Patents by Inventor Kazutoshi Tsunekawa

Kazutoshi Tsunekawa 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: 20110094842
    Abstract: A lockup clutch control apparatus includes a power unit, an automatic transmission, a torque converter, a lockup clutch, an input shaft connected to the power unit, a first output shaft for transmitting the driving force to the automatic transmission; and a second output shaft for transmitting the driving force from the automatic transmission. When a power unit rotation speed or a first output shaft rotation speed becomes equal to, or lower than a first rotation speed, the lockup pressure supplied to the lockup clutch is controlled at a first pressure reduction speed to a target reduced pressure value which is obtained within a range at which the lockup pressure can be controlled. When the lockup pressure becomes the target reduced pressure value, the lockup pressure is reduced at a second pressure reduction speed, which is lower than the first pressure reduction speed, until the lockup clutch starts slipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: KAZUTOSHI TSUNEKAWA
  • Publication number: 20080242501
    Abstract: Deterioration of drivability due to operation of lock-up clutch mechanism is prevented. When the lock-up operation zone of a lock-up clutch 26 provided in a torque converter 20 is switched from OFF-area to ON-area and to OFF-area again in a predetermined time, a lock-up clutch control unit 50 that controls the lock-up clutch 26 inhibits the lock-up clutch 26 from starting engagement operation. Also, when the lock-up operation zone of the lock-up clutch 26 is switched from OFF-area to ON-area immediately before a shift, the lock-up clutch control unit 50 inhibits the lock-up clutch 26 from starting the engagement operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Publication number: 20080023285
    Abstract: A lockup clutch control apparatus includes a power unit, an automatic transmission, a torque converter, a lockup clutch, an input shaft connected to the power unit, a first output shaft for transmitting the driving force to the automatic transmission; and a second output shaft for transmitting the driving force from the automatic transmission. When a power unit rotation speed or a first output shaft rotation speed becomes equal to, or lower than a first rotation speed, the lockup pressure supplied to the lockup clutch is controlled at a first pressure reduction speed to a target reduced pressure value which is obtained within a range at which the lockup pressure can be controlled. When the lockup pressure becomes the target reduced pressure value, the lockup pressure is reduced at a second pressure reduction speed, which is lower than the first pressure reduction speed, until the lockup clutch starts slipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 7316631
    Abstract: An automatic transmission apparatus includes: a torque converter including a pump impeller connected to an engine and a turbine connected to an input shaft of an automatic transmission; an oil pump connected to the pump impeller and to the turbine; and a controlling means for selecting one of the engine and the turbine as a driving power source of the oil pump. The oil pump generates an oil pressure by rotation of the selected one of the engine and the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 7234578
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch controlling device includes a three-dimensional back pressure map, a sensor, and a lock-up pressure controlling unit. The map allows a back pressure of a lock-up piston to be determined from a rotational speed of an engine, an oil temperature, and a speed ratio. The sensor is provided for a parameter influencing the back pressure of the piston. The lock-up pressure controlling unit determines a value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston from an input value of the sensor and the hydraulic pressure map, and outputs a lock-up pressure to be applied to a lock-up clutch by using the value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston. When the controlling device operates, it outputs the lock-up pressure by using the value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Publication number: 20060068976
    Abstract: An automatic transmission apparatus includes: a torque converter including a pump impeller connected to an engine and a turbine connected to an input shaft of an automatic transmission; an oil pump connected to the pump impeller and to the turbine; and a controlling means for selecting one of the engine and the turbine as a driving power source of the oil pump. The oil pump generates an oil pressure by rotation of the selected one of the engine and the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Publication number: 20050230207
    Abstract: A lock-up clutch controlling device includes a three-dimensional back pressure map, a sensor, and a lock-up pressure controlling unit. The map allows a back pressure of a lock-up piston to be determined from a rotational speed of an engine, an oil temperature, and a speed ratio. The sensor is provided for a parameter influencing the back pressure of the piston. The lock-up pressure controlling unit determines a value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston from an input value of the sensor and the hydraulic pressure map, and outputs a lock-up pressure to be applied to a lock-up clutch by using the value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston. When the controlling device operates, it outputs the lock-up pressure by using the value equivalent to the back pressure of the lock-up piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 6782984
    Abstract: A control method of a lockup clutch includes eliminating a loss stroke of a piston by a pre-charge of a supplied hydraulic pressure, increasing a force applied to the piston by further supply of the hydraulic pressure after the pre-charge, controlling a slip rotation speed between a pump impeller and a turbine runner in a torque converter connected to an automatic transmission, and determining a time for performing the pre-charge when a shift stage of the automatic transmission is under a neutral state and a vehicle is substantially stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa, Yuuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 6746369
    Abstract: A control device for a lock-up mechanism arranged parallel with a hydraulic type torque transmitting mechanism that transmits rotatory power of a pump impeller connected with an output shaft of an engine to a turbine impeller connected with a wheel side element. The lock-up mechanism controls a slip value between the rotational speeds of the pump and turbine impellers in response to supplied hydraulic pressure. The control device calculates a target slip value, detects an actual slip value based on the rotational speed difference of the pump and turbine impellers, sets an intermediate slip value between the actual and target slip values, controls the hydraulic pressure to the lock-up mechanism so that the actual and intermediate slip values coincide, and reduces the intermediate slip value to a renewed value closer to the target slip value than the intermediate slip value when the actual slip value reaches the intermediate slip value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa, Yuuki Ohta, Keisuke Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20040029672
    Abstract: A control method of a lockup clutch includes eliminating a loss stroke of a piston by a pre-charge of a supplied hydraulic pressure, increasing a force applied to the piston by further supply of the hydraulic pressure after the pre-charge, controlling a slip rotation speed between a pump impeller and a turbine runner in a torque converter connected to an automatic transmission, and determining a time for performing the pre-charge when a shift stage of the automatic transmission is under a neutral state and a vehicle is substantially stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa, Yuuki Ohta
  • Publication number: 20020040622
    Abstract: A control device for a lock-up mechanism arranged parallel with a hydraulic type torque transmitting mechanism that transmits rotatory power of a pump impeller connected with an output shaft of an engine to a turbine impeller connected with a wheel side element. The lock-up mechanism controls a slip value between the rotational speeds of the pump and turbine impellers in response to supplied hydraulic pressure. The control device calculates a target slip value, detects an actual slip value based on the rotational speed difference of the pump and turbine impellers, sets an intermediate slip value between the actual and target slip values, controls the hydraulic pressure to the lock-up mechanism so that the actual and intermediate slip values coincide, and reduces the intermediate slip value to a renewed value closer to the target slip value than the intermediate slip value when the actual slip value reaches the intermediate slip value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tsunekawa, Yuuki Ohta, Keisuke Kurokawa