Patents by Inventor Daigo Ando
Daigo Ando 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: 9062620Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG (motor generator), a second MG, a motive power split device, and an ECU. ECU temporarily determines whether or not an imbalance abnormality has occurred based on an air-fuel ratio, and when it is temporarily determined that the imbalance abnormality is present, controls the engine such that the engine is in an idle state and formally determines whether or not the imbalance abnormality has occurred based on fluctuations in engine rotation speed. During a stop at idle, ECU determines whether or not the formal determination process of the imbalance determination is ongoing and carries out pressing control to cause the first MG to generate pressing torque Tp when the formal determination process is not ongoing and does not carry out the pressing control so as not to cause the first MG to generate pressing torque Tp when the formal determination process is ongoing.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daigo Ando, Takuji Matsubara, Takahiro Nishigaki
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Patent number: 9008877Abstract: A controller executes an engine intermittent operation to stop operation of an engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied and to start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied, makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from the in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from the port injection valve. The controller inhibits execution of the engine intermittent operation until the in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination has been made and the port injection valve abnormality determination has been made.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daigo Ando, Yukio Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8989938Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including an engine, a first MG (motor generator), a second MG, a power split device that couples them, and an ECU. ECU determines whether or not to permit execution of pressing control for suppressing idling vibrations produced by the power split device in an idling state of the engine depending on whether or not the combustion state of the engine is good, and sets a permission flag in accordance with a determination result. ECU determines whether or not the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state. While the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state and if the permission flag F is “ON”, ECU executes pressing control to cause the first MG to produce pressing torque Tp. If the permission flag F is “OFF”, ECU does not execute pressing control so that the first MG does not produce pressing torque Tp.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daigo Ando, Takuji Matsubara
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Patent number: 8972089Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having a controller controls output torque of an engine and output torque of a generator motor so as to apply requested torque to a drive shaft. The controller performs engine intermittent operation to stop operation of the engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied, and start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied. The controller makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from an in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from a port injection valve. If at least one of abnormality determinations concerning the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve has not been made, the engine is operated so that the load of the engine falls within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daigo Ando, Yukio Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20140365056Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention has: an internal combustion engine including an in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a crank ventilation system; a motor; a power transmission mechanism connecting a drive shaft of the vehicle and the engine to allow torque transmission therebetween and connecting the drive shaft and the motor to allow torque transmission therebetween; and a control device. The control device controls output torques of the engine and the motor so as to exert an equal torque to a user requiring torque on the drive shaft. Furthermore, the control device stops the engine when an engine stop condition that included a condition that a coolant water temperature is equal to or higher than an intermittency allowance temperature, and start the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2011Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8897992Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a control unit that controls a change of the valve timing. The control unit sets an engine stop request-time target valve timing that is a target valve timing at the time when a request for an engine stop is issued, starts control for changing the valve timing coincides with the engine stop request-time target valve timing and causes the internal combustion engine to operate at an idle at the time when the request for the engine stop is issued, starts a process of stopping operation of internal combustion engine at the time when the valve timing has reached a predetermined valve timing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Ohori, Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20140309832Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one of embodiments of the present invention applies, to a drive axel, a torque equal to a user requesting torque determined based on an accelerator operation amount, by controlling a torque generated by an engine and a torque generated by an electric motor while adjusting a power generated by the engine in such a manner that an engine efficiency becomes optimum (i.e., while operating the engine at an optimum engine operation point). Further, the vehicle controls an electric power generated by a first motor generator by varying the power generated by the engine based on a remaining capacity of the battery so as to charge the battery. In addition, the vehicle controls the air-fuel of the engine to a rich air-fuel ratio when a predetermined condition is not satisfied, and to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the predetermined condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2011Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8855891Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine includes: a variable valve timing mechanism that changes a valve timing; and a control unit that controls a change of the valve timing. The control unit sets an engine stop request-time target valve timing that is a target valve timing at the time when a request for an engine stop is issued, starts control for changing the valve timing coincides with the engine stop request-time target valve timing and causes the internal combustion engine to operate at an idle at the time when the request for the engine stop is issued, starts a process of stopping operation of internal combustion engine at the time when the valve timing has reached a predetermined valve timing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinya Ohori, Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20140229088Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator capable of controlling the revolution speed of the engine, and an ECU configured to control ignition timing of the engine. The ECU modifies, in the case where the revolution speed of the engine is not controlled by the motor generator, the ignition timing for startup of the engine to a further timing advancing side, as compared to the case where the revolution speed of the engine is controlled by the motor generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Matsumoto, Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8774993Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is equipped with an engine and a motor generator (MG2) serving as a power source for driving the vehicle. A catalytic converter is provided in an exhaust pipe of the engine. An HV-ECU estimates a possible EV-running distance based on an SOC of a power storage device for comparison with a traveling distance (L) to a destination set by a navigation device. When the possible EV-running distance is longer than the traveling distance (L), the HV-ECU outputs a control signal (CTL2) instructing prohibition of warm-up of the catalytic converter, to an EG-ECU.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Harada, Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8613218Abstract: After an engine stop duration exceeds a predetermined time period (that is, if a decision outcome of S100 is positive), diagnosis of a leakage mechanism, which is a relief valve, for diagnosing the presence/absence of an abnormality is not performed during a current engine stop (S102). Therefore, even if the fuel pressure in the high-pressure fuel system is reduced to a low-pressure level due to temperature decrease as though fuel has been leaked in a state in which high-pressure fuel in a high-pressure fuel system cannot be leaked due to an abnormality in the relief valve, it generally occurs after the predetermined time period since such a decrease to a low-pressure level due to the temperature decrease is slow. Thus, an erroneous diagnosis as being normal is prevented from being made since the diagnosis has been suspended when the fuel pressure becomes equal to the low-pressure level.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8606490Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle including an engine provided with a plurality of VVTs (variable valve timing mechanisms) as one motive power source, an ECU increments a time lapse counter when a sensor detects the fact that a greatest-retard command has been output to all VVTs and an operation position of each VVT has actually returned to a greatest-retard position in response to the greatest-retard command. The ECU determines whether count by the time lapse counter has exceeded a predetermined defined time or not, and it does not permit engine stop until count by the time lapse counter reaches the predetermined defined time and permits engine stop when count by the time lapse counter has exceeded the predetermined defined time.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daigo Ando
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Patent number: 8606485Abstract: An ECU executes a program including a step (S102) of prohibiting idle priority control if automatic stop control of an engine is prohibited (YES in S100), and a step (S104) of permitting the idle priority control if the automatic stop control of the engine is not prohibited (NO in S100).Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20130311061Abstract: An ECU executes a program including a step of prohibiting idle priority control if automatic stop control of an engine is prohibited and a step of permitting the idle priority control if the automatic stop control of the engine is not prohibited.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2010Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20130297180Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG (motor generator), a second MG, a motive power split device, and an ECU. ECU temporarily determines whether or not an imbalance abnormality has occurred based on an air-fuel ratio, and when it is temporarily determined that the imbalance abnormality is present, controls the engine such that the engine is in an idle state and formally determines whether or not the imbalance abnormality has occurred based on fluctuations in engine rotation speed. During a stop at idle, ECU determines whether or not the formal determination process of the imbalance determination is ongoing and carries out pressing control to cause the first MG to generate pressing torque Tp when the formal determination process is not ongoing and does not carry out the pressing control so as not to cause the first MG to generate pressing torque Tp when the formal determination process is ongoing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2011Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daigo Ando, Takuji Matsubara, Takahiro Nishigaki
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Publication number: 20130268153Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including an engine, a first MG (motor generator), a second MG, a power split device that couples them, and an ECU. ECU determines whether or not to permit execution of pressing control for suppressing idling vibrations produced by the power split device in an idling state of the engine depending on whether or not the combustion state of the engine is good, and sets a permission flag in accordance with a determination result. ECU determines whether or not the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state. While the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state and if the permission flag F is “ON”, ECU executes pressing control to cause the first MG to produce pressing torque Tp. If the permission flag F is “OFF”, ECU does not execute pressing control so that the first MG does not produce pressing torque Tp.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daigo Ando, Takuji Matsubara
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Publication number: 20130238219Abstract: Provided is an abnormality determination device of a vehicle including an engine and a first motor that is configured to output a torque to an output shaft of the engine, the abnormality determination device determining an output abnormality of dropping output of the engine in the vehicle. The abnormality determination device has an abnormality determination unit that determines that an output abnormality of the engine has occurred when an actual torque that is estimated, based on a torque of the first motor, as a torque actually output from the engine falls below a lower limit of an allowable range for a target torque to be output from the engine, and when an amount of increase in a rotational speed of the engine is smaller than a threshold value for misdetermination suppression, which is a threshold value that is larger as the target torque is higher.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Daigo ANDO, Kengo HAMADA
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Publication number: 20130226380Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having a controller controls output torque of an engine and output torque of a generator motor so as to apply requested torque to a drive shaft. The controller performs engine intermittent operation to stop operation of the engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied, and start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied. The controller makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from an in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from a port injection valve. If at least one of abnormality determinations concerning the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve has not been made, the engine is operated so that the load of the engine falls within a predetermined range.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: Daigo Ando, Yukio Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20130206105Abstract: A control device, which is applied to an in-vehicle internal combustion engine equipped with an intake valve variable timing mechanism that varies the valve timing for an intake valve, and which intermittently operates the in-vehicle internal combustion engine by automatically stopping/restarting the engine, wherein the electronic control unit does not permit the engine operation to be automatically stopped when the intake valve variable timing mechanism malfunctions at an operating position closer to the advanced angle than the operating position for the most retarded angle of the variable range for the valve timing of intake valve, and thus preventing increased engine vibration and misfires when the engine automatically restarts, which are caused by a malfunction of the variable valve mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2010Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Daigo Ando
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Publication number: 20130173103Abstract: A controller executes an engine intermittent operation to stop operation of an engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied and to start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied, makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from the in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from the port injection valve. The controller inhibits execution of the engine intermittent operation until the in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination has been made and the port injection valve abnormality determination has been made.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Inventors: Daigo Ando, Yukio Kobayashi