Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Michioka

Hirofumi Michioka 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: 8825318
    Abstract: In a control device for an automatic transmission having a flow control mechanism that causes a part of a working oil discharged from a mechanical oil pump to flow into the mechanical oil pump when a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of a narrowed portion increases beyond a predetermined value, the narrowed portion being provided in a discharge passage through which the working oil discharged from the mechanical oil pump flows, a line pressure is raised when an oil temperature of the working oil is equal to or higher than a predetermined oil temperature and an engine torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashige Hinami, Masaki Watanabe, Yasutaka Kawamura, Kazuya Murota, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Publication number: 20110230285
    Abstract: In a control device for an automatic transmission having a flow control mechanism that causes a part of a working oil discharged from a mechanical oil pump to flow into the mechanical oil pump when a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of a narrowed portion increases beyond a predetermined value, the narrowed portion being provided in a discharge passage through which the working oil discharged from the mechanical oil pump flows, a line pressure is raised when an oil temperature of the working oil is equal to or higher than a predetermined oil temperature and an engine torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Takashige HINAMI, Masaki Watanabe, Yasutaka Kawamura, Kazuya Murota, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Patent number: 7857728
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission including a plurality of frictional elements each arranged to be engaged by receiving supply of an engagement pressure regulated by a solenoid, and being arranged to attain a plurality of gear stages by combination of engagements of the frictional elements, the control apparatus includes a failure occurrence sensing section configured to sense an occurrence of a failure-induced disengagement in one of the frictional elements based on a failure of one of the solenoids, based on an engine racing by a depression of an accelerator pedal in a state in which ranges other than a parking range and a neutral range are selected during a stop of a vehicle; and a command output section configured to output a limp home mode command to attain one of the gear stages to enable the vehicle to start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hajime Tasaka, Hirofumi Michioka, Fumitaka Nagashima, Yutaka Tohyama, Jun Kagawa
  • Patent number: 7803081
    Abstract: In system and method of controlling an automatic transmission that includes a lowest gear-stage friction element and has a lowest gear stage having a largest gear ratio and a gear stage other than the lowest gear stage, the lowest gear stage being established through engagement of the lowest gear-stage friction element, the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage being established while the lowest gear-stage friction element is kept in disengagement, a temperature of working oil in the automatic transmission is sensed, and use of the lowest gear stage is inhibited and use of the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage is allowed when the sensed temperature of the working oil is lower than a first predetermined temperature as a predetermined extremely low temperature at which an engagement failure of the lowest gear-stage friction element is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirofumi Michioka, Kazunari Otake
  • Patent number: 7637844
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control system is provided with a disengagement malfunction determining section and a disengagement malfunction preventing section in an automatic transmission in which the frictional engaging elements are selectively engaged and disengaged to change a rotational speed of a main power source. The disengagement malfunction determining section determines a disengagement malfunction with a first frictional engaging element from among a plurality of frictional engaging elements of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hajime Tasaka, Fumitaka Nagashima, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Patent number: 7517302
    Abstract: There is provided a fail control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which, in the event of a friction element failure, is capable of coping with the failure by identifying a failed part without erroneous determination and within a short time. The set gear ratio of a designated gear position at the time of failure and the actual gear ratio are compared with each other to determine whether a friction element has failed, and an alternative gear position which enables a vehicle to start moving again is designated based on the determination result. In determining a failed friction element, one friction element disengaged or engaged due to failure is identified only when the designated gear position is the first speed gear position which is achieved by engaging one low clutch and a one-way clutch. It is therefore possible to determine the details of failure with accuracy and properly set an alternative gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hirofumi Michioka, Hajime Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7402123
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system and method, an electronic control unit is programmed to output a command to establish another gear stage different from the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement by combination of engagements of the friction elements other than the friction elements to be engaged at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, and simultaneously output a plurality of commands to establish a plurality of gear stages corresponding to combination of engagements of the friction elements to be engaged and disengaged, respectively, at the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, when the gear stage at the time of occurrence of the fault-induced disengagement is a predetermined gear stage and the friction element undergoing the fault-induced disengagement is not determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hajime Tasaka, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Patent number: 7383805
    Abstract: A cylinder liner for insert casting and a method for manufacturing the cylinder liner are provided. The cylinder liner and the method are applied to cylinder blocks and improve the adherence and the bonding strength with a cylinder block material in a favorable manner. The cylinder liner satisfies the following requirements: (i) the height of projections 1P is in a range between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, inclusive; (ii) the number of the projections 1P is in a range between 5 and 60, inclusive, per cm2 on the outer circumferential surface; (iii) the area ratio of regions each encircled by a contour line of a height of 0.4 mm is in a range between 10% and 50%, inclusive; (iv) the area ratio of regions each encircled by a contour line of a height of 0.2 mm is in a range between 20% and 55%, inclusive; (v) the region each encircled by a contour line of the height of 0.4 are independent from each other; and (vi) the area of the regions each encircled by a contour line of the height of 0.4 mm is in a range between 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Teikoku Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Teipi Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Michioka, Toshihiro Takami, Kazunari Takenaka, Takashi Kurauchi, Norihiko Tomioka, Isao Katou, Hiroshi Muraki, Shunya Hattori, Giichiro Saito, Kiyoharu Oizumi
  • Publication number: 20080076632
    Abstract: In system and method of controlling an automatic transmission that includes a lowest gear-stage friction element and has a lowest gear stage having a largest gear ratio and a gear stage other than the lowest gear stage, the lowest gear stage being established through engagement of the lowest gear-stage friction element, the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage being established while the lowest gear-stage friction element is kept in disengagement, a temperature of working oil in the automatic transmission is sensed, and use of the lowest gear stage is inhibited and use of the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage is allowed when the sensed temperature of the working oil is lower than a first predetermined temperature as a predetermined extremely low temperature at which an engagement failure of the lowest gear-stage friction element is caused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Tomoharu Watanabe, Hirofumi Michioka, Kazunari Otake
  • Publication number: 20080058157
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission including a plurality of frictional elements each arranged to be engaged by receiving supply of an engagement pressure regulated by a solenoid, and being arranged to attain a plurality of gear stages by combination of engagements of the frictional elements, the control apparatus includes a failure occurrence sensing section configured to sense an occurrence of a failure-induced disengagement in one of the frictional elements based on a failure of one of the solenoids, based on an engine racing by a depression of an accelerator pedal in a state in which ranges other than a parking range and a neutral range are selected during a stop of a vehicle; and a command output section configured to output a limp home mode command to attain one of the gear stages to enable the vehicle to start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Hajime TASAKA, Hirofumi Michioka, Fumitaka Nagashima, Yutaka Tohyama, Jun Kagawa
  • Publication number: 20070240652
    Abstract: A cylinder liner for insert casting and a method for manufacturing the cylinder liner are provided. The cylinder liner and the method are applied to cylinder blocks and improve the adherence and the bonding strength with a cylinder block material in a favorable manner. The cylinder liner satisfies the following requirements: (i) the height of projections 1P is in a range between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, inclusive; (ii) the number of the projections 1P is in a range between 5 and 60, inclusive, per cm2 on the outer circumferential surface; (iii) the area ratio of regions each encircled by a contour line of a height of 0.4 mm is in a range between 10% and 50%, inclusive; (iv) the area ratio of regions each encircled by a contour line of a height of 0.2 mm is in a range between 20% and 55%, inclusive; (v) the region each encircled by a contour line of the height of 0.4 are independent from each other; and (vi) the area of the regions each encircled by a contour line of the height of 0.4 mm is in a range between 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Hirofumi Michioka, Toshihiro Takami, Kazunari Takenaka, Takashi Kurauchi, Norihiko Tomioka, Isao Katou, Hiroshi Muraki, Shunya Hattori, Giichiro Saito, Kiyoharu Oizumi
  • Publication number: 20070213164
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control system is provided with a disengagement malfunction determining section and a disengagement malfunction preventing section in an automatic transmission in which the frictional engaging elements are selectively engaged and disengaged to change a rotational speed of a main power source. The disengagement malfunction determining section determines a disengagement malfunction with a first frictional engaging element from among a plurality of frictional engaging elements of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Tasaka, Fumitaka Nagashima, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Publication number: 20070143996
    Abstract: A cylinder block has a metal film on an inner circumferential surface of each cylinder. The film is constituted by a first sprayed layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and a second sprayed layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first sprayed layer. The hardness of the second sprayed layer is lower than the hardness of the first sprayed layer. It is preferred that the second sprayed layer have a Vickers hardness of 50 to 200. It is preferred that the first sprayed layer have a Vickers hardness of not less than 350. It is preferred that the first sprayed layer have a thickness of 400 ?m to 500 ?m. A method of manufacturing a cylinder block includes the step of casting a cylinder block, which involves casting the cylinder in the cylinder block, the step of forming the first sprayed layer on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder, and the step of forming the second sprayed layer on the inner circumferential surface of the first sprayed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Hirofumi Michioka
  • Publication number: 20070066445
    Abstract: There is provided a fail control apparatus for an automatic transmission, which, in the event of a friction element failure, is capable of coping with the failure by identifying a failed part without erroneous determination and within a short time. The set gear ratio of a designated gear position at the time of failure and the actual gear ratio are compared with each other to determine whether a friction element has failed, and an alternative gear position which enables a vehicle to start moving again is designated based on the determination result. In determining a failed friction element, one friction element disengaged or engaged due to failure is identified only when the designated gear position is the first speed gear position which is achieved by engaging one low clutch and a one-way clutch. It is therefore possible to determine the details of failure with accuracy and properly set an alternative gear position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hirofumi Michioka, Hajime Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20060270515
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system and method, an electronic control unit is programmed to output a command to establish another gear stage different from the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement by combination of engagements of the friction elements other than the friction elements to be engaged at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, and simultaneously output a plurality of commands to establish a plurality of gear stages corresponding to combination of engagements of the friction elements to be engaged and disengaged, respectively, at the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, when the gear stage at the time of occurrence of the fault-induced disengagement is a predetermined gear stage and the friction element undergoing the fault-induced disengagement is not determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Hajime Tasaka, Hirofumi Michioka
  • Patent number: 7059988
    Abstract: A servo system employs at least two multiple disk clutches arranged in series to each other in an axial direction and at least two pistons used for engagement and disengagement of the respective clutches and arranged to be nested each other so that one of the pistons fits inside the other. Also provided is a servo system control device with a piston-stroke order control section. The piston-stroke order control section determines a timing of operation of each of the pistons for engagement of the respective clutches so that the pistons are operated in a specified order that the outside piston is operated prior to the inside piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Hirofumi Michioka
  • Publication number: 20050235944
    Abstract: A cylinder block has a metal film on an inner circumferential surface of each cylinder. The film is constituted by a first sprayed layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and a second sprayed layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the first sprayed layer. The hardness of the second sprayed layer is lower than the hardness of the first sprayed layer. It is preferred that the second sprayed layer have a Vickers hardness of 50 to 200. It is preferred that the first sprayed layer have a Vickers hardness of not less than 350. It is preferred that the first sprayed layer have a thickness of 400 ?m to 500 ?m. A method of manufacturing a cylinder block includes the step of casting a cylinder block, which involves casting the cylinder in the cylinder block, the step of forming the first sprayed layer on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder, and the step of forming the second sprayed layer on the inner circumferential surface of the first sprayed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventor: Hirofumi Michioka
  • Patent number: 6932741
    Abstract: An engine control device (20) for a vehicle has a torque control mechanism (17) for regulating the engine output torque. The torque control mechanism (17) includes at least one of a throttle valve (11) and a fuel injector (12). The engine control device further has a sensor (10) for detecting the shift lever position and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a shift in the shift lever position from the stationary range position (N or P range) to the running range position (D or R range) based on the shift lever position; and transmit a command signal to the torque control mechanism (17) when a first predetermined period elapses after the detection of the shift in the shift lever position, the command signal increasing the engine output torque by a predetermined correction gain ?Te from a first output torque Te0 at the detection of the shift lever position to a second output torque Te1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Mochizuki, Hirofumi Michioka, Morimasa Yamawaki, Koji Koizumi, Jun Takeuchi, Hiroyasu Fujioka
  • Publication number: 20050037894
    Abstract: A servo system employs at least two multiple disk clutches arranged in series to each other in an axial direction and at least two pistons used for engagement and disengagement of the respective clutches and arranged to be nested each other so that one of the pistons fits inside the other. Also provided is a servo system control device with a piston-stroke order control section. The piston-stroke order control section determines a timing of operation of each of the pistons for engagement of the respective clutches so that the pistons are operated in a specified order that the outside piston is operated prior to the inside piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventor: Hirofumi Michioka
  • Publication number: 20040192501
    Abstract: An engine control device (20) for a vehicle has a torque control mechanism (17) for regulating the engine output torque. The torque control mechanism (17) includes at least one of a throttle valve (11) and a fuel injector (12). The engine control device further has a sensor (10) for detecting the shift lever position and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a shift in the shift lever position from the stationary range position (N or P range) to the running range position (D or R range) based on the shift lever position; and transmit a command signal to the torque control mechanism (17) when a first predetermined period elapses after the detection of the shift in the shift lever position, the command signal increasing the engine output torque by a predetermined correction gain &Dgr;Te from a first output torque Te0 at the detection of the shift lever position to a second output torque Te1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Nobuaki Mochizuki, Hirofumi Michioka, Morimasa Yamawaki, Koji Koizumi, Jun Takeuchi, Hiroyasu Fujioka