Patents by Inventor Masayasu Mizobuchi

Masayasu Mizobuchi 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: 11788618
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a linear solenoid valve, an ON-OFF solenoid valve and a hydraulically-operated frictional engagement device. A first hydraulic pressure is regulated by the linear solenoid valve within a predetermined pressure-regulation control range, and is supplied to the frictional engagement device. In a state in which the frictional engagement device is placed in a predetermined engaged state based on the first hydraulic pressure, a second hydraulic pressure, which is higher than the pressure-regulation control range, is supplied from the ON-OFF solenoid valve to the frictional engagement device, such that the frictional engagement device is placed in a fully engaged state with a high engaging torque based on the second hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Masayasu Mizobuchi, Masayuki Baba, Yu Nagasato, Yoshio Hasegawa, Kensuke Wada, Sari Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20230265919
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system includes a linear solenoid valve, an ON-OFF solenoid valve and a hydraulically-operated frictional engagement device. A first hydraulic pressure is regulated by the linear solenoid valve within a predetermined pressure-regulation control range, and is supplied to the frictional engagement device. In a state in which the frictional engagement device is placed in a predetermined engaged state based on the first hydraulic pressure, a second hydraulic pressure, which is higher than the pressure-regulation control range, is supplied from the ON-OFF solenoid valve to the frictional engagement device, such that the frictional engagement device is placed in a fully engaged state with a high engaging torque based on the second hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Masayasu Mizobuchi, Masayuki Baba, Yu Nagasato, Yoshio Hasegawa, Kensuke Wada, Sari Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 10137879
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an ECU that is configured to: start engagement transition control for outputting an engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value that causes an engagement device to be actuated from a released state toward an engaged state from when an operating member is displaced from a non-drive operating position; when an engagement transition time is longer than a target time, learn the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value such that the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value increases; when the engagement transition time is shorter than the target time, learn the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value such that the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value reduces; and prohibit learning of the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value or invalidate the learned engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value, when the operating time of the operating member is longer than a predetermined t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji Toyokawa, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 9897625
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for a meter is provided. The display control apparatus includes a rotation sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) during a shift of the automatic transmission, calculate an estimated engine rotation speed estimated on the basis of a gear position after the shift; (ii) during the shift of the automatic transmission, control the meter such that the meter displays the estimated engine rotation speed; and (iii) when the engine has changed from a driving state to a driven state during the shift or the engine has changed from the driven state to the driving state during the shift, control the meter such that the rotation speed of the engine, displayed on the meter, is changed from the estimated engine rotation speed to the rotation speed of the engine, detected by the rotation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Teratani, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Publication number: 20170203746
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an ECU that is configured to: start engagement transition control for outputting an engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value that causes an engagement device to be actuated from a released state toward an engaged state from when an operating member is displaced from a non-drive operating position; when an engagement transition time is longer than a target time, learn the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value such that the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value increases; when the engagement transition time is shorter than the target time, learn the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value such that the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value reduces; and prohibit learning of the engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value or invalidate the learned engagement transitional hydraulic pressure command value, when the operating time of the operating member is longer than a predetermined t
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuji TOYOKAWA, Masayasu MIZOBUCHI
  • Patent number: 9696333
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for a meter is provided. The display control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) when a shift start condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied, calculate an estimated rotation speed of an engine by adding a correction amount commensurate with a state of a torque converter to a turbine rotation speed of the torque converter, the turbine rotation speed corresponding to a gear position after a shift; (ii) control the meter such that a rotation speed displayed on the meter is brought close to the estimated rotation speed; and (iii) when a fixing condition, including that the shift start condition for a downshift is satisfied and the engine is driven from the torque converter side, is satisfied, fix the correction amount to a value at the time when a start of the shift is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Teratani, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 9371070
    Abstract: An electronic control unit executes throttle torque reduction control for decreasing an engine torque by reducing a throttle opening degree during an upshift of an automatic transmission with respect to the throttle opening degree before a start of the upshift. During the upshift of the automatic transmission, the electronic control unit actuates a waste gate valve in a closing direction with respect to a position of the waste gate valve before the start of the upshift in parallel with execution of the throttle torque reduction control. Thus, a decrease in supercharging pressure due to execution of the throttle torque reduction control is suppressed during the upshift, and the engine torque that has been temporarily decreased in an inertia phase of the upshift recovers immediately after the upshift, so it is possible to suppress deterioration of drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chinbe, Masakazu Owatari, Takaaki Tokura, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Publication number: 20160084866
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for a meter is provided. The display control apparatus includes a rotation sensor and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) during a shift of the automatic transmission, calculate an estimated engine rotation speed estimated on the basis of a gear position after the shift; (ii) during the shift of the automatic transmission, control the meter such that the meter displays the estimated engine rotation speed; and (iii) when the engine has changed from a driving state to a driven state during the shift or the engine has changed from the driven state to the driving state during the shift, control the meter such that the rotation speed of the engine, displayed on the meter, is changed from the estimated engine rotation speed to the rotation speed of the engine, detected by the rotation sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TERATANI, Masayasu MIZOBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160084874
    Abstract: A display control apparatus for a meter is provided. The display control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) when a shift start condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied, calculate an estimated rotation speed of an engine by adding a correction amount commensurate with a state of a torque converter to a turbine rotation speed of the torque converter, the turbine rotation speed corresponding to a gear position after a shift; (ii) control the meter such that a rotation speed displayed on the meter is brought close to the estimated rotation speed; and (iii) when a fixing condition, including that the shift start condition for a downshift is satisfied and the engine is driven from the torque converter side, is satisfied, fix the correction amount to a value at the time when a start of the shift is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TERATANI, Masayasu MIZOBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20150120115
    Abstract: An electronic control unit executes throttle torque reduction control for decreasing an engine torque by reducing a throttle opening degree during an upshift of an automatic transmission with respect to the throttle opening degree before a start of the upshift. During the upshift of the automatic transmission, the electronic control unit actuates a waste gate valve in a closing direction with respect to a position of the waste gate valve before the start of the upshift in parallel with execution of the throttle torque reduction control. Thus, a decrease in supercharging pressure due to execution of the throttle torque reduction control is suppressed during the upshift, and the engine torque that has been temporarily decreased in an inertia phase of the upshift recovers immediately after the upshift, so it is possible to suppress deterioration of drivability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chinbe, Masakazu Owatari, Takaaki Tokura, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 9014927
    Abstract: A shift control system is mounted on a vehicle that includes a transmission. The transmission includes a multi-gear shifting mechanism. Also, the transmission is configured to shift a speed of rotational power from an engine in response to a shift request and to output the rotational power to a drive wheel side. The shift control system includes a detecting unit and a control unit. The detecting unit detects the shift request. When the detecting unit has detected a multiple-gear skip downshift request as the shift request from a first gear to a second gear, the control unit executes shift control that includes a skip shift from the first gear to a predetermined intermediate-speed gear and a sequential shift from the predetermined intermediate-speed gear to the second gear, the first gear been higher by multiple gears than the predetermined intermediate-speed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Saito, Masakazu Owatari, Takashi Miura, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 8725371
    Abstract: A speed changing control apparatus for use in a vehicle includes: a driving power source configured to generate driving power for running; a transmission having a synchromesh mechanism configured to synchronize an input shaft revolution number with an output shaft revolution number and an actuator configured to automatically carry out a shift operation; and an automatic clutch disposed between the driving power source and the transmission. The speed changing control apparatus is configured to start a shift disengaging operation for the transmission after a speed change is requested and before the automatic clutch turns into a decoupled state, so as to suppress torsional vibration at the time of decoupling the automatic clutch. Such control enables the synchromesh mechanism to carry out revolution synchronization with the input shaft revolution number of the transmission in a lowered state, and diminishes a revolution difference subjected to synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Shimizu, Masato Tateno, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Publication number: 20130110360
    Abstract: A shift control system is mounted on a vehicle that includes a transmission. The transmission includes a multi-gear shifting mechanism. Also, the transmission is configured to shift a speed of rotational power from an engine in response to a shift request and to output the rotational power to a drive wheel side. The shift control system includes a detecting unit and a control unit. The detecting unit detects the shift request. When the detecting unit has detected a multiple-gear skip downshift request as the shift request from a first gear to a second gear, the control unit executes shift control that includes a skip shift from the first gear to a predetermined intermediate-speed gear and a sequential shift from the predetermined intermediate-speed gear to the second gear, the first gear been higher by multiple gears than the predetermined intermediate-speed gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Hidenori SAITO, Masakazu OWATARI, Takashi MIURA, Masayasu MIZOBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20110295475
    Abstract: A speed changing control apparatus for use in a vehicle includes: a driving power source configured to generate driving power for running; a transmission having a synchromesh mechanism configured to synchronize an input shaft revolution number with an output shaft revolution number and an actuator configured to automatically carry out a shift operation; and an automatic clutch disposed between the driving power source and the transmission. The speed changing control apparatus is configured to start a shift disengaging operation for the transmission after a speed change is requested and before the automatic clutch turns into a decoupled state, so as to suppress torsional vibration at the time of decoupling the automatic clutch. Such control enables the synchromesh mechanism to carry out revolution synchronization with the input shaft revolution number of the transmission in a lowered state, and diminishes a revolution difference subjected to synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Shimizu, Masato Tateno, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 8032274
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an automatic transmission is provided in which a microcomputer determines that torque that can drive the driving wheels of the vehicle is not transmitted to an output shaft of the automatic transmission when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition key is operated to the OFF position, and performs forced energization of solenoids of solenoid valves associated with respective friction devices of the transmission, while monitoring current passing through the solenoid valves. If the current monitored does not match the current for energizing any of the solenoids, the microcomputer determines that the corresponding solenoid valve is at fault. Thus, the diagnostic system appropriately determines the presence of a fault of each solenoid valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure to each friction device, with increased flexibility and freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Niwa, Toshio Sugimura, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 7899593
    Abstract: Provided are an automatic transmission abnormality diagnosis apparatus and method for an automatic transmission having: a lock-up mechanism; a shift mechanism; and a control mechanism. The automatic transmission is adapted to operate in a slip state, a full lock-up state or a lock-up release state of the lock-up mechanism. The lock-up mechanism is forcibly shifted from the slip state or from the lock-up release state to the full lock-up state in an operation region where the lock-up mechanism is not normally placed in the full lock-up state, and then whether the forcible shift of the lock-up mechanism has been successfully performed is determined. As such, the region for executing the abnormality diagnosis of the hydraulic control mechanism is extended and thus the frequency of the abnormality diagnosis increases, and therefore abnormalities can be promptly detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Mizobuchi, Kei Kitajima, Naoyuki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20090157251
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an automatic transmission is provided in which a microcomputer determines that torque that can drive the driving wheels of the vehicle is not transmitted to an output shaft of the automatic transmission when the vehicle is stopped and the ignition key is operated to the OFF position, and performs forced energization of solenoids of solenoid valves associated with respective friction devices of the transmission, while monitoring current passing through the solenoid valves. If the current monitored does not match the current for energizing any of the solenoids, the microcomputer determines that the corresponding solenoid valve is at fault. Thus, the diagnostic system appropriately determines the presence of a fault of each solenoid valve for controlling the hydraulic pressure to each friction device, with increased flexibility and freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Niwa, Toshio Sugimura, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Publication number: 20080183352
    Abstract: Provided are an automatic transmission abnormality diagnosis apparatus and method for an automatic transmission having: a lock-up mechanism; a shift mechanism; and a control mechanism. The automatic transmission is adapted to operate in a slip state, a full lock-up state or a lock-up release state of the lock-up mechanism. The lock-up mechanism is forcibly shifted from the slip state or from the lock-up release state to the full lock-up state in an operation region where the lock-up mechanism is not normally placed in the full lock-up state, and then whether the forcible shift of the lock-up mechanism has been successfully performed is determined. As such, the region for executing the abnormality diagnosis of the hydraulic control mechanism is extended and thus the frequency of the abnormality diagnosis increases, and therefore abnormalities can be promptly detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayasu MIZOBUCHI, Kei KITAJIMA, Naoyuki SAKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080125944
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention involves a neutral control unit that executes a neutral control that sets power transmission of the forward clutch to not more than a predetermined value while the vehicle is stopped, a brake hold control unit that executes a brake hold control that preserves braking force of the vehicle regardless of operation of a brake pedal, and an engine torque control unit that, in a circumstance in which the neutral control is being executed during execution of the brake hold control, when there has been a demand to start forward vehicle movement, starts a return from the neutral control, and when returning from the neutral control, smoothly increases the engine torque of the internal combustion engine regardless of an accelerator opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirofumi KAMISHIMA, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 7211027
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle including an engine and an automatic transmission. The apparatus is operable upon generation of an engine-output control command requiring an output of the engine during a shift-up action of the transmission initiated in the absence of the engine-output control command, and includes a shifting-progress calculating portion operable to calculate a degree of progress of the shift-up action of the transmission after a moment of generation of the engine-output control command, on the basis of a change of a rotating speed of a rotary element which changes with the progress of the shift-up action, and a gradual-engine-torque-increase control portion operable to control the engine on the basis of the degree of progress of the shift-up action calculated by the shifting-progress calculating portion, so as to gradually increase an output torque of the engine with the progress of the shift-up action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sakamoto, Yasunari Nakamura, Masayasu Mizobuchi