Patents by Inventor Masakazu Owatari

Masakazu Owatari 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: 11221067
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an input torque acquisition unit acquiring an input torque input to an automatic transmission input shaft, a clutch torque acquisition unit acquiring a clutch torque of a clutch operated to change a gear stage of the transmission, a torque determination unit determining a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from a first state in which one of the input torque and the clutch torque is greater than the other to a second state in which the other one is greater than the one, a gear ratio calculation unit calculating an intermediate gear ratio between pre-shift and post-shift gear ratios, and a torque calculation unit, when the torque determination unit determines a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from the first state to the second state, executing a process of calculating a target engine torque based on the intermediate gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Shimoda, Naoto Moriya, Masakazu Owatari
  • Publication number: 20210270362
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an input torque acquisition unit acquiring an input torque input to an automatic transmission input shaft, a clutch torque acquisition unit acquiring a clutch torque of a clutch operated to change a gear stage of the transmission, a torque determination unit determining a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from a first state in which one of the input torque and the clutch torque is greater than the other to a second state in which the other one is greater than the one, a gear ratio calculation unit calculating an intermediate gear ratio between pre-shift and post-shift gear ratios, and a torque calculation unit, when the torque determination unit determines a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from the first state to the second state, executing a process of calculating a target engine torque based on the intermediate gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato SHIMODA, Naoto MORIYA, Masakazu OWATARI
  • Patent number: 10774902
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including a multi-speed automatic transmission includes a first engagement control portion selecting a selected gear shift position having a synchronous rotation speed lower than an actual input rotation speed of the multi-speed automatic transmission at the time of return from the coasting running due to the depressing operation of the accelerator pedal and increasing an engagement force of an engagement element establishing the selected gear shift position to immediately increase a drive force of the vehicle; and a second engagement control portion engaging the engagement element establishing the target gear shift position when the actual input rotation speed of the multi-speed automatic transmission reaches a determination rotation speed set for determination of attainment to the synchronous rotation speed of the target gear shift position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro Tsukamoto, Masakazu Owatari
  • Patent number: 10711890
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which includes a gear mechanism and a continuously-variable transmission mechanism and which establishes selectively a first state in which a drive force is transmitted by the gear mechanism and a second state in which the drive force is transmitted by the continuously-variable transmission mechanism. The control apparatus sets a shift-up-action permitted gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism, which makes a state-switch-requiring shift-up action is permitted to be executed. When a running speed of the vehicle is not higher than a given value, a predetermined high gear ratio value is set as the shift-up-action permitted gear ratio. When the running speed is higher than the given value, a predetermined gear ratio range ranging from the predetermined high gear ratio value to a predetermined low gear ratio value is set as the shift-up-action permitted gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Murakami, Masakazu Owatari, Norihiro Tsukamoto, Kengo Nagai, Satoshi Kato, Susumu Moritomo
  • Patent number: 10683933
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which establishes selectively a first state in which a drive force is transmitted by a gear mechanism and a second state in which the drive force is transmitted by a continuously-variable transmission mechanism. The control apparatus executes a shift-up action requiring the first state to be switched to the second state, in (a) a case in which a state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus satisfies a first condition that a gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is not lower than a first gear ratio value and in (b) a case in which the state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus satisfies a second condition that a lap-down control is executed with the gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism being not lower than a second gear ratio value that is lower than the first gear ratio value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kato, Susumu Moritomo, Masakazu Owatari, Norihiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10563737
    Abstract: An automatic transmission, which is configured such that there is no difference of rotation between a third sun gear and an intermediate shaft in a state where a second clutch is brought into a release state and a seventh speed stage is established, is provided. In the automatic transmission, at the time of a gear shift from a tenth speed stage where second and third clutches and a first brake are brought into an engagement state to a seventh speed stage where first, third, and fourth clutches are brought into an engagement state, the fourth clutch is engaged and the first brake is released to establish the seventh speed stage with the second clutch in the engagement state. Then, the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch is released to make transition to the seventh speed stage with the second clutch in the release state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio Hasegawa, Masakazu Owatari, Norihiro Tsukamoto
  • Publication number: 20190285146
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including a multi-speed automatic transmission includes a first engagement control portion selecting a selected gear shift position having a synchronous rotation speed lower than an actual input rotation speed of the multi-speed automatic transmission at the time of return from the coasting running due to the depressing operation of the accelerator pedal and increasing an engagement force of an engagement element establishing the selected gear shift position to immediately increase a drive force of the vehicle; and a second engagement control portion engaging the engagement element establishing the target gear shift position when the actual input rotation speed of the multi-speed automatic transmission reaches a determination rotation speed set for determination of attainment to the synchronous rotation speed of the target gear shift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihiro TSUKAMOTO, Masakazu OWATARI
  • Publication number: 20190162303
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which establishes selectively a first state in which a drive force is transmitted by a gear mechanism and a second state in which the drive force is transmitted by a continuously-variable transmission mechanism. The control apparatus executes a shift-up action requiring the first state to be switched to the second state, in (a) a case in which a state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus satisfies a first condition that a gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism is not lower than a first gear ratio value and in (b) a case in which the state of the drive-force transmitting apparatus satisfies a second condition that a lap-down control is executed with the gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism being not lower than a second gear ratio value that is lower than the first gear ratio value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi KATO, Susumu MORITOMO, Masakazu OWATARI, Norihiro TSUKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190145516
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus which includes a gear mechanism and a continuously-variable transmission mechanism and which establishes selectively a first state in which a drive force is transmitted by the gear mechanism and a second state in which the drive force is transmitted by the continuously-variable transmission mechanism. The control apparatus sets a shift-up-action permitted gear ratio of the continuously-variable transmission mechanism, which makes a state-switch-requiring shift-up action is permitted to be executed. When a running speed of the vehicle is not higher than a given value, a predetermined high gear ratio value is set as the shift-up-action permitted gear ratio. When the running speed is higher than the given value, a predetermined gear ratio range ranging from the predetermined high gear ratio value to a predetermined low gear ratio value is set as the shift-up-action permitted gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki MURAKAMI, Masakazu OWATARI, Norihiro TSUKAMOTO, Kengo NAGAI, Satoshi KATO, Susumu MORITOMO
  • Patent number: 10281032
    Abstract: Under an abnormal determination, when a transmission gear stage is switched, a torque limit value is changed from a value before switching of the transmission gear stage to a value after switching thereof in a period in which this transmission gear stage is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Asami, Masakazu Owatari, Takashi Miura, Yuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10253877
    Abstract: In a case where intermediate gear stage fault occurs, an electronic control unit determines, using a predetermined relationship for determining gear stage switching between a gear stage on a lower side than the intermediate gear stage by one stage and the intermediate gear stage, whether or not to execute gear stage switching between the low gear stage and a gear stage on a higher than the intermediate gear stage by one stage. For example, compared to using a relationship for determining gear stage switching between a gear stage on the higher side and the intermediate gear stage, it is possible to execute gear stage switching between a gear stage on the lower side and a gear stage on the higher side in a low vehicle speed region. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the influence on vehicle behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sawada, Takahiro Kondo, Masakazu Owatari, Tatsuro Hatano, Yoshiki Ando
  • Patent number: 10167949
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle power transmission device for the vehicle power transmission device including a line pressure regulating device regulating a hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic fluid discharged from an oil pump to a predetermined line pressure while changing an opening area of a discharge flow passage, and an automatic transmission having a predetermined gear position established by engagement of a hydraulic friction engagement element by using the line pressure as a source pressure, the control device comprising: an abnormality determination portion configured to detect a slip of the hydraulic friction engagement element establishing the predetermined gear position at the time of establishment of the predetermined gear position and, if an input torque at the time of occurrence of the slip is equal to or greater than an abnormality determination value defined in advance based on a torque transmittable at a minimum line pressure by the hydraulic friction engagement element establishing the predeter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Murakami, Masakazu Owatari, Tomohiro Asami
  • Publication number: 20180135746
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle power transmission device for the vehicle power transmission device including a line pressure regulating device regulating a hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic fluid discharged from an oil pump to a predetermined line pressure while changing an opening area of a discharge flow passage, and an automatic transmission having a predetermined gear position established by engagement of a hydraulic friction engagement element by using the line pressure as a source pressure, the control device comprising: an abnormality determination portion configured to detect a slip of the hydraulic friction engagement element establishing the predetermined gear position at the time of establishment of the predetermined gear position and, if an input torque at the time of occurrence of the slip is equal to or greater than an abnormality determination value defined in advance based on a torque transmittable at a minimum line pressure by the hydraulic friction engagement element establishing the predeter
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki MURAKAMI, Masakazu OWATARI, Tomohiro ASAMI
  • Patent number: 9890852
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to limit a second hydraulic pressure so that a switching valve is switched to a normal position when the following conditions i) and ii) are satisfied. The condition i) is during partial failure in which a normally closed solenoid valve is de-energized. The condition ii) is when the switching valve is switched to a failure position due to the second hydraulic pressure and downshift to a specific gear shift stage not corresponding to a current gear shift stage occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakazu Owatari
  • Publication number: 20170356545
    Abstract: In a case where intermediate gear stage fault occurs, an electronic control unit determines, using a predetermined relationship for determining gear stage switching between a gear stage on a lower side than the intermediate gear stage by one stage and the intermediate gear stage, whether or not to execute gear stage switching between the low gear stage and a gear stage on a higher than the intermediate gear stage by one stage. For example, compared to using a relationship for determining gear stage switching between a gear stage on the higher side and the intermediate gear stage, it is possible to execute gear stage switching between a gear stage on the lower side and a gear stage on the higher side in a low vehicle speed region. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the influence on vehicle behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SAWADA, Takahiro KONDO, Masakazu OWATARI, Tatsuro HATANO, Yoshiki ANDO
  • Publication number: 20170314648
    Abstract: An automatic transmission, which is configured such that there is no difference of rotation between a third sun gear and an intermediate shaft in a state where a second clutch is brought into a release state and a seventh speed stage is established, is provided. In the automatic transmission, at the time of a gear shift from a tenth speed stage where second and third clutches and a first brake are brought into an engagement state to a seventh speed stage where first, third, and fourth clutches are brought into an engagement state, the fourth clutch is engaged and the first brake is released to establish the seventh speed stage with the second clutch in the engagement state. Then, the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch is released to make transition to the seventh speed stage with the second clutch in the release state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio HASEGAWA, Masakazu OWATARI, Norihiro TSUKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170276240
    Abstract: Under an abnormal determination, when a transmission gear stage is switched, a torque limit value is changed from a value before switching of the transmission gear stage to a value after switching thereof in a period in which this transmission gear stage is switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro ASAMI, Masakazu OWATARI, Takashi MIURA, Yuki MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 9759314
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus, wherein the first switching valve receives an input of one of the hydraulic pressure from the first electromagnetic valve device and the predetermined hydraulic pressure from the third switching valve, as a switching signal pressure, the first switching valve is switched from the first state to the second state in response to the input of the switching signal pressure, and the first switching valve is held in the second state, and the second switching valve receives an input of one of the hydraulic pressure from the first electromagnetic valve device and the predetermined hydraulic pressure from the third switching valve, as a holding pressure for holding the normal supply state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Tsuchida, Yoshimitsu Hyodo, Yuhei Yoshioka, Nobuhiko Miyamoto, Yuichiro Kato, Toshihiko Kamiya, Akio Murasugi, Masakazu Owatari
  • Publication number: 20160298760
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to limit a second hydraulic pressure so that a switching valve is switched to a normal position when the following conditions i) and ii) are satisfied. The condition i) is during partial failure in which a normally closed solenoid valve is de-energized. The condition ii) is when the switching valve is switched to a failure position due to the second hydraulic pressure and downshift to a specific gear shift stage not corresponding to a current gear shift stage occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakazu OWATARI
  • Publication number: 20160230883
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus, wherein the first switching valve receives an input of one of the hydraulic pressure from the first electromagnetic valve device and the predetermined hydraulic pressure from the third switching valve, as a switching signal pressure, the first switching valve is switched from the first state to the second state in response to the input of the switching signal pressure, and the first switching valve is held in the second state, and the second switching valve receives an input of one of the hydraulic pressure from the first electromagnetic valve device and the predetermined hydraulic pressure from the third switching valve, as a holding pressure for holding the normal supply state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi TSUCHIDA, Yoshimitsu HYODO, Yuhei YOSHIOKA, Nobuhiko MIYAMOTO, Yuichiro KATO, Toshihiko KAMIYA, Akio MURASUGI, Masakazu OWATARI