Patents by Inventor Akihito Okazaki

Akihito Okazaki 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: 6907950
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle system comprises an engine (1), a gearbox (4), a clutch (3) for engaging or disengaging the gearbox (4) with or from the engine (1), a rotating machine (2), a power transmission mechanism (5) for transmitting the rotation of the rotating machine (2) to the gearbox, and a capacitor (7) for storing electric power supplied from the rotating machine (2). A control unit (20) computes the drive force required by the vehicle, and determines the portion of output to be produced by the rotating machine (2) according to the stored energy in the capacitor (7) and the portion of output to be produced by the engine (1) so that the drive force requirement may be satisfied. The outputs from the rotating machine (2) and the engine (1) are controlled to obtain the determined portions of output, and a clutch (3) is then engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikurou Notsu, Akihito Okazaki, Masakazu Sasaki, Shougo Nishikawa, Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hideaki Gouda
  • Patent number: 6884199
    Abstract: This system comprises an engine 1, a transmission device 4, a clutch 3 for engaging/disengaging the engine 1 with/from the transmission device 4, a rotational electric device 2, a power transmission mechanism 5 for inputting the rotation of the rotational electric device 2 to the transmission device, and an accumulator element 7 for accumulating electrical power supplied by the rotational electric device 2. A control unit 20 determines a gear change instruction for the transmission device 4, and if gear change instruction is determined, it disengages the clutch 3, and controls the rotation of the rotational electric device 2 in such a manner that the rotational speed of the input shaft of the transmission device becomes a target rotational speed required for a gear changing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikurou Notsu, Akihito Okazaki, Masakazu Sasaki, Shougo Nishikawa, Mistuhiro Nishina, Hideaki Gouda
  • Patent number: 6712165
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle that is provided with an engine and a motor generator as power sources, includes a clutch which automatically engages or disengages to cause or interrupt rotation transmission between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of a transmission, a power transmission mechanism which transmits power between the input/output shaft of the motor generator and the input shaft of the transmission, and a hybrid control unit which selectively disengages the clutch and drives the motor generator. The clutch is disengaged according to running conditions, and the rotation speed of the motor generator is varied by the transmission to drive the vehicle. In this way, the region in which the motor generator operates efficiently is expanded, and fuel consumption by the hybrid vehicle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20040040810
    Abstract: This system comprises an engine 1, a transmission device 4, a clutch 3 for engaging/disengaging the engine 1 with/from the transmission device 4, a rotational electric device 2, a power transmission mechanism 5 for inputting the rotation of the rotational electric device 2 to the transmission device, and an accumulator element 7 for accumulating electrical power supplied by the rotational electric device 2. A control unit 20 determines a gear change instruction for the transmission device 4, and if gear change instruction is determined, it disengages the clutch 3, and controls the rotation of the rotational electric device 2 in such a manner that the rotational speed of the input shaft of the transmission device becomes a target rotational speed required for a gear changing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ikurou Notsu, Akihito Okazaki, Masakazu Sasaki, Shougo Nishikawa, Mistuhiro Nishina, Hideaki Gouda
  • Publication number: 20040026141
    Abstract: This system comprises an engine 1, a transmission device 4, a clutch 3 for engaging/disengaging the engine 1 with/from the transmission device 4, a rotational electric device 2, a power transmission mechanism 5 for inputting the rotation of the rotational electric device 2 to the transmission device, and an accumulator element 7 for accumulating electrical power supplied by the rotational electric device 2. A control unit 20 calculates the required driving force of the vehicle, and sets the ratio of output load allotted to the rotational electric device 2 and the ratio of output load allotted to the engine 1 in accordance with the accumulated charge in the accumulator element 7. The control unit 20 further controls the output of the rotational electric device 2 and the engine 1 in such a manner that these respective allotted output loads are achieved, and engages said clutch 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Ikurou Notsu, Akihito Okazaki, Masakazu Sasaki, Shougo Nishikawa, Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hideaki Gouda