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).
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Publication number: 20040192494Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuya Ozeki, Hiroatsu Endo, Masahrio Kojima, Masataka Sugiyama
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Patent number: 6736753Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a vehicle drive control apparatus changes in the transfer torque capacity of a power transfer device according to various states of operation with respect to at least one drive power source. The vehicle drive control apparatus includes a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity and the drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device. A controller is included that causes a vehicle to selectively run in a variety of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to at least one of the drive power sources. The controller changes the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device in accordance with the various run modes. According to the vehicle drive control apparatus, a target oil pressure is raised by a predetermined amount when the mode of run is change, or when the vehicle descends in a direction opposite to a vehicle starting direction at the time of a hill climb start.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Publication number: 20040060753Abstract: 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 hasType: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Publication number: 20040063539Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Shinichi Kojima, Tatsuya Ozeki
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Patent number: 6655485Abstract: 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 hasType: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Patent number: 6637530Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a hybrid automotive vehicle including an engine and an electric motor as drive power sources for driving the vehicle, and an electric generator operable by the engine to charge a battery while the vehicle is driven by the engine. The control apparatus includes a charging opportunity selecting device operable to determine whether the battery should be charged by the electric generator, on the basis of at least one of a required charging amount of electric energy with which the battery is charged and an energy conversion efficiency of said electric generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Hidehiro Oba, Kazumi Hoshiya, Mitsuhiro Umeyama
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Patent number: 6565480Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system, in which a power source is activated to output a torque by an energy fed from an energy source so that the torque is transmitted to rotary members through a torque transmission element having a variable transmission torque capacity. The stop of the power source due to the exhaustion of energy is predicted to increase the transmission torque capacity of the torque transmission element.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Yukio Kinugasa, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Patent number: 6565473Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle, with a pressurized working fluid delivered from a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor, wherein a pump control device is operated upon starting of the electric motor to start the hydraulic pump, for controlling the electric motor, such that a rate of increase of the operating speed of the hydraulic pump decreases with a decrease in the temperature of the working fluid detected by a temperature detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masatoshi Ito, Tatsuya Ozeki
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Patent number: 6524217Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided as one drive unit for driving the vehicle, a starter motor for starting the engine, a clutch device which is released to substantially disconnect a power transmitting path between the drive wheels and the engine, and another drive unit operatively connected to drive wheels, the control apparatus including a first engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in its released state and activating the starter motor to start the engine, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine cannot be started with a kinetic energy of the vehicle while the clutch device is placed in its engaged state, and a second engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in the engaged state, to start the engine with the vehicle kinetic energy, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine can be started with the kinetic energy with the clutch device held in the engagedType: GrantFiled: October 4, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Murakami, Masanori Ohtake, Hiroatsu Endo, Yuji Iwase, Mitsuhiro Umeyama
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Publication number: 20020173391Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a vehicle drive control apparatus changes in the transfer torque capacity of a power transfer device according to various states of operation with respect to at least one drive power source. The vehicle drive control apparatus includes a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity and the drive power sources that rotate a device wheel via the power transfer device. A controller is included that causes a vehicle to selectively run in a variety of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to at least one of the drive power sources. The controller changes the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device in accordance with the various run modes. According to the vehicle device control apparatus, a target oil pressure is raised by a predetermined amount when the mode of run is change, or when the vehicle descends in a direction opposite to a vehicle starting direction at the time of a hill climb start.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Publication number: 20020173895Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki
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Publication number: 20020105225Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: August 8, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Akira Kasamatsu, Nobuyuki Nagashima, Mitsuhiro Umeyama, Hisanori Nomoto, Yuji Iwase, Akira Murakami, Mitsuhiro Nada
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Publication number: 20020094910Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle, with a pressurized working fluid delivered from a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor, wherein a pump control device is operated upon starting of the electric motor to start the hydraulic pump, for controlling the electric motor, such that a rate of increase of the operating speed of the hydraulic pump decreases with a decrease in the temperature of the working fluid detected by a temperature detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2002Publication date: July 18, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masatoshi Ito, Tatsuya Ozeki
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Publication number: 20020082136Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system, in which a power source is activated to output a torque by an energy fed from an energy source so that the torque is transmitted to rotary members through a torque transmission element having a variable transmission torque capacity. The stop of the power source due to the exhaustion of energy is predicted to increase the transmission torque capacity of the torque transmission element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Tatsuya Ozeki, Yukio Kinugasa, Kazumi Hoshiya
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Patent number: 6383114Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle with a power transmitting system including a transmission and a planetary gear device having a first rotary element connected to a first drive power source such as an engine, a second rotary element connected to a second drive power source and to the transmission through a first clutch, and a third rotary element connected to the transmission through a second clutch, the apparatus including a neutral-mode determining device operable when the first and second clutches are in a released state, for determining whether the power transmitting system is placed in a first or a second neutral state, depending upon which one of the first and second clutches is to be engaged when a driving of the hybrid vehicle is subsequently initiated, a first synchronizing device operable when the power transmitting system is placed in the first neutral state, for synchronizing speeds of a pair of friction members of the first clutch with each other, and a second synchronizing device opeType: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumi Hoshiya, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo
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Patent number: 6336889Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle in which an internal combustion engine is selectively coupled through a clutch mechanism to a power transmission line coupled to an electric motor. The drive control system comprises: motoring device for coupling the engine to the power transmission line to rotate the engine, with the feed of a fuel to the engine being stopped when the hybrid vehicle is driven to run by the output of the electric motor, by controlling the clutch mechanism in an applied state. Thus, it is possible to start the engine even at a low speed of the hybrid vehicle and to prevent the deterioration in the riding comfort, as might otherwise be caused by the fluctuation in a driving torque.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidehiro Oba, Kazumi Hoshiya, Hiroatsu Endo, Hisanori Nomoto
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Patent number: 6201312Abstract: A control system for improving the fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle by evaluating a fuel to be consumed for a charging operation thereby to select a running mode. Specifically, a drive control system for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and a battery device.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya, Mitsuhiro Umeyama
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Patent number: 6176807Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle in which an internal combustion engine is selectively coupled through a clutch mechanism to a power transmission line coupled to an electric motor. The drive control system comprises: motoring device for coupling the engine to the power transmission line to rotate the engine, with the feed of a fuel to the engine being stopped when the hybrid vehicle is driven to run by the output of the electric motor, by controlling the clutch mechanism in an applied state. Thus, it is possible to start the engine even at a low speed of the hybrid vehicle and to prevent the deterioration in the riding comfort, as might otherwise be caused by the fluctuation in a driving torque.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidehiro Oba, Kazumi Hoshiya, Hiroatsu Endo, Hisanori Nomoto
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Patent number: 6149547Abstract: In a gearshift control apparatus for an automatic transmission wherein the torque capacity of a release side clutch is gradually lowered, and the torque capacity of an engagement side clutch is gradually raised, whereby the release side clutch and the engagement side clutch are changed-over to effect a clutch-to-clutch gearshift; control means issues two control commands to the engagement side hydraulic control mechanism in a term which extends until an inertia phase begins since start of the gearshift control. A first hydraulic pressure command (D1) is issued for a predetermined time period. The first hydraulic pressure command (D1) is variable for adjusting the timing of the changeover between the clutches. The second hydraulic pressure command (D2) succeeding the first one is issued until the inertia phase begins. The second hydraulic pressure command is variable for adjusting the torque capacity of the engagement side clutch at the changeover.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Toyoda Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidehiro Oba, Hiroatsu Endo
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Patent number: 6106435Abstract: In executing a clutch-to-clutch gearshift based on the release and engagement of two clutches by the control of the hydraulic pressures of the clutches, the fluctuating magnitude of the output shaft r.p.m. (No in FIG. 2) of the automatic transmission is calculated, and the degree of the drag (tie-up) state of the clutches is detected on the basis of the calculated fluctuating magnitude. As a result, the pressure increasing/decreasing timings of the hydraulic pressures of the clutches can be optimized to realize a feedback control or learning control of higher precision.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Hidehiro Oba