Patents by Inventor Shinichi Sasade

Shinichi Sasade 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: 11577715
    Abstract: When a first type gear shift line is used as a gear shift line to change the gear ratio, and a predetermined condition including a condition that a state of charge of the power storage device is equal to or lower than a first ratio is satisfied, the control device changes the gear shift line to a second type gear shift line that recommends a lower speed gear ratio than the first type gear shift line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Takahiro Kimura, Yasutaka Tsuchida, Shinichi Sasade
  • Publication number: 20220118967
    Abstract: While a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode, an auto-driving oil pressure changing unit makes the engagement pressure of hydraulic oil supplied to a release-side engagement device to be released during a downshift of a stepwise shifting unit, higher than the engagement pressure set during traveling in a manual driving mode, so that retraction of the acceleration due to a drop of drive torque during the downshift is reduced. At this time, an auto-driving rotating machine controller makes drive-side MG2 torque generated from a second rotating machine, larger than that generated during traveling in the manual driving mode, so as to speed up the progress of the downshift, and prevent retraction of the acceleration from being prolonged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi SASADE, Tooru MATSUBARA, Hiromasa TATSUSHIRO, Daisuke SUYAMA, Tomoyasu KIMURA
  • Patent number: 11273845
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle having a step-variable transmission. The control apparatus includes: a shift control portion to temporarily increase an input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond a required value, the shift control portion commanding an engaging-side coupling device which is the coupling device placed in a released state, to be brought into an engaged state, when the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a torque increasing amount setting portion to set an amount of increase of the input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond the required value, such that the amount of increase is smaller when a rate of change of a running speed of the vehicle is relatively low than when the rate of change is relatively high, the rate of change of the running speed having a negative value in a decelerating state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Sasade, Kenta Kumazaki, Jun Goto, Koji Sugiyama, Takahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 11267456
    Abstract: When the required driving force is larger than the first upper limit driving force, the control device sets a target compensation power of a power storage device, based on a difference between the required driving force and the first upper limit driving force. Further, the control device gradually increases a working compensation power toward the target compensation power when the gear ratio of the stepped transmission is changed, compared with an increase in the working compensation power when the gear ratio of the stepped transmission is not changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kohno, Shinichi Sasade, Takahiro Kimura, Yasutaka Tsuchida
  • Publication number: 20210061252
    Abstract: When a first type gear shift line is used as a gear shift line to change the gear ratio, and a predetermined condition including a condition that a state of charge of the power storage device is equal to or lower than a first ratio is satisfied, the control device changes the gear shift line to a second type gear shift line that recommends a lower speed gear ratio than the first type gear shift line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro HIASA, Takahiro KIMURA, Yasutaka TSUCHIDA, Shinichi SASADE
  • Publication number: 20210061259
    Abstract: When the required driving force is larger than the first upper limit driving force, the control device sets a target compensation power of a power storage device, based on a difference between the required driving force and the first upper limit driving force. Further, the control device gradually increases a working compensation power toward the target compensation power when the gear ratio of the stepped transmission is changed, compared with an increase in the working compensation power when the gear ratio of the stepped transmission is not changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi KOHNO, Shinichi SASADE, Takahiro KIMURA, Yasutaka TSUCHIDA
  • Patent number: 10661781
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a state determining portion configured to determine whether an engine is in a first operational state corresponding to a normal operation state or a second operational state corresponding to an engine stop state in which the engine is stopped and/or a catalyst warming-up state in which the engine is operated to warm up a catalyst; and a shift control portion configured, in process of a shifting action of a transmission mechanism, to control at least an engaging pressure of an engaging coupling device as one of a plurality of coupling devices of the transmission mechanism, which is to be placed in an engaged state upon completion of the shifting action, such that the engaging pressure of the engaging coupling device is controlled to be lower when the engine is in the second operational state, than when the engine is in the first operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Shinichi Sasade, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 10591049
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a step-variable transmission including a one-way clutch to be placed in an engaged state to establish a predetermined one of gear positions of the step-variable transmission, and a coupling device disposed parallel with the one-way clutch, includes a control portion configured to control a shift-up action of the step-variable transmission from the above-indicated predetermined one gear position in which the coupling device is placed in its engaged state, the control portion controlling the shift-up action so as to delay a releasing action of the coupling device where a required torque of the vehicle prior to a moment of initiation of an inertia phase of the shift-up action is larger than a predetermined value, with respect to the releasing action where the required torque is not larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Sasade, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Koji Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20200070852
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle having a step-variable transmission. The control apparatus includes: a shift control portion to temporarily increase an input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond a required value, the shift control portion commanding an engaging-side coupling device which is the coupling device placed in a released state, to be brought into an engaged state, when the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a torque increasing amount setting portion to set an amount of increase of the input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond the required value, such that the amount of increase is smaller when a rate of change of a running speed of the vehicle is relatively low than when the rate of change is relatively high, the rate of change of the running speed having a negative value in a decelerating state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi SASADE, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Jun GOTO, Koji SUGIYAMA, Takahiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10407075
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Tatsushiro, Hiromichi Kimura, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kitahata, Shinichi Sasade, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 10343508
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20190061734
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a state determining portion configured to determine whether an engine is in a first operational state corresponding to a normal operation state or a second operational state corresponding to an engine stop state in which the engine is stopped and/or a catalyst warming-up state in which the engine is operated to warm up a catalyst; and a shift control portion configured, in process of a shifting action of a transmission mechanism, to control at least an engaging pressure of an engaging coupling device as one of a plurality of coupling devices of the transmission mechanism, which is to be placed in an engaged state upon completion of the shifting action, such that the engaging pressure of the engaging coupling device is controlled to be lower when the engine is in the second operational state, than when the engine is in the first operational state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji SUGIYAMA, Shinichi SASADE, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190048995
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a step-variable transmission including a one-way clutch to be placed in an engaged state to establish a predetermined one of gear positions of the step-variable transmission, and a coupling device disposed parallel with the one-way clutch, includes a control portion configured to control a shift-up action of the step-variable transmission from the above-indicated predetermined one gear position in which the coupling device is placed in its engaged state, the control portion controlling the shift-up action so as to delay a releasing action of the coupling device where a required torque of the vehicle prior to a moment of initiation of an inertia phase of the shift-up action is larger than a predetermined value, with respect to the releasing action where the required torque is not larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi SASADE, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Koji SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180170390
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa TATSUSHIRO, Hiromichi KIMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Shinichi SASADE, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20180170166
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9932039
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: (i) control rotation speed of internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is increased with an increase in a traveling speed of a vehicle, (ii) execute a pseudo gear shift to control the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a first rotation speed, (iii) execute a mechanical gear shift to change a second gear ratio according to a gear shift line determined by the traveling speed and a value according to the acceleration request, and (iv) execute adjustment control to adjust the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in advance in a period before executing the mechanical gear shift such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine matches the pseudo gear shift threshold value when the mechanical gear shift is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iketomi, Shinichi Sasade, Munehiro Katsumata, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20160068161
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: (i) control rotation speed of internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is increased with an increase in a traveling speed of a vehicle, (ii) execute a pseudo gear shift to control the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a first rotation speed, (iii) execute a mechanical gear shift to change a second gear ratio according to a gear shift line determined by the traveling speed and a value according to the acceleration request, and (iv) execute adjustment control to adjust the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in advance in a period before executing the mechanical gear shift such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine matches the pseudo gear shift threshold value when the mechanical gear shift is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhiro IKETOMI, Shinichi SASADE, Munehiro KATSUMATA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 7980990
    Abstract: When there is no malfunction in either drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), control of internal combustion engine (22), the power split device (30, MG1), the electric motor (MG2), and the shifting portion (60) is performed while speed ratio in shifting portion (60) is changed and an intermittent operation of internal combustion engine (22) is performed so that a drive power required for drive shaft (32a) is output to shaft (32a). When a malfunction occurs in drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or/and rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), the control is performed while at least one of change in speed ratio, intermittent operation, and output of drive power required for shaft (32a) to shaft (32a) is limited so that a drive power that approximates required drive power as closely as possible is output to drive shaft (32a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masashi Yoshimi, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Shinichi Sasade, Yoichi Tajima, Shinobu Nishiyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20100081539
    Abstract: When there is no malfunction in either drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), control of internal combustion engine (22), the power split device (30, MG1), the electric motor (MG2), and the shifting portion (60) is performed while speed ratio in shifting portion (60) is changed and an intermittent operation of internal combustion engine (22) is performed so that a drive power required for drive shaft (32a) is output to shaft (32a). When a malfunction occurs in drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or/and rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), the control is performed while at least one of change in speed ratio, intermittent operation, and output of drive power required for shaft (32a) to shaft (32a) is limited so that a drive power that approximates required drive power as closely as possible is output to drive shaft (32a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masashi Yoshimi, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Shinichi Sasade, Yoichi Tajima, Shinobu Nishimaya, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 7534191
    Abstract: A power output apparatus that suppresses wearing-out of the components of a transmission connected to a drive shaft and a rotating shaft of an electric motor as well as reducing the a shock imparted to the vehicle. The required drive power is output to the drive shaft by appropriately controlling and internal combustion engine, a power split device, the electric motor and a shifting portion. When the rotational speed of the drive shaft can be estimated, the speed ratio in the shifting portion is changed based on either the detected rotational speed of the drive shaft or the estimated rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. However, when the rotational speed of the drive shaft cannot be estimated, the speed ratio is maintained in the shifting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masashi Yoshimi, Shinichi Sasade, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Yoichi Tajima, Shinobu Nishiyama, Kazuomi Okasaka