Patents by Inventor Hiroatsu Endo

Hiroatsu Endo 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: 7426973
    Abstract: A first reduction section of a hybrid power unit reduces an output of a motor when a transmission is shifted. A charge determining section determines whether charging of a battery is permitted. If the charge determining section determines that charging of the battery is not permitted in a period where the first reduction section reduces the output of the motor, a second reduction section reduces a power generation amount of a generator. Therefore, a shift shock is reliably prevented without generating response delay in an output rotation in the hybrid power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 7426854
    Abstract: An abnormality determination device and an abnormality determination method of a vehicle that includes a stepped type automatic transmission capable of forming a plurality of speed change steps are provided. The presence/absence of an abnormality of an element related to formation of a predetermined speed change step is determined in a state of the vehicle where the predetermined speed change step is formed. Information about the abnormality determined to be present is then stored. If the information about the abnormality is stored when the vehicle is to newly start to run, the predetermined speed change step where the abnormality stored occurred is established, and the presence/absence of the abnormality of the element related to the formation of the predetermined speed change step is re-determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidhosa Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080153660
    Abstract: A shock caused due to a change in the direction of torque transferred to an output shaft is reduced. There is provided a control device for a powertrain including a drive power source that transfers torque to an output shaft connected to a wheel of a vehicle, and a rotary electric machine that transfers torque to the output shaft via a transmission. When electric power generation performed using the rotary electric machine is restricted, if torque that decelerates the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, a control is executed so that torque that does not decelerate the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, and a shift control over the transmission is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiyo Uejima, Hiroatsu Endo, Yoichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20080139360
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles, in which a second prime mover is connected to an output member to which a power is transmitted from a first prime mover through a transmission in which a torque capacity is varied in accordance with an oil pressure, and which has a first hydraulic pump driven by the first prime mover for establishing an oil pressure to be fed to the transmission, and a second hydraulic pump arranged in parallel with the first hydraulic pump and driven by an electric motor. A torque limiter limits an output torque of the second prime mover temporarily to a predetermined torque which is lower than a maximum output torque, at a starting time of the first prime mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIBOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Masatoshi Ito, Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20080109142
    Abstract: The drive control of the invention is applicable to a motor vehicle equipped with an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a transmission, and an accumulator unit. In the motor vehicle, a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism are respectively connected to the first motor, the engine, and a driveshaft, and the second motor is connected to the drive-shaft via the transmission. In response to a decrease in torque transmitted from the second motor to the driveshaft (that is, upon identification of a flag F1 equal to ‘1’ representing a torque phase) during an upshift operation of the transmission in the state of output of a positive torque from the second motor, the drive control of the invention lowers a target rotation speed Ne* of the engine to decrease a torque command Tm1*=(negative torque) of the first motor. This increases a direct torque Ter directly transmitted from the engine to the driveshaft by the first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20080012551
    Abstract: An input shaft rotating speed detector detects an input shaft rotating speed Nin of an automatic transmission based on output signals from a resolver within a predetermined time period ?t1. An output shaft rotating speed detector calculates the number of pulse signals output from an electromagnetic pickup sensor within the predetermined time period ?t1, to detect an output shaft rotating speed Nout of the automatic transmission based on the time length of pulse intervals in the calculated number of pulse signals. With this configuration, the number of pulse signals used for calculating the output shaft rotating speed Nout can be changed, to thereby make a detection period of the output signals from the resolver used for calculating the input shaft rotating speed Nin be consistent with that of the pulse signals used for calculating the output shaft rotating speed Nout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Kentaro Kakuse
  • Patent number: 7261670
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid drive unit, wherein an assist prime mover is connected through a transmission to an output member, to which a torque outputted by a main prime mover is transmitted. The control device comprises a first torque correcting means for correcting the torque to be transmitted from the main prime mover to the output member during a gear shift by the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Masataka Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20070186632
    Abstract: An abnormality determination device and an abnormality determination method of a vehicle that includes a stepped type automatic transmission capable of forming a plurality of speed change steps are provided. The presence/absence of an abnormality of an element related to formation of a predetermined speed change step is determined in a state of the vehicle where the predetermined speed change step is formed. Information about the abnormality determined to be present is then stored. If the information about the abnormality is stored when the vehicle is to newly start to run, the predetermined speed change step where the abnormality stored occurred is established, and the presence/absence of the abnormality of the element related to the formation of the predetermined speed change step is re-determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070179004
    Abstract: In relation to an automatic transmission which has a plurality of friction engagement devices that are engaged when supplied with oil pressure and which establishes a plurality of speed change steps in accordance with engaged and released states of the friction engagement devices, a control device of a vehicular automatic transmission that switches between the speed change steps in accordance with a predetermined shift rule includes a controller which changes the shift rule to an air discharge-purpose shift rule that is set so as to provide a higher probability of switching to a speed change step that involves engagement of a predetermined friction engagement device of the friction engagement devices than the shift rule in order to discharge air that has intruded in a hydraulic circuit of the predetermined friction engagement device, and which causes switching between the speed change steps in accordance with the air discharge-purpose shift rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20070175679
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle including a motive power distribution mechanism that distributes output of an engine to a first motor-generator and to an output shaft, a second motor-generator that outputs power to the output shaft via a stepped type transmission, and an electricity storage device, and a control method. In an activating operation of the vehicle, a friction engagement device is engaged, and a ready-to-run state is et based on the engagement oil pressure of the friction engagement device detected. It is determined whether the vehicle is in a motor or a non-motor run region. If the vehicle is in the non-motor run region, the original pressure of the friction engagement device is set at a non-working pressure at which a hydraulic switch does not operate, as the engine is started up. After complete explosion of the engine, the original pressure is set at a working pressure at which the switch operates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070179018
    Abstract: There is a control device and a control method of an automatic transmission including; a plurality of friction engagement devices; a plurality of solenoids whose electrification amount supplied is controlled to adjust engagement force of the friction engagement devices, and which are switched between electrification and non-electrification so as to switch between speed change steps of the automatic transmission; and an abnormality determiner that performs abnormality determination regarding the solenoids based on predetermined condition. The solenoids operate when supplied with an electrification amount that exceeds a predetermined value. The abnormality determination is performed by supplying a solenoid put in a non-electrified state, of the solenoids, with as electrification amount that is less than or equal to the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070179014
    Abstract: A power output apparatus that suppresses wearing-out of the components of a transmission connected to a drive shaft and a rotating shaft of an electric motor as well as reducing the a shock imparted to the vehicle. The required drive power is output to the drive shaft by appropriately controlling and internal combustion engine, a power split device, the electric motor and a shifting portion. When the rotational speed of the drive shaft can be estimated, the speed ratio in the shifting portion is changed based on either the detected rotational speed of the drive shaft or the estimated rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. However, when the rotational speed of the drive shaft cannot be estimated, the speed ratio is maintained in the shifting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masashi Yoshimi, Shinichi Sasade, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Yoichi Tajima, Shinobu Nishiyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20070173373
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for a transmission includes a line pressure regulating device that enables control in which an oil pressure from an oil pump is regulated so as to attain a line pressure, and that enables control in which the line pressure is switched stepwise between a low pressure state in a lower pressure range and a high pressure state in a higher pressure range; a plurality of hydraulic servos that engage and disengage friction engaging elements using engagement pressures that are based on the line pressure; and a high pressure state detecting device that detects that the line pressure regulating device is outputting the line pressure in the high pressure state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichi Kinugasa, Kazuhito Enomoto, Kiyotomo Miura, Kazuyuki Noda, Satoru Wakuta, Hiroatsu Endo, Masatoshi Adachi, Masato Fujikawa, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7220212
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles in which an electric prime mover is connected to an output shaft through a transmission, comprising: a running state judging means for judging whether or not a downshifting is being carried out to increase speed change ratio of the transmission while a vehicle is coasting; a creep torque lowering means for lowering creep torque generated by the electric prime mover, in case the running state judging means judges that the downshifting is being carried out; a speed change termination judging means for judging a termination of the downshifting; and a creep restoring means for raising the lowered creep torque to the previous level subsequent to the termination of downshifting, at a timing which is delayed in comparison with a timing when the torque is raised due to a torsional vibration arising from the downshifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20070107956
    Abstract: A first reduction section of a hybrid power unit reduces an output of a motor when a transmission is shifted. A charge determining section determines whether charging of a battery is permitted. If the charge determining section determines that charging of the battery is not permitted in a period where the first reduction section reduces the output of the motor, a second reduction section reduces a power generation amount of a generator. Therefore, a shift shock is reliably prevented without generating response delay in an output rotation in the hybrid power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20070099748
    Abstract: The hybrid vehicle is provided with a power distribution mechanism (20) distributing a power of an internal combustion engine (16) to a wheel side output shaft (6) and a first motor generator (18), and a transmission (14) transmitting a power of a second motor generator (12) to the wheel side output shaft (6). An electronic control unit (30) executes a rotation synchronization control for synchronizing a rotation speed of the second motor generator (12) prior to the gear shift with a rotation speed after the gear shift at a time of gear shift of the transmission (14). In the case that a neutral request for shutting off a power transmission to the wheel side output shaft (6) is executed during an execution of the rotation synchronization control, an execution of the neutral control of shutting off the application of current to the first and second motor generators (18, 12) is inhibited until the execution of the rotation synchronization control is finished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 7207404
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electric motor, (c) a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to the engine, a second rotary element connected to the electric motor and connected through a first clutch to an output member connected to vehicle drive wheel, and a third rotary element connected through a second clutch to the output member, (d) a forward-motor-drive control device for engaging the first clutch and releasing the second clutch to thereby establish a forward motor drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in a forward direction by the electric motor, (e) a forward-engine-drive control device for engaging at least the second clutch to establish an engine-drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in the forward direction by the engine, and (f) a second-clutch control device operable upon switching of a vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the forward engine drive mode, for engaging the second clutch only after the engine speed has
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 7168515
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electric motor, (c) a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to the engine, a second rotary element connected to the electric motor and connected through a first clutch to an output member connected to vehicle drive wheel, and a third rotary element connected through a second clutch to the output member, (d) a forward motor drive control device for engaging the first clutch and releasing the second clutch to thereby establish a forward motor drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in a forward direction by the electric motor, (e) a forward-engine-drive control device for engaging at least the second clutch to establish an engine-drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in the forward direction by the engine, and (f) a second-clutch control device operable upon switching of a vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the forward engine drive mode, for engaging the second clutch only after the engine speed has
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 7165638
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system including (a) an engine, (b) an electric motor, (c) a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to the engine, a second rotary element connected to the electric motor and connected through a first clutch to an output member connected to vehicle drive wheel, and a third rotary element connected through a second clutch to the output member, (d) a forward-motor-drive control device for engaging the first clutch and releasing the second clutch to thereby establish a forward motor drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in a forward direction by the electric motor, (e) a forward-engine-drive control device for engaging at least the second clutch to establish an engine-drive mode in which the vehicle is driven in the forward direction by the engine, and (f) a second-clutch control device operable upon switching of a vehicle drive mode from the forward motor drive mode to the forward engine drive mode, for engaging the second clutch only after the engine speed has
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 7134982
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid drive unit wherein an assist prime mover is connected through a transmission mechanism to an output member to which a torque outputted by a main prime mover is transmitted, a torque of said assist prime mover is limited within a preset range. Specifically, said torque is limited to an upper limit side in case the speed of said assist prime mover exceeds the preset value, and a lower limit value of the torque of the assist prime mover is set in case the output torque of said assist prime mover acts as a driving torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo