Patents by Inventor Yuzuru Tohta
Yuzuru Tohta 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).
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Patent number: 11927166Abstract: A control method is provided for an internal combustion engine which includes a turbocharger, and which is connected to a stepped automatic transmission. The control method includes judging whether or not an upshift of the automatic transmission is performed; performing a first torque down control by an ignition timing retard of the internal combustion engine during the upshift; judging whether or not a predicted torque estimated from a driving condition of the internal combustion engine is greater than a target torque at an end of the upshift; and performing a second torque down control by the ignition timing retard of the internal combustion engine when the predicted torque is greater than the target torque.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., RENAULT S.A.S.Inventors: Jooyong Jung, Yuzuru Tohta, Ryouichi Ootaki, Tetsuya Nishiyama, Charlotte Giordano, Tony De-Oliveira
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Publication number: 20240026848Abstract: A control method is provided for an internal combustion engine which includes a turbocharger, and which is connected to a stepped automatic transmission. The control method includes judging whether or not an upshift of the automatic transmission is performed; performing a first torque down control by an ignition timing retard of the internal combustion engine during the upshift; judging whether or not a predicted torque estimated from a driving condition of the internal combustion engine is greater than a target torque at an end of the upshift; and performing a second torque down control by the ignition timing retard of the internal combustion engine when the predicted torque is greater than the target torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Jooyong JUNG, Yuzuru TOHTA, Ryouichi OOTAKI, Tetsuya NISHIYAMA, Charlotte GIORDANO, Tony DE-OLIVEIRA
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Patent number: 11840973Abstract: A vehicle control method is provided for controlling a vehicle in which a clutch provided on a power transmission path between an engine and a drive wheel is disconnected when a shift range is a non-driving range and the clutch is connected when the shift range is a driving range. The vehicle control method controls the engine to a prescribed idling speed, controls engine torque to a negative torque by delaying an ignition timing of the engine; and causes the prescribed idling speed to drop within a prescribed amount of time needed for the clutch to switch from being disconnected to being connected when the shift range is switched from the non-driving range to the driving range.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Publication number: 20230392562Abstract: An internal combustion engine (1) automatically stops when a predetermined idle stop condition is satisfied, and automatically restarts when a predetermined idle stop cancel condition is satisfied. The internal combustion engine (1) is controlled so that when fresh air does not flow into a GPF (18) even if fuel injection is stopped during operation of a vehicle, stop of the fuel injection is permitted even when temperature of GPF (18) is high. That is, the internal combustion engine (1) is controlled so that the stop of the fuel injection is forbidden when the temperature of the GPF (18) is higher than a predetermined temperature T1 and the stop of the fuel injection is allowed when the vehicle stops in a state in which the temperature of the GPF (18) is higher than the predetermined temperature (T1).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kohei KAMIYA, Yuzuru TOHTA, Jooyong JUNG
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Publication number: 20230160354Abstract: A control method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine for a vehicle configured to engage a lockup clutch during a fuel cut, and to decrease a lockup hydraulic pressure at a fuel cut recovery to bring the lockup clutch to a slip engagement. The control method includes estimating a torque of the internal combustion engine generated by the fuel cut recovery when a fuel cut recovery condition is satisfied. The control method further includes decreasing a decrease amount of the lockup hydraulic pressure as the torque is greater.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuzuru TOHTA, Kohei KAMIYA, Noriaki EJIRI, Tomoaki KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20230032697Abstract: A control method for an internal combustion engine configured to implement fuel cut in response to becoming zero of an accelerator opening degree during travel of a vehicle, and generate an antiphase torque after the fuel cut by supplying fuel to a cylinder, in order to cancel out vibration of the vehicle caused due to the fuel cut includes setting a timing of generating the antiphase torque to be later than that for normal operation, in response to implementation of the fuel cut under high torque idle operation in which a torque of the internal combustion engine immediately before the fuel cut where the accelerator opening degree is zero is higher than that in the normal operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuzuru TOHTA, Kohei KAMIYA, Noriaki EJIRI, Tomoaki KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 10801614Abstract: A vehicle lock-up clutch control method is performed in which an output of an engine is transmitted to an automatic transmission via a torque converter having a lock-up clutch. The method includes controlling a transmission torque capacity of the lock-up clutch such that a slip rotation speed of the lock-up clutch becomes zero after the lockup clutch is brought into a non-engaged state immediately after starting an accelerator operation, and when the accelerator operation is carried out during a fuel cut of the engine or in a state in which a road load and a driving force of the vehicle are balanced, and after completion of a downshift when the automatic transmission is downshifted while executing a slip control of the lock-up clutch from the non-engaged state to an engaged state during the accelerator operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Publication number: 20200208740Abstract: A vehicle lock-up clutch control method is performed in which an output of an engine is transmitted to an automatic transmission via a torque converter having a lock-up clutch. The method includes controlling a transmission torque capacity of the lock-up clutch such that a slip rotation speed of the lock-up clutch becomes zero after the lockup clutch is brought into a non-engaged state immediately after starting an accelerator operation, and when the accelerator operation is carried out during a fuel cut of the engine or in a state in which a road load and a driving force of the vehicle are balanced, and after completion of a downshift when the automatic transmission is downshifted while executing a slip control of the lock-up clutch from the non-engaged state to an engaged state during the accelerator operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2017Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Yuzuru TOHTA
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Publication number: 20190323444Abstract: A vehicle control method is provided for controlling a vehicle in which a clutch provided on a power transmission path between an engine and a drive wheel is disconnected when a shift range is a non-driving range and the clutch is connected when the shift range is a driving range. The vehicle control method controls the engine to a prescribed idling speed, controls engine torque to a negative torque by delaying an ignition timing of the engine; and causes the prescribed idling speed to drop within a prescribed amount of time needed for the clutch to switch from being disconnected to being connected when the shift range is switched from the non-driving range to the driving range.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventor: Yuzuru TOHTA
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Patent number: 10443717Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine as a drive source and a continuously variable transmission. The continuously variable transmission includes a torque converter having a lockup clutch. When simultaneous execution of an upshift of the continuously variable transmission and a lockup engagement of the lockup clutch is required in accordance with an accelerator depression operation, the LU engagement control of the lockup clutch is started in accordance with an LU engagement request. On the other hand, the upshift control uses the continuously variable transmission to place the starting of the control with respect to the upshift request on standby and cancels the standby when the LU engagement control of the lockup clutch enters a lockup engagement completion region and starts the upshift control (delayed control).Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Patent number: 10415699Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission and a torque converter that has a lock-up clutch. The torque converter is arranged between the engine and the continuously variable transmission. The vehicle further includes engine accessories such as an air conditioner compressor and alternator that are driven by the engine. In this vehicle, a slip control is executed that produces a predetermined slip rotational state by controlling a lock-up capacity of the lock-up clutch. During slip control of the lock-up clutch, the engine-equipped vehicle executes cooperative control that suppresses load fluctuations of engine accessories such as the air conditioner compressor and the alternator.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Patent number: 10308253Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission and a torque converter that has a lock-up clutch. The torque converter is arranged between the engine and the continuously variable transmission. In this vehicle, when an engagement request of the lock-up clutch is issued, an initial-motion lock-up control is executed, whereby engagement is achieved through slip control that increases the lock-up capacity and gradually reduces the slip rotational speed, which is the input-output differential rotational speed of the lock-up clutch. During the slip control of the initial-motion lock-up control, if the slip rotational speed enters a smooth ON control region that is at or below a first set value, a second engine torque reduction control is executed that reduces the torque of the engine below the normal torque that is applied in response to a driver's request.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Publication number: 20190017594Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine as a drive source and a continuously variable transmission. The continuously variable transmission includes a torque converter having a lockup clutch. When simultaneous execution of an upshift of the continuously variable transmission and a lockup engagement of the lockup clutch is required in accordance with an accelerator depression operation, the LU engagement control of the lockup clutch is started in accordance with an LU engagement request. On the other hand, the upshift control uses the continuously variable transmission to place the starting of the control with respect to the upshift request on standby and cancels the standby when the LU engagement control of the lockup clutch enters a lockup engagement completion region and starts the upshift control (delayed control).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2016Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventor: Yuzuru TOHTA
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Patent number: 10155517Abstract: An engine control device for a vehicle including a power train where a continuously variable transmission is coupled to an engine, includes engine torque control means configured to control the engine so as to obtain an basic engine torque corresponding to an operating state of the vehicle, and command means configured to command engine torque control means to increase an engine torque from the basic engine torque during a gear shifting from a first speed stage to a second speed stage.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: JATCO LTDInventors: Yuzuru Tohta, Hideshi Wakayama, Mamiko Inoue, Takuichiro Inoue
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Patent number: 10125864Abstract: A control device for a lock-up-clutch installed in a torque converter arranged between an engine and an automatic transmission mechanism includes an engagement control means that carries out a calculation to increase an engaging capacity of the lock-up-clutch with the passage of time during an engagement control time in which the torque converter is shifted from a converter condition to a lock-up condition in which the prime mover drives an auxiliary device and in which when, during the control to increase the engaging capacity of the lock-up-clutch, an input torque to the torque converter from the engine is increased due to reduction in load of the auxiliary device, the engagement control means promotes the increase of the engaging capacity of the lock-up-clutch based on the amount of increase of the input torque thereby eliminating undesired pressure shortage that would be induced in the period toward the lock-up condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoaki Honma, Kohei Kamiya, Yuta Suzuki, Itaru Shinohara, Hiroshi Sekiya, Hiromu Ogino, Yasuhiro Endo, Yuzuru Tohta, Kouki Saitou
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Publication number: 20180265087Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission and a torque converter that has a lock-up clutch. The torque converter is arranged between the engine and the continuously variable transmission. In this vehicle, when an engagement request of the lock-up clutch is issued, an initial-motion lock-up control is executed, whereby engagement is achieved through slip control that increases the lock-up capacity and gradually reduces the slip rotational speed, which is the input-output differential rotational speed of the lock-up clutch. During the slip control of the initial-motion lock-up control, if the slip rotational speed enters a smooth ON control region that is at or below a first set value, a second engine torque reduction control is executed that reduces the torque of the engine below the normal torque that is applied in response to a driver's request.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Yuzuru TOHTA
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Publication number: 20180266549Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission and a torque converter that has a lock-up clutch. The torque converter is arranged between the engine and the continuously variable transmission. The vehicle further includes engine accessories such as an air conditioner compressor and alternator that are driven by the engine. In this vehicle, a slip control is executed that produces a predetermined slip rotational state by controlling a lock-up capacity of the lock-up clutch. During slip control of the lock-up clutch, the engine-equipped vehicle executes cooperative control that suppresses load fluctuations of engine accessories such as the air conditioner compressor and the alternator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Yuzuru TOHTA
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Patent number: 9920796Abstract: A vehicle lock-up clutch control device is provided to suppress engine racing when a lock-up clutch is engaged at the time a vehicle starts moving. The vehicle lock-up clutch control device is provided with a control unit that delays the rise in lock-up command pressure if a line pressure, which is the source pressure of the actual lock-up oil pressure, is rising when the lock-up clutch is engaged at the time the vehicle starts moving. The control unit executes a torque reduction in the engine at least during the delay in the lock-up command pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Patent number: 9856976Abstract: A lock-up clutch control device is provided for a vehicle having a torque converter with a lock-up clutch disposed between an engine and a continuously variable transmission such that the occurrence of shocks during lock-up engagement is suppressed. The vehicle lock-up clutch control device is provided with a control unit that controls the lock-up capacity based on an engine torque signal when engaging the lock-up clutch. The control unit uses a predictive engine torque as the engine torque signal for use in the lock-up capacity control. The predictive engine torque is calculated based on an engine torque air response delay and a hydraulic response delay in the lock-up differential pressure and is faster in response than the actual engine torque.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
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Patent number: 9815466Abstract: A lock-up clutch control device is provided for a vehicle, in which, when the accelerator pedal is released in a slip engagement mode, lock-up re-engagement with reduced engagement shock is performed, thereby improving fuel economy. A torque converter having a lock-up clutch is disposed between an engine and a continuously variable transmission. The vehicle is provided with a coast lock-up control unit configured to bring the engine in a fuel cut-off state when the accelerator pedal is released in a slip engagement mode in which a differential rotation is present in the lock-up clutch with the accelerator pedal being depressed. Upon accelerator fool release operation, the coast lock-up control unit performs an engine torque control to synchronize engine rotation speed and turbine rotational speed, re-engages the lock-up clutch in a rotation synchronization state, and, after the re-engagement, and performs fuel cut-off.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta