Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Matsunaga
Hitoshi Matsunaga 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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Patent number: 11939930Abstract: The vehicle controller controls a vehicle. The vehicle includes a transmission and an internal combustion engine that has a variable valve actuation device. The vehicle controller includes an execution device. The execution device executes first and second gear ratio adjustment processes and first and second intake VVT adjustment processes. The first intake VVT adjustment process includes adjusting the intake valve timing such that the internal combustion engine is operated in an Atkinson cycle. The second intake VVT adjustment process includes setting the intake valve timing such that the closing timing of the intake valve is more advanced than in a case in which the first intake VVT adjustment process is executed.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2023Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Okamura, Kazuki Tsuruoka, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20230366360Abstract: The vehicle controller controls a vehicle. The vehicle includes a transmission and an internal combustion engine that has a variable valve actuation device. The vehicle controller includes an execution device. The execution device executes first and second gear ratio adjustment processes and first and second intake VVT adjustment processes. The first intake VVT adjustment process includes adjusting the intake valve timing such that the internal combustion engine is operated in an Atkinson cycle. The second intake VVT adjustment process includes setting the intake valve timing such that the closing timing of the intake valve is more advanced than in a case in which the first intake VVT adjustment process is executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji OKAMURA, Kazuki TSURUOKA, Hitoshi MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 11237575Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a linear solenoid by controlling a driving current supplied to the linear solenoid through a feedback control. The feedback control is executed by a feedback control system having parameters that are determined in accordance with an ILQ design method. In a frequency characteristic of a gain of a transfer function representing a ratio of an output to a disturbance in the feedback control system, the gain is lower than 0 [dB] throughout all frequency ranges.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takaaki Tokura, Katsumi Kono, Masato Kaigawa, Masato Matsubara, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Akira Hino
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Patent number: 10975963Abstract: Torque reduction control is executed for temporarily reducing a torque capacity of a reaction engagement device during a transition of a shift. The reaction engagement device is maintained in an engaged state from before the shift to after the shift such that a predetermined rotating element in an automatic transmission bears a reaction caused by progress of the shift resulting from a change of an engaging-side engagement device into an engaged state. Therefore, without delaying a change of the engaging-side engagement device into the engaged state, transmission of torque that is generated as a result of rattling during a transition of a shift is reduced. Thus, in shift control over the automatic transmission, shock at the time of rattling is reduced while a stop of a shift due to a delay in change of the engaging-side engagement device into the engaged state is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoki Hiura, Hiroyuki Aono, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20200248797Abstract: Torque reduction control is executed for temporarily reducing a torque capacity of a reaction engagement device during a transition of a shift. The reaction engagement device is maintained in an engaged state from before the shift to after the shift such that a predetermined rotating element in an automatic transmission bears a reaction caused by progress of the shift resulting from a change of an engaging-side engagement device into an engaged state. Therefore, without delaying a change of the engaging-side engagement device into the engaged state, transmission of torque that is generated as a result of rattling during a transition of a shift is reduced. Thus, in shift control over the automatic transmission, shock at the time of rattling is reduced while a stop of a shift due to a delay in change of the engaging-side engagement device into the engaged state is prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoki HIURA, Hiroyuki AONO, Hitoshi MATSUNAGA
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Publication number: 20200019196Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a linear solenoid by controlling a driving current supplied to the linear solenoid through a feedback control. The feedback control is executed by a feedback control system having parameters that are determined in accordance with an ILQ design method. In a frequency characteristic of a gain of a transfer function representing a ratio of an output to a disturbance in the feedback control system, the gain is lower than 0[dB] throughout all frequency ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takaaki TOKURA, Katsumi KONO, Masato KAIGAWA, Masato MATSUBARA, Hitoshi MATSUNAGA, Akira HINO
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Patent number: 10358138Abstract: A threshold that is used in determining, based on a deviation between slip amounts, whether to stop slip control or not during the performance of feedback control in slip control is made smaller when pitch damping control is being performed than when pitch damping control is not being performed, during the performance of slip control of a lockup clutch. Therefore, slip control is likely to be stopped when the torque input to the lockup clutch is likely to fluctuate. In consequence, a control apparatus and a control method for a vehicle that make it possible to stably perform slip control of the lockup clutch while increasing the number of opportunities to perform the slip control and pitch damping control are provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken Imamura, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Patent number: 10155508Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a first abrupt deceleration determining unit configured to determine an abrupt deceleration state of a vehicle in a first manner, and a second abrupt deceleration determining unit configured to determine the generation of the abrupt deceleration state of the vehicle in a second manner having a required time for the determination shorter in comparison with that of the first manner, wherein any one of the first manner and the second manner is selected according to a vehicle speed of the vehicle or a road surface friction coefficient and used for determining the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle, the second manner is used in a region where the vehicle speed or the road surface friction coefficient is lower, and the first manner is used in a region where the vehicle speed or the road surface friction coefficient is higher.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hitoshi Matsunaga, Tomoyuki Honda
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Publication number: 20180244276Abstract: A threshold that is used in determining, based on a deviation between slip amounts, whether to stop slip control or not during the performance of feedback control in slip control is made smaller when pitch damping control is being performed than when pitch damping control is not being performed, during the performance of slip control of a lockup clutch. Therefore, slip control is likely to be stopped when the torque input to the lockup clutch is likely to fluctuate. In consequence, a control apparatus and a control method for a vehicle that make it possible to stably perform slip control of the lockup clutch while increasing the number of opportunities to perform the slip control and pitch damping control are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ken IMAMURA, Hitoshi MATSUNAGA
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Patent number: 9868439Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to execute a turning performance improving control for stabilizing vehicle behavior by controlling drive force during turning. The vehicle control system is provided with: a steering detecting means that detects a steering operation of a driver; a drive force limiting means that restricts the drive force during execution of a turning performance improving control; and a restriction relaxing means that temporarily changes the drive force in a direction of changing the drive force by the turning performance improving control, if the steering operation of the driver detected by the steering detecting means while restricting the drive force by the drive force limiting means is carried out to increase a steering angle during execution of the turning performance improving control.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hitoshi Matsunaga, Kazuya Okumura
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Patent number: 9643591Abstract: A speed change control system for a hybrid vehicle comprised of a first motor-generator, a differential mechanism that distributes a power of an engine to the first motor-generator and to an output member and that changes an engine speed in accordance with a speed of the first motor-generator, and a second motor-generator that exchanges a torque with any of wheels.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoyuki Honda, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Souitirou Shimura, Seiji Masunaga, Munehiro Katsumata
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Patent number: 9487213Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an engine that is a power source of a vehicle, a transmission configured to connect the engine to a drive wheel of the vehicle, and a clutch configured to connect or block transmission of power between the engine and the drive wheel through the transmission. The vehicle control device is capable of executing predetermined control to allow the vehicle to travel while stopping supplying fuel to the engine and releasing the clutch that has been engaged, during travel of the vehicle, and the vehicle control device downshifts the transmission at the time the clutch is released in the predetermined control. It is possible to shift the transmission into a lowest-speed side gear ratio by the downshift.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoaki Yanagida, Shuji Moriyama, Takuro Morino, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Yuji Hattori
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Patent number: 9290175Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to control driving force to improve turning performance in a vehicle having an automatic transmission without causing conflict with a shifting control of the transmission. The vehicle control system comprises: a shifting means that carries out a shifting operation of the transmission based on an execution condition including an execution threshold governed by a vehicle speed and an operating amount of an accelerator performed by a driver; a driving force controlling means that carries out a turning performance improving control for stabilizing a vehicle behavior by controlling a driving force during turning; and a shifting condition correcting means that corrects a value of the operating amount of the accelerator as the execution condition during execution of the turning performance improving control.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hayato Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20150246675Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to execute a turning performance improving control for stabilizing vehicle behavior by controlling drive force during turning. The vehicle control system is provided with: a steering detecting means that detects a steering operation of a driver; a drive force limiting means that restricts the drive force during execution of a turning performance improving control; and a restriction relaxing means that temporarily changes the drive force in a direction of changing the drive force by the turning performance improving control, if the steering operation of the driver detected by the steering detecting means while restricting the drive force by the drive force limiting means is carried out to increase a steering angle during execution of the turning performance improving control.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: September 3, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hitoshi Matsunaga, Kazuya Okumura
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Publication number: 20150239469Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to control driving force to improve turning performance in a vehicle having an automatic transmission without causing conflict with a shifting control of the transmission. The vehicle control system comprises: a shifting means that carries out a shifting operation of the transmission based on an execution condition including an execution threshold governed by a vehicle speed and an operating amount of an accelerator performed by a driver; a driving force controlling means that carries out a turning performance improving control for stabilizing a vehicle behavior by controlling a driving force during turning; and a shifting condition correcting means that corrects a value of the operating amount of the accelerator as the execution condition during execution of the turning performance improving control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hayato Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Patent number: 9020716Abstract: A control device for a vehicle drive device that includes a drive source that outputs a drive force for running and an automatic transmission that has multiple speeds, the control device includes: a blipping control device that performs blipping control in which an output torque of the drive source is changed irrespective of an accelerator operation when a manual downshift of the automatic transmission is performed, and that changes a timing to perform next blipping control in a learning manner on the basis of an undershoot amount of a turbine speed at start of shifting of the automatic transmission.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Ota, Hitoshi Matsunaga
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Publication number: 20150012159Abstract: A speed change control system for a hybrid vehicle comprised of a first motor-generator, a differential mechanism that distributes a power of an engine to the first motor-generator and to an output member and that changes an engine speed in accordance with a speed of the first motor-generator, and a second motor-generator that exchanges a torque with any of wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoyuki Honda, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Souitirou Shimura, Seiji Masunaga, Munehiro Katsumata
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Publication number: 20140244123Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a first abrupt deceleration determining unit (a rotation change rate determining unit, an ABS determining unit) configured to determine an abrupt deceleration state of a vehicle, and a second abrupt deceleration determining unit (a brake determining unit) having a required time for determining an abrupt deceleration shorter in comparison with that of the first abrupt deceleration determining unit, wherein any one of the first abrupt deceleration determining unit and the second abrupt deceleration determining unit is used for determining the abrupt deceleration of the vehicle 1 according to a vehicle speed of the vehicle or a road surface friction coefficient, and the second abrupt deceleration determining unit is used for determining the abrupt deceleration in a region where the vehicle speed or the road surface friction coefficient is lower than the first abrupt deceleration determining unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2011Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hitoshi Matsunaga, Tomoyuki Honda
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Patent number: 8676464Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to stabilize a behavior of a vehicle during turning by correcting a driving force or a braking force. The vehicle control system comprises a lateral acceleration detecting means detecting longitudinal acceleration acting in an axle direction of the vehicle Ve (step S102); and a driving/braking force correcting means determining a changing amount Fctrl and a changing rate DFctrl of the correction based on the lateral acceleration Gy in case the running vehicle Ve is turned.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Soichiro Shimura, Hitoshi Matsunaga, Kazuya Okumura
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Patent number: 8641578Abstract: In a controller of a vehicle drive unit that is one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of slippage control regions (regions A to C) are set based on the timing of booming noise generation that accompanies engine driving (time from when the vehicle running state enters a region until booming noise is generated) so as to actively use, for example, regions B and C where booming noise is generated if the road load comes to a balance due to a slope or the like and running is then continued and where booming noise is not immediately generated even after the vehicle running state enters the regions, so the frequency of performing lockup slippage control is increased and the fuel saving effects of the lockup slippage control are enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kei Kitajima, Hitoshi Matsunaga