Patents by Inventor Mitsuhiro Fukao

Mitsuhiro Fukao 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: 11529945
    Abstract: The control device controls the first MG and the second MG so that the input power to the power storage device does not exceed the input limit Win. Further, the control device controls the first MG and the engine so that the rotational speed of the engine approaches the target when the engine is operating under load, when the input limit Win is lowered in a situation where the second MG moves backward while generating torque in the forward direction, and the engine is operating under load, the control device suppresses the amount of power generated by the first MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawata, Ben Leslie Vogler, Benjamin Michael Geller, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Publication number: 20210276535
    Abstract: The control device controls the first MG and the second MG so that the input power to the power storage device does not exceed the input limit Win. Further, the control device controls the first MG and the engine so that the rotational speed of the engine approaches the target when the engine is operating under load, when the input limit Win is lowered in a situation where the second MG moves backward while generating torque in the forward direction, and the engine is operating under load, the control device suppresses the amount of power generated by the first MG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawata, Ben Leslie Vogler, Benjamin Michael Geller, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10626985
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a second solenoid valve that is capable of supplying a resisting pressure that maintains the switching valve in the non-reverse state against the reverse range pressure, wherein the switching valve is maintained in the non-reverse state by supplying the resisting pressure from the second solenoid valve while a travel range is switched to at least a reverse range during forward travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuharu Asai, Makoto Sawada, Kyohei Suzumura, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kenichi Tsuchida, Yoshimitsu Hyodo, Toshiaki Hayashi, Fumiaki Aikawa, Yuta Seriguchi, Syuji Moriyama, Yoshinobu Soga, Hiromitsu Nitani
  • Patent number: 10539229
    Abstract: An engagement operation of a dog clutch is carried out while an engagement operation of a second clutch is being carried out, that is, during a situation that an uplock is hard to occur because of a phase shift generated between meshing counterpart members of the dog clutch. Thus, the dog clutch is easily engaged, and it is possible to facilitate preparation for transmission of power through a first power transmission path. If the dog clutch is not engaged, the second clutch is engaged and a second power transmission path is established, so it is possible to start moving a vehicle by transmitting power through the second power transmission path. Thus, when the dog clutch is in a non-engaged state at the time of an N-to-D shift during a stop of the vehicle, it is possible to ensure the startability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito, Kazuya Sakamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kenji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 10323745
    Abstract: When a power transmission path of a power transmission system is set to a second power transmission path, a continuously variable transmission is controlled at a speed ratio (?) that provides a higher vehicle speed in the case where an input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt) is small than in the case where the input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt) is large. Therefore, it is possible to control the speed ratio (?) of the continuously variable transmission to a speed ratio (?) that reflects an inertial loss (Tli) of the continuously variable transmission. The inertial loss (Tli) changes with the input shaft angular acceleration (d?i/dt). Thus, in a vehicle in which the continuously variable transmission and a gear mechanism are provided in parallel with each other between an input shaft and an output shaft, it is possible to appropriately reduce a loss of the idling continuously variable transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Kunio Hattori, Hiroki Kondo, Kenji Matsuo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10260575
    Abstract: At the time when a hydraulic actuator is operated to engage a dog clutch, after it is detected that a hydraulic pressure for operating the hydraulic actuator is higher than or equal to a predetermined hydraulic pressure, it is determined whether the dog clutch is not engaged. Therefore, non-engagement determination due to insufficient hydraulic pressure for operating the hydraulic actuator is prevented. Thus, at the time when the hydraulic actuator is operated to engage the dog clutch, it is possible to prevent consumption of time to engage the dog clutch due to unnecessary re-engagement operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito, Motonori Kimura
  • Patent number: 10183669
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive unit is provided. The vehicular drive unit includes a continuously variable transmission, and a clutch. The control apparatus includes an electronic control unit that is configured to acquire an oil temperature of hydraulic oil for controlling the continuously variable transmission and the clutch, and control the clutch such that a torque capacity of the clutch becomes smaller than a torque capacity that is set in a case where an oil temperature of the hydraulic oil is higher than a predetermined oil temperature, when the oil temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined oil temperature, or control the continuously variable transmission such that a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission becomes equal to or larger than a lower limit set in advance when the oil temperature of the hydraulic oil is equal to or lower than the predetermined oil temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Ishiizumi, Tsuyoshi Fujikane, Koji Hattori, Akira Hino, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10137899
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism is configured to selectively change between a first power transmission path and a second power transmission path. The first power transmission path is configured to transmit torque to an output shaft via a transmission mechanism. The second power transmission path is configured to transmit the torque to the output shaft via a continuously variable transmission mechanism. An electronic control unit is configured to: (a) selectively change a power transmission path during traveling to one of the first power transmission path and the second power transmission path by controlling the clutch mechanism; and (b) in changing the power transmission path by controlling the clutch mechanism, control an operating point of the internal combustion engine during a change of the power transmission path so that the operating point crosses over an optimum fuel, consumption line of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukao, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 10119580
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a continuously variable transmission, a gear mechanism and a controller. The continuously variable transmission and the gear mechanism are provided in parallel with each other between an input shaft and an output shaft. The controller is configured to i) when the vehicle travels in a state where both a first clutch and a third clutch provided on the gear mechanism side are released, gradually increase a hydraulic pressure of the first clutch such that the first clutch is engaged, ii) calculate a command hydraulic pressure for setting the first clutch to a pressure regulating state on the basis of a command hydraulic pressure of the first clutch at a timing at which the amount of change in an output-side rotation speed of the first clutch becomes larger than a predetermined value, and iii) control the first clutch by using the calculated command hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Sakamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Hiromitsu Nitani, Hiroki Kondo, Kenji Matsuo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10118619
    Abstract: In a control device for a vehicle including: a dog clutch mechanism that is disposed in a power transmission path in which a driving force is transmitted from an engine to a wheel and is operated by a hydraulic actuator; and an electric oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator, rotation of the engine is stopped in a state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine stop operation, the rotation of the engine is started in the state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine restart operation, hence occurrence of up-lock of the dog clutch mechanism is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Daisuke Inoue, Atsushi Ayabe, Hiromitsu Nitani, Kazuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20180313444
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that includes a second solenoid valve that is capable of supplying a resisting pressure that maintains the switching valve in the non-reverse state against the reverse range pressure, wherein the switching valve is maintained in the non-reverse state by supplying the resisting pressure from the second solenoid valve while a travel range is switched to at least a reverse range during forward travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuharu ASAI, Makoto SAWADA, Kyohei SUZUMURA, Mitsuhiro FUKAO, Kenichi TSUCHIDA, Yoshimitsu HYODO, Toshiaki HAYASHI, Fumiaki AIKAWA, Yuta SERIGUCHI, Syuji MORIYAMA, Yoshinobu SOGA, Hiromitsu NITANI
  • Patent number: 10066746
    Abstract: In a region in which a rate of change in slip ratio of a transmission belt with respect to a change in input torque exceeds a permissible slip ratio rate of change set in advance, a steep change in the slip ratio is suppressed by limiting the rate of change in the input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukao, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Atsushi Ayabe, Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito
  • Patent number: 10047859
    Abstract: When a line pressure is dominated (determined) by at least one of a primary pressure and a secondary pressure during idling of a continuously variable transmission, the hydraulic pressure that is applied to at least one of pulleys, to which the hydraulic pressure larger than a clutch pressure is applied, is reduced. On the other hand, when the line pressure is dominated by the clutch pressure during idling of the continuously variable transmission, the speed gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled to a lowest speed gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Daisuke Inoue, Hiroki Kondo, Kenji Matsuo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 10012297
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes a first transmission provided in a first power transmission path, a second transmission provided in a second power transmission path, a first engagement device, a second engagement device, a third engagement device, a fail-safe valve, and an electronic control unit. The third engagement device selectively connects or interrupts one of the first and second power transmission paths. The electronic control unit is configured to, during traveling in a state where the third engagement device is released, output hydraulic pressure commands for simultaneous engagement of the first engagement device and the second engagement device. The electronic control unit is configured to, when it is determined that both the first engagement device and the second engagement device are engaged, prohibit traveling using the one of the first and second power transmission paths which is selectively connected or interrupted by the third engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukao, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Kazuya Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20180180180
    Abstract: When the speed ratio of a belt-type continuously variable transmission is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, switching between a first power transmission path including a gear transmission mechanism and a second power transmission path including a belt-type continuously variable transmission is performed by means of clutches, so as to reduce a difference in an input shaft rotational speed applied to the clutches before and after the switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu MORITOMO, Mitsuhiro FUKAO, Makoto SAWADA, Satoshi KATOH
  • Patent number: 10001179
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmission system is provided. The control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to, when a discharge flow rate of a mechanical oil pump is smaller than a predetermined flow rate and an electric oil pump is being driven while a vehicle is traveling, determine whether a decrease in the operating hydraulic pressure has occurred. The electronic control unit is configured to, when a first engagement device is controlled from a released state toward an engaged state, control a first control pressure such that the first control pressure in a case where a decrease in a operating hydraulic pressure has occurred is lower than the first control pressure in a case where a decrease in the operating hydraulic pressure does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motonori Kimura, Akihide Itoh, Kazuya Sakamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kazuya Ishiizumi
  • Patent number: 9849885
    Abstract: In engaging (connecting) a dog clutch by operating a synchromesh mechanism, when there occurs an uplock at the time when a first pressing force is caused to act on a hub sleeve, tooth tips of spline teeth of the hub sleeve contact with tooth tips of spline teeth of a synchronizer ring, and these spline teeth cannot be engaged. However, when a second pressing force is caused to act on the hub sleeve, the uplock is easy to be released. In addition, when torque from an engine is caused to act on the hub sleeve, a displacement is caused to occur in a rotation direction between the mutually contacting spline teeth. Thus, the uplock is reliably released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Sakamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Kenji Matsuo, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 9829093
    Abstract: A first transmission mechanism provided on a first power transmission path and a second transmission mechanism provided on a second power transmission path are provided in parallel with each other between a driving force source and a drive wheel. A first clutch mechanism transmits power or interrupts transmission of power in the first power transmission path. A dog clutch equipped with a synchromesh mechanism transmits power or interrupts transmission of power in the second power transmission path. An electronic control unit is configured to, when changing from the first transmission path to the second transmission path a state where the vehicle is stopping or is stationary and in a state where power of the driving force source is transmitted via the first transmission mechanism, actuate the first clutch mechanism and the second clutch mechanism such that the first clutch mechanism is released and the second clutch mechanism engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Nitani, Atsushi Ayabe, Kazuya Sakamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kenji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9829102
    Abstract: In a vehicle in which a continuously variable transmission and a gear mechanism are provided in parallel on a power transmission pathway between an input shaft and an output shaft, (i) an electronic control unit performs CVT shifting, in view of shift characteristics of C to C shifting in which the speed ratio is changed in stages, or (ii) then electronic control unit performs C to C shifting, in view of shift characteristics of CVT shifting in which the speed ratio is steplessly changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukao, Kenji Matsuo, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Daisuke Inoue, Atsushi Ayabe, Akihide Ito
  • Patent number: 9821806
    Abstract: When neutral control is started by placing a CVT drive clutch in a semi-engaged state while a vehicle is decelerating in a state where a second power transmission path is established, a clutch mechanism that is semi-engaged in neutral control while the vehicle is decelerating is changed from the CVT drive clutch to a forward clutch before a stop of the vehicle, so it is possible to continue the neutral control until a stop of the vehicle. At a stop of the vehicle, a power transmission path is already changed to a first power transmission path that establishes a gear ratio (EL) higher than a highest gear ratio (?max) that can be established by the second power transmission path. Thus, right after a stop of the vehicle, it is possible to execute idle stop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuro Shimazu, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Hiromitsu Nitani, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Atsushi Ayabe