Patents by Inventor Akihito Iwata

Akihito Iwata 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: 5769753
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission which includes a fluid transmission unit. The control system includes a clutch applied in a forward running range; a hydraulic servo for applying the clutch responsive to an oil pressure; input and output R.P.M. sensors for detecting the input and output R.P.M.s of the fluid transmission unit; a stop state detector for detecting that the vehicle is stopped; a start detector for detecting start of the vehicle from a stop; and a control unit for controlling the oil pressure fed to the hydraulic servo. The oil pressure of the hydraulic servo is reduced, when the vehicle is stopped, to establish a neutral control state in which the clutch is released. A completely applied state of the clutch is established by boosting the oil pressure fed to the hydraulic servo when the shift of the vehicle from a stop to start is detected, in two stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Kusafuka, Kazuhiro Mikami, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Akihito Iwata
  • Patent number: 5704873
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission, has a fluid transmission unit for transmitting the rotation of an engine to a speed change unit; a clutch adapted to be applied when a forward running range is selected to transmit the rotation of the fluid transmission unit to the transmission mechanism of the speed change unit; a stopped state detector for detecting a stopped state of a vehicle wherein the stopped state is defined as a forward running range being selected, the throttle opening being fully closed, the brake pedal being depressed, and the vehicle speed being substantially zero; engine speed detector for detecting the engine speed; clutch operation force generating means for generating the application force of the clutch; and a control unit. The control unit releases the clutch by reducing the engaging force of the clutch when the stopped state of the vehicle is detected by the stopped state detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Iwata, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Mikami, Masahiro Hayabuchi
  • Patent number: 5692990
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control apparatus has a vehicle speed detector, an accelerator pedal operation detector, a brake pedal operation detector, a clutch hydraulic servo that is neutral-controlled, a brake hydraulic servo that is hill holding-controlled, and a control device for controlling the fluid pressure supplied to the two servos. The control device selectively changes the start timing of the fluid pressure supply control. If it is determined that the vehicle is stopped and that the vehicle is not on an uphill, the control device causes a pressure reducing device and a pressure supplying device to simultaneously start reducing the fluid pressure supply to the clutch servo and supplying fluid pressure to the brake servo, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Akihito Iwata
  • Patent number: 5692991
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control apparatus has an input clutch, a hydraulic servo for the clutch, a fluid temperature detector, an engine start detector, a range shift detector, and a control device for controlling the fluid pressure supply to the hydraulic servo. The control device raises the fluid pressure supply to the hydraulic servo on the basis of predetermined rising characteristics in normal operation. When it is determined that the shift has been performed for the first time since the start of the engine and it is determined that the fluid temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control device rapidly raises the fluid pressure supply to the hydraulic servo up to the required engaging pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Iwata, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Masahiro Hayabuchi
  • Patent number: 5630772
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automatic transmission in a vehicle drive train including an engine, the automatic transmission and a fluid coupling for transmitting the rotation of the engine to the transmission. The transmission includes a clutch applied when a forward running range is selected; a second one-way clutch which is applied, when the first clutch is applied, to establish a forward 1st speed; and a brake for locking the one-way clutch, when applied, to block the reverse rotation of the output shaft of the transmission. A first hydraulic servo receives a first oil pressure for applying the first clutch and a second hydraulic servo receives a second oil pressure for applying the brake. When a forward running range is selected, with the vehicle stopped, the engine idling and a foot brake engaged, the oil pressure of the first hydraulic servo is lowered from the oil pressure at the 1st speed whereas the oil pressure of the second hydraulic servo is raised to a modulated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Masahiro Hayabuchi, Masaaki Nishida, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Muneo Kusafuka, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Akihito Iwata
  • Patent number: 5586954
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission, having a fluid transmission unit for transmitting the rotation of an engine to a speed change unit. The control system includes a clutch which is applied responsive to selection of forward running range; a one-way clutch which is locked, when the clutch is applied, to establish a forward first speed; a brake for locking the one-way clutch, to block reverse rotation of the output shaft of the speed change unit. First and second hydraulic servos apply, respectively, the clutch and the brake responsive to receipt of oil pressures. A control unit controls the oil pressures fed to the first and second hydraulic servos. The control unit starts the feed of oil pressure to the second hydraulic servo responsive to selection of a forward running range, provided the vehicle is substantially stopped, the engine is idling and the foot brake is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Iwata, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Kazuhiro Mikami, Masahiro Hayabuchi, Yoshihisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5547436
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission in a vehicle powertrain including an engine and a fluid coupling for transmitting the rotation of an engine to the transmission, the transmission having a clutch which is applied responsive to selection of a forward running range and a hydraulic servo for applying the clutch responsive to an oil pressure. The control system includes a control unit for controlling the oil pressure to the hydraulic servo; an input torque detector for detecting the input torque to be inputted to the transmission; and a specific state detector for detecting satisfaction of a set of specific starting conditions including: (1) that the forward running range has been selected, (2) that the vehicle is stopped and (3) that the engine is in an idling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hayabuchi, Masaaki Nishida, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Mikami, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Akihito Iwata
  • Patent number: 5542887
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control system providing a neutral control state in which there is no slipping engagement of a first clutch which is engaged upon selection of a forward range and, as a result, the vehicle is not subjected to idling vibration. The fuel consumption reducing effect of the neutral control state is maintained and there is no heating and consequent deterioration of the friction material of the clutch. The control system includes a hydraulic servo for operation of the clutch, an input side speed sensor for detecting the input side speed of a fluid power coupling device connecting the transmission to the output of an engine, an output side speed sensor for detecting the output side speed of the fluid power coupling device, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Masahiro Hayabuchi, Masaaki Nishida, Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Muneo Kusafuka, Kazuhiro Mikami, Hiroshi Tsutsui, Akihito Iwata