Patents by Inventor Hideki Furuta

Hideki Furuta 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: 9937988
    Abstract: An outboard motor power generation system includes an engine, a power generator, a converting device configured to convert alternating-current power into direct-current power, an engine cover configured to cover the engine, the power generator, and the converting device, a battery, and a transformer provided on an electric pathway between the converting device and the battery and configured to raise the voltage of the direct-current power output from the converting device relative to the charge voltage of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro Fukuda, Hideki Furuta, Jun Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9758151
    Abstract: In response to a DN operation that changes a shift position SP from a D position to an N position during forward drive in an HV drive mode, then an accelerator position Acc is not less than a reference accelerator position Aref (step S130), a mechanical neutral control is performed to provide a neutral state by releasing transmission of power between an intermediate shaft 32 and a driveshaft 36 by a multi-speed transmission 60 (step S230). An engine and two motors are then controlled to be rotated at rotation speeds close to rotation speeds Nedn, Nm1dn and Nm2dn at the time of DN operation (steps S250, S270 and S280).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Yosuke Tagawa, Hideki Furuta
  • Patent number: 9610843
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric motor, a transmission, a drive unit, a converter, and an electronic control unit. The transmission is provided in a power transmission path between a rotary shaft of the electric motor and drive wheels of the electric vehicle. The drive unit is configured to drive the electric motor. The converter is configured to regulate a voltage supplied to the drive unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the converter, and determine the voltage regulated by the converter, based on a first quantity of state associated with torque of an output shaft of the transmission, and a second quantity of state associated with a rotational speed of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Yosuke Tagawa, Hideki Furuta, Yoshiki Sawamura
  • Patent number: 9577492
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device, including an engine including a crankshaft, and a power generator including a rotor configured to be rotated by the crankshaft, and a stator arranged to face the rotor, the stator including a first coil group and a second coil group each configured to generate alternating current (AC), the second coil group being configured to generate more electric power than the first coil group. The marine propulsion device further includes a rectifier configured to rectify the AC generated by the first coil group to thereby obtain a first direct current (DC), and to output the first DC to a first battery, a converting device configured to convert the AC generated by the second coil group into a second DC, and a transformation device configured to transform a voltage of the second DC, and to output the voltage-transformed DC to a second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Furuta, Jun Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9574504
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that generates power for rotating drive wheels, a differential mechanism that is provided between the engine and the drive wheels, and has at least three rotary elements including a first rotary element coupled to the engine, and a second rotary element coupled to the drive wheels, and a controller configured to control the engine. The controller is configured to determine whether to perform correction to increase the power generated by the engine, or perform correction to reduce the power, depending on a rotational speed of the second rotary element, when it changes a rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Akihiro Kimura, Yuma Mori, Hideki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20170012488
    Abstract: An outboard motor power generation system includes an engine, a power generator, a converting device configured to convert alternating-current power into direct-current power, an engine cover configured to cover the engine, the power generator, and the converting device, a battery, and a transformer provided on an electric pathway between the converting device and the battery and configured to raise the voltage of the direct-current power output from the converting device relative to the charge voltage of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shiro FUKUDA, Hideki FURUTA, Jun NOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 9487210
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a differential device, a first motor, an engine, a second motor, an engagement device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first motor and the second motor when an engagement state of the engagement device changes, such that a first angular acceleration and a second angular acceleration reach a first target value and the second target value respectively, the first angular acceleration and the second angular acceleration being two angular accelerations of the engine, the first motor, and the second motor and to calculate the first target value and the second target value by applying a constraint condition to at least one of the first target value and the second target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Shunya Kato, Akihiro Kimura, Hideki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20160218591
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device, including an engine including a crankshaft, and a power generator including a rotor configured to be rotated by the crankshaft, and a stator arranged to face the rotor, the stator including a first coil group and a second coil group each configured to generate alternating current (AC), the second coil group being configured to generate more electric power than the first coil group. The marine propulsion device further includes a rectifier configured to rectify the AC generated by the first coil group to thereby obtain a first direct current (DC), and to output the first DC to a first battery, a converting device configured to convert the AC generated by the second coil group into a second DC, and a transformation device configured to transform a voltage of the second DC, and to output the voltage-transformed DC to a second battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki FURUTA, Jun NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150372632
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric motor, a transmission, a drive unit, a converter, and an electronic control unit. The transmission is provided in a power transmission path between a rotary shaft of the electric motor and drive wheels of the electric vehicle. The drive unit is configured to drive the electric motor. The converter is configured to regulate a voltage supplied to the drive unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the converter, and determine the voltage regulated by the converter, based on a first quantity of state associated with torque of an output shaft of the transmission, and a second quantity of state associated with a rotational speed of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Yosuke TAGAWA, Hideki FURUTA, Yoshiki SAWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150344020
    Abstract: In response to a DN operation that changes a shift position SP from a D position to an N position during forward drive in an HV drive mode, then an accelerator position Acc is not less than a reference accelerator position Aref (step S130), a mechanical neutral control is performed to provide a neutral state by releasing transmission of power between an intermediate shaft 32 and a driveshaft 36 by a multi-speed transmission 60 (step S230). An engine and two motors are then controlled to be rotated at rotation speeds close to rotation speeds Nedn, Nm1dn and Nm2dn at the time of DN operation (steps S250, S270 and S280).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Yosuke TAGAWA, Hideki FURUTA
  • Patent number: 9090248
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric steplessly speed changing unit, an engaging device, and an electronic control unit. The electric steplessly speed changing unit includes a differential mechanism including a first rotary element to which an engine is coupled, a second rotary element to which a first rotary machine is coupled, and a third rotary element as an output rotary member of the differential mechanism to which a second rotary machine is coupled. Differential operation of the electric steplessly speed changing unit is controlled by controlling operation of the first rotary machine. The engaging device is provided in a power transmission path between the third rotary element and drive wheels. In control of the hybrid vehicle, when at least one of the first rotary machine and the second rotary machine is operated with a predetermined positive or negative maximum torque, the electronic control unit controls a slip amount of the engaging device by changing the torque capacity of the engaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Tooru Matsubara, Akihiro Kimura, Masaya Yamamoto, Hideki Furuta, Daisuke Suyama, Yuma Mori
  • Patent number: 8954248
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle including a differential section having a first rotating element coupled to a prime mover and a second rotating element connected to drive wheels via an engaging and disengaging apparatus, including: a controller configured to control connection of the engaging and disengaging apparatus, the controller being configured to adjust a power of the prime mover, the controller being configured to reduce the power of the prime mover when performing connection of the engaging and disengaging apparatus, and the controller being configured to reduce more power of the prime mover as a speed of rotation of the first rotating element is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Akihiro Kimura, Yuma Mori, Hideki Furuta
  • Patent number: 8932178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission between an engine and a drive wheel and includes a differential mechanism (planetary gear mechanism) between the engine and an engagement device (transmission). A controller (ECU) included in the vehicle calculates a variation rate in the whole rotation energy of the planetary gear mechanism when it is in the inertia phase of a shift. The ECU increasingly corrects an engine generated power and decreasingly corrects a transmission transfer power when the variation rate is higher than 0. The ECU decreasingly corrects the engine generated power and increasingly correct the transmission transfer power when the variation rate is lower than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Akihiro Kimura, Yuma Mori, Hideki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20140343775
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a differential device, a first motor, an engine, a second motor, an engagement device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first motor and the second motor when an engagement state of the engagement device changes, such that a first angular acceleration and a second angular acceleration reach a first target value and the second target value respectively, the first angular acceleration and the second angular acceleration being two angular accelerations of the engine, the first motor, and the second motor and to calculate the first target value and the second target value by applying a constraint condition to at least one of the first target value and the second target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya YAMAMOTO, Shunya KATO, Akihiro KIMURA, Hideki FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20140287869
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric steplessly speed changing unit, an engaging device, and an electronic control unit. The electric steplessly speed changing unit includes a differential mechanism including a first rotary element to which an engine is coupled, a second rotary element to which a first rotary machine is coupled, and a third rotary element as an output rotary member of the differential mechanism to which a second rotary machine is coupled. Differential operation of the electric steplessly speed changing unit is controlled by controlling operation of the first rotary machine. The engaging device is provided in a power transmission path between the third rotary element and drive wheels. In control of the hybrid vehicle, when at least one of the first rotary machine and the second rotary machine is operated with a predetermined positive or negative maximum torque, the electronic control unit controls a slip amount of the engaging device by changing the torque capacity of the engaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Tooru MATSUBARA, Akihiro KIMURA, Masaya YAMAMOTO, Hideki FURUTA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Yuma MORI
  • Publication number: 20140228170
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle including a differential section having a first rotating element coupled to a prime mover and a second rotating element connected to drive wheels via an engaging and disengaging apparatus, including: a controller configured to control connection of the engaging and disengaging apparatus, the controller being configured to adjust a power of the prime mover, the controller being configured to reduce the power of the prime mover when performing connection of the engaging and disengaging apparatus, and the controller being configured to reduce more power of the prime mover as a speed of rotation of the first rotating element is lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Akihiro KIMURA, Yuma MORI, Hideki FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20140180558
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that generates power for rotating drive wheels, a differential mechanism that is provided between the engine and the drive wheels, and has at least three rotary elements including a first rotary element coupled to the engine, and a second rotary element coupled to the drive wheels, and a controller configured to control the engine. The controller is configured to determine whether to perform correction to increase the power generated by the engine, or perform correction to reduce the power, depending on a rotational speed of the second rotary element, when it changes a rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Akihiro KIMURA, Yuma MORI, Hideki FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20140179489
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission between an engine and a drive wheel and includes a differential mechanism (planetary gear mechanism) between the engine and an engagement device (transmission). A controller (ECU) included in the vehicle calculates a variation rate in the whole rotation energy of the planetary gear mechanism when it is in the inertia phase of a shift. The ECU increasingly corrects an engine generated power and decreasingly corrects a transmission transfer power when the variation rate is higher than 0. The ECU decreasingly corrects the engine generated power and increasingly correct the transmission transfer power when the variation rate is lower than 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya KATO, Akihiro KIMURA, Yuma MORI, Hideki FURUTA
  • Patent number: 8244420
    Abstract: If an accelerator pedal is released, when a flag indicates 1, a vehicle travels in a traveling environment reflected operation mode where an engine and two motors are controlled in a manner that a required torque is output to a drive shaft while the engine is operated by the motor. If a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a threshold at the time or after the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in a normal operation mode where the engine and two motors are controlled in a manner that the required torque is output to the drive shaft with engine rotation stopped. If the vehicle speed is higher than the threshold when the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in the traveling environment reflected operation mode until the vehicle speed becomes equal to or lower than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimohira, Ryo Shimizu, Hideki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20090299559
    Abstract: If an accelerator pedal is released, when a flag indicates 1, a vehicle travels in a traveling environment reflected operation mode where an engine and two motors are controlled in such a manner that a required torque is output to a drive shaft while the engine, in which fuel injection is stopped, is operated by the motor. If a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a threshold at the time or after the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in a normal operation mode where the engine and the two motors are controlled in such a manner that the required torque is output to the drive shaft with engine rotation stopped. If the vehicle speed is higher than the threshold when the flag is changed from 1 to 0, the vehicle travels in the traveling environment reflected operation mode until the vehicle speed becomes equal to or lower than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Shimohira, Ryo Shimizu, Hideki Furuta