Patents by Inventor Masakazu Kaifuku

Masakazu Kaifuku 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: 8271178
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and a first electric motor connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between a rotating speed of its input shaft connected to a drive power source and a rotating speed of its output shaft by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, and (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path for transmitting power from the drive power source, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, the control apparatus including a control range setting portion configured to set one of two different control ranges of a rotating speed of the output shaft, depending upon whether the power transmitting path is placed in the power transmitting state or said power cut-off state, by the switching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato
  • Patent number: 8210291
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle controls the rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric differential portion to a predetermined rotational speed until at least one of a control that starts a main power source and a control that stops the main power source ends, if at least one of a shift position and a shift range is changed from a parking position to a neutral position while the at least one of the control that starts the main power source and the control that stops the main power source is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8192326
    Abstract: Rotation-stop determining portion queries as to whether the first rotary element is lowered in a rotation speed to be stopped during an engine drive mode. If the answer is YES and differential-portion rotation speed determining portion makes a positive determination, then engaging-element control-executing portion executes engaging element control. This allows a third rotary element of the differential portion, connected to drive wheels via an engaging element of an automatic shifting portion, to approach a state available to freewheel. This prevents a second rotary element and a first electric motor from reaching high-speed rotations caused by a decrease in rotation speed of the first rotary element in a stop direction and a differential action of the differential portion. This enables the prevention of a durability decrease of a power distributing mechanism and the first electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8177681
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular power transmitting apparatus, having engaging devices including a one-way clutch, is disclosed which prevents a locked state of the one-way clutch from causing the occurrence of slippages of other engaging devices to avoid a drop in durability of the engaging device. To achieve this object, engaging a plurality of engaging devices in combined operations allows a plurality of gear positions to be established. A shifting mechanism (vehicular power transmitting apparatus) 10 is provided wherein at least one of the plural engaging devices includes a one-way clutch F1. The shifting mechanism switches a method of selecting a gear position at S3 depending on a shift position of a shift lever 52, determined at S1, and a vehicle running direction determined at S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8177679
    Abstract: A drive system has an electrically controlled differential portion (11) in which a differential state between an input-shaft rotation speed and an output-shaft rotation speed is controlled upon controlling a first electric motor (M1), and a shifting portion (20) and a second electric motor (M2) disposed in a power transmitting path between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels (34). In a control device for controlling the drive system, a rotation direction of an output shaft (18) of the shifting portion is able to be determined without increasing the number of component parts such as a rotation speed sensor. The control device includes rotation direction determination means (86) for determining a rotation direction of an output shaft (22) of an automatic shifting portion (20) based on an engagement of a given coupling element and a detected result of rotation direction detection means (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20120108384
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle drive device in a vehicle having a power source including an engine and a stepped automatic shifting portion making up a part of a power transmission path between the power source and a drive wheel, the control device providing input torque limiting control if a downshift of the automatic shifting portion is executed during an accelerator depressing operation, to limit an input torque to the automatic shifting portion before initiation of an inertia phase in the downshift as compared to the case of not executing the downshift, wherein in the input torque limiting control, if an accelerator variation before the start of the downshift is equal to or less than a predetermined accelerator variation limit, the control device limits the input torque before the initiation of the inertia phase to the input torque at the time of a shifting output commanding the execution of the downshift, and wherein if an accelerator variation before the start of the downshift is greater than the accele
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20120094800
    Abstract: A vehicular shift control device is provided that controls the input rotational speed of a geared transmission by adjusting the rotational speed of a drive source at downshift of the geared transmission. The greater the deceleration of the vehicle, the smaller is set the change gradient of the input rotational speed of the geared transmission. Therefore, even if the decrease rate of the post-shifting synchronization rotational speed is great, the incident angle ? of the input rotational speed of the geared transmission relative to the post-shifting synchronization rotational speed is maintained as a large angle. Even when the deceleration of the vehicle during downshift is great, the downshift is smoothly executed without producing an excessive synchronization shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinari Suzuki, Kenta Kumazaki, Yoshiki Ando, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8038572
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a drive system of a vehicle includes (a) an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential state between rotating speeds of an input and an output shaft being controlled by controlling an operating state of a first electric motor, (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path between the output shaft and a drive wheel of the vehicle, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, and (c) a second electric motor connected to the power transmitting path. The control apparatus includes an excessive speed preventing portion configured to limit a rotating speed of the output shaft or an operating speed of the second electric motor when the power transmitting path is switched by the switching portion from the power transmitting state to the power cut-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato
  • Publication number: 20110231048
    Abstract: It is provided a power transmitting apparatus for a vehicle that is disposed in a power transmission path between an engine and driving wheels and that has an electric differential portion whose differential state between an input rotation speed and an output rotation speed is controlled by controlling a driving state through an electric motor coupled to a rotating element of the differential portion, wherein for varying the output rotation speed of the electric differential portion, at a predetermined time point, an amount of divergence between an actual rotation speed and a target rotation speed of the engine is calculated and the target rotation speed of the engine is set such that the amount of divergence converges at a predetermined slope and the convergence of the amount of divergence is delayed compared to that without any control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 7959535
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle power transmission system includes: an electric differential unit that includes a differential mechanism, having an input shaft and an output shaft, and an electric motor and that allows controlling a differential state between the rotational speed of the input shaft coupled to an engine and the rotational speed of the output shaft by controlling an operating state of the electric motor coupled to a rotating element of the differential mechanism; a transmission unit that is arranged in a power transmission path between the electric differential unit and a drive wheel; and an engine upper limit setting device that, when the transmission unit is shifting speeds, prelimits an upper limit of the rotational speed of the engine when the rotational speed of the engine increases because of torque reduction control by the electric motor. With the above control, the rotational speed of the engine is prevented from reaching a high rotational speed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 7953538
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electric differential portion and a mechanical power transmitting portion which are disposed in series in a power transmitting path between an engine and a drive wheel of a vehicle, the control apparatus being configured to limit an output of the engine according to a difference between an actual rotating speed of an input rotary member of the mechanical power transmitting portion, and a theoretical rotating speed calculated from an actual vehicle speed and a presently established speed ratio of the mechanical power transmitting portion, whereby reduction of torque capacity of an input clutch provided in the mechanical power transmitting portion does not cause an excessive rise of the rotating speed of a rotary member which is located on one side of the input clutch nearer to the engine, and an excessive rise of the rotating speed of an electric motor connected to the input rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Koichiro Muta, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Katoh, Tomokazu Nomura
  • Patent number: 7922618
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a drive system including an engine and a transmission portion which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path, the engine control including an engine control portion configured to change a timing of initiation or a method of a control of the engine according to contents of a requirement for implementing the control of the engine, when the control of the engine and a shifting control of said transmission portion are concurrently required to be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 7922617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicular drive system which properly controls a shift in a transmission portion upon receipt of a shift demand to the transmission portion for precluding a given element of the differential portion 11 from high rotation. For a shift demand to an automatic transmission (20), the transmission portion shift limiting means (86) determines a permissible range in terms of a speed ratio of an automatic transmission (20) in consideration of a rotational speed of a given element of a differential portion (11) for thereby limiting a shifting of the automatic transmission portion (20) based on the permissible range. Thus, when the shift demand to the automatic transmission (20) is present, the given element of the differential portion (11) can be avoided from high rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Taku Akita, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 7824307
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle power transmission device including an electrical differential motion portion in which a differential state between input shaft rotation speed and output shaft rotation speed is controlled through control of the operation state of an electric motor linked to a rotating element of a differential motion portion, and a power connection-disconnection device constituting a portion of a power transmission path, includes a controller that lessens a transmission capacity of the power connection-disconnection device if during a switch of the state of the vehicle power transmission device from a non-driving state to a driving state, a change in input torque to the vehicle power transmission device occurs, in comparison with when the change in the input torque does not occur. Therefore, the control device reduces the shift shock when the vehicle power transmission device is switched from the non-driving to the driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 7727109
    Abstract: A rotation speed of a transmitting member is controlled such that a predetermined rotation speed difference or predetermined rotation speed ratio is obtained between the rotation speed of the transmitting member and an eighth rotating element or a fourth rotating element. By detecting a change in the rotation speed of a second motor that is connected to the transmitting member when an apply device is applied, it is possible to determine the time at which a first clutch or a second clutch starts to be applied and the time at which the first clutch or the second clutch is completely applied. As a result, it is possible to control the apply pressure of the first clutch or the second clutch and thus rapidly execute a shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20100125021
    Abstract: A controller for a power transmission system that uses an engine and a motor as driving force sources to transmit power and that includes a transmission unit is provided. The transmission unit has a plurality of engagement devices and establishes a plurality of gears having different speed ratios by the frictional engagement devices. The transmission unit is arranged downstream of the driving force sources. The controller includes a torque transmission capacity setting unit that, when the transmission unit shifts gears, varies torque transmission capacities of the frictional engagement devices on the basis of an operating state of the motor and an operating state of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20100125019
    Abstract: In a vehicular power transmitting apparatus provided with an electrically-controlled differential portion in which controlling an operating state of an electric motor controls a differential state of a differential mechanism, a control device for starting up a drive force source in an appropriate mode depending on a vehicle condition can be provided. The control device includes drive-force source start control means 86 for switching start modes of an engine 8 depending on a vehicle condition to achieve an appropriate start mode for the engine 8 depending on the vehicle condition, so that for instance a contracted drive range by a second electric motor can be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yuji Iwase, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20100022346
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system having (i) an engine, (ii) an electrically controlled differential portion operative to control an operating state of an electric motor connected to a rotary element of a differential mechanism for power-transmissive state for thereby controlling a differential state between a rotation speed of an input shaft connected to the engine, and a rotation speed of an output shaft, and (iii) a shifting portion forming a part of a power-transmitting mechanism between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels, the control device including high-speed rotation preventing means for preventing high-speed rotations of each rotary elements of both the differential mechanism and the shifting portion, when a drop occurs or drop occurrence is predicted, in a supplied hydraulic pressure applied to a hydraulically operated frictional engaging device of the shifting portion, to a level less than a given value, wherein the high-speed rotation preventing means red
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato
  • Publication number: 20090305832
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission system includes: an electric differential unit that includes a differential mechanism, having an input shaft and an output shaft, and an electric motor and that allows controlling a differential state between the rotational speed of the input shaft coupled to an engine and the rotational speed of the output shaft by controlling an operating state of the electric motor coupled to a rotating element of the differential mechanism; a transmission unit that is arranged in a power transmission path between the electric differential unit and a drive wheel; and a controller that, when the transmission unit is shifting speeds, prelimits an upper limit of the rotational speed of the engine when the rotational speed of the engine increases because of torque reduction control by the electric motor. With the above control, the rotational speed of the engine is prevented from reaching a high rotational speed region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Publication number: 20090152029
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle controls the rotational speed of an output shaft of an electric differential portion to a predetermined rotational speed until at least one of a control that starts a main power source and a control that stops the main power source ends, if at least one of a shift position and a shift range is changed from a parking position to a neutral position while the at least one of the control that starts the main power source and the control that stops the main power source is being executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku