Patents by Inventor Keigo Matsubara
Keigo Matsubara 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: 11807218Abstract: A control device for a vehicle, the control device comprising an electronic control unit configured to: perform, when the engine is started, a first clutch actuator control in which the clutch transmits a cranking torque for increasing a rotation speed of the engine during a transition in which the control state of the clutch is switched from a released state to an engaged state; perform, when the engine is started, first control for outputting the cranking torque by the electric motor and second control for starting operation of the engine; and perform, after the first clutch actuator control is completed, a second clutch actuator control in which a torque capacity of the clutch is set to a predetermined torque smaller than the cranking torque.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
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Patent number: 11807103Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to: output a first command value to the hydraulic control circuit system and then output a second command value to the hydraulic control circuit system during a transition in which the control state of the clutch is switched from a disengaged state to an engaged state when starting the engine; perform first control in which the motor outputs the cranking torque, and second control in which the engine starts operation, when starting the engine; and when the vehicle is in a predetermined state in which a required hydraulic pressure is not secured stably when starting the engine, start output of the first command value when the vehicle is not in the predetermined state, the required hydraulic pressure being a hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic control circuit system to the clutch actuator and required to switch the control state of the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
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Patent number: 11661051Abstract: A hybrid vehicle of the disclosure includes an engine, a motor that outputs a torque to a driving system, a hydraulic clutch that connects the engine with the motor and disconnects the engine from the motor, and a control device that performs slip control of the hydraulic clutch in response to satisfaction of a start condition of the engine and controls the motor to output at least a cranking torque to the engine. The control device sets a target value of a rotation speed difference between the engine and the motor during execution of the slip control, and increases at least one of a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic clutch, an output torque of the motor and an output torque of the engine when a difference between the rotation speed difference and the target value is out of an allowable range. This configuration ensures good startability of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Tomoya Inayoshi
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Patent number: 11603090Abstract: A control device, for a vehicle, comprising an electronic control unit configured to: output a first command value, for tightening a pack clearance, to a hydraulic control circuit system prior to output of a second command value, for transmitting cranking torque that raises a rotation speed of the engine, during a transition of switching a control state of a clutch from a released state to an engaged state when an engine is started; and perform, when the engine is started, first control for outputting the cranking torque by an electric motor and second control for starting operation of the engine, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to set the first command value to a first hydraulic pressure when the engine is started in a first situation, and set the first command value to a higher second hydraulic pressure higher when the engine is started in a second situation.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
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Patent number: 11597377Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an overlapping-prediction determination portion configured to determine whether or not it is predicted that, during execution of a synchronous control for placing a clutch, which is provided between an engine and an electric motor, into an engaged state, a synchronization-completion time point of the clutch overlaps with an inertia phase period in process of a shift control of a transmission, and a torque limitation portion configured, when the overlapping-prediction determination portion determines that it is predicted that the synchronization-completion time point overlaps with the inertia phase period, to execute a torque limitation by which at least one of a torque capacity of the clutch and an output torque of the engine is made smaller than when the overlapping-prediction determination portion determines that it is not predicted that the synchronization-completion time point overlaps with the inertia phase period.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2022Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Takuma Sugino
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Patent number: 11584359Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle of the disclosure includes a clutch controller configured to perform slip control of a hydraulic clutch in response to satisfaction of a start condition of an engine and to perform pressure increase control of increasing a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic clutch with elapse of time after a rotation speed difference between the engine and a motor enters a predetermined range; and an engine controller configured to start fuel injection and ignition of the engine before the rotation speed difference enters the predetermined range, to control the engine such that the rotation speed of the engine becomes equal to a target rotation speed after the start of the fuel injection and the ignition, and to increase the target rotation speed of the engine as an angular acceleration of the motor becomes larger during execution of the pressure increase control.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Tomoya Inayoshi
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Publication number: 20230038261Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus output a packing hydraulic-pressure command value and a cranking hydraulic-pressure command value higher than the packing hydraulic-pressure command value. The packing hydraulic-pressure command value is outputted to place a clutch in a pack-clearance-elimination completion state in a process of switching of the clutch from a released state to an engaged state. The cranking hydraulic-pressure command value is outputted, after elapse of a predetermined time required to place the clutch in the pack-clearance-elimination completion state, to cause the clutch to transmit a cranking torque required by a cranking by which a rotational speed of an engine is increased. In a case in which it is determined that a request to increase a vehicle power performance during output of the packing hydraulic-pressure command value, the cranking hydraulic-pressure command value is outputted in place of the packing hydraulic-pressure command value even before the elapse of the predetermined time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20220402480Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an overlapping-prediction determination portion configured to determine whether or not it is predicted that, during execution of a synchronous control for placing a clutch, which is provided between an engine and an electric motor, into an engaged state, a synchronization-completion time point of the clutch overlaps with an inertia phase period in process of a shift control of a transmission, and a torque limitation portion configured, when the overlapping-prediction determination portion determines that it is predicted that the synchronization-completion time point overlaps with the inertia phase period, to execute a torque limitation by which at least one of a torque capacity of the clutch and an output torque of the engine is made smaller than when the overlapping-prediction determination portion determines that it is not predicted that the synchronization-completion time point overlaps with the inertia phase period.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin CorporationInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Takuma Sugino
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Patent number: 11505057Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes (a) a clutch control portion configured to output a hydraulic-pressure command value for supplying a hydraulic pressure to a clutch actuator of a clutch disposed between an engine and an electric motor, when the engine is to be started by being cranked by the electric motor, and (b) a learning control portion configured to execute a plurality of leanings for correcting a relationship representing a correlation between the hydraulic pressure and the hydraulic-pressure command value, wherein at least one of the leanings is a higher priority learning, and at least one of the leanings is a lower priority learning. The learning control portion is configured, when the higher priority learning is in an unconverged state, to cause a degree of reflection of a learning result of the lower priority learning to be lower, than when the higher priority learning is in a converged state.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2022Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Masakazu Kaifuku
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Publication number: 20220227218Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes (a) a clutch control portion configured to output a hydraulic-pressure command value for supplying a hydraulic pressure to a clutch actuator of a clutch disposed between an engine and an electric motor, when the engine is to be started by being cranked by the electric motor, and (b) a learning control portion configured to execute a plurality of leanings for correcting a relationship representing a correlation between the hydraulic pressure and the hydraulic-pressure command value, wherein at least one of the leanings is a higher priority learning, and at least one of the leanings is a lower priority learning. The learning control portion is configured, when the higher priority learning is in an unconverged state, to cause a degree of reflection of a learning result of the lower priority learning to be lower, than when the higher priority learning is in a converged state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI, Masakazu KAIFUKU
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Patent number: 11305753Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a switching valve, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit configured to perform switching from the engine travel mode to the EV travel mode through a first stage to start the filling control when it is determined that the possibility is high that the engine stop condition will be established afterwards while the engine travel mode is selected, a second stage to start the clutch release control by switching the switching valve to the second state in response to establishment of the engine stop condition, and a third stage to stop operation of the engine after completion of the clutch release control.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Ayumu Sagawa
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Publication number: 20220111719Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to: output a first command value to the hydraulic control circuit system and then output a second command value to the hydraulic control circuit system during a transition in which the control state of the clutch is switched from a disengaged state to an engaged state when starting the engine; perform first control in which the motor outputs the cranking torque, and second control in which the engine starts operation, when starting the engine; and when the vehicle is in a predetermined state in which a required hydraulic pressure is not secured stably when starting the engine, start output of the first command value when the vehicle is not in the predetermined state, the required hydraulic pressure being a hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic control circuit system to the clutch actuator and required to switch the control state of the clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20220097678Abstract: A control device, for a vehicle, comprising an electronic control unit configured to: output a first command value, for tightening a pack clearance, to a hydraulic control circuit system prior to output of a second command value, for transmitting cranking torque that raises a rotation speed of the engine, during a transition of switching a control state of a clutch from a released state to an engaged state when an engine is started; and perform, when the engine is started, first control for outputting the cranking torque by an electric motor and second control for starting operation of the engine, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to set the first command value to a first hydraulic pressure when the engine is started in a first situation, and set the first command value to a higher second hydraulic pressure higher when the engine is started in a second situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20220097680Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to: control a clutch actuator based on first phase definition that defines a plurality of stages of progress provided for each of control states of the clutch, the clutch being switched among the control states in a process of starting the engine; and control at least one of a motor and an engine based on second phase definition that defines a plurality of stages of progress, the second phase definition being different from the first phase definition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20220097679Abstract: A control device for a vehicle, the control device comprising an electronic control unit configured to: perform, when the engine is started, a first clutch actuator control in which the clutch transmits a cranking torque for increasing a rotation speed of the engine during a transition in which the control state of the clutch is switched from a released state to an engaged state; perform, when the engine is started, first control for outputting the cranking torque by the electric motor and second control for starting operation of the engine; and perform, after the first clutch actuator control is completed, a second clutch actuator control in which a torque capacity of the clutch is set to a predetermined torque smaller than the cranking torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATIONInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Patent number: 11260847Abstract: A vehicle control unit performs filling control in which the vehicle control unit boosts an oil pressure in a second oil passage by supplying electric power to a pressure regulating valve with a switch valve being in a first state in which the switch valve connects a first oil passage to a clutch and disconnects the second oil passage from the clutch, torque replacement control in which the vehicle control unit increases motor torque while reducing shaft torque of an engine, and clutch disengagement control in which the vehicle control unit disengages the clutch while performing hydraulic control by the pressure regulating valve with the switch valve being in the second state in which the switch valve connects the second oil passage to the clutch and disconnects the first oil passage from the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Ayumu Sagawa
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Publication number: 20210129830Abstract: A hybrid vehicle of the disclosure includes an engine, a motor that outputs a torque to a driving system, a hydraulic clutch that connects the engine with the motor and disconnects the engine from the motor, and a control device that performs slip control of the hydraulic clutch in response to satisfaction of a start condition of the engine and controls the motor to output at least a cranking torque to the engine. The control device sets a target value of a rotation speed difference between the engine and the motor during execution of the slip control, and increases at least one of a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic clutch, an output torque of the motor and an output torque of the engine when a difference between the rotation speed difference and the target value is out of an allowable range. This configuration ensures good startability of the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20210094532Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle of the disclosure includes a clutch controller configured to perform slip control of a hydraulic clutch in response to satisfaction of a start condition of an engine and to perform pressure increase control of increasing a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic clutch with elapse of time after a rotation speed difference between the engine and a motor enters a predetermined range; and an engine controller configured to start fuel injection and ignition of the engine before the rotation speed difference enters the predetermined range, to control the engine such that the rotation speed of the engine becomes equal to a target rotation speed after the start of the fuel injection and the ignition, and to increase the target rotation speed of the engine as an angular acceleration of the motor becomes larger during execution of the pressure increase control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Tomoya INAYOSHI
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Publication number: 20200189560Abstract: A vehicle control unit performs filling control in which the vehicle control unit boosts an oil pressure in a second oil passage by supplying electric power to a pressure regulating valve with a switch valve being in a first state in which the switch valve connects a first oil passage to a clutch and disconnects the second oil passage from the clutch, torque replacement control in which the vehicle control unit increases motor torque while reducing shaft torque of an engine, and clutch disengagement control in which the vehicle control unit disengages the clutch while performing hydraulic control by the pressure regulating valve with the switch valve being in the second state in which the switch valve connects the second oil passage to the clutch and disconnects the first oil passage from the clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keigo Matsubara, Ayumu Sagawa
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Publication number: 20200189565Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a switching valve, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit configured to perform switching from the engine travel mode to the EV travel mode through a first stage to start the filling control when it is determined that the possibility is high that the engine stop condition will be established afterwards while the engine travel mode is selected, a second stage to start the clutch release control by switching the switching valve to the second state in response to establishment of the engine stop condition, and a third stage to stop operation of the engine after completion of the clutch release control.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Ayumu SAGAWA