shift point when the learning value is reflected in the upshift control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroyuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20090271081
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission is disclosed wherein a shift point depending on a variation in vehicle acceleration is modified on a real time basis in accordance with not only a corrected result on a shift point depending on piece-to-piece variations of automatic transmissions, but also actual acceleration for shortening a time required for learning with high precision with no need to be matched. Shift point real-time modifying means is provided for modifying the altered shift point based on a value of a ratio between a value of actual engine-rotation acceleration at an upshift-determining timing during a power-on running and a value of reference engine-rotation acceleration obtained by substituting a value of actual engine-rotation acceleration to a value for a reference running state having no impact on acceleration of a vehicle, and a target maximum engine rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Watanabe, Masato Kaigawa, Ichiro Kitaori, Masakazu Owatari
  • Publication number: 20090088935
    Abstract: If a mode-detection value is switched from an automatic shift-mode to a manual shift-mode, a T-ECU changes a shift-stage to a speed lower than a speed that is obtained before the switching of the mode-detection value. The T-ECU determines that a state of the T-ECU returns to a recognizable-state, in which a mode-selection value can be recognized, from an unrecognizable-state, in which the mode-selection value cannot be recognized. The T-ECU sets the shift-stage to a hold value after the return. The T-ECU controls the shift-stage in the automatic shift-mode “D” over a standby-period after the return. The T-ECU controls the shift-stage in the automatic shift-mode “D” until the detection of the operation of the shift-lever after the standby-period passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ichiro Kitaori
  • Publication number: 20090076701
    Abstract: A vehicle cruise control apparatus includes a vehicle speed adjusting device that adjusts a vehicle speed to a set target vehicle speed, a brake operation detecting device that detects brake operation performed by a driver, and a first controller that controls the vehicle speed adjusting device based on a target driving force that maintains a vehicle in a stopped condition, when the brake operation performed by the driver is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gen Inoue, Katsuyuki Kawai, Hiroyuki Sawada, Ichiro Kitaori, Yasuhito Ishida
  • Patent number: 7444261
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program that includes the steps of setting a vehicle speed to the minimum wheel speed among wheel speeds of four wheels of a vehicle; calculating a difference between the wheel speeds of right and left driven wheels; turning an abnormality flag on when a higher wheel speed is higher than a value obtained by multiplaying a lower wheel speed by ?; and determining that the vehicle is turning, and turning a turning flag on, when the abnormality flag is off, a predetermined time has not elapsed after the turning flag is turned on, and the difference between the wheel speeds is equal to or larger than a map value obtained using a map where a vehicle speed is used as a parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masami Kondo, Naoto Moriya, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20080119327
    Abstract: An automatic transmission shift control apparatus includes a shift point learning-correcting unit and a high acceleration time upshifting unit. The shift point learning-correcting unit executes learning-correction of a shift point during an upshift such that an input rotational speed of the automatic transmission reaches a predetermined target maximum rotational speed. The high acceleration time upshifting unit executes, when predetermined high acceleration is requested, an upshift control based on the shift point in which a learning value of the shift point learning-correcting unit is reflected. When the high acceleration is not requested, the upshift control is performed based on a reference value of the shift point in which the learning value of the shift point learning-correcting unit is not reflected. The shift point learning-correcting unit executes the learning-correction of the shift point when the learning value is reflected in the upshift control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro KITAORI, Hiroyuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20080119323
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for controlling a vehicle automatic transmission which can prevents a feeling of sudden starting of a vehicle, even if a special mode running control prohibiting a shifting to a shifting position less than a predetermined shifting position is started during a fixed gear ratio running control fixing a gear ratio of the automatic transmission. For the above purpose, when control by special mode running control means (106) is executed during control by fixed gear ratio running control means (104), the special mode running control to be executed by a special mode set switch (114) operated by a driver is exclusively preferentially executed over the fixed gear ratio running control. Thus, occurrence of the vehicle sudden starting responsive to the accelerator operation can be suitably suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ichiro Kitaori
  • Patent number: 7340335
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, including uphill-drive-force control means and constructed to reduce a degree of uneasiness to be given to the vehicle operator during an uphill-road running of a vehicle. The uphill-drive-force control means is arranged to increase a vehicle drive force during the uphill-road running of the vehicle at a given required vehicle output as compared with a vehicle drive force during a level-road running of the vehicle at substantially the same required vehicle output, for obtaining substantially the same value of acceleration of the vehicle during the uphill-road running as that during the level-road running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masato Kaigawa, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Publication number: 20070162210
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, including uphill-drive-force control means and constructed to reduce a degree of uneasiness to be given to the vehicle operator during an uphill-road running of a vehicle. The uphill-drive-force control means is arranged to increase a vehicle drive force during the uphill-road running of the vehicle at a given required vehicle output as compared with a vehicle drive force during a level-road running of the vehicle at substantially the same required vehicle output, for obtaining substantially the same value of acceleration of the vehicle during the uphill-road running as that during the level-road running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masato Kaigawa, Seiji Kuwahara