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: 9463789
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes a first electric motor; a differential mechanism having a rotating element coupled to the first electric motor, a rotating element that is an output rotating member coupled to drive wheels in a power transmittable manner, and a rotating element coupled to a non-rotating member by actuation of a lock mechanism; and a second electric motor coupled to the drive wheels in a power transmittable manner. During motor running for running with output torques from the first electric motor and the second electric motor used together in an actuated state of the lock mechanism, a drive torque shared by the first electric motor is made smaller in a requested drive torque when a rotation speed of a pinion making up the differential mechanism is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Tabata, Keita Imai, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9457795
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is configured to select a single motor running, a multiple motor running and an engine running, such that a level of a charging capacity of an electric storage device in which the multiple motor running is selectable is higher than a level of the charging capacity in which the single motor running is selectable. During the single motor running performed with the charging capacity being equal to or greater than a first threshold value, the control device is configured, upon increase of the drive force requested by a driver of the vehicle, to select the multiple motor running when the charging capacity is equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value, and to select the engine running when the charging capacity of the electric storage device is less than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Tatsuya Imamura, Kouichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 9428179
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission device that includes a carrier to which an engine rotation shaft is connected; a differential device that includes a plurality of rotation components individually connected to a ring gear of the transmission device, an MG1 rotation shaft, an MG2 rotation shaft, and a drive wheel; a gear shift adjustment device that includes an engagement portion capable of controlling the transmission device to a neutral state where transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is not allowed or to a state where the transmission of power is allowed; and an HVECU that includes a first step of decreasing a rotating speed of a first rotating electric machine at the time an engine is started up during an EV travel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9415675
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle driving device including: a first differential mechanism configured to be connected to an engine and transmit a rotation of the engine; a second differential mechanism configured to connect the first differential mechanism and a driving wheel; and a switching device configured to shift the first differential mechanism, wherein the second differential mechanism includes a first rotation component connected to an output component of the first differential mechanism, a second rotation component connected to the first rotation machine, and a third rotation component connected to the second rotation machine and the driving wheel, and a reaction torque of the first rotation machine is corrected at a torque phase (S2-Y) after a start of the gear shift operation of the first differential mechanism by the switching device while the vehicle travels by using the engine as a power source (S3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tsuyoshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Publication number: 20160214598
    Abstract: A driving force control system for improving energy efficiency under a motor-drive mode. The control system selects the motor-drive mode from a single motor-mode where a vehicle is powered by any one of the rotary devices, and a dual motor-mode where the vehicle is powered by both rotary devices. The driving force control system is configured to select the single-motor mode rather than the dual-motor mode, provided that an increment of an energy consumption to establish the dual-motor mode is larger than a decrement of the energy consumption to be achieved by the dual-moor mode, under a driving condition where a required driving force can be achieved by either the single-motor mode or the dual-motor mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi TABATA, Toshiki KANADA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Shunya KATO, Kenta KUMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20160129905
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes: a power distribution device having a rotary element connected to an engine, a rotary element connected to a first motor, and a rotary element connected to an output shaft; a second motor that applies a torque to the output shaft; and a halting means that halts an output shaft of the engine. The control system is configured to shift from the first mode in which the vehicle is powered by both the first and the second motors to the second mode in which the vehicle is powered only by the second motor while allowing the output shaft of the engine to rotate by the halting device after reducing an output torque of the first motor to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Tooru MATSUBARA, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Munehiro KATSUMATA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA
  • Publication number: 20160068161
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: (i) control rotation speed of internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is increased with an increase in a traveling speed of a vehicle, (ii) execute a pseudo gear shift to control the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a first rotation speed, (iii) execute a mechanical gear shift to change a second gear ratio according to a gear shift line determined by the traveling speed and a value according to the acceleration request, and (iv) execute adjustment control to adjust the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in advance in a period before executing the mechanical gear shift such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine matches the pseudo gear shift threshold value when the mechanical gear shift is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhiro IKETOMI, Shinichi SASADE, Munehiro KATSUMATA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 9233614
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle, an automatic transmission is provided between a differential unit and drive wheels. The differential unit includes a motor-generator and a power split device, and the motor-generator is cooled by lubricant of the automatic transmission. A battery charger is operable to charge a power storage device using a power supply outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the lubricant is lower than a predetermined temperature upon execution of charging of the power storage device using the charger, and the automatic transmission is in a neutral state, or a power cutting-off state, the controller rotates the motor-generator of the differential unit so as to perform warming control for raising the temperature of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20150322872
    Abstract: In a drive system, a first differential mechanism transmits engine rotation, a second differential mechanism connects the first differential mechanism with drive wheels, and a switching device changes a speed ratio of the first differential mechanism. The second differential mechanism has first, second, and third rotational elements, which connect respectively to the first differential mechanism, a first rotating machine, and a second rotating machine. In a first running condition, the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, while differentially operating the first differential mechanism. In a second running condition, the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, without differentially operating the first differential mechanism. A region in which the vehicle runs in the second running condition in the case where the engine cannot start by itself is larger than that in the case where the engine can start by itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20150314685
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes electrical storage devices, a charging device, a motor generator, a diode, an outlet and a relay. The first electrical storage device stores driving electric power. The charging device charges the first electrical storage device with the user of a power supply outside the vehicle. The motor generator has a power generation function. The second electrical storage device stores electric power that is generated by the motor generator. When electric power is output to a device outside the vehicle from the outlet, the relay limits electric power, which is output from the first electrical storage device, such that electric power stored in the second electrical storage device is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20150314769
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: an engine; a rotary machine; and an oil pump connected to each of a rotary shaft of the engine and a rotary shaft of the rotary machine through a one-way clutch. The power transmission device is configured to allow the rotary machine to rotate at a rotational speed higher than the rotational speed corresponding to a speed of the engine and lower than the rotational speed corresponding to an idling speed of the engine at the time of startup of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Koichi OKUDA, Atsushi TABATA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Yasuhiro HIASA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Masafumi YAMAMOTO, Keita IMAI, Keisuke OOMURO
  • Patent number: 9140201
    Abstract: A vehicle engine start control device controls a crank angle such that the crank angle falls within a predetermined crank angle stop range when an engine is automatically stopped, the vehicle engine start control device starting the automatically stopped engine if a predetermined engine start condition is satisfied, the vehicle including an automatic transmission making up a portion of a power transmission path between the engine and drive wheels, and the vehicle engine start control device providing engine rotation resistance control such that rotation resistance of the engine generated due to a change in air pressure in a combustion chamber of the engine is made larger during an automatic stop period of the engine that the engine is automatically stopped and during a change in gear ratio in a shift of the automatic transmission as compared to the time of engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 9132747
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle drive device includes: a hydraulic power transmission device including an input-side rotating element to which power from an engine is input and an output-side rotating element outputting power to drive wheels; a first electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the input-side rotating element; and a second electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the drive wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Keita Imai, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Publication number: 20150246671
    Abstract: On a vehicle, there are mounted a differential device including a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier, a first motor generator coupled to the sun gear, a second motor generator coupled to the ring gear, an automatic transmission provided between the ring gear and a drive wheel, an engine coupled to the carrier, and a brake suppressing the rotation of the carrier. In the vehicle, a traveling mode is selected from a first mode in which traveling is performed by using a torque outputted from the first and second motor generators in a state where the brake is engaged, and a second mode in which the traveling is performed by operating the engine in a state where the brake is disengaged. When the traveling mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode, the traveling mode is switched to the second mode after the automatic transmission is downshifted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Patent number: 9109648
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a clutch on a power transmission path between a motor generator and a driving wheel. If the vehicle moves backward when the vehicle starts forward acceleration from standstill on an ascending slope, the charging level of the battery that is attributable to power generation by the motor generator due to the backward travel is compared with a current maximum charging power of the battery. If the charging level of the battery is greater, the quantity of slippage of the clutch is controlled according to the excess to lower the rotational speed of the motor generator, hence to lower the power generation. That enables an increase in the torque of the motor generator within the range in which the battery may be charged. Performance is thus improved during acceleration from standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20150224980
    Abstract: An engine, a transmission unit which is connected to the engine and is shifted by an engagement apparatus, and a differential unit which connects the transmission unit and a drive wheel are included. The differential unit includes a first rotary element connected to an output element of the transmission unit, a second rotary element connected to a first rotary machine, and a third rotary element connected to the drive wheel. When an output from the first rotary machine is limited, the engagement apparatus is slipped and an operation point of the engine is changed. The change of the operation point can cause an increase in torque of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20150224983
    Abstract: A power transmission device of a hybrid vehicle includes: a transmission including a planetary mechanism including a plurality of transmission rotational elements, one of the transmission rotational elements being connected to a rotary shaft of an engine; a differential device including a plurality of differential rotational elements including one connected to one of the transmission rotational elements of the transmission, one connected to a rotary shaft of a first rotary machine, and one connected to a rotary shaft of a second rotary machine and a driven wheel; a transmission control device configured to control the transmission; and a control device configured to control the first rotary machine such that pinion differential rotation of the transmission or the differential device is set to be not higher than a predetermined value at a time unique motor EV driving is performed only by power of the second rotary machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20150217645
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle, an automatic transmission is provided between a differential unit and drive wheels. The differential unit includes a motor-generator and a power split device, and the motor-generator is cooled by lubricant of the automatic transmission. A battery charger is operable to charge a power storage device using a power supply outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the lubricant is lower than a predetermined temperature upon execution of charging of the power storage device using the charger, and the automatic transmission is in a neutral state, or a power cutting-off state, the controller rotates the motor-generator of the differential unit so as to perform warming control for raising the temperature of the lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20150211620
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device includes: a first differential mechanism connected to an engine and transmitting a rotation of the engine; a second differential mechanism connecting the first differential mechanism and a drive wheel; engagement devices changing a speed of the first differential mechanism; and a valve arranged in a hydraulic circuit and regulating the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging. The second differential mechanism includes a first rotation element connected to an output element of the first differential mechanism, a second rotation element connected to a first rotating machine, and a third rotation element connected to a second rotating machine and the drive wheel. The valve regulates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the engine, and tolerates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 9090247
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system of a vehicle, provided with a transmission, and an electric motor operable to change an operating speed of the engine during the process of shifting of the transmission. The control apparatus controls a discrete change of the operating speed of said engine, with at least one of torques assigned to be respectively generated by said engine and said electric motor in a discrete shifting operation of the transmission mechanism which is performed in response to an operation of an operator of the vehicle and in which the discrete change of the operating speed of said engine takes place, includes a torque assignment determining portion configured to determine a percentage of the torque assigned to said engine in said discrete shifting operation such that the percentage increases with an increase of an amount of change of the operating speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata, Yasuhiro Hiasa