Patents by Inventor Masamichi Unoki

Masamichi Unoki 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: 6684144
    Abstract: During an upshift in a full-throttle state, the output of a shift command (Us1) from a control unit is followed by a delay in initiation of an actual shift, due to a delay in increase in oil pressure, a rise in the clutch torque load, etc. A shift initiation (Uj) is determined by comparing the input rotational speed (Ni) with the product of multiplication of the output rotational speed (vehicle speed) (No) by the pre-shift gear ratio. The shift point (Mp1) is learning-corrected based on the shift initiation-time engine rotational speed (NeI). Therefore, false learning is avoided even if the engine races during a shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sekii, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Masamichi Unoki, Tsutomu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6669599
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission eliminates or reduces a sense of discomfort to the driver and other occupants during slip, while maintaining the necessary driving force. When slip is determined by detection of wheel speed, a slip signal is output. A controller which receives the slip signal outputs a maintaining signal for maintaining the gear stage which existed at the time the slip signal was received, until a predetermined period of time has passed. If the slip continues after the predetermined period of time, the controller outputs a shift signal to the automatic transmission to shift it to a predetermined gear stage, thus reducing driving force and preventing slip from continuing. If the slip stops within the predetermined period of time, the slip signal is canceled such that the current gear stage is maintained and no shift is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Iwase, Masayuki Sugiura, Masamichi Unoki, Mitsunori Nakane, Kazuo Koumura, Muneo Kusafuka
  • Patent number: 6571162
    Abstract: The disclosed automatic transmission controller is capable of changing shift timing set for non-flat roads in correspondence to a judged driver type. The automatic transmission controller executes a driver type judging routine SUB2 to generate a judgment output related to the driver type by monitoring the driving of the vehicle and judges the driver type based on the judgment output. Shift timing is changed in running a non-flat road to correspond to the judged driver type. The shift timing in running the non-flat road may be changed by changing from an uphill slope mode 1 shift map to an uphill slope mode 2 shift map corresponding to the driver type or by increasing an upshift inhibiting section of a single map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki, Masakatsu Iwase
  • Publication number: 20020160880
    Abstract: During an upshift in a full-throttle state, the output of a shift command (Us1) from a control unit is followed by a delay in initiation of an actual shift, due to a delay in increase in oil pressure, a rise in the clutch torque load, etc. A shift initiation (Uj) is determined by comparing the input rotational speed (Ni) with the product of multiplication of the output rotational speed (vehicle speed) (No) by the pre-shift gear ratio. The shift point (Mp1) is learning-corrected based on the shift initiation-time engine rotational speed (NeI). Therefore, false learning is avoided even if the engine races during a shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Takahiro Sekii, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Masamichi Unoki, Tsutomu Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6450919
    Abstract: An automatic transmission controller is capable of compensating for both driver type and tendencies of a driver in temporary acceleration, such as in passing. The automatic transmission controller executes a driver type judging subroutine for judging the overall acceleration habits of the driver and classifying the driver as one of a plurality of driver types by monitoring the driving behavior for a predetermined time. The controller also executes a temporary acceleration inclination judging routine for judging the habits of the driver in temporary acceleration by monitoring driving behavior for a period of time shorter than the predetermined time, and executes shift control routines for controlling and changing the shift timing based on the judged driver type and the inclination in temporary acceleration. The controller controls shift timing, taking into account both the driver type and the inclination in temporary acceleration, such as passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki, Masakatsu Iwase
  • Publication number: 20020072449
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for an automatic transmission is provided in which, during slip, a sense of discomfort to the driver and other occupants is eliminated or reduced and the necessary driving force is obtained. When slip is detected by detecting the speed of the wheels by wheel speed detecting means, slip determining means outputs a slip signal. Maintaining means into which the slip signal has been input then outputs to shifting means a maintaining signal for maintaining the gear stage (for example, first speed) at the point during which the slip signal was input until a predetermined period of time has passed. If slip continues after the predetermined period of time has passed, the shifting means outputs a shift signal to the automatic transmission to shift it to a predetermined gear stage (for example, third speed), thus reducing driving force and preventing slip from continuing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Masakatsu Iwase, Masayuki Sugiura, Masamichi Unoki, Mitsunori Nakane, Kazuo Koumura, Muneo Kusafuka
  • Publication number: 20020013650
    Abstract: The disclosed automatic transmission controller is capable of changing shift timing set for non-flat roads in correspondence to a judged driver type. The automatic transmission controller executes a driver type judging routine SUB2 to generate a judgment output related to the driver type by monitoring the driving of the vehicle and judges the driver type based on the judgment output. Shift timing is changed in running a non-flat road to correspond to the judged driver type. The shift timing in running the non-flat road may be changed by changing from an uphill slope mode 1 shift map to an uphill slope mode 2 shift map corresponding to the driver type or by increasing an upshift inhibiting section of a single map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki, Masakatsu Iwase
  • Patent number: 6290627
    Abstract: A control unit for an automatic transmission provides improved responsiveness to a speed reduction operation by the driver. The control unit includes a speed reduction requirement judging logic which judges whether or not there is a speed reduction requirement. An up-shift is inhibited and prevented when a judgement is made that there is a speed reduction requirement, based at least in part on release of the accelerator. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a vehicle from being accidentally accelerated by an up-shift operation and to smoothly perform a down-shift to effect an engine brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki
  • Publication number: 20010021891
    Abstract: An automatic transmission controller is capable of compensating for both driver type and tendencies of a driver in temporary acceleration, such as in passing. The automatic transmission controller executes a driver type judging subroutine for judging the overall acceleration habits of the driver and classifying the driver as one of a plurality of driver types by monitoring the driving behavior for a predetermined time. The controller also executes a temporary acceleration inclination judging routine for judging the habits of the driver in temporary acceleration by monitoring driving behavior for a period of time shorter than the predetermined time, and executes shift control routines for controlling and changing the shift timing based on the judged driver type and the inclination in temporary acceleration. The controller controls shift timing, taking into account both the driver type and the inclination in temporary acceleration, such as passing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki, Masakatsu Iwase
  • Patent number: 5908461
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission having a running status detector for detecting the running status of a vehicle including an input torque from an engine; a running resistance estimator for estimating a running resistance on the basis of the running status of the vehicle; a running resistance comparator for comparing the estimated running resistance and a preset reference value; and a shift characteristic changing device for changing shift characteristics in accordance with the comparison result of the running resistance comparator. The automatic transmission control system further has a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature relating to the temperature of the engine and a decision device for determining a specific engine running status, in which the output of the engine drops, on the basis of an output signal coming from the temperature sensor. The running resistance comparator changes the reference value in accordance with the determination of the decision device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Yoshikazu Sakaguchi, Muneo Kusafuka, Masao Saito, Masamichi Unoki, Junichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5741200
    Abstract: The invention provides a control apparatus for an automatic transmission for carrying out neutral control and hill-hold control in a range that causes no slip of a hill-hold brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Taniguchi, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Masahiro Hayabuchi, Masaaki Nishida, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Muneo Kusafuka, Masamichi Unoki, Junichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5728026
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission having a running status detector for detecting the running status of a vehicle to include an input torque from the engine; a running resistance estimator for estimating a running resistance on the basis of the running status of the vehicle; and shift characteristic changer for changing shift characteristics in accordance with the running resistance of the vehicle. The control system further comprises an engine output controller for reducing the output of the engine by a sub-throttle valve which acts independently of the driver at an overrun time of drive wheels; and an action status detector for detecting the action status of the sub-throttle valve. The running resistance estimator estimates the running resistance of the vehicle on the basis of the running status detector and the action status detector of the sub-throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sakaguchi, Muneo Kusafuka, Masao Saito, Masamichi Unoki, Junichi Nishimura