Patents by Inventor Masayuki Baba

Masayuki Baba 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).

  • Publication number: 20240105054
    Abstract: An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to: notify a user of survey demand information for indicating a survey demand point included in a survey demand region that has a survey demand regarding the traffic volume; receive a captured image captured at the survey demand point by the user in accordance with the survey demand information; and estimate a traffic volume in the survey demand region based on the captured image that has been received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu KAWAMOTO, Masayuki KIKKAWA, Takumi TANABE, Takayasu BABA
  • Patent number: 11807218
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 11807103
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 11788618
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a linear solenoid valve, an ON-OFF solenoid valve and a hydraulically-operated frictional engagement device. A first hydraulic pressure is regulated by the linear solenoid valve within a predetermined pressure-regulation control range, and is supplied to the frictional engagement device. In a state in which the frictional engagement device is placed in a predetermined engaged state based on the first hydraulic pressure, a second hydraulic pressure, which is higher than the pressure-regulation control range, is supplied from the ON-OFF solenoid valve to the frictional engagement device, such that the frictional engagement device is placed in a fully engaged state with a high engaging torque based on the second hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Masayasu Mizobuchi, Masayuki Baba, Yu Nagasato, Yoshio Hasegawa, Kensuke Wada, Sari Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20230265919
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a linear solenoid valve, an ON-OFF solenoid valve and a hydraulically-operated frictional engagement device. A first hydraulic pressure is regulated by the linear solenoid valve within a predetermined pressure-regulation control range, and is supplied to the frictional engagement device. In a state in which the frictional engagement device is placed in a predetermined engaged state based on the first hydraulic pressure, a second hydraulic pressure, which is higher than the pressure-regulation control range, is supplied from the ON-OFF solenoid valve to the frictional engagement device, such that the frictional engagement device is placed in a fully engaged state with a high engaging torque based on the second hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Masayasu Mizobuchi, Masayuki Baba, Yu Nagasato, Yoshio Hasegawa, Kensuke Wada, Sari Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20230242088
    Abstract: During BEV running that a vehicle is caused to run by using power of an electric motor, a determination threshold for determining whether to start an engine is corrected by estimating a shortage of driving force in advance based on a gear stage of an automatic transmission and a turbine rotation speed (that is, an AT input shaft rotation speed of the automatic transmission). Therefore, the engine is started at appropriate timing for a change in required MG torque, with the result that the shortage of driving force of the vehicle is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuru YAMAGUCHI, Masayuki BABA
  • Patent number: 11603090
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi
  • Patent number: 11597377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Takuma Sugino
  • Publication number: 20230038261
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20220402480
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Corporation
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Takuma Sugino
  • Patent number: 11505057
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo Matsubara, Masayuki Baba, Tomoya Inayoshi, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 11458946
    Abstract: A clutch is disengaged when a torque condition is satisfied at a predetermined time when a system is stopped as a fuel supply to an engine is stopped from a state where the engine is operating with the clutch being engaged. The torque condition is a condition under which torque acting on an output shaft of the engine is torque in a direction in which an engine speed of the engine is decreased and torque output to a rotary shaft of a motor is torque in a direction in which a motor speed of the motor is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Washio, Masayuki Baba, Nobufusa Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220227218
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI, Masakazu KAIFUKU
  • Patent number: 11325577
    Abstract: An on-board controller executes a torque reduction process that reduces torque generated by an electric motor when a brake pedal of a vehicle is depressed and the vehicle is stopped during motor creep driving. When a start request for an internal combustion engine is issued, the on-board controller executes an engine start process that sets a clutch mechanism to an engagement state, which engages an output shaft of the internal combustion engine with an output shaft of the electric motor, and drives the electric motor to perform cranking. When a state in which the clutch mechanism is maintained immediately before the engagement state is defined as an engagement preparation state, the on-board controller executes a preparation process that applies hydraulic pressure to the clutch mechanism during execution of the torque reduction process so that the clutch mechanism is set to the engagement preparation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Baba, Takashi Moriya
  • Publication number: 20220111719
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20220097678
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20220097679
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20220097680
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keigo MATSUBARA, Masayuki BABA, Tomoya INAYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20210221352
    Abstract: A clutch is disengaged when a torque condition is satisfied at a predetermined time when a system is stopped as a fuel supply to an engine is stopped from a state where the engine is operating with the clutch being engaged. The torque condition is a condition under which torque acting on an output shaft of the engine is torque in a direction in which an engine speed of the engine is decreased and torque output to a rotary shaft of a motor is torque in a direction in which a motor speed of the motor is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi WASHIO, Masayuki BABA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20200262412
    Abstract: An on-board controller executes a torque reduction process that reduces torque generated by an electric motor when a brake pedal of a vehicle is depressed and the vehicle is stopped during motor creep driving. When a start request for an internal combustion engine is issued, the on-board controller executes an engine start process that sets a clutch mechanism to an engagement state, which engages an output shaft of the internal combustion engine with an output shaft of the electric motor, and drives the electric motor to perform cranking. When a state in which the clutch mechanism is maintained immediately before the engagement state is defined as an engagement preparation state, the on-board controller executes a preparation process that applies hydraulic pressure to the clutch mechanism during execution of the torque reduction process so that the clutch mechanism is set to the engagement preparation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Baba, Takashi Moriya