Patents by Inventor Michio Yoshida

Michio Yoshida 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: 9366328
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a vehicle is provided. In the power transmission unit, a continuously variable transmission to alter a speed ratio continuously is disposed between an input shaft to which a torque of a prime mover is inputted and an output shaft rotated by the torque transmitted from the input shaft. A first gear train that transmits the torque to propel the vehicle in the forward direction is arranged parallel to a second gear train that transmits the torque to propelling the vehicle backwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Yoshino, Daisuke Kobayashi, Michio Yoshida, Tomoe Osada
  • Publication number: 20160131256
    Abstract: A control device for vehicle is includes: transmission mechanism capable of setting fixed transmission gear ratio; continuously variable transmission provided in parallel with transmission mechanism; and path switching mechanism for selectively blocking torque transmission path that includes transmission mechanism and that is configured to dampen vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro TOYODA, Hirofumi NAKADA, Michio YOSHIDA, Daisuke INOUE, Atsushi AYABE, Motonori KIMURA, Akira HINO, Hiroki KONDO, Kenji MATSUO, Takuro SHIMAZU
  • Publication number: 20160131255
    Abstract: A control system and a control method for a vehicle, the vehicle includes an engine, an input shaft, an output shaft, a continuously variable transmission section, a stepped transmission section and a clutch mechanism, and a control device. The continuously variable transmission section and the stepped transmission section are provided between the input shaft and the output shaft. The clutch mechanism is provided in a torque transmission path between the stepped transmission section and drive wheels. The control device is configured to disengage the clutch mechanism in a case where a vehicle speed is at least equal to a specified value and the engine is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi TANINAKA, Hirofumi NAKADA, Michio YOSHIDA, Hiroki KONDO, Kenji MATSUO, Kazuya ISHIIZUMI, Daisuke INOUE, Kyohei SUZUMURA
  • Publication number: 20160025161
    Abstract: In a controller for a vehicle transmission in which a continuously variable transmission mechanism that is able to continuously change its speed ratio and a transmission mechanism having a constant speed ratio are provided in parallel with each other between an input shaft to which torque is transmitted from a driving force source and an output shaft that outputs torque to a drive wheel, the vehicle transmission including a friction engagement mechanism and an intermeshing engagement mechanism, the friction engagement mechanism selectively transmitting torque from the input shaft to the transmission mechanism, the intermeshing engagement mechanism arranged in series with the friction engagement mechanism on a downstream side of the friction engagement mechanism in a torque transmission direction from the input shaft toward the output shaft, the intermeshing engagement mechanism setting the transmission mechanism to a state where torque is transmittable between the input shaft and the output shaft, in changing
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji MATSUO, Hirofumi NAKADA, Michio YOSHIDA, Daisuke INOUE, Atsushi AYABE, Motonori KIMURA, Shuhei ISHIKAWA, Akira HINO, Hiroki KONDO
  • Publication number: 20150354682
    Abstract: Power system including differential-mechanism, clutch-mechanism, power-mechanism and dog-clutch disposed between an input rotary member to receive drive-force from a drive power source and output rotary-member to transmit drive-force to drive-wheels, the differential-mechanism including an input rotary element, output rotary element and reaction rotary element; the clutch-mechanism connecting two rotary elements of the input, output and reaction rotary elements of the differential-mechanism, to each other, the power-mechanism having predetermined gear ratio, and dog-clutch selectively placing a power path between the output rotary element and output rotary-member, in power transmitting state and power cutoff state; transmitting drive-force to drive-wheels while the clutch-mechanisms and dog-clutch are placed in engaged states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kozo YAMAMOTO, Michio YOSHIDA, Hirofumi NAKADA, Kenji MATSUO, Mitsuhiro FUKAO, Shuji MORIYAMA, Yuji IWATSURU
  • Patent number: 9182017
    Abstract: A belt-driven continuously variable transmission adapted to prevent a tilting motion of a sheave under high temperature. The belt-driven continuously variable transmission is comprised of a pair of pulleys individually comprised of a fixed sheave rotated integrally with a rotary shaft and a movable sheave fitted onto the rotary shaft while being allowed to reciprocate thereon, and a driving belt applied to the pulleys to transmit power therebetween. a stopper member is disposed on an outer circumferential side and in a side where the driving belt is not contacted with the movable sheave so as to prevent the movable sheave from being tilted to widen a width between the fixed sheave and the movable sheave holding the driving belt by a load from the driving belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Yuji Hattori, Tomoaki Yanagida, Kazunori Harima
  • Patent number: 9160018
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a secondary cell; a voltage converter provided between the secondary cell and a load; a fuel cell; an FC relay that turns on and off electrical connection between the fuel cell and the shared electrical path; an electrical leakage detector that detects electrical leakage in an electrical system; and a control portion that performs determination regarding electrical leakage. The control portion has: start means for starting the fuel cell by raising voltage of the fuel cell from a starting voltage to an operation voltage that is lower than an open-circuit voltage; and electrical leakage determination means for performing the determination regarding electrical leakage after a predetermined time elapses, when the FC relay is closed while a voltage difference between the voltage of the fuel cell and voltage supplied from the voltage converter to the load is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Tadaichi Matsumoto, Atsushi Imai, Tomoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9080639
    Abstract: A driving belt comprising plate elements juxtaposed in its thickness direction and a flat ring fastening the elements annularly. The elements includes at least one adjuster element configured to adjust an endplay as a total of clearances between the adjacent elements in the elements fastened annularly by the ring. The adjuster element comprises an insertion groove opening toward the endplay, and an inserting member inserted into the insertion groove and configured to protrude partially from the insertion groove thereby adjusting the endplay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Harima, Yuji Hattori, Michio Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150167802
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a vehicle is provided. In the power transmission unit, torque is transmitted between an input shaft and an output shaft through a continuously variable transmission and a gear train having an intermediate shaft. The continuously variable transmission adapted to alter a speed ratio continuously is disposed between the input shaft to which a torque of a prime mover is inputted and the output shaft that outputs the torque. The gear train is adapted to establish a speed ratio that cannot be established by the continuously variable transmission, and arranged at a different site from positions of the input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Hirofumi Nakada, Daisuke Kobayashi, Hirotsugu Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20150135894
    Abstract: A power transmission unit including a first clutch device that selectively enables and disables a torque transmitting route from an input shaft to an output shaft via a first gear train to transmit torque therethrough, a dog clutch that switches the torque transmitting route from the input shaft to the output shaft between a continuously variable speed change route in which torque is transmitted through a continuously variable transmission and a reverse route in which torque is transmitted through a second gear train, and a second clutch device that selectively enables and disables both of the continuously variable speed change route and the reverse route to transmit torque to the input shaft or the output shaft. The first clutch device and the second clutch device are separately disposed on any of the input shaft and the output shaft in a manner to be situated at different axial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Michio Yoshida, Hirotsugu Yoshino, Tomoe Osada
  • Patent number: 9034495
    Abstract: A fuel cell system performs control such that when a power requirement for the fuel cell is lower than a predetermined value, a supply of a reaction gas to a fuel cell is stopped to keep an output voltage from the fuel cell equal to a high-potential avoidance voltage that is lower than an open end voltage. The fuel cell system further controls the output voltage from the fuel cell with the high-potential avoidance voltage set to be an upper limit when the power requirement for the fuel cell is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. By setting the upper limit of the output voltage of the fuel cell to be the high-potential avoidance voltage, which is lower than the open end voltage, the catalyst can be inhibited from being degraded by an increase in the output voltage from the fuel cell up to the open end voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Umayahara, Michio Yoshida, Tadaichi Matsumoto, Motohiko Taniyama
  • Patent number: 9017888
    Abstract: The invention prevents a fuel cell from going into a high-voltage state upon activation. In a fuel cell system having a fuel cell, a control unit comprises: a high-voltage-prevention unit that prevents, under a condition permitting high-voltage prevention, a high-voltage state by reducing the output voltage of the fuel cell to less than or equal to a predetermined high-voltage-prevention voltage; an output-limitation unit that limits the fuel cell output by reducing the amount of power generation by the fuel cell to less than or equal to a predetermined power generation limit, so that the oxidizing gas stoichiometric ratio is maintained within a predetermined allowable range; and a prohibition unit that prohibits the limitation by the output limitation unit for a predetermined period of time immediately after the fuel cell is activated and where the condition permitting high-voltage prevention is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michio Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20150107410
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a vehicle including a first clutch device that selectively allows a torque transmitting route from an input shaft to an output shaft via a first gear train to transmit torque therethrough, a dog clutch that switches the torque transmitting route from the input shaft to the output shaft between a continuously variable speed change route in which the torque is transmitted through a continuously variable transmission and a reverse route in which the torque is transmitted through a second gear train, and a second clutch device that connects and disconnects both of the continuously variable speed change route and the reverse route to/from at least any one of the input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Daisuke Kobayashi, Hirotsugu Yoshino, Tomoe Osada, Hirofumi Nakada, Ryoji Habuchi, Yuji Hattori
  • Publication number: 20150087463
    Abstract: There is a vehicle power transmission device in which a continuously variable transmission and a gear train are provided between an input shaft and an output shaft so as to be able to transmit torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, the gear train has at least one speed ratio that cannot be set by the continuously variable transmission. In the vehicle power transmission device, a forward-reverse switching mechanism is arranged along the same axis as an axis of the input shaft, a first clutch mechanism and a brake mechanism are provided, a second clutch mechanism is provided in a first torque transmission path that is routed from the input shaft to the output shaft via the continuously variable transmission, a third clutch mechanism is provided in a second torque transmission path that is routed from the output element to the output shaft via the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Hideki Nakagawa, Michio Yoshida, Hirofumi Nakada, Ryoji Habuchi
  • Publication number: 20150087452
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a vehicle is provided. In the power transmission unit, a continuously variable transmission to alter a speed ratio continuously is disposed between an input shaft to which a torque of a prime mover is inputted and an output shaft rotated by the torque transmitted from the input shaft. A first gear train that transmits the torque to propel the vehicle in the forward direction is arranged parallel to a second gear train that transmits the torque to propelling the vehicle backwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Yoshino, Daisuke Kobayashi, Michio Yoshida, Tomoe Osada
  • Patent number: 8920994
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell and a motor connected to the fuel cell, and also comprising a converter connected between the fuel cell and the motor, the converter adjusting output of the fuel cell to output to the motor, and a controller that controls the fuel cell and the converter. The controller outputs, to the converter, request power or a request voltage based on an operation state of the fuel cell, and the converter selectively performs an output feedback control that performs an adjustment of supply power to be output to the motor such that the output request power is satisfied or a voltage feedback control that performs an adjustment of an output voltage to be output to the motor such that the output request voltage is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8815423
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a secondary cell, a voltage transformer, and a control portion. The control portion charges the secondary cell with surplus electric power at the time of starting the fuel cell, and adjusts voltage of the fuel cell between an open-circuit voltage and a high-potential-avoiding voltage in the case where the secondary cell is expected to become overcharged while the output voltage of the fuel cell is decreased from the open-circuit voltage to the high-potential-avoiding voltage. The foregoing case is at least one of the case where a passage electric power that passes through the voltage transformer exceeds a secondary cell-charging-purpose permitted-to-pass electric power, the case where the input electric power restriction value for the secondary cell is exceeded, and the case where amount of regeneration by the mover that is charged is not restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Atsushi Imai, Tomoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8802310
    Abstract: When a request power for a fuel cell is smaller than a predetermined value, a fuel cell system stops the supply of an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and lowers the output voltage of the fuel cell from a use upper limit voltage to a reduction voltage to perform catalyst activation processing. When the output voltage of the fuel cell lowers to an air blow voltage because of the shortage of the oxidizing gas, the fuel cell system resupplies the oxidizing gas to recover the output voltage of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Umayahara, Tadaichi Matsumoto, Fusaki Igarashi, Michio Yoshida, Kota Manabe
  • Patent number: 8796984
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a secondary cell, and a control portion that controls the amount of electricity generated when the fuel cell is started. A start-time target voltage is set so as to avoid the overcharged state of the secondary cell. A voltage adjustment portion that adjusts the output voltage of the fuel cell between an open-circuit voltage and a high-potential-avoiding voltage adjusts the amount of electricity generated at the time of starting the fuel cell, on the basis of the start-time target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Atsushi Imai
  • Patent number: 8728677
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system which can measure an air blow interval and consider an exceptional condition such as a high-potential-avoiding operation, thereby enabling an accurate judgment of degradation of an electrolyte. An actual air blow time interval is measured while estimating a theoretical air blow time interval when an increase of a hydrogen consumption amount corresponding to a cell voltage in the high-potential-avoiding operation according to an output current by using a relationship table which contains a record of a relationship between a hydrogen consumption amount consumed for maintaining the function of a fuel cell and the air supply time interval varying with the increase of the hydrogen consumption amount. The degradation of the electrolyte of the fuel cell is judged according to whether the measured actual air blow time interval is shorter than the theoretical air blow time interval corresponding to the hydrogen consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Kenji Umayahara