Patents by Inventor Katsuhiro Matsuo

Katsuhiro Matsuo 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).

  • Publication number: 20220373076
    Abstract: A transmission, includes a transmission mechanism configured to shift a rotary power input from a power source; an oil pump configured to discharge an oil to be supplied to the transmission mechanism; a lubricating oil pressure control valve configured to adjust a pressure of the oil discharged from the oil pump and supply the oil to a lubrication target portion of the transmission mechanism; and a cooler configured to cool the oil to be supplied to the lubrication target portion of the transmission mechanism by outside air. The lubricating oil pressure control valve adjusts the pressure of the oil supplied to the lubrication target portion in a manner that the pressure of the oil supplied to the lubrication target portion increases as an outside air temperature decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicants: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira NISHIMURA, Arata NAKAMURA, Yuki TAWARA, Katsuhiro MATSUO
  • Patent number: 11110930
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes a traveling drive source, an automatic transmission, an AT controller, and a traveling drive source controller. The AT controller is configured to execute shifting by changeover of friction elements upon receiving a shift request. The traveling drive source controller is configured to execute torque limit control of the traveling drive source when a request for limiting a torque by an upper limit torque is input from the AT controller. The AT controller has an upper limit torque change processing unit configured to change the upper limit torque from a low gear upper limit torque to a high gear upper limit torque when auto-upshift is executed. The upper limit torque change processing unit is configured to raise the upper limit torque using a prescribed gradient during an inertia phase when the inertia phase is started with the auto-upshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20200377104
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes a traveling drive source, an automatic transmission, an AT controller, and a traveling drive source controller. The AT controller is configured to execute shifting by changeover of friction elements upon receiving a shift request. The traveling drive source controller is configured to execute torque limit control of the traveling drive source when a request for limiting a torque by an upper limit torque is input from the AT controller. The AT controller has an upper limit torque change processing unit configured to change the upper limit torque from a low gear upper limit torque to a high gear upper limit torque when auto-upshift is executed. The upper limit torque change processing unit is configured to raise the upper limit torque using a prescribed gradient during an inertia phase when the inertia phase is started with the auto-upshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Katsuhiro MATSUO
  • Patent number: 9434373
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission is provided with an automatic gearshift mode and a manual gearshift mode. The control apparatus changes a gearshift characteristic of the automatic transmission in response to a situation where an accelerator pedal opening is smaller than a predetermined opening, so that downshifting occurs at higher vehicle speed than in a situation where the accelerator pedal opening is greater than or equal to the predetermined opening. While the manual gearshift mode is being selected, the control apparatus inhibits change of the gearshift characteristic until downshifting is performed once, and permits change of the gearshift characteristic after downshifting is performed once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9428181
    Abstract: A neutral determination device is provided with an inhibitor switch and a controller. The inhibitor switch outputs an inhibitor switch signal that indicates a vehicle running range of a vehicle. The controller is programmed to execute a neutral determination process upon determining the vehicle running range exists based on the inhibitor switch signal and a rotational speed control is being performed on a motor that is configured to output a force that drives the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine existence of a neutral state of a control valve that is configured to selectively supply a control hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic pressure chamber of the clutch upon determining that a motor torque during the rotational speed control is smaller than an estimated motor torque based on a target transmission torque capacity of a clutch that selectively connects and disconnects the motor to and from a drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Haruhisa Tsuchikawa, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Masami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9347553
    Abstract: A control device of an automatic transmission that controls the automatic transmission including a friction engagement element capable of continuously changing a transmission torque includes: a first heat load estimation unit configured to estimate a heat load state in the friction engagement element based on an indication value of the transmission torque; and an estimation stop unit configured to stop the estimation of the heat load state based on a state where the indication value of the transmission torque differs from an actual value of the transmission torque actually transmitted by the friction engagement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Masami Suzuki, Hiroki Matsui
  • Patent number: 9234584
    Abstract: An automatic transmission has an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode. When an opposite manual operation is performed, during an automatic shift based on a shift map in the automatic shift mode, in an opposite direction opposite to the automatic shift or when the opposite manual operation is performed, during a forced shift performed regardless of the manual operation in the manual shift mode, in the opposite direction opposite to the forced shift, a control apparatus forbids a shift based on a first manual operation and permits a shift based on a second or subsequent manual operation in the opposite direction opposite to the automatic shift or the forced shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Keizo Ishida
  • Publication number: 20150226322
    Abstract: A control device of an automatic transmission that controls the automatic transmission including a friction engagement element capable of continuously changing a transmission torque includes: a first heat load estimation unit configured to estimate a heat load state in the friction engagement element based on an indication value of the transmission torque; and an estimation stop unit configured to stop the estimation of the heat load state based on a state where the indication value of the transmission torque differs from an actual value of the transmission torque actually transmitted by the friction engagement element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Masami Suzuki, Hiroki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20150166055
    Abstract: A neutral determination device is provided with an inhibitor switch and a controller. The inhibitor switch outputs an inhibitor switch signal that indicates a vehicle running range of a vehicle. The controller is programmed to execute a neutral determination process upon determining the vehicle running range exists based on the inhibitor switch signal and a rotational speed control is being performed on a motor that is configured to output a force that drives the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine existence of a neutral state of a control valve that is configured to selectively supply a control hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic pressure chamber of the clutch upon determining that a motor torque during the rotational speed control is smaller than an estimated motor torque based on a target transmission torque capacity of a clutch that selectively connects and disconnects the motor to and from a drive wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Haruhisa Tsuchikawa, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Masami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8992382
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission in which a read-ahead vehicle speed which is a future vehicle speed is estimated on a basis of an acceleration and an actual vehicle speed and a gear shift control is carried out on a basis of the read-ahead vehicle speed and other driving parameters, a start of an up-shift is inhibited even if a determination of the up-shift is made for a predetermined time after a down-shift in a coast state has occurred and executing the up-shift after the predetermined time is elapsed. Consequently, while an unpleasant feeling given to a driver is suppressed, an appropriate gear shift is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Shunsuke Ogasawara
  • Publication number: 20140329643
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission is provided with an automatic gearshift mode and a manual gearshift mode. The control apparatus changes a gearshift characteristic of the automatic transmission in response to a situation where an accelerator pedal opening is smaller than a predetermined opening, so that downshifting occurs at higher vehicle speed than in a situation where the accelerator pedal opening is greater than or equal to the predetermined opening. While the manual gearshift mode is being selected, the control apparatus inhibits change of the gearshift characteristic until downshifting is performed once, and permits change of the gearshift characteristic after downshifting is performed once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20140315686
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission in which a read-ahead vehicle speed which is a future vehicle speed is estimated on a basis of an acceleration and an actual vehicle speed and a gear shift control is carried out on a basis of the read-ahead vehicle speed and other driving parameters, a start of an up-shift is inhibited even if a determination of the up-shift is made for a predetermined time after a down-shift in a coast state has occurred and executing the up-shift after the predetermined time is elapsed. Consequently, while an unpleasant feeling given to a driver is suppressed, an appropriate gear shift is executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Shunsuke Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8658005
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrical-discharge surface-treatment method is molded with a metallic powder or a metallic compound powder having an average grain diameter of 6 micrometers to 10 micrometers. A coat on a surface of a workpiece is formed with a material constituting the electrode or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the material due to a pulse-like electrical discharge. The coat is built up with a material containing metal as a main constituent under conditions of a width of a current pulse for the pulse-like electrical discharge in a range of 50 microseconds to 500 microseconds and a peak of the current pulse equal to or less than 30 amperes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20130152718
    Abstract: An automatic transmission has an automatic shift mode and a manual shift mode. When an opposite manual operation is performed, during an automatic shift based on a shift map in the automatic shift mode, in an opposite direction opposite to the automatic shift or when the opposite manual operation is performed, during a forced shift performed regardless of the manual operation in the manual shift mode, in the opposite direction opposite to the forced shift, a control apparatus forbids a shift based on a first manual operation and permits a shift based on a second or subsequent manual operation in the opposite direction opposite to the automatic shift or the forced shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Keizo Ishida
  • Patent number: 8079935
    Abstract: A shift control device comprises: a thermal load prediction unit which predicts a thermal load state of a friction element upon completion of a shift from a current thermal load state of the friction element; and a shift control unit which, when the thermal load state upon shift completion predicted by the thermal load prediction unit corresponds to a predetermined state, either performs the shift in a modified shift mode in which a heat generation amount of the friction element is smaller than the heat generation amount of the friction element when the predetermined state is not established, or prohibits the shift. The predetermined state is set at a different state in a case where the shift is an upshift and in a case where the shift is a downshift, and is set on the basis of a gradient of a traveling road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuo, Satoshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 7915559
    Abstract: An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment, in which a pulse-like electric discharge is caused between the electrode and a work in a dielectric fluid or an atmosphere, and in which a coat of an electrode material or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the electrode material due to an electric discharge energy is formed on a surface of the work, is a molded powder that is formed by molding a material powder including a metallic powder, a metallic compound powder, and a conductive ceramic powder. A powder solid that is formed as a result of coagulation of the material powder, and that is included in the molded powder has a diameter shorter than a distance between the electrode and the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harma Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7910176
    Abstract: An electrode is used to perform discharge surface treatment of a work piece. The electrode is made of a green compact obtained by compression-molding an electrode material including powder of any of a metal, a metallic compound, and ceramics. The discharge surface treatment includes generating an electric discharge between the electrode and the work piece in an atmosphere of a machining medium and forming a film consisting of a machining material on a surface of a work piece using energy produced by the electric discharge. The powder has an average particle diameter of 5 micrometer to 10 micrometers, and contains 40 volume percent or more of a component not forming or less easily forming carbide as a component for forming the film on the work piece. The electrode has a hardness in a range of B to 8B tested with a pencil scratch test for a coating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7892410
    Abstract: To form a thick coating by a discharge surface treatment, a voltage between an electrode and a workpiece during a discharge is detected, and it is determined that a discharge surface treatment state is abnormal if it is detected that the voltage is reduced. With this arrangement, it is possible to accurately detect an unstable phenomenon in the discharge surface treatment, and take appropriate measures before a state of the coating and a state of the electrode are worsened due to the unstable phenomenon. By discriminating a stability of the discharge surface treatment, the coating and the electrode are prevented from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7834291
    Abstract: An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment is a green compact formed by molding a metal powder, a metal compound powder, or a ceramic powder, and is used for electric discharge surface treatment in which an electric discharge is generated between the electrode and a work in dielectric fluid or air to form by the electric discharge energy on a surface of the work a coat of a material of the electrode or of a substance resulting from reaction of the material due to the electric discharge energy. The material of the electrode includes a material not desired to be carbonized and a material desired to be melted, and a particle diameter of the material not desired to be carbonized is larger than a particle diameter of the material desired to be melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7776409
    Abstract: A method of evaluating an electrode for discharge surface treatment for generating a discharge between the electrode and a workpiece in a treatment liquid or in the air using a green compact obtained by molding a metal, metal compound, or ceramic powder or other green compact obtained by heating the green compact as the electrode, and forming a coat consisting of an electrode material or a substance obtained by a reaction of the electrode material by a discharge energy on a surface of the workpiece, includes evaluating a capability of the electrode to deposit the coat based on an amount of deposition of the electrode material on the surface of the workpiece by a single discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co.
    Inventors: Akihiro Goto, Masao Akiyoshi, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Ochiai, Mitsutoshi Watanabe, Takashi Furukawa