Patents by Inventor Kenji Itagaki

Kenji Itagaki 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: 11577596
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. The engine includes a turbocharger, an EGR valve, and a WGV. When opening of the EGR valve exceeds first opening, a controller maintains opening of the WGV at second opening or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11554769
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a planetary gear mechanism, a battery that stores power generated by the first MG and supplies the stored power to the first MG, and an HV-ECU that controls the engine and the first MG. The engine includes a turbo. A boost line is determined on a map representing a relationship between the rotation speed of the engine and torque generated by the engine, and the turbo boosts suctioned air when torque generated by the engine, as indicated by an operating point on the map, exceeds the boost line. The HV-ECU controls the engine and the first MG so that when the allowable value Wout of power output from the battery is small, the operating point exceeds the boost line at a higher rotation speed than when the allowable value Wout is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11555431
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a rotating electric machine; a planetary gear mechanism to which the internal combustion engine, the rotating electric machine and an output shaft are connected; a catalyst that purifies exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine; and a controller that controls the internal combustion engine and the rotating electric machine. The controller controls the internal combustion engine and the rotating electric machine to perform catalyst temperature control to shift an operating point on a map representing a relationship between rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and torque generated by the internal combustion engine so that the catalyst has a temperature within an appropriate temperature range. Degradation of the catalyst can be suppressed without deteriorating the function of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11514730
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, each of an engine and an MG1 is mechanically coupled to a drive wheel with a planetary gear being interposed. The planetary gear and an MG2 are configured such that motive power output from the planetary gear and motive power output from the MG2 are transmitted to the drive wheel as being combined. A controller makes WGV diagnosis for diagnosing whether or not a waste gate valve is normally controllable by issuing an instruction to a WGV actuator while the controller stops combustion in the engine and controls the MG1 and the MG2 in coordination to perform motoring of the engine during traveling of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11498546
    Abstract: When a prescribed execution condition is satisfied at the time of transition from HV traveling (that is, traveling performed by an engine and a motor with generation of traveling driving force by the engine) to EV traveling (that is, traveling performed by the motor without generation of traveling driving force by the engine), a controller of a hybrid vehicle performs motoring (or a self-sustaining operation) of an engine and thereafter stops the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11472398
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine; output member that transmits driving force to drive wheels; a rotating electric machine; and a power split mechanism that splits and transmits the driving force output from the engine to the output member and the rotating electric machine, the mechanism including at least three rotating elements of an input element connected to the engine, a reaction force element connecting the rotating electric machine, and an output element connecting the output member, the machine capable of outputting reaction force torque to required engine torque based on an acceleration request to apply torque to the required engine torque to the drive wheel, where the machine does not output the reaction force torque, engine rotation speed increase control being able to be executed, engine torque limitation due to a NV requirement being able to be executed and which is relaxed during the engine rotation speed increase control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taro Moteki, Kenji Itagaki, Koichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11458948
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including calculating requested system power, calculating requested engine power when an engine activation request has been issued, setting an operating point on a predetermined operating line, setting an upper limit value of magnitude of an amount of lowering in engine rotation speed to a first value when a vehicle is in a sport running state and when the previous operating point is within a forced induction range, setting the upper limit value to a second value when the vehicle is not in the sport running state or when the previous operating point is not within the forced induction range, correcting the operating point, and outputting an engine operation state command, a first MG torque command, and a second MG torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11427178
    Abstract: An HV-ECU calculates requested output torque Tec based on requested power and compares the requested output torque with controlled upper limit torque Teth. When requested output torque Tec has attained to controlled upper limit torque Teth, the HV-ECU restricts output torque of engine to controlled upper limit torque Teth and calculates actual output torque Ter at that time. Then, the HV-ECU calculates a difference (differential torque ?Te) between controlled upper limit torque Teth and actual output torque Ter. The HV-ECU learns controlled upper limit torque Teth based on differential torque ?Te.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11371451
    Abstract: An indicator control system includes an indicator configured to show a rotational speed of an internal combustion engine, and a controller configured to control an indicated rotational speed, which is the rotational speed to be shown by the indicator. The controller is configured such that, during a specific period in which the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is reduced from a first rotational speed to a rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed and then increased to a second rotational speed higher than the first rotational speed, the controller increases the indicated rotational speed to the second rotational speed without reducing the indicated rotational speed from the first rotational speed to the rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11359565
    Abstract: When it is determined that control of warm-up of a catalyst is necessary at the time of start of an engine, an ECU starts warm-up control. Initially, the ECU performs first processing for a first set time period. In the first processing, the ECU sets the engine to an idle state and fully opens a waste gate valve. When the first set time period has elapsed since the first processing was started, the ECU performs second processing. In the second processing, the ECU sets the engine to a prescribed rotation speed and fully closes the waste gate valve. When a second set time period has elapsed since the second processing was started, the ECU quits the second processing and quits warm-up control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11325583
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a motor generator; an engine having a forced induction device; and a HV-ECU. An operation region of the engine includes a PM generating region in which an amount of particulate matters included in exhaust gas of the engine is more than a predetermined amount due to a load of the engine being abruptly increased during boosting by the forced induction device. The PM generating region is a low-rotation and high-torque region. When assistance by the motor generator is sufficiently obtained and the engine is operated in the PM generating region, the HV-ECU restricts an increasing rate of the torque of the engine to be less than or equal to an upper limit rate. The HV-ECU complements, by the torque of the motor generator, the torque of the engine restricted by restricting the increasing rate of the torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11312364
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a planetary gear mechanism to which the engine, the first MG, and a counter shaft are connected, and an HV-ECU configured to control the engine and the first MG. The engine includes a turbocharger that boosts suctioned air to be fed to the engine. The HV-ECU controls the engine and the first MG to initially decrease the engine's rotation speed and simultaneously increase torque that the engine generates when on a map indicating a relationship between the engine's rotation speed and torque generated by the engine the controller shifts a first operating point to a second operating point at which torque generated by the engine and the rotation speed of the engine are higher than at the first operating point and the turbocharger boosts suctioned air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11247664
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including controlling an engine to be in a non-forced induction operation state when an engine has been on and when an engine stop request has been issued, performing processing for stopping the engine when a predetermined first period has elapsed, restricting forced induction and output when the engine stop request has not been issued and when a current time point is immediately after start of the engine, canceling restriction when a predetermined second period has elapsed, and controlling the engine with a position on a higher rotation speed side than a current operating point along an equal power line being set as an operating point when the current time point is not immediately after start of the engine and when a negative pressure is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11230280
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs processing including calculating requested system power, calculating requested engine power when an engine activation request has been issued, obtaining a turbo temperature, setting an operating point on a predetermined operating line when the turbo temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold value Ta, setting as the operating point, a position on a higher rotation speed side by a predetermined value along an equal power line when the turbo temperature is higher than the threshold value Ta, carrying out engine control, and carrying out MG control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11186270
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine including a forced induction device, a knock sensor and a crank angle sensor that detect an occurrence of LSPI, a battery that supplies electric power to a second motor generator, and an ECU. When an occurrence of the LSPI is detected, the ECU restricts a maximum torque, which can be output by the engine with the forced induction device, more than when an occurrence of the LSPI is not detected to prevent an engine operating point from being included in an LSPI area, and when an output of the engine becomes insufficient along with the restriction on the maximum torque, the engine compensates for an amount of the insufficient output with electric power supplied from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11143121
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine including an injector of cylinder injection type and a forced induction device, a second motor generator that generates electric power with an output torque of the engine, and an ECU that controls the engine and the second motor generator. When an amount of intake air and a fuel pressure of the engine decrease in boosting of suctioned air by the forced induction device, the ECU reduces a decrease in the amount of intake air during a period in which an injection amount is equal to a minimum injection amount, and when an excessive torque is generated in the output torque of the engine along with reducing a decrease in the amount of intake air, the ECU absorbs the excessive torque by a power generation operation of the second motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Publication number: 20210309208
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including: an engine; output member that transmits driving force to drive wheels; a rotating electric machine; and a power split mechanism that splits and transmits the driving force output from the engine to the output member and the rotating electric machine, the mechanism including at least three rotating elements of an input element connected to the engine, a reaction force element connecting the rotating electric machine, and an output element connecting the output member, the machine capable of outputting reaction force torque to required engine torque based on an acceleration request to apply torque to the required engine torque to the drive wheel, where the machine does not output the reaction force torque, engine rotation speed increase control being able to be executed, engine torque limitation due to a NV requirement being able to be executed and which is relaxed during the engine rotation speed increase control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taro MOTEKI, Kenji ITAGAKI, Koichi KATO
  • Patent number: 11077841
    Abstract: The control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to ensure acceleration of the vehicle is provided. When accelerating the vehicle quickly, a torque command to an engine is calculated by adding a torque corresponding to an inertia torque of the engine that is required to increase an engine speed to the required engine torque. In this situation, a controller controls the engine in such a manner as to generate torque based on the calculated torque command, and controls a motor in such a manner as to generate reaction torque against a required engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11052901
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a second MG, a planetary gear mechanism, and an HV-ECU. The engine includes a supercharger and a purge device. The purge device introduces fuel vapor into an intake passage of the engine. Upon request for fuel purge, when an operating point of the engine is included in an area A, the HV-ECU controls the engine and the first MG to move the operating point to outside of the area A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Yonezawa, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Osamu Maeda, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami, Kenji Itagaki, Shunsuke Oyama, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 11027720
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine; a motor generator; and an electronic control unit to control the engine and the motor generator. Further, when an engine speed thereof is increased, the electronic control unit calculates an engine torque by adding an engine inertia torque to a request engine torque and cause the engine to output the calculated engine torque, and cause the motor generator to output a reaction torque in response to the request engine torque, and the electronic control unit performs control so that a torque assistance amount exerted by the motor generator is changeable while the engine speed is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taro Moteki, Kenji Itagaki, Koichi Kato