Patents by Inventor Masato Kaigawa

Masato Kaigawa 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).

  • Publication number: 20070191184
    Abstract: An ECT_ECU performs a program including: a step of determining whether the gears are being changed or the gears are not being changed; a step of setting the virtual gear to the current gear, if the gears are not being changed; a step of setting the virtual gear to the gear before the gears are changed, if the gears are being changed but the inertia phase has not been started; a step of setting the virtual gear to the gear after the gears are changed, if the gears are being changed and the inertia phase has been started; a step of calculating the gear-change progress ?; a step of calculating the virtual gear ratio based on the virtual gear and the gear-change progress ?; and a step of calculating the target engine torque using the virtual gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20070162252
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program that includes the steps of setting a vehicle speed to the minimum wheel speed among wheel speeds of four wheels of a vehicle; calculating a difference between the wheel speeds of right and left driven wheels; turning an abnormality flag on when a higher wheel speed is higher than a value obtained by multiplaying a lower wheel speed by ?; and determining that the vehicle is turning, and turning a turning flag on, when the abnormality flag is off, a predetermined time has not elapsed after the turning flag is turned on, and the difference between the wheel speeds is equal to or larger than a map value obtained using a map where a vehicle speed is used as a parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masami Kondo, Naoto Moriya, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20070162210
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, including uphill-drive-force control means and constructed to reduce a degree of uneasiness to be given to the vehicle operator during an uphill-road running of a vehicle. The uphill-drive-force control means is arranged to increase a vehicle drive force during the uphill-road running of the vehicle at a given required vehicle output as compared with a vehicle drive force during a level-road running of the vehicle at substantially the same required vehicle output, for obtaining substantially the same value of acceleration of the vehicle during the uphill-road running as that during the level-road running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masato Kaigawa, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 7206690
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including a request drive force converted into an engine torque falls out of a saturation region, a step of calculating the target opening degree of a throttle, the request drive force converted into the engine torque falls in the saturation region, and the request drive force calculated on the basis of the opening degree of an acceleration converted into the engine torque falls in the saturation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 7160227
    Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a vehicle including a stepped automatic transmission and a shift control device which controls an operation of the automatic transmission based on a vehicle state such as a value corresponding to a driving force required for the vehicle, according to a pre-stored shift pattern having a shift line for determining whether shifting is performed from one shift speed to an adjacent shift speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20060178796
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a step-variable automatic transmission of a vehicle to effect a shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of a target throttle valve opening angle for realizing a target vehicle drive force, so as to prevent a shift hunting phenomenon of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20060155451
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including a request drive force converted into an engine torque falls out of a saturation region, a step of calculating the target opening degree of a throttle, the request drive force converted into the engine torque falls in the saturation region, and the request drive force calculated on the basis of the opening degree of an acceleration converted into the engine torque falls in the saturation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20060149433
    Abstract: A failure determination threshold value HSH used for making a failure determination for a control apparatus, for example, a lock-up clutch (26) by failure determining means (116) is corrected by failure determination threshold value correcting means (114) based on a continuation quantity qNG, for example, a duration tNG, of an operation state in which a predetermined failure precondition for the control apparatus mounted on a vehicle is satisfied. Therefore, a failure determination is performed by the failure determining means (116) using the failure determination threshold value HSH obtained in consideration of individual differences such as variations between vehicles. As a result, it is possible to prevent an erroneous determination regarding a failure, and to improve sensitivity of a failure determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Hideaki Otsubo, Toshinari Suzuki, Tooru Matsubara, Tadasu Tomohiro, Masato Kaigawa, Yoshiharu Harada, Masashi Ono
  • Patent number: 6915681
    Abstract: An ECT-ECU includes a circuit that calculates an oil temperature threshold on the basis of a signal input from one of an engine coolant temperature sensor, an engine intake air temperature sensor, and an AT hydraulic fluid temperature sensor if a signal for starting an engine of a vehicle is input thereto from an ignition switch, a circuit that detects an oil temperature on the basis of a signal input from the AT hydraulic fluid temperature sensor at intervals of a predetermined sampling time while the vehicle is running, and a circuit that controls an automatic transmission to prohibit a gear shift from fourth speed to fifth speed if a detected oil temperature is lower than the oil temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., LTD
    Inventors: Masato Kaigawa, Yasushi Kobiki, Noritaka Takebayashi, Masahiko Ando, Takeshi Gotou
  • Publication number: 20050143221
    Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a vehicle including a stepped automatic transmission and a shift control device which controls an operation of the automatic transmission based on a vehicle state such as a value corresponding to a driving force required for the vehicle, according to a pre-stored shift pattern having a shift line for determining whether shifting is performed from one shift speed to an adjacent shift speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 6855090
    Abstract: An integrated vehicle engine/transmission control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an engine capable of changing an operating speed thereof by itself, and an automatic transmission operatively connected to the engine and including a lock-up clutch, the apparatus including a lock-up clutch control device operable to control an engaging force of the lock-up clutch, during a shifting action of the transmission, for reducing a shifting shock of said automatic transmission, and a engine speed control device operable to control the engine so as to reduce its operating speed, during the shifting action of the transmission, such that reduction of the engine speed is initiated after a moment of initiation of reduction of the engaging force of the lock-up clutch by the lock-up clutch control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano, Makoto Ogiso, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 6832150
    Abstract: In a method of controlling a diesel engine that performs an injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing black smoke based on an engine speed, and performs an injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing shift shock during shifting of an automatic transmission, the injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing black smoke is inhibited or the amount of reduction of the injected fuel quantity for preventing black smoke is reduced during shifting of the automatic transmission or during execution of the injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing shift shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Higashiyama, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 6793602
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control device controls multiple speed changes in which shifting from first speed to second speed occurs during shifting from second speed to first speed. The control device includes a shift lever position sensor, an ECT_ECU, and an AT linear solenoid. The ECT_ECU includes a circuit that detects multiple speed changes; a circuit that controls the AT linear solenoid such that an engagement pressure of an engaged first speed engine brake friction element sweeps down when multiple speed changes are detected; and a circuit that commands a shift to second speed once a predetermined time has passed since the detection of multiple speed changes assuming that the engagement pressure of the first speed engine brake friction element has sufficiently swept down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Kaigawa, Yoji Takanami, Masao Saitou
  • Publication number: 20030224905
    Abstract: In a method of controlling a diesel engine that performs an injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing black smoke based on an engine speed, and performs an injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing shift shock during shifting of an automatic transmission, the injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing black smoke is inhibited or the amount of reduction of the injected fuel quantity for preventing black smoke is reduced during shifting of the automatic transmission or during execution of the injected fuel quantity reduction process for preventing shift shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Higashiyama, Masato Kaigawa
  • Publication number: 20030213296
    Abstract: An ECT-ECU includes a circuit that calculates an oil temperature threshold on the basis of a signal input from one of an engine coolant temperature sensor, an engine intake air temperature sensor, and an AT hydraulic fluid temperature sensor if a signal for starting an engine of a vehicle is input thereto from an ignition switch, a circuit that detects an oil temperature on the basis of a signal input from the AT hydraulic fluid temperature sensor at intervals of a predetermined sampling time while the vehicle is running, and a circuit that controls an automatic transmission to prohibit a gear shift from fourth speed to fifth speed if a detected oil temperature is lower than the oil temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Kaigawa, Yasushi Kobiki, Noritaka Takebayashi, Masahiko Ando, Takeshi Gotou
  • Publication number: 20030199355
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control device controls multiple speed changes in which shifting from first speed to second speed occurs during shifting from second speed to first speed. The control device includes a shift lever position sensor, an ECT_ECU, and an AT linear solenoid. The ECT_ECU includes a circuit that detects multiple speed changes; a circuit that controls the AT linear solenoid such that an engagement pressure of an engaged first speed engine brake friction element sweeps down when multiple speed changes are detected; and a circuit that commands a shift to second speed once a predetermined time has passed since the detection of multiple speed changes assuming that the engagement pressure of the first speed engine brake friction element has sufficiently swept down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Masato Kaigawa, Yoji Takanami, Masao Saitou
  • Publication number: 20030036458
    Abstract: An integrated vehicle engine/transmission control apparatus for an automotive vehicle having an engine capable of changing an operating speed thereof by itself, and an automatic transmission operatively connected to the engine and including a lock-up clutch, the apparatus including a lock-up clutch control device operable to control an engaging force of the lock-up clutch, during a shifting action of the transmission, for reducing a shifting shock of said automatic transmission, and a engine speed control device operable to control the engine so as to reduce its operating speed, during the shifting action of the transmission, such that reduction of the engine speed is initiated after a moment of initiation of reduction of the engaging force of the lock-up clutch by the lock-up clutch control means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Shuji Nagano, Makoto Ogiso, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 6264580
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission, which is capable of controlling the hydraulic pressures for frictional engagement units when a predetermined shift is performed such that a first frictional engagement unit is engaged and a second frictional engagement unit is released, being connected to a power source, the revolving speed of which is temporarily raised when a predetermined shift down is performed, the control unit for the automatic transmission for a vehicle being structured such that shift which is performed by engaging and releasing the two frictional engagement units is judged, whether the judged shift is shift down in which the revolving speed of the power source is temporarily raised or shift down in which the revolving speed of the power source is not raised is judged, and the contents of control of the hydraulic pressures for the frictional engagement units are changed between shift down in which the revolving speed of the power source is temporarily raised and shift down in which the r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Masato Kaigawa, Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6216081
    Abstract: Vehicle control apparatus including a running stability controller for performing a predetermined operation for improving stability of running of the vehicle by reducing engine output, braking the vehicle, holding automatic transmission in a predetermined position or shifting up the transmission, for example, and a device for preventing an interference between the operation of the running stability controller and an operation of a device, such as the automatic transmission, a torque converter lock-up clutch and a differential limiting clutch, which device is provided in a power transmitting system and which is controlled by an appropriate controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Hideki Miyata, Masato Kaigawa
  • Patent number: 6174263
    Abstract: Vehicle control apparatus including a running stability controller for performing a predetermined operation for improving stability of running of the vehicle by reducing engine output, braking the vehicle, holding automatic transmission in a predetermined position or shifting up the transmission, for example, and a device for preventing an interference between the operation of the running stability controller and an operation of a device, such as the automatic transmission, a torque converter lock-up clutch and a differential limiting clutch, which device is provided in a power transmitting system and which is controlled by an appropriate controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Hideki Miyata, Masato Kaigawa