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: 7108630
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which 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, comprises gear shift controller for switching a shift control condition of said transmission in accordance with the action state of said main prime mover. A gear shift is inhibited in case a vehicle is run by an assist prime mover, and the gear shift is inhibited also in case the assist prime mover outputs a torque in connection with starting the main prime mover. A transmission is operated into a state just before starting the shifting operation in case the gear shift is inhibited in connection with starting the main prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo, Atsushi Kayukawa, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20060196711
    Abstract: A control method for a drive apparatus of a hybrid vehicle in which an assist power source is connected to an output member connected to an engine through a torque transmitting member whose torque capacity is changed according to an engagement control amount includes the steps of maintaining a rotational speed of the assist power source at a predetermined rotational speed (step (S02); continuosly changing the engagement control amount while maintaining the rotational speed of the assist power source at the predetermined rotational speed (step S04); and leaning a relationship between output torque of the assist power source for maintaining the rotational speed of the assist power source and the engagement control amount when the output torque of the assist power source reaches a predetermined value while the engagement control amount is changed (step S06).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 7101309
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle wherein a plurality of prime movers and wheels are connected in a power transmittable manner, comprising: a decider for deciding a power loss of a case in which a power of predetermined prime mover, which is one of a plurality of the prime movers is transmitted to a rotary member including another prime mover; and a controller for controlling a rotating state of the rotary member including said another prime mover on the basis of a decision result of the decider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 7090612
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid drive unit, wherein an output member is connected to a first prime mover, and wherein a second prime mover capable of outputting at least one of a positive torque and a negative torque is connected through a transmission to said output member, comprising: a running restriction judger for judging that a running control of at least one of said first prime mover and said second prime mover is restricted, and a shift point changer for changing a shift point, in which a decision of a gear shift of said transmission is to be satisfied when the running restriction judger judges that the running control is restricted, different from the shift point of a case in which the running control is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo, Masahiro Kojima, Masataka Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20060090940
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Publication number: 20060086545
    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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 7018315
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for a vehicle including an electric oil pump, a pump control portion which controls the electric oil pump, a hydraulic circuit portion which supplies a hydraulic pressure from the electric oil pump to an actuator of a transaxle of the vehicle, a hydraulic circuit control portion which outputs a control signal to the hydraulic circuit portion, and an oil pump rotation control portion which is provided in the pump control portion and which controls a rotational state of the electric oil pump according to a change in a control status of the hydraulic circuit control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Shinichi Kojima, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Patent number: 6994177
    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 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Publication number: 20050288147
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Masataka Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20050233856
    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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20050203678
    Abstract: A control method for a hybrid vehicle which includes an engine, a first motor/generator, a second motor/generator, and a manual changing device that changes a driven state of an output member of the engine that depends on a driving state of the engine and a driving state of the second motor/generator, includes the steps of detecting required driving force of the vehicle; detecting required output torque of the second motor/generator based on the required driving force when a change in a rotational speed of the engine is detected; comparing the detected required torque to the maximum permissible torque of the second motor/generator, and increasing a gear ratio when it is determined that the required output torque is greater than the maximum permissible torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Suzuki, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 6932176
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle that is capable of absorbing an inertial force which is generated during shifting of a stepped transmission. During shift control of the stepped transmission by a shift control device and before the shift control is completed, a during-shift drive control element controls a driving force which is output from a second drive unit such that a total driving force which is output from first and second drive units to the drive wheels equals a driver request output. Further, the during-shift drive control elements executes control so as to reduce a difference between the total driving force output to a drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission caused by a switch-over between a first brake and a second brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd., Toytoa Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeki Takami, Kiyotomo Miura, Satoru Wakuta, Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20050103544
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle having a first drive unit, a second drive unit, a HV battery, a shift control element, a battery state detection element, and a shifting-time drive control element. Furthermore, in the control apparatus, a battery balance control element is formed by an engine control element, a first motor control element, a second motor control element and the shifting-time drive control element. If the shift control element determines there is a need for shifting carried out by a stepped transmission, the battery balance control element calculates the amount of increase/decrease in the amount of charge of the HV battery in accordance with the state of the HV battery, and changes the engine operation point on the basis of the calculated amount of increase/decrease in the battery charge, prior to the shifting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Takami, Kiyotomo Miura, Satoru Wakuta, Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20050082098
    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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
  • Patent number: 6881165
    Abstract: A first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump are respectively mounted to both ends of a rotary shaft in an electric motor, whereby it is possible to drive both of the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump by one electric motor. Since the electric motor is driven and controlled so as to have any higher rotational speed among a rotational speed of the first hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power steering apparatus and a rotational speed of the second hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power train by a hydraulic pump drive controlling portion, it is possible to necessarily and sufficiently secure the working fluids respectively required in the power steering hydraulic control circuit and the power train hydraulic control circuit which are independent from each other, by a little electric power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Akira Kasamatsu, Nobuyuki Nagashima, Mitsuhiro Umeyama, Hisanori Nomoto, Yuji Iwase, Akira Murakami, Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 6871129
    Abstract: A control system of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle compensates for delays in an estimated input torque TINE based on a gradient value (variation) of the estimated input torque TINE,. For example, a friction force being applied to a driving belt of a continuously variable transmission is regulated according to the compensated estimated input torque TINE. Accordingly, an appropriate torque transmitting capacity is maintained in the transmission even at a rapid accelerating operation of the vehicle, while realizing good fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20050029023
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle that is capable of absorbing an inertial force which is generated during shifting of a stepped transmission. During shift control of the stepped transmission by a shift control device and before the shift control is completed, a during-shift drive control element controls a driving force which is output from a second drive unit such that a total driving force which is output from first and second drive units to the drive wheels equals a driver request output. Further, the during-shift drive control elements executes control so as to reduce a difference between the total driving force output to a drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission caused by a switch-over between a first brake and a second brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Takami, Kiyotomo Miura, Satoru Wakuta, Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20040259680
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid drive unit, in which 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, comprises gear shift controller for switching a shift control condition of said transmission in accordance with the action state of said main prime mover. A gear shift is inhibited in case a vehicle is run by an assist prime mover, and the gear shift is inhibited also in case the assist prime mover outputs a torque in connection with starting the main prime mover. A transmission is operated into a state just before starting the shifting operation in case the gear shift is inhibited in connection with starting the main prime mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo, Atsushi Kayukawa, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20040254046
    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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Publication number: 20040249524
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle wherein a plurality of prime movers and wheels are connected in a power transmittable manner, comprising: a decider for deciding a power loss of a case in which a power of predetermined prime mover, which is one of a plurality of the prime movers is transmitted to a rotary member including another prime mover; and a controller for controlling a rotating state of the rotary member including said another prime mover on the basis of a decision result of the decider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo