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: 10286771
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle an axial length thereof is shortened is provided. A power distribution device is disposed in an inner circumferential side of a cylindrical output gear, and at least a portion of a second clutch is also disposed in the inner circumferential side of the output gear while being adjacent to the power distribution device in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kanada, Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuki Yoshikawa, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20190126736
    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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Yukari OKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20190084554
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system includes a power transmission switching portion configured to selectively establish a first drive mode by placing one of the first and second coupling elements in an engaged state, a second drive mode by placing the other of the first and second coupling elements in an engaged state, or a third drive mode by placing both of the first and second coupling elements in the engaged states. The power transmission switching portion switches the vehicular power transmitting system between the first and second drive modes through the third drive mode, where a predetermined condition is not satisfied, and switches the vehicular power transmitting system between the first and second drive modes with concurrent engaging and releasing actions of the first and second coupling elements, where the predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi YAMAMOTO, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Koichi OKUDA, Kota FUJII
  • Publication number: 20190084404
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita IMAI, Koichi OKUDA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20190084555
    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: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Omuro, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Koichi Okuda
  • Publication number: 20190084553
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi YAMAMOTO, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Koichi OKUDA
  • Patent number: 10227068
    Abstract: A control process including the following steps is executed. The control process includes, at the time of switching from series-parallel mode to series mode, a step of reducing an engine torque, a step of releasing a clutch, a step of reducing a reaction torque of a first rotary electric machine and a step of increasing a torque of a second rotary electric machine, and, when synchronization is started and a step of increasing a positive torque of the first MG, a step of starting engagement of a clutch, and, when a rotation speed of the first rotary electric machine and a rotation speed of an engine are synchronous with each other, a step of engaging the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyonori Takagi, Hidehiko Banshoya, Atsushi Kawamoto, Haruhisa Suzuki, Tatsuya Imamura, Toshiki Kanada, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20190071066
    Abstract: A drive force control system for hybrid vehicles configured to reduce a change in a drive force simultaneous execution of a starting operation of an engine and a shifting operation of a transmission. The drive force control is applied to a hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine connected to front wheels; a first motor connected to rear wheels; and a transmission that changes a speed ratio between the first motor and the rear wheels. A controller restricts execution of any one of an engine staring operation and a shifting operation of the transmission during execution of other one of the engine staring operation and shifting operation of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Kazuma AOKI, Yukari OKAMURA
  • Patent number: 10214093
    Abstract: A transmission unit is able to switch between a non-neutral state where power of an engine is transmitted via a path K1 and a neutral state where power of the engine is not transmitted via the path K1. A clutch is able to switch between an engaged state where power is transmitted from the engine to a first MG and a released state where transmission of power from the engine to the first MG is interrupted. When the transmission unit is controlled to the non-neutral state and, at the same time, the clutch is set to the released state, a vehicle is operable in series-parallel mode. When power is transmitted via the path K2 by directly coupling the engine to the first MG by the clutch and the path K1 is interrupted by controlling the transmission unit to the neutral state, the vehicle is operable in series mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Banshoya, Kiyonori Takagi, Atsushi Kawamoto, Haruhisa Suzuki, Tatsuya Imamura, Toshiki Kanada, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20190047543
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles to prevent a reduction in a drive force when an output power of a battery is restricted. A first motor translates an output power of the engine partially into an electric power. A transmission mechanism distributes an output torque of the engine to the first rotary machine side and an output member side. A second motor is operated by one of the electric power translated by the first rotary machine and an electric power accumulated in the battery to generate a power. An operating mode can be selected from a first mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member side at a first ratio, and a second mode in which the output torque of the engine is delivered to the output member side at a second ratio. The second ratio is smaller than the first ratio. A controller is configured to restrict selection of the first mode when an available output power of the battery to be supplied to the second rotary machine is smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuhiro OSHIUMI, Kentaro KANZAKI, Yukari OKAMURA
  • Patent number: 10189344
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a transmission unit and a clutch. The transmission unit is 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 to a first MG from the engine via the transmission unit and a differential unit and another second path through which power is transmitted from the engine. The clutch is provided in the second path. The clutch switches between an engaged state where power is transmitted and a released state where transmission of power is interrupted. The controller sets the transmission unit to the neutral state and sets the clutch to the engaged state, and then starts the engine by increasing the rotation speed of the engine with the use of the first MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada
  • Patent number: 10173515
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is able to select series-parallel mode by engaging a clutch (C1) or a brake (B1) and releasing a clutch (CS), and is able to select series mode by releasing both the clutch (C1) and the brake (B1) and engaging the clutch (CS). The hybrid vehicle includes a simultaneous supply prevention valve (550) that prevents simultaneous engagement of the clutch (CS) and at least one of the clutch (CI) or the brake (B1). When a signal pressure of at least one of hydraulic pressure for engaging the clutch (C1) or hydraulic pressure for engaging the brake (B1) is input to the simultaneous supply prevention valve (550), the simultaneous supply prevention valve (550) is switched to a state where supply of hydraulic pressure to the clutch (CS) is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Banshoya, Kiyonori Takagi, Atsushi Kawamoto, Haruhisa Suzuki, Tatsuya Imamura, Toshiki Kanada, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 10155509
    Abstract: An engine, a transmission unit which is connected to the engine and is shifted by an engagement apparatus, and a differential unit which connects the transmission unit and a drive wheel are included. The differential unit includes a first rotary element connected to an output element of the transmission unit, a second rotary element connected to a first rotary machine, and a third rotary element connected to the drive wheel. When an output from the first rotary machine is limited, the engagement apparatus is slipped and an operation point of the engine is changed. The change of the operation point can cause an increase in torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Patent number: 10124795
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to reduce a shock resulting from switching a travelling direction between the forward direction and the backward direction. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle in which an operating mode can be selected at least from a series mode and a series parallel mode. A travelling direction of the vehicle is switched by a shifting device between forward direction and backward direction. A controller is configured to maintain the previous operating mode after switching the travelling direction of the vehicle by the shifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawanishi, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Publication number: 20180312050
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle capable of improvement of fuel efficiency during HV running is provided. The drive unit includes an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a first planetary gear unit, a second planetary gear unit, a first engagement unit, and a second engagement unit. In a case where an operation state of the vehicle is high vehicle speed and a low driving force in which a requested driving force is small, by bringing the first engagement unit to an engaged state and the second engagement unit to the disengaged state, a first state where a gear ratio which is a rotation number ratio between an input element and an output element of a complex planetary gear unit becomes a first gear ratio ?2 smaller than “1” is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito ENDO, Hideaki KOMADA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kensei HATA, Akiko NISHIMINE
  • Patent number: 10112601
    Abstract: A driving device for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission unit configured to output a rotation of an engine while changing rotating speed of the engine; and a first rotating electric machine. The first rotating electric machine is configured to supply a torque for increasing the rotating speed of the engine at the time of starting up of the engine to the engine through the transmission unit. At the time of starting up of the engine, the gear shift stage of the transmission unit is switched to an overdrive state. Thus, a torque sufficient for starting up of the engine can be supplied to the engine, and hence the engine can be appropriately started up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tsuyoshi Kitahata
  • Patent number: 10093165
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including a first differential portion, a second differential portion, and a second rotating machine, the first differential portion including a first rotating element, a second rotating element to which a first rotating machine is coupled in a power transmittable manner, and a third rotating element coupled to drive wheels, the first differential portion having a differential state controlled through control of the operational state of the first rotating machine, the second differential portion including a fourth rotating element to which an engine is coupled in a power transmittable manner, a fifth rotating element, and a sixth rotating element to which the first rotating element is coupled, the second rotating machine being coupled to the drive wheels in a power transmittable manner, the vehicle further including at least one engagement device out of a first engagement device and a second engagement device as well as a third engagement device, the first engagement device coupl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20180264924
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Hideaki KOMADA, Takahito ENDO, Kensei HATA, Akiko NISHIMINE
  • Publication number: 20180264927
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for hybrid vehicles capable of reducing electric power consumption during propulsion in an EV mode. The drive unit includes a first planetary gear unit to which an engine is connected, and a second planetary gear unit connected to a third rotary element of the first planetary gear unit. The drive unit includes a first engagement device that connects a first rotary element of the first planetary gear unit and a sixth rotary element of the second planetary gear unit, and a second engagement device that connects a fourth rotary element and the sixth rotary element of the second planetary gear unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki KOMADA, Takahito ENDO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kensei HATA, Akiko NISHIMINE
  • Patent number: 10071727
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to i) calculate a target supercharging pressure of an intake air such that, when an internal combustion engine is operated through the homogeneous charge compression ignition, the internal combustion engine achieves a required output while satisfying a predetermined requirement, ii) control an output of the internal combustion engine such that the output approaches the required output in accordance with an actual supercharging pressure in process of changing the actual supercharging pressure to the target supercharging pressure that is achieved by a supercharger, and iii) control a rotary machine such that an output of the rotary machine compensates for part or all of a differential output between the required output and the output in process of changing the actual supercharging pressure to the target supercharging pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata