Patents by Inventor Kenta Kumazaki

Kenta Kumazaki 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: 10730477
    Abstract: An electronic control unit configured to permit a vehicle to travel in an automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to detect unauthorized access from an outside to an in-vehicle Local Area Network during the automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to perform control to fix a gear position of an automatic transmission when the electronic control unit determines that unauthorized access from the outside occurs during the automated driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20200198616
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided, with a step-variable transmission, includes: a feedback control portion; an input torque resetting control portion; a target input torque setting portion operated upon an increase of the accelerator pedal operation amount in the process of the shift-down action in a power-off state of the vehicle, to restrict an amount of increase of the input torque target value with respect to an amount of increase of an operator-required input torque value, so as to keep the target value not larger than an upper limit value until termination of the input torque resetting control; and an actual input torque increasing portion operated upon the increase of the accelerator pedal operation amount prior to initiation of the inertia phase, to implement an input torque increasing control to control the input torque so as to be larger than the target value, prior to the inertia phase initiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aisin AW CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Tooru MATSUBARA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Mitsuru MAEDA, Tomoyasu KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10676091
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle driving control portion configured to permit reverse driving of the vehicle in a reverse direction while the automatic transmission is placed in a forward-drive low-speed gear position, with the motor/generator being operated in a negative direction to generate a negative torque, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, when switching from forward driving of the vehicle to its reverse driving of the vehicle is required in the process of a shifting action of the automatic transmission to the forward-drive low-speed gear position. The transmission shifting control portion implements the control for promotion to establish the forward-drive low-speed gear position, according to a state of control of the engaging-side coupling device to be brought into its engaged state for establishing the forward-drive low-speed gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Ishihara, Takahiro Kimura, Masato Yoshikawa, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Kenta Kumazaki, Kazuomi Okasaka, Atsushi Kayukawa, Daisuke Suyama, Mitsuru Maeda
  • Patent number: 10611377
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicular drive system (12; 105) having a step-variable transmission portion (20; 110) which is shifted to a selected one of speed positions having respective speed ratio values, with engaging and releasing actions of coupling devices (B, C), and a drive power source portion (39; 103) operatively connected to an input shaft (30) of the step-variable transmission portion, the control apparatus being configured to implement a speed synchronizing control upon a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a coasting run of a vehicle (10; 100), wherein an input shaft speed of the step-variable transmission portion is raised with an input shaft torque transmitted from the drive power source portion to the input shaft, from a pre-shift-down synchronizing speed to a post-shift-down synchronizing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Goto, Kenta Kumazaki, Masato Yoshikawa, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Patent number: 10604022
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle provided with an electric motor serving as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission disposed in a power transmitting path between the electric motor and drive wheels, the control apparatus having a first control mode in which acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle are controlled on the basis of operations by an operator of the vehicle to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle, and a second control mode in which the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle are automatically adjusted according to a target running state of the vehicle, irrespective of the operations of the operator, the control apparatus including a shift-down action initiating condition setting portion configured to set a shift-down action initiating condition for initiating a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission during a regenerative decelerating run of the vehicle, according to a torque-related value related to a regenerative torque generated by the electric mot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10597021
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes a control portion configured to control an input torque to an automatic transmission such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value; a racing determining portion configured to determine whether a rotating speed of an engine is predicted to exceed a predetermined rotating speed when control is provided such that the value representing the rotating state of the input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with the target value during a power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission; and an output limiting portion configured to limit the output torque of the engine to a predetermined torque or less if the rotating speed of the engine is predicted to exceed the predetermined rotating speed during the power-on shift-down action of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 10583825
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, having an engine, an electric motor, and an automatic transmission which is placed in a selected speed position with engagement of selected at least one of coupling devices, includes: an input torque control portion controlling the electric motor for controlling an input torque transmitted to the automatic transmission during a shifting action of the automatic transmission, based on output torque of the engine and torque transmitted through the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an automatic transmission input rotary member coincides with a target value. The input torque control portion controls the input torque to be not smaller than a predetermined lower limit, when a running state of the hybrid vehicle is switched from a power-on state to a power-off state during a shift-down action of the automatic transmission in the power-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20200070852
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle having a step-variable transmission. The control apparatus includes: a shift control portion to temporarily increase an input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond a required value, the shift control portion commanding an engaging-side coupling device which is the coupling device placed in a released state, to be brought into an engaged state, when the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a torque increasing amount setting portion to set an amount of increase of the input torque of the step-variable transmission beyond the required value, such that the amount of increase is smaller when a rate of change of a running speed of the vehicle is relatively low than when the rate of change is relatively high, the rate of change of the running speed having a negative value in a decelerating state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi SASADE, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Jun GOTO, Koji SUGIYAMA, Takahiro KIMURA
  • Patent number: 10576964
    Abstract: An electronic control unit suppresses gear shifting more significantly in a second travel mode than in a first travel mode. Accordingly, frequent gear shifting of an automatic transmission in the second travel mode is suppressed, and superior ride quality is obtained. Meanwhile, an amount of a hysteresis in a gear shifting map is smaller in the second travel mode than in the first travel mode. Thus, duration of travel at an optimum gear stage is extended in the second travel mode, and fuel economy is improved. That is, in the second travel mode, drive power responsiveness to an acceleration and deceleration operation as in the first travel mode is unnecessary. Thus, even when gear shifting is suppressed, there is a low possibility that a driver feels a sense of discomfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10576929
    Abstract: An electronic control unit configured to permit a vehicle to travel in an automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to detect unauthorized access from an outside to an in-vehicle Local Area Network during the automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to perform control to fix a gear position of an automatic transmission when the electronic control unit determines that unauthorized access from the outside occurs during the automated driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 10569662
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle having an electric motor, and a step-variable transmission selectively placed in a speed position with engagement of a coupling device, wherein the vehicle runs rearward with a reverse drive torque of the electric motor generated in a forward-drive low-speed position of the transmission, is provided. The control apparatus includes: a first shift control portion temporarily increasing an input torque of the transmission to raise its input speed toward a synchronizing speed in the low-speed position, and commands an engaging-side coupling device to be brought into its engaged state after the input speed has been raised to a predetermined value; and a second shift control portion increasing an engaging force of the engaging-side coupling device to bring the engaging-side coupling device into the engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Takeshi Kitahata, Masato Yoshikawa, Hisashi Ishihara, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Mitsuru Maeda
  • Patent number: 10569640
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a shift control portion is configured, when determining that a shift-down action to establish one of gear positions in a transmission mechanism by release of an engagement device and engagement of a one-way clutch, is to be executed during decelerating run of the vehicle, to initiate execution of the shift-down action to establish the one of the of gear positions after an input torque inputted to the transmission mechanism becomes not lower than a predetermined negative value. The predetermined negative value is a predetermined minimum value that becomes not lower than a certain value at a point of time at which the release of the engagement device is completed in process of the shift-down action. The certain value is a value of the input torque enabling the one-way clutch to be automatically engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Baba, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Kenta Kumazaki, Jun Goto
  • Patent number: 10543831
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, and a mechanically operated transmission mechanism which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the motor/generator and drive wheels, the control apparatus including a motor/generator control portion configured to implement a regenerative torque control of the motor/generator so as to generate a regenerative torque according to a braking operation by an operator of the vehicle in a decelerating run of the vehicle, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to initiate a shift-down action of the mechanically operated transmission mechanism after a rate of change of the regenerative torque has been held within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined length of time, where a determination to implement the shift-down action is made in the process of the regenerative torque control of the motor/generator according to the braking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Masayuki Baba, Shun Sato, Takahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10539231
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus (80) for a vehicle (10; 100) provided with a drive power source (39; MG), and a step-variable transmission portion (20; 110) including a plurality of hydraulically operated coupling devices (CB), the shift control apparatus controlling the step-variable transmission portion to implement a shifting action with an engaging action of the engaging-side coupling device and a releasing action of the releasing-side coupling device, and including a shift control portion (82) to control a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a predetermined mode of hydraulic control of the engaging-side and releasing-side coupling devices, wherein the shift control portion controls the engaging-side and releasing-side coupling devices in a non-vehicle-driving control mode during the shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a non-driving state of the vehicle, the shift control portion switching the mode of hydraulic control from the non-vehicle-driving control mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 10513243
    Abstract: An electronic control unit configured to permit a vehicle to travel in an automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to detect unauthorized access from an outside to an in-vehicle Local Area Network during the automated driving mode. The electronic control unit is configured to perform control to fix a gear position of an automatic transmission when the electronic control unit determines that unauthorized access from the outside occurs during the automated driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 10369987
    Abstract: Transmission torque of a shift progress side engagement device is set based on engine power, shift progressing power, and battery power such that MG1 torque and MG2 torque are limited due to the limitation of the battery power when shifting a stepped transmission is suppressed. The stepped transmission is shifted with the transmission torque which takes into account the input-output balance of the respective powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 10369983
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 10343508
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10239536
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for a vehicle including an engine used as a power source and an automatic transmission, the vehicle control device performing a first running mode in which a shift control of the automatic transmission and a drive force control are provided according to a driver's acceleration/deceleration operation and a second running mode in which the shift control and the drive force control are provided without the acceleration/deceleration operation while a target running state is set, comprising: a slope-road running control portion configured to control the automatic transmission such that an engine rotation speed is kept high during slope-road running on at least one of an uphill road and a downhill road as compared to flat-road running, the slope-road running control portion limiting an increase amount of the engine rotation speed in the second running mode as compared to the first running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Tatsushiro, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20190061738
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus selects one of a power-on control and a power-off control for execution of a shift-down action in a transmission of a vehicle, and implements the selected power-on or power-off control. When a running speed of the vehicle is not lower than a predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on a target input torque that is to be inputted to the transmission. When the vehicle running speed is lower than the predetermined value, the control apparatus selects one of the power-on control and the power-off control, based on an actual input torque that is actually inputted to the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun GOTO, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Kazuomi OKASAKA, Atsushi KAYUKAWA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Mitsuru MAEDA