Patents by Inventor Tatsuya Imamura

Tatsuya Imamura 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: 10676076
    Abstract: A control device includes an electronic control unit configured to selectively execute traveling in a first traveling mode and traveling in a second traveling mode, the first traveling mode being a traveling mode in which in a state where one engagement device is controlled so as to be engaged, a differential state is controlled by a first rotating machine to transmit torque of an engine, and the second traveling mode being a traveling mode in which in a state where the other engagement device is controlled so as to be engaged, a differential state is controlled to transmit torque of the engine, and perform switching to traveling in the second traveling mode in a case where a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed when engine stop control that stops the engine is executed during traveling in the first traveling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Yamamoto, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Koichi Okuda
  • Publication number: 20200172084
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle control system, the hybrid vehicle control system including: a differential mechanism; an engine; a first motor; a driving wheel; a second motor; an engaging mechanism; a selector that selects neutral in which torque transmission from the engine to the driving wheel through the differential mechanism is interrupted; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to set either mechanical neutral or electrical neutral when the neutral is selected, and to set the mechanical neutral when the neutral is selected while the speed of the engine is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito ENDO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Hiroaki EBUCHI
  • Patent number: 10668800
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit to prevent a single phase lock of a motor as a prime mover to limit damage is provided. The drive unit includes: a first transmission route to deliver drive force of an engine to drive wheels; and a second transmission route to deliver drive force of a motor to the drive wheels. The second transmission route comprises an intermediate shaft that transmits the drive force of the motor to the first transmission route. A fluid coupling is disposed between the motor and the intermediate shaft. A lockup clutch is arranged parallel to the fluid coupling between the motor and the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 10654353
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit performs first switching control when there is a request for switching from a low mode to a high mode. The first switching control is to release a first engagement mechanism, and switch a second engagement mechanism to an engaged state when a difference between input and output rotational speeds of the second engagement mechanism becomes equal to or smaller than a permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Yukari Okamura, Yuji Iwase
  • Publication number: 20200148190
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to prevent a reduction in the purifying performance of the catalyst in a predetermined operating mode. An operating mode of the hybrid vehicle can be selected from a first hybrid vehicle mode, a second hybrid vehicle mode, and a fixed mode. A controller that is configured to restrict a shifting operation between the first hybrid vehicle mode and the second hybrid vehicle mode via the fixed mode, when the purifying device is being warmed or the purifying device has to be warmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kazuma AOKI, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Yukari OKAMURA
  • Patent number: 10647190
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicle that can limit damage on a battery resulting from cranking of an engine. the controller is configured to shift an operating mode from an EV-Lo mode to an EV-Hi mode if a peak power applied to a battery during shifting the operating mode from the EV-Lo mode to the EV-Hi mode is expected to exceed an upper limit input power to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Yukari Okamura
  • Patent number: 10625592
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system includes a drive mode setting portion configured to select a first reverse drive mode of the vehicle to be established with an engaging action of the first coupling element, and a required vehicle drive force determining portion configured to determine whether a degree of operation of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle during reverse driving of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined threshold value. The drive mode setting portion selects the first reverse drive mode when the required vehicle drive force determining portion has determined that the degree of operation of the accelerator pedal during the reverse driving of the vehicle is higher than the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Koichi Okuda, Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20200086847
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to start an engine promptly during propulsion in an electric vehicle mode. Electric power generation resulting from cranking the engine by a first motor is greater in the first electric vehicle mode compared to a second electric vehicle mode. A controller that is configured to determines whether an acceptable input power to an electric storage unit is smaller than a threshold value. If the acceptable input power to the electric storage unit is smaller than the threshold value, selection of the first electric vehicle mode is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki EBUCHI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Soichiro SHIMURA, Yoichiro ISAMI, Takuya HIRATA, Shogo SAKATANI, Taiga HAGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10562520
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit, when switching a traveling mode of the vehicle, is configured to control an amount of torque change produced in a drive power source for traveling subjected to switching in operation upon switching of the traveling mode, such that the amount of torque change during manual driving is larger than that during autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 10562522
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmitting system of a vehicle includes a drive mode control portion for selectively establishing one of first and second engine-braking drive modes in which a braking torque of the engine is applied to the vehicle. The first engine-braking drive mode is established in an engaged state of the first coupling device, while the second engine-braking drive mode is established in an engaged state of the second coupling device. The drive mode control portion switches the power transmitting system between the first and second engine-braking drive modes, such that the engine speed is held constant in the process of switching between the first and second engine-braking drive modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Omuro, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Koichi Okuda
  • Patent number: 10525816
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for a hybrid vehicle which can increase selectable modes in an EV mode. A drive unit includes a first planetary gear unit connected to an engine, and a second planetary gear unit connected to a second rotary element of the first planetary gear unit. The drive unit includes a first engagement device which connects rotary elements of the first planetary gear unit, a third rotary element in the first planetary gear unit, a second engagement device which connects any one of a fifth rotary element and a sixth rotary element in the second planetary gear unit, and a third engagement device which can fix a first rotary element of the first planetary gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Hideaki Komada, Takahito Endo, Kensei Hata, Akiko Nishimine
  • Publication number: 20190299976
    Abstract: A control system for preventing engine stall due to slippage of a wheel during propulsion in a fixed mode in which an engine and the wheel are rotated at a fixed ratio. When a wheel slips in a first mode in which an engine and the wheel are rotated at a predetermined ratio, an operating mode is shifted to a second mode in which a torque transmission between the engine and the wheel is interrupted and the vehicle is propelled by torque of driving machine connected to the wheel, or to a third mode in which the vehicle is propelled by delivering torque of the engine to the wheel while establishing a reaction torque by a predetermined rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukari OKAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kazuma AOKI
  • Publication number: 20190248356
    Abstract: A drive control device for a vehicle is configured: to determine whether or not a sound pressure level inside a vehicle cabin becomes a predetermined value or less, under a state where it is predicted that a meshing-type engagement mechanism is changed from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and to prohibit the meshing-type engagement mechanism from entering the disengaged state, when it is determined that the sound pressure level becomes the predetermined value or less. In the disengaged state, transmission of a power output from a driving force source to driving wheels as drive energy is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Kazuma Aoki, Yukari Okamura
  • Patent number: 10350983
    Abstract: A power transmission system includes first differential mechanism connected to an engine, and second differential mechanism. The first differential mechanism includes a first rotating element connected to the engine, and second and third rotating elements. The second differential mechanism includes a fourth rotating element connected to second rotating element, fifth rotating element connected to a first electric rotary machine, and sixth rotating element that is an output element of the second differential mechanism. The power transmission system further includes at least one of a first clutch and brake, and a second clutch. The first clutch is configured to releasably couple two of the first, second and third rotating elements to each other. The brake is configured to releasably couple the third rotating element to a stationary element. The second clutch is configured to releasably couple the third rotating element to one of the fifth and sixth rotating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada, Yuji Yasuda, Hiroshi Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 10351141
    Abstract: A control system controls a power transmission system located between a motive power source and drive wheels. The power transmission system includes a fluid coupling and an engagement device. The control system includes an electronic control unit configured to: obtain information concerning vibration of the power transmission system; determine whether the vibration of the power transmission system is in a resonance region of the power transmission system; control the engagement device so that the engagement device slips, when the electronic control unit determines that the power transmission system is in the resonance region; and control the motive power source when the electronic control unit determines that the power transmission system is in the resonance region, so that a rotational speed of the motive power source increases as compared with a case where the power transmission system is not in the resonance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20190184806
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit performs first switching control when there is a request for switching from a low mode to a high mode. The first switching control is to release a first engagement mechanism, and switch a second engagement mechanism to an engaged state when a difference between input and output rotational speeds of the second engagement mechanism becomes equal to or smaller than a permissible value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Yukari OKAMURA, Yuji IWASE
  • Publication number: 20190184807
    Abstract: A drive force control system for hybrid vehicles to prevent a reduction in drive force during reverse propulsion while operating an engine. An operating mode of a transmission mechanism can be selected from a first mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member at a first predetermined ratio and a second mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member at a second predetermined ratio that is smaller than the first predetermined ratio. A controller is configured to restrict selection of the first mode when the engine generates a power greater than a predetermined power during propulsion of the hybrid vehicle in the reverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukari OKAMURA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Kazuma AOKI
  • Patent number: 10315507
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a clutch and a transmission unit configured to be able to switch into a neutral state. The hybrid vehicle is able to transmit power of an engine through any one of a first path through which power is transmitted from the engine to a first MG via a transmission unit and a differential unit and another second path through which power is transmitted from the engine to the first MG. The clutch is provided in the second path, and switches between an engaged state and a released state. The controller controls the engine, the first MG, the transmission unit and the clutch. The controller sets the transmission unit to a non-neutral state, sets the clutch to the engaged state, and then causes the vehicle to travel by using driving force from the first MG and driving force from the second MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada, Hidehiko Banshoya
  • Publication number: 20190143959
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles to prevent a reduction in a brake force when an electrical input to a battery is restricted. A controller is configured to execute a regeneration control to deliver a regenerative torque resulting from operating second motor as a generator to the drive wheels, and an engine brake control to deliver a brake torque resulting from a power loss of an engine to the output member. The controller is further configured to select an HV-Lo mode when an input power allowed to accumulate in the battery is smaller than a threshold power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Yukari OKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20190143962
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle that prevents an unintentional mode change when a command signal cannot be transmitted to an engagement device. In the vehicle, HV-Lo mode is established by connecting a carrier to a carrier by a first clutch while disconnecting the carrier from a ring gear by a second clutch, and HV-Lo mode is established by disconnecting the carrier from the carrier by the first clutch while connecting the carrier to the ring gear by the second clutch. A normally stay clutch is used as at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Hideaki KOMADA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Hidekazu NAGAI, Takahito ENDO, Hirotsugu YOSHINO, Kensei HATA, Hiroki YASUI