Patents by Inventor Hironori Nihei

Hironori Nihei 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: 8386138
    Abstract: An engine is restarted in response to an idle stop OFF command at t1 so that a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure is raised according to a working oil from an engine driven oil pump. An idle stop release time control of the engine is allowed according to a torque down unnecessary determination when a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure has reached to a set hydraulic pressure at t2. In a case where this allowance causes an engine torque Te to be raised from a torque down value toward a driving operation corresponding value by a predetermined gradient ?Te1, a command value of a starting frictional element engagement pressure Ps is set to a control maximum value during the idle stop control including during the idle stop release time control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Masato Koga, Takashi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8380405
    Abstract: At vehicle stop judgment time t1, a first engine automatic-stop control permission judgment, based on idle stop permission conditions by which an instant permission judgment can be possible, is carried out. If a result of the first engine automatic-stop control permission judgment at time t1 is “permitted”, the second engine automatic-stop control permission judgment, based on an idle stop permission condition which requires a certain time for the judgment, is initiated, and an electric oil pump ON (drive) command (the test drive command) is issued. At time t2 at which an actual drive of the electric oil pump in response to the test drive command is detected, it is judged that a failure of an electric system of the electric oil pump and a foreign matter-biting failure of the electric oil pump do not occur, then a failure judgment of the electric oil pump becomes “normal”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Masato Koga, Hironori Nihei
  • Patent number: 8251870
    Abstract: In an idling-stop cancellation control apparatus of a vehicle driving system of an idling-stop control device equipped automotive vehicle capable of running by a power produced by an engine and transmitted via a transmission whose shift is controlled by a hydraulic pressure produced by an engine-driven oil pump during operation of the engine, a controller is configured to execute, based on engine speed, idling-stop cancellation control by which the vehicle driving system is put into an output torque state suited for vehicle-driving operation, when a hydraulic pressure sensor system provided for detecting a hydraulic pressure used for shift control of the transmission is failed. The controller is further configured to execute, based on the hydraulic pressure, idling-stop cancellation control by which the vehicle driving system is put into an output torque state suited for vehicle-driving operation, when the hydraulic pressure sensor system is unfailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Masato Koga, Takashi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7998006
    Abstract: In a speed ratio control device for a belt continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a speed ratio is subjected to feedback control on the basis of a difference between an actual speed ratio and a target speed ratio, pressure supplied to a primary pulley is corrected through feedforward (S17, S18) in order to suppress variation in the groove width of the primary pulley caused by a rapid variation in an input torque into the primary pulley (S17) while traveling in a fixed speed ratio mode (S14) in which the target speed ratio is held at a fixed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Kiyotaka Sawano, Takuya Numata
  • Patent number: 7922610
    Abstract: In a line pressure control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a line pressure is feedback-controlled to equal a target line pressure which is equal to or greater than the larger of oil pressures supplied to a primary pulley and a secondary pulley (S1), and it is determined that the target line pressure has fallen below a first low pressure, leading to a divergence between the target line pressure and the actual line pressure (S6), the target line pressure is restricted such that the target line pressure does not fall below a lower limit value (S7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Toshiji Iida
  • Publication number: 20110077828
    Abstract: At vehicle stop judgment time t1, a first engine automatic-stop control permission judgment, based on idle stop permission conditions by which an instant permission judgment can be possible, is carried out. If a result of the first engine automatic-stop control permission judgment at time t1 is “permitted”, the second engine automatic-stop control permission judgment, based on an idle stop permission condition which requires a certain time for the judgment, is initiated, and an electric oil pump ON (drive) command (the test drive command) is issued. At time t2 at which an actual drive of the electric oil pump in response to the test drive command is detected, it is judged that a failure of an electric system of the electric oil pump and a foreign matter-biting failure of the electric oil pump do not occur, then a failure judgment of the electric oil pump becomes “normal”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Masato Koga, Hironori Nihei
  • Publication number: 20110071740
    Abstract: A required draining capacity of an electrically-powered oil pump is reduced and a small sizing of the electrically-powered oil pump is achieved by devising how to issue a starting frictional element engagement pressure command value. [Means for Solving the Problem] An engine is restarted in response to an idle stop OFF command at t1 so that a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure is raised according to a working oil from an engine driven oil pump. An idle stop release time control of the engine is allowed according to a torque down unnecessary determination when a gear shift control purpose hydraulic pressure has reached to a set hydraulic pressure at t2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Masato Koga, Takashi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7806791
    Abstract: A positional deviation ERRstep of a step motor 27 is calculated on the basis of a reference model step StepMdl, an actual speed ratio-corresponding step Bstep, and an added value obtained by adding together a target deviation GTstep, calculated in accordance with a transmission input torque Ti, and a starting learned value Gstep. When the transmission input torque Ti is large, the target deviation GTstep is increased in accordance with the transmission input torque Ti. A line pressure PL is then controlled on the basis of the positional deviation ERRstep obtained as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Naohiro Hoshi, Kwang-ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20090298644
    Abstract: In an idling-stop cancellation control apparatus of a vehicle driving system of an idling-stop control device equipped automotive vehicle capable of running by a power produced by an engine and transmitted via a transmission whose shift is controlled by a hydraulic pressure produced by an engine-driven oil pump during operation of the engine, a controller is configured to execute, based on engine speed, idling-stop cancellation control by which the vehicle driving system is put into an output torque state suited for vehicle-driving operation, when a hydraulic pressure sensor system provided for detecting a hydraulic pressure used for shift control of the transmission is failed. The controller is further configured to execute, based on the hydraulic pressure, idling-stop cancellation control by which the vehicle driving system is put into an output torque state suited for vehicle-driving operation, when the hydraulic pressure sensor system is unfailed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Hironori NIHEI, Masato KOGA, Takashi MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 7558660
    Abstract: When a line pressure PL serving as a source pressure of a primary pulley (2) and a secondary pulley (3) is controlled on the basis of a control deviation ?Step, which is the deviation between a step count StepMdl of a step motor (27) corresponding to a target speed ratio I (o) and a value obtained by adding a target deviation GTstep and a starting learned value Gstep to a step count Bstep of the step motor (27) corresponding to an actual speed ratio ip, the engine torque varies dramatically beyond the range of a predetermined value T1 and a predetermined value T2 during a predetermined time period t1, a learning error determination relating to the starting learned value Gstep is prohibited for a predetermined time period t2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Takeshi Chibahara, Toru Koga
  • Patent number: 7546196
    Abstract: In a line pressure control apparatus of a belt-drive CVT, a shift is achieved by varying V- groove widths of primary and secondary pulleys by a differential pressure between primary and secondary pulley pressures, originating from line pressure. The differential pressure is created by bringing a shift actuator, such as a step motor, into a control position corresponding to a target transmission ratio. The target transmission ratio is calculated based on a theoretical transmission ratio based on engine-and-vehicle operating conditions, taking account of a hardware response delay and a disturbance. The target transmission ratio is converted into a reference-model operative position, corresponding to a reference-model number-of-steps of the shift actuator. An actual transmission ratio is converted into an actual-transmission-ratio related operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Takayuki Tanaka, Toshiji Iida
  • Publication number: 20090011888
    Abstract: An automatic transmission hydraulic pressure control apparatus decreases a hydraulic pressure lower limit value as much as possible without causing a non-operating zone of a solenoid valve to be included in a control region of the solenoid valve due to product variation. First and second determinations are alternately performed to determine if a solenoid command value is in a non-operating zone by alternately changing the solenoid command value to decrease and increase the actual hydraulic pressure in a step-like manner. The solenoid command value of an immediately previous cycle in which the first determining section determined that the solenoid command value was not in the non-operating zone is set as a solenoid command limit value when one of the first and second determining sections has determined that the solenoid command value is in the non-operating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Hideto KAWAHIGASHI, Hirofumi CHINJU, Yasushi MORI, Yoshikazu OOTA, Hironori NIHEI
  • Patent number: 7354377
    Abstract: A belt continuously variable transmission includes a primary pulley (1), a secondary pulley (2), a belt (3), a hydraulic pump (21), a speed ratio control valve (13) that regulates hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump (21) and supplies the hydraulic pressure to the primary pulley (1) and the secondary pulley (2), a motor (14) that drives the speed ratio control valve (13), a controller (11) that controls the motor (14), and an oil temperature sensor (26) that detects the temperature of a working fluid. The controller (11) stops energization to the motor (14) when the temperature of the working fluid becomes greater than a first predetermined temperature while the vehicle is at rest in an idling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei
  • Publication number: 20070093356
    Abstract: A positional deviation ERRstep of a step motor 27 is calculated on the basis of a reference model step StepMdl, an actual speed ratio-corresponding step Bstep, and an added value obtained by adding together a target deviation GTstep, calculated in accordance with a transmission input torque Ti, and a starting learned value Gstep. When the transmission input torque Ti is large, the target deviation GTstep is increased in accordance with the transmission input torque Ti. A line pressure PL is then controlled on the basis of the positional deviation ERRstep obtained as a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Naohiro Hoshi, Kwang-ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20070082769
    Abstract: In a line pressure control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a line pressure is feedback-controlled to equal a target line pressure which is equal to or greater than the larger of oil pressures supplied to a primary pulley and a secondary pulley (S1), and it is determined that the target line pressure has fallen below a first low pressure, leading to a divergence between the target line pressure and the actual line pressure (S6), the target line pressure is restricted such that the target line pressure does not fall below a lower limit value (S7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Toshiji Iida
  • Publication number: 20070082771
    Abstract: When a line pressure PL serving as a source pressure of a primary pulley (2) and a secondary pulley (3) is controlled on the basis of a control deviation ?Step, which is the deviation between a step count StepMdl of a step motor (27) corresponding to a target speed ratio I (o) and a value obtained by adding a target deviation GTstep and a starting learned value Gstep to a step count Bstep of the step motor (27) corresponding to an actual speed ratio ip, the engine torque varies dramatically beyond the range of a predetermined value T1 and a predetermined value T2 during a predetermined time period t1, a learning error determination relating to the starting learned value Gstep is prohibited for a predetermined time period t2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Takeshi Chibahara, Toru Koga
  • Publication number: 20070082770
    Abstract: In a speed ratio control device for a belt continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a speed ratio is subjected to feedback control on the basis of a difference between an actual speed ratio and a target speed ratio, pressure supplied to a primary pulley is corrected through feedforward (S17, S18) in order to suppress variation in the groove width of the primary pulley caused by a rapid variation in an input torque into the primary pulley (S17) while traveling in a fixed speed ratio mode (S14) in which the target speed ratio is held at a fixed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Kiyotaka Sawano, Takuya Numata
  • Publication number: 20060073924
    Abstract: In a line pressure control apparatus of a belt-drive CVT, a shift is achieved by varying V-groove widths of primary and secondary pulleys by a differential pressure between primary and secondary pulley pressures, originating from line pressure. The differential pressure is created by bringing a shift actuator, such as a step motor, into a control position corresponding to a target transmission ratio. The target transmission ratio is calculated based on a theoretical transmission ratio based on engine-and-vehicle operating conditions, taking account of a hardware response delay and a disturbance. The target transmission ratio is converted into a reference-model operative position, corresponding to a reference-model number-of-steps of the shift actuator. An actual transmission ratio is converted into an actual-transmission-ratio related operative position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei, Seonjae Kim, Takayuki Tanaka, Toshiji Iida
  • Publication number: 20050221931
    Abstract: A belt continuously variable transmission includes a primary pulley (1), a secondary pulley (2), a belt (3), a hydraulic pump (21), a speed ratio control valve (13) that regulates hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pump (21) and supplies the hydraulic pressure to the primary pulley (1) and the secondary pulley (2), a motor (14) that drives the speed ratio control valve (13), a controller (11) that controls the motor (14), and an oil temperature sensor (26) that detects the temperature of a working fluid. The controller (11) stops energization to the motor (14) when the temperature of the working fluid becomes greater than a first predetermined temperature while the vehicle is at rest in an idling state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Tetsuya Izumi, Hironori Nihei