Patents by Inventor Satoshi Yoshizaki

Satoshi Yoshizaki 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: 11577596
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. The engine includes a turbocharger, an EGR valve, and a WGV. When opening of the EGR valve exceeds first opening, a controller maintains opening of the WGV at second opening or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11554769
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a planetary gear mechanism, a battery that stores power generated by the first MG and supplies the stored power to the first MG, and an HV-ECU that controls the engine and the first MG. The engine includes a turbo. A boost line is determined on a map representing a relationship between the rotation speed of the engine and torque generated by the engine, and the turbo boosts suctioned air when torque generated by the engine, as indicated by an operating point on the map, exceeds the boost line. The HV-ECU controls the engine and the first MG so that when the allowable value Wout of power output from the battery is small, the operating point exceeds the boost line at a higher rotation speed than when the allowable value Wout is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11555431
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a rotating electric machine; a planetary gear mechanism to which the internal combustion engine, the rotating electric machine and an output shaft are connected; a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; and a controller that controls the internal combustion engine and the rotating electric machine. The controller controls the internal combustion engine and the rotating electric machine to perform catalyst temperature control to shift an operating point on a map representing a relationship between rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and torque generated by the internal combustion engine so that the catalyst has a temperature within an appropriate temperature range. Degradation of the catalyst can be suppressed without deteriorating the function of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11514730
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. A controller makes WGV diagnosis for diagnosing whether or not a waste gate valve is normally controllable by issuing an instruction to a WGV actuator while the controller stops combustion in the engine and controls the MG1 and the MG2 in coordination to perform motoring of the engine during traveling of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11498546
    Abstract: When a prescribed execution condition is satisfied at the time of transition from HV traveling (that is, traveling performed by an engine and a motor with generation of traveling driving force by the engine) to EV traveling (that is, traveling performed by the motor without generation of traveling driving force by the engine), a controller of a hybrid vehicle performs motoring (or a self-sustaining operation) of an engine and thereafter stops the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11458948
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including calculating requested system power, calculating requested engine power when an engine activation request has been issued, setting an operating point on a predetermined operating line, setting an upper limit value of magnitude of an amount of lowering in engine rotation speed to a first value when a vehicle is in a sport running state and when the previous operating point is within a forced induction range, setting the upper limit value to a second value when the vehicle is not in the sport running state or when the previous operating point is not within the forced induction range, correcting the operating point, and outputting an engine operation state command, a first MG torque command, and a second MG torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11427178
    Abstract: An HV-ECU calculates requested output torque Tec based on requested power and compares the requested output torque with controlled upper limit torque Teth. When requested output torque Tec has attained to controlled upper limit torque Teth, the HV-ECU restricts output torque of engine to controlled upper limit torque Teth and calculates actual output torque Ter at that time. Then, the HV-ECU calculates a difference (differential torque ?Te) between controlled upper limit torque Teth and actual output torque Ter. The HV-ECU learns controlled upper limit torque Teth based on differential torque ?Te.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11359565
    Abstract: When it is determined that control of warm-up of a catalyst is necessary at the time of start of an engine, an ECU starts warm-up control. Initially, the ECU performs first processing for a first set time period. In the first processing, the ECU sets the engine to an idle state and fully opens a waste gate valve. When the first set time period has elapsed since the first processing was started, the ECU performs second processing. In the second processing, the ECU sets the engine to a prescribed rotation speed and fully closes the waste gate valve. When a second set time period has elapsed since the second processing was started, the ECU quits the second processing and quits warm-up control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11325583
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a motor generator; an engine having a forced induction device; and a HV-ECU. An operation region of the engine includes a PM generating region in which an amount of particulate matters included in exhaust gas of the engine is more than a predetermined amount due to a load of the engine being abruptly increased during boosting by the forced induction device. The PM generating region is a low-rotation and high-torque region. When assistance by the motor generator is sufficiently obtained and the engine is operated in the PM generating region, the HV-ECU restricts an increasing rate of the torque of the engine to be less than or equal to an upper limit rate. The HV-ECU complements, by the torque of the motor generator, the torque of the engine restricted by restricting the increasing rate of the torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11313313
    Abstract: When a rotational speed of an engine is higher than a predetermined rotational speed, a low-pressure fuel injection valve is controlled through the use of a fuel injection time based on an estimated fuel pressure in a low pressure supply pipe and a target fuel injection amount. When the rotational speed of the engine is equal to or lower than the predetermined rotational speed, the low-pressure fuel injection valve is controlled through the use of a fuel injection time based on a detected fuel pressure input from the fuel pressure sensor from the issuance of a command to activate energization of a solenoid to the start of energization of the solenoid and a target fuel injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanao Idogawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Manami Yasunaga, Eiichiroh Kido
  • Patent number: 11300040
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes an intake air amount obtaining unit, an open-closed determination unit, and an air bypass valve control unit. The intake air amount obtaining unit is configured to obtain, using a target torque of the internal combustion engine, a target throttle passage amount as a target value of an amount of intake air drawn through a throttle valve. The open-closed determination unit is configured to determine whether a valve opening condition for first and second air bypass valves is satisfied. The air bypass valve control unit is configured to open the first and second air bypass valves when the valve opening condition is satisfied. The open-closed determination unit is configured to determine that the valve opening condition is satisfied when a decrease speed of the target throttle passage amount is greater than a specified determination speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshizaki, Masayuki Hisada, Masahiro Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20220049670
    Abstract: When a rotational speed of an engine is higher than a predetermined rotational speed, a low-pressure fuel injection valve is controlled through the use of a fuel injection time based on an estimated fuel pressure in a low pressure supply pipe and a target fuel injection amount. When the rotational speed of the engine is equal to or lower than the predetermined rotational speed, the low-pressure fuel injection valve is controlled through the use of a fuel injection time based on a detected fuel pressure input from the fuel pressure sensor from the issuance of a command to activate energization of a solenoid to the start of energization of the solenoid and a target fuel injection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanao IDOGAWA, Satoshi YOSHIZAKI, Manami YASUNAGA, Eiichiroh KIDO
  • Patent number: 11247664
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including controlling an engine to be in a non-forced induction operation state when an engine has been on and when an engine stop request has been issued, performing processing for stopping the engine when a predetermined first period has elapsed, restricting forced induction and output when the engine stop request has not been issued and when a current time point is immediately after start of the engine, canceling restriction when a predetermined second period has elapsed, and controlling the engine with a position on a higher rotation speed side than a current operating point along an equal power line being set as an operating point when the current time point is not immediately after start of the engine and when a negative pressure is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11230280
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including calculating requested system power, calculating requested engine power when an engine activation request has been issued, obtaining a turbo temperature, setting an operating point on a predetermined operating line when the turbo temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold value Ta, setting as the operating point, a position on a higher rotation speed side by a predetermined value along an equal power line when the turbo temperature is higher than the threshold value Ta, carrying out engine control, and carrying out MG control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11186270
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine including a forced induction device, a knock sensor and a crank angle sensor that detect an occurrence of LSPI, a battery that supplies electric power to a second motor generator, and an ECU. When an occurrence of the LSPI is detected, the ECU restricts a maximum torque, which can be output by the engine with the forced induction device, more than when an occurrence of the LSPI is not detected to prevent an engine operating point from being included in an LSPI area, and when an output of the engine becomes insufficient along with the restriction on the maximum torque, the engine compensates for an amount of the insufficient output with electric power supplied from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11143121
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine including an injector of cylinder injection type and a forced induction device, a second motor generator that generates electric power with an output torque of the engine, and an ECU that controls the engine and the second motor generator. When an amount of intake air and a fuel pressure of the engine decrease in boosting of suctioned air by the forced induction device, the ECU reduces a decrease in the amount of intake air during a period in which an injection amount is equal to a minimum injection amount, and when an excessive torque is generated in the output torque of the engine along with reducing a decrease in the amount of intake air, the ECU absorbs the excessive torque by a power generation operation of the second motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11052901
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a second MG, a planetary gear mechanism, and an HV-ECU. The engine includes a supercharger and a purge device. The purge device introduces fuel vapor into an intake passage of the engine. Upon request for fuel purge, when an operating point of the engine is included in an area A, the HV-ECU controls the engine and the first MG to move the operating point to outside of the area A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Publication number: 20210189947
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine includes an intake air amount obtaining unit, an open-closed determination unit, and an air bypass valve control unit. The intake air amount obtaining unit is configured to obtain, using a target torque of the internal combustion engine, a target throttle passage amount as a target value of an amount of intake air drawn through a throttle valve. The open-closed determination unit is configured to determine whether a valve opening condition for first and second air bypass valves is satisfied. The air bypass valve control unit is configured to open the first and second air bypass valves when the valve opening condition is satisfied. The open-closed determination unit is configured to determine that the valve opening condition is satisfied when a decrease speed of the target throttle passage amount is greater than a specified determination speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi YOSHIZAKI, Masayuki HISADA, Masahiro NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11021154
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. When a first condition is satisfied during traveling of the vehicle, a controller stops combustion in the engine and performs motoring by the MG1 such that the planetary gear outputs deceleration torque. When a second condition in addition to the first condition is satisfied (YES in S20) during deceleration of the hybrid vehicle with deceleration torque, the controller performs motoring with throttle opening being set to first opening or larger and WGV opening being set to second opening or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 10934929
    Abstract: A wastegate is provided in an exhaust bypass passage that allows exhaust gas to bypass a turbine wheel of an exhaust turbine-type forced-induction device. A required boost pressure is set in accordance with a running state of an engine. A controller is configured to control a drive force of the wastegate to a magnitude that achieves the required boost pressure when the required boost pressure is higher than a preset pressure, and control the drive force to a magnitude that achieves a higher boost pressure than the required boost pressure when the required boost pressure is less than or equal to the preset pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yoshizaki, Masahiro Inoue, Koji Honda