Patents by Inventor Shigeki Shimanaka

Shigeki Shimanaka 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: 8812204
    Abstract: In an oil pump control apparatus of a vehicle includes a first driving power source for propelling the vehicle, a first oil pump driven by the first driving power source, a second oil pump driven by a second driving power source, and a hydraulically-operated portion supplied with working oil from the first and second pumps, a look-ahead vehicle speed estimation section is provided for estimating, based on a vehicle running condition, a look-ahead vehicle speed, which may occur a given elapsed time later. Also provided is a second-oil-pump control section configured to predict, based on the look-ahead vehicle speed, whether a lack in discharge pressure produced by the first pump from a required hydraulic pressure, and further configured to start up the second pump, when it is predicted that a lack in discharge pressure of the first pump from the required hydraulic pressure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takateru Kawaguchi, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 8527167
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a driving force in case of belt slipping includes a belt slip control detecting unit adapted to detect that the belt slip control is in execution, a belt contact radius ratio calculating unit adapted to calculate a belt contact radius ratio of the V-belt to the pulleys, and a power source output torque determining unit adapted to determine a target power output torque according to the belt contact radius ratio in execution of the belt slip control in response to signals from the belt slip control detecting unit and the belt contact radius ratio calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, Manabu Yamanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 8512201
    Abstract: A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a temperature detection section detecting a second engagement element temperature, and a second engagement element protection control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of a first drive mode in which the first engagement element is disengaged and the second engagement element is engaged then the vehicle travels by only a driving force of the motor, a second drive mode in which the first and second engagement elements are respectively engaged then the vehicle travels by both driving forces of the engine and motor, and a third drive mode in which the second engagement element is slip-engaged then the vehicle travels by a driving force transmitted through the second engagement element. The second engagement element protection control section keeps an engine rotating state regardless of the drive mode when the second engagement element temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventor: Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 8386107
    Abstract: A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a deceleration detection section, an engine stall prevention control section, an engine stall prediction section, and an engine stall avoidance control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of EV drive mode, HEV drive mode and WSC drive mode according to a vehicle travel state. The engine stall prevention control section performs a coast-down shift which changes a transmission ratio of an automatic transmission to a lower transmission ratio upon deceleration of the vehicle. The engine stall prediction section predicts whether or not an engine stall occurs, during a travel in a HEV drive mode. The engine stall avoidance control section disengages at least one of first and second engagement elements when the occurrence of the engine stall is predicted by the engine stall prediction section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventor: Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 8292782
    Abstract: A belt continuously-variable transmission control apparatus includes: a belt continuously-variable transmission including; a primary pulley arranged to receive a torque from a driving source; a secondary pulley arranged to output the torque to driving wheels; a belt wound around the primary pulley and the secondary pulley; a hydraulic pressure control section configured to control a hydraulic pressure of one of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley which is a capacity side, and thereby to bring the belt, the primary pulley and the secondary pulley to a slip state; and a torque control section configured to control the torque of the driving source, and thereby to bring the slip state to a predetermined slip state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, Shigeru Ishii, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Publication number: 20110087394
    Abstract: A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a deceleration detection section, an engine stall prevention control section, an engine stall prediction section, and an engine stall avoidance control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of EV drive mode, HEV drive mode and WSC drive mode according to a vehicle travel state. The engine stall prevention control section performs a coast-down shift which changes a transmission ratio of an automatic transmission to a lower transmission ratio upon deceleration of the vehicle. The engine stall prediction section predicts whether or not an engine stall occurs, during a travel in a HEV drive mode. The engine stall avoidance control section disengages at least one of first and second engagement elements when the occurrence of the engine stall is predicted by the engine stall prediction section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Shigeki SHIMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20110082630
    Abstract: In an oil pump control apparatus of a vehicle includes a first driving power source for propelling the vehicle, a first oil pump driven by the first driving power source, a second oil pump driven by a second driving power source, and a hydraulically-operated portion supplied with working oil from the first and second pumps, a look-ahead vehicle speed estimation section is provided for estimating, based on a vehicle running condition, a look-ahead vehicle speed, which may occur a given elapsed time later. Also provided is a second-oil-pump control section configured to predict, based on the look-ahead vehicle speed, whether a lack in discharge pressure produced by the first pump from a required hydraulic pressure, and further configured to start up the second pump, when it is predicted that a lack in discharge pressure of the first pump from the required hydraulic pressure occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Takateru KAWAGUCHI, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Publication number: 20100318270
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a driving force in case of belt slipping includes a belt slip control detecting unit adapted to detect that the belt slip control is in execution, a belt contact radius ratio calculating unit adapted to calculate a belt contact radius ratio of the V-belt to the pulleys, and a power source output torque determining unit adapted to determine a target power output torque according to the belt contact radius ratio in execution of the belt slip control in response to signals from the belt slip control detecting unit and the belt contact radius ratio calculating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi YAMANAKA, Manabu Yamanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Publication number: 20100248893
    Abstract: A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a temperature detection section detecting a second engagement element temperature, and a second engagement element protection control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of a first drive mode in which the first engagement element is disengaged and the second engagement element is engaged then the vehicle travels by only a driving force of the motor, a second drive mode in which the first and second engagement elements are respectively engaged then the vehicle travels by both driving forces of the engine and motor, and a third drive mode in which the second engagement element is slip-engaged then the vehicle travels by a driving force transmitted through the second engagement element. The second engagement element protection control section keeps an engine rotating state regardless of the drive mode when the second engagement element temperature is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Shigeki SHIMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20100160111
    Abstract: A belt continuously-variable transmission control apparatus includes: a belt continuously-variable transmission including; a primary pulley arranged to receive a torque from a driving source; a secondary pulley arranged to output the torque to driving wheels; a belt wound around the primary pulley and the secondary pulley; a hydraulic pressure control section configured to control a hydraulic pressure of one of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley which is a capacity side, and thereby to bring the belt, the primary pulley and the secondary pulley to a slip state; and a torque control section configured to control the torque of the driving source, and thereby to bring the slip state to a predetermined slip state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi YAMANAKA, Shigeru Ishii, Shigeki Shimanaka
  • Patent number: 7651422
    Abstract: When a speed of a vehicle is less than 8 km/h, an upshift determination condition is established, an idle switch signal is turned off, and a downshift is detected, an operating speed of the step motor is limited. Thereby, since the operating speed of the step motor is limited even when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and re-accelerated before a pulley ratio is returned to a lowest value Lo, a shift speed of the downshift performed in the re-acceleration is lowered, and no slippage occurs in a V-belt between pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Midori Yamaguchi, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hironobu Waki
  • Patent number: 7229373
    Abstract: In case information such as an actual gear ratio is not stored in an EEPROM 28 due to a trouble of a backup power source 29 or like when an initialization operation of a step motor 27 is performed at the time of start of a vehicle or during stoppage of the vehicle, an output torque of an engine is limited before the initialization operation. Thereby, even if an accelerator is depressed during the initialization operation of the step motor 27 in which a sufficient primary pulley pressure cannot be ensured, the output torque of the engine is limited, so that torque inputted to a V-belt type continuously variable transmission is small and slippage does not occurs between the primary pulley and a secondary pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7229372
    Abstract: During a downshift of a belt-drive continuously variable transmission, occurring owing to vehicle deceleration, a CVT controller foretells that a slippage between a drive belt and each of primary and secondary variable-width pulleys tends to occur, when a primary pulley pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure level and a primary pulley speed is less than a first predetermined rotational speed. When the belt slippage has been foretold, the CVT controller inhibits the primary pulley pressure from dropping by setting an actual transmission ratio calculated before a set time period from a time when the slippage has been foretold or a transmission ratio of a relatively higher speed side as compared with a ratio-change operating state obtained when the slippage has been foretold, to a desired transmission ratio, or by relatively rising a line pressure as compared with a line pressure level produced when the slippage has been foretold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Youhei Ishikawa, Tatsuo Wakahara, Yoshihisa Kodama, Hideki Oshita
  • Patent number: 7222005
    Abstract: An abnormal oil pressure reduction determining device has an oil pressure sensor which detects a real oil pressure, a sensor which detects a vehicle running state, and a controller which sets an oil pressure command value for an oil pressure control mechanism. The controller computes the lower limiting oil pressure which is possible in the present vehicle running state, and when the real oil pressure is less than this lower limiting oil pressure and the pressure difference between the real oil pressure and oil pressure command value exceeds a reference value, determines that there is an abnormal pressure reduction due to a fault in the oil pressure control mechanism. Even if the oil pressure of the transmission has dropped abnormally due to some reason, the abnormal oil pressure reduction determining device determines the situation without fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Jihoon Kang, Yasutaka Kawamura, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Donggyun Park, Hirofumi Okahara
  • Patent number: 7192383
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, the vehicle having a continuously variable transmission associated with a vehicular engine and including a belt that transmits a revolution of a primary pulley to a secondary pulley that is enabled to make a gear shift by modifying a pulley ratio between the primary and secondary pulleys with a hydraulic, a determination is made as to whether a belt slip between at least one of the primary and the secondary pulleys occurs and an output section outputs a signal to command an engine control unit to increase an engine speed by a predetermined engine speed when the belt slip is determined to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Masahiro Iriyama, Kenichi Gotou, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Tatsuo Wakahara, Hisao Nobu
  • Patent number: 7192371
    Abstract: A system for controlling a V-belt type CVT is constructed to change a first position of a step motor to a second position of the step motor corresponding to a second target shift ratio if it is determined that the primary-pulley pressure fails to reach a predetermined value. The second target shift ratio is on the high-speed side with respect to a third position of the step motor corresponding to a third target shift ratio to be achieved if it is determined that the primary-pulley pressure reaches the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Katsumi Doihara
  • Patent number: 7044887
    Abstract: A shift control system for a vehicle automatic transmission includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a first control means normally performs a shift control of the transmission so that a target speed ratio of the transmission is achieved, which is determined based at least on a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor. The shift control system further includes a second control means that properly performs shift control of the transmission when the vehicle speed sensor is in trouble, by generating a command for holding or changing a current speed ratio based on an input rotation speed of the transmission and/or driver's accelerating or decelerating operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Jatco LTD
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Satoshi Takizawa, Masatoshi Akanuma, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7037235
    Abstract: A speed change ratio control unit for a continuously variable transmission that uses a step motor as a driving actuator of a speed change control valve that compares a variable ASTP representing a step position of the step motor and a step position BSTP of the step motor that is necessary for realizing a desired speed change ratio at every predetermined operation cycle, and if ASTP?BSTP is satisfied determines that a step-out has occurred on the step motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tateki Jozaki, Shigeru Ishii, Tatsuo Wakahara, Masahiro Yamamoto, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Midori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6801844
    Abstract: A shift control system of a toroidal CVT for a vehicle is arranged to calculate a command gear ratio by adding a desired gear ratio and a torque shift compensation quantity for compensating a difference between the desired gear ratio and an actual gear ratio which difference is generated by a shifting operation of the toroidal CVT, and to set a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in an automatic shift range to be larger than a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in other shift range except for the automatic shift range when the actual gear ratio is in a first gear ratio region except for a second gear ratio region including a largest gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Jatco LTD
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kawamura, Shigeki Shimanaka, Masaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040171445
    Abstract: When a speed of a vehicle is less than 8 km/h, an upshift determination condition is established, an idle switch signal is turned off, and a downshift is detected, an operating speed of the step motor is limited. Thereby, since the operating speed of the step motor is limited even when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and re-accelerated before a pulley ratio is returned to a lowest value Lo, a shift speed of the downshift performed in the re-acceleration is lowered, and no slippage occurs in a V-belt between pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Midori Yamaguchi, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hironobu Waki