Patents by Inventor Kunio Hattori

Kunio Hattori 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: 11236820
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission to be provided in a vehicle that includes a hydraulic transmission device having a lockup clutch, an engine, an input shaft connected to the engine through the hydraulic transmission device, and drive wheels. The shift control apparatus includes a shift-down control portion configured, when a shift-down operation is executed to establish a first gear position by releasing a second engagement device, during running of the vehicle in a driven state with a second gear position being established with engagement of the second engagement device, to increase a torque of the engine so as to increase an input rotational speed as a rotational speed of the input shaft through the lockup clutch that is placed in an engaged state, and to release the lockup clutch before the input rotational speed reaches a synchronous speed of the first gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Asami Fujita, Kunio Hattori, Jun Amano, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 11092202
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The control apparatus switches the two-way clutch from its lock mode to its one-way mode, when the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path. The drive-force transmitting apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator configured to control switching of the two-way clutch between the lock mode and the one-way mode. When a request for establishing the second drive-force transmitting path in place of the first drive-force transmitting path is made during forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being in the lock mode, the control apparatus executes a dither control for fluctuating a hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shotaro Arai, Atsushi Ayabe, Kunio Hattori, Yusuke Ohgata, Shinji Oita
  • Publication number: 20210148460
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission to be provided in a vehicle that includes a hydraulic transmission device having a lockup clutch, an engine, an input shaft connected to the engine through the hydraulic transmission device, and drive wheels. The shift control apparatus includes a shift-down control portion configured, when a shift-down operation is executed to establish a first gear position by releasing a second engagement device, during running of the vehicle in a driven state with a second gear position being established with engagement of the second engagement device, to increase a torque of the engine so as to increase an input rotational speed as a rotational speed of the input shaft through the lockup clutch that is placed in an engaged state, and to release the lockup clutch before the input rotational speed reaches a synchronous speed of the first gear position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Asami FUJITA, Kunio HATTORI, Jun AMANO, Atsushi AYABE
  • Publication number: 20210116022
    Abstract: When a rotation speed difference between rotary members of a mode switching clutch is equal to or less than a predetermined value during travel in a belt travel mode, there is a likelihood that the mode switching clutch would be secured to a lock mode in which power operating in two directions is transmitted. At this time, since switching to a gear travel mode is prohibited, it is possible to curb occurrence of a shock when power is simultaneously transmitted via a first power transmission path and a second power transmission path in a transition period of switching to the gear travel mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Jun AMANO, Asami FUJITA
  • Patent number: 10907731
    Abstract: A control device for a power transmission mechanism, includes: a continuously variable transmission including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, an oil pump; and a hydraulic control device to control a primary thrust for moving a primary movable sheave of the primary pulley and a secondary thrust for moving a secondary movable sheave of the secondary pulley, so that in a case where a secondary target pressure for generating the secondary thrust is smaller than an oil pump discharge capacity when a maximum gear ratio is requested, a primary target pressure for generating the primary thrust is made smaller than that in a case where the secondary target pressure is larger than an oil pump discharge capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 10882531
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus that defines (i) a first drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a first engagement device controlled by an on-off solenoid valve and (ii) a second drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a second engagement device controlled by a linear solenoid valve. A third engagement device, which is, as well as the first engagement device, disposed in the first drive-force transmitting path, is configured to transmit a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and to cut off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle. In a case in which the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path, the second engagement device is engaged when the first engagement device is engaged, and the first engagement device is released after an inertia phase is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naonari Satoh, Atsushi Ayabe, Kunio Hattori, Yusuke Ohgata, Shinji Oita
  • Patent number: 10859130
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a vehicle includes a first power transmission path that is provided between an engine and a driving wheel, a second power transmission path that is provided in parallel with the first power transmission path, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit changes over a secondary clutch to a one-way mode while releasing a first clutch, when a request is made to change over a power transmission path between the engine and the driving wheel from the first power transmission path to the second power transmission path at a time of a predetermined state. The electronic control unit is configured to engage a second clutch when the secondary clutch is changed over to the one-way mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naonari Satoh, Atsushi Ayabe, Kunio Hattori, Yusuke Ohgata, Shinji Oita
  • Patent number: 10851890
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus including a gear mechanism and a continuously-variable transmission mechanism and defining first and second drive-force transmitting paths. When the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is in a failure state in which an actual gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is not the highest gear ratio as a target gear ratio, the control apparatus sets the target gear ratio to a transient target gear ratio that is gradually changed toward the highest gear ratio, for causing the actual gear ratio to be gradually changed toward the highest gear ratio. A rate of change of the transient target gear ratio is higher in a state in which a drive force is transmitted through the first drive-force transmitting path by the gear mechanism, than in a state in which the drive force is transmitted through the second drive-force transmitting path by the continuously-variable transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Taichi Washio, Takuro Shimazu
  • Patent number: 10704686
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive-force transmitting apparatus that includes a transmission having primary and secondary pulleys. The control apparatus calculates a target thrust applied to the secondary pulley such that the target thrust is larger during a vehicle driven state than during a vehicle driving state. The control apparatus sets a first determination threshold of a drive-force related value used to determine whether it is the vehicle driving state or vehicle driven state and a second determination threshold of the drive-force related value used to switch from determination of the driven state to determination of the driving state, such that a difference of the first and second determination thresholds is larger and a range of the drive-force related value in which the driven state is determined is wider, when an automatic running-speed control is executed, than when the automatic running-speed control is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Koji Hattori
  • Patent number: 10683931
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive-force transmitting apparatus that includes a transmission having primary and secondary pulleys. When a detection accuracy of rotational speed of the primary and secondary pulley is not assured, the control apparatus sets each of (i) a secondary-thrust calculation thrust ratio value used for calculation of a secondary thrust that is to be applied to the secondary pulley and (ii) a primary-thrust calculation thrust ratio value used for calculation of a primary thrust that is to be applied to the primary pulley, such that each of the secondary-thrust calculation thrust ratio value and the primary-thrust calculation thrust ratio value is dependent on a result of a determination as to whether an actual gear ratio of the transmission is the highest gear ratio and a result of a determination as to whether an input torque inputted to the transmission is lower than a given torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Taichi Washio, Takuro Shimazu
  • Patent number: 10663061
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus including a continuously-variable transmission mechanism whose gear ratio is calculated based on a detected value of an input rotational speed of the transmission mechanism and a processed output-rotational-speed value that is a detected value of an output rotational speed of the transmission mechanism subjected to a filter processing. Updating the gear ratio of the transmission mechanism is inhibited (i) when the processed output-rotational-speed value is in a low rotational speed range with an absolute value of a rate of change of the processed output-rotational-speed value being not smaller than a given value, and also (ii) when the processed output-rotational-speed value is in the low rotational speed range with the absolute value of the rate of change of the processed output-rotational-speed value being smaller than the given value, if a certain operation that increases the absolute value is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Akihide Ito, Takuro Shimazu
  • Publication number: 20200122729
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus that defines (i) a first drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a first engagement device controlled by an on-off solenoid valve and (ii) a second drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a second engagement device controlled by a linear solenoid valve. A third engagement device, which is, as well as the first engagement device, disposed in the first drive-force transmitting path, is configured to transmit a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and to cut off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle. In a case in which the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path, the second engagement device is engaged when the first engagement device is engaged, and the first engagement device is released after an inertia phase is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naonari SATOH, Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200124171
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus that defines (i) first drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a first engagement device controlled by an on-off solenoid valve and (ii) a second drive-force transmitting path established by engagement of a second engagement device controlled by a linear solenoid valve. A third engagement device, which is, as well as the first engagement device, disposed in the first drive-force transmitting path, transmits a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle and cuts off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle. When the first engagement device is to be placed into its engaged state during a neutral state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus, the first engagement device is engaged after the second engagement device is engaged, and the second engagement device is released upon completion of the engagement of the first engagement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio HATTORI, Atsushi AYABE, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200116212
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The control apparatus switches the two-way clutch from its lock mode to its one-way mode, when the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path. The drive-force transmitting apparatus includes a hydraulic actuator configured to control switching of the two-way clutch between the lock mode and the one-way mode. When a request for establishing the second drive-force transmitting path in place of the first drive-force transmitting path is made during forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being in the lock mode, the control apparatus executes a dither control for fluctuating a hydraulic pressure applied to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shotaro ARAI, Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200114915
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a power transmission system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. When an input rotational speed of an input-side rotary member is lower than an output rotational speed of an output-side rotary member in a two-way clutch, and a shift request to form a shift stage in which the two-way clutch is switched to a lock mode is generated, the electronic control unit switches the two-way clutch to the lock mode, after the input rotational speed of the input-side rotary member is made substantially equal to the output rotational speed of the output-side rotary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio HATTORI, Atsushi AYABE, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA, Naoki ISHIKAWA, Kazuya SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200116215
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a vehicle includes a first power transmission path that is provided between an engine and a driving wheel, a second power transmission path that is provided in parallel with the first power transmission path, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit changes over a secondary clutch to a one-way mode while releasing a first clutch, when a request is made to change over a power transmission path between the engine and the driving wheel from the first power transmission path to the second power transmission path at a time of a predetermined state. The electronic control unit is configured to engage a second clutch when the secondary clutch is changed over to the one-way mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naonari SATOH, Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200114914
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The two-way clutch transmits a drive force during a driving state of the vehicle, and cuts off transmission of the drive force during a driven state of the vehicle when the two-way clutch is in its one-way mode. The two-way clutch transmits the drive force during the driving state and during the driven state when the two-way clutch is in its lock mode. An engine torque is increased in a case in which a request for switching the two-way clutch to the one-way mode is made during the driven state in forward running of the vehicle with the two-way clutch being in the lock mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensuke KAWAI, Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20200116256
    Abstract: A control device for a power transmission mechanism, includes: a continuously variable transmission including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, an oil pump; and a hydraulic control device to control a primary thrust for moving a primary movable sheave of the primary pulley and a secondary thrust for moving a secondary movable sheave of the secondary pulley, so that in a case where a secondary target pressure for generating the secondary thrust is smaller than an oil pump discharge capacity when a maximum gear ratio is requested, a primary target pressure for generating the primary thrust is made smaller than that in a case where the secondary target pressure is larger than an oil pump discharge capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio HATTORI, Atsushi AYABE
  • Publication number: 20200116257
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which defines a first drive-force transmitting path provided with a first clutch and a two-way clutch and a second drive-force transmitting path provided with a continuously variable transmission and a second clutch. The control apparatus switches the two-way clutch from its lock mode to its one-way mode, when the second drive-force transmitting path is to be established in place of the first drive-force transmitting path. In a case in which, during forward running of a vehicle with the two-way clutch being placed in the lock mode, the two-way clutch is not switched from the lock mode to the one-way mode even with a request for establishing the second drive-force transmitting path in place of the first drive-force transmitting path, the control apparatus causes the second clutch to be engaged and limits the drive force of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi AYABE, Kunio HATTORI, Asami FUJITA, Yusuke OHGATA, Shinji OITA
  • Publication number: 20190316674
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus including a gear mechanism and a continuously-variable transmission mechanism and defining first and second drive-force transmitting paths. When the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is in a failure state in which an actual gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is not the highest gear ratio as a target gear ratio, the control apparatus sets the target gear ratio to a transient target gear ratio that is gradually changed toward the highest gear ratio, for causing the actual gear ratio to be gradually changed toward the highest gear ratio. A rate of change of the transient target gear ratio is higher in a state in which a drive force is transmitted through the first drive-force transmitting path by the gear mechanism, than in a state in which the drive force is transmitted through the second drive-force transmitting path by the continuously-variable transmission mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunio HATTORI, Taichi WASHIO, Takuro SHIMAZU