Patents by Inventor Mitsuaki Higa
Mitsuaki Higa 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).
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Patent number: 10914255Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a particulate matter removal filter to remove particulate matter, in an exhaust system, and a control device to control the engine such that the vehicle travels in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a first mode in which both fuel efficiency and ride quality are achieved and a second mode in which the engine is operated at a load higher than a predetermined load. When an accumulation quantity of the particulate matter in the particulate matter removal filter is equal to or more than a threshold, the control device notifies a driver that traveling in the second mode is recommended. When the driver selects the second mode in response to the notification, it is possible to restrain an uncomfortable feeling to be given to the driver, even if the engine is operated at a high load for regenerating the filter.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Shinichi Sugai, Daisuke Itoyama, Tsubasa Migita, Mitsuyori Matsumura
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Patent number: 10836396Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine, a motor and a meter display device. The hybrid vehicle is configured to display a tachometer on the meter display device in response to selection of a sport mode in a CS mode and to display a power meter on the meter display device irrespective of selection of the sport mode in a CD mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mitsuaki Higa
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Publication number: 20190225221Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine, a motor and a meter display device. The hybrid vehicle is configured to display a tachometer on the meter display device in response to selection of a sport mode in a CS mode and to display a power meter on the meter display device irrespective of selection of the sport mode in a CD mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Mitsuaki HIGA
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Publication number: 20180283301Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a particulate matter removal filter to remove particulate matter, in an exhaust system, and a control device to control the engine such that the vehicle travels in a mode selected from a plurality of modes including a first mode in which both fuel efficiency and ride quality are achieved and a second mode in which the engine is operated at a load higher than a predetermined load. When an accumulation quantity of the particulate matter in the particulate matter removal filter is equal to or more than a threshold, the control device notifies a driver that traveling in the second mode is recommended. When the driver selects the second mode in response to the notification, it is possible to restrain an uncomfortable feeling to be given to the driver, even if the engine is operated at a high load for regenerating the filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki HIGA, Shinichi SUGAI, Daisuke ITOYAMA, Tsubasa MIGITA, Mitsuyori MATSUMURA
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Publication number: 20180245492Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine in which a particulate matter removing filter configured to remove particulate matter is disposed in an exhaust system; a motor configured to receive and output power; a driving circuit configured to drive the motor; an electric power storage device that is connected to the driving circuit; and a control unit configured to control the engine and the driving circuit. The control unit is configured, when a high temperature request for increasing a temperature of the particulate matter removing filter to a prescribed value or higher is issued, to control the driving circuit such that a loss of the driving circuit increases and to control the engine such that power greater than power at a time when the high temperature request is not issued is output from the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki HIGA, Shinichi SUGAI, Daisuke ITOYAMA, Tsubasa MIGITA, Mitsuyori MATSUMURA
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Patent number: 9988042Abstract: When an output of a braking force to a driving shaft is needed, and a needed braking force can be output by regenerative drive of the second motor, the engine self-sustainably operates, the regenerative drive of the second motor is performed to cause the second motor to output the needed braking force to the driving shaft. When the needed braking force cannot be output by the regenerative drive of the second motor, the needed braking force is output to the driving shaft by the regenerative drive of the second motor and motoring of the engine that performs fuel cut using the first motor. When a filter regeneration condition is established, an allowable input electric power is set to be lower than that of when the filter regeneration condition is not established.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Shinichi Sugai, Daisuke Itoyama, Mitsuyori Matsumura, Tsubasa Migita
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Publication number: 20180126979Abstract: When an output of a braking force to a driving shaft is needed, and a needed braking force can be output by regenerative drive of the second motor, the engine self-sustainably operates, the regenerative drive of the second motor is performed to cause the second motor to output the needed braking force to the driving shaft. When the needed braking force cannot be output by the regenerative drive of the second motor, the needed braking force is output to the driving shaft by the regenerative drive of the second motor and motoring of the engine that performs fuel cut using the first motor. When a filter regeneration condition is established, an allowable input electric power is set to be lower than that of when the filter regeneration condition is not established.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki HIGA, Shinichi SUGAI, Daisuke ITOYAMA, Mitsuyori MATSUMURA, Tsubasa MIGITA
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Patent number: 9233681Abstract: A hybrid vehicle outputs creep torque by output torque of a second MG. A creep control unit controls creep torque when an accelerator pedal is not operated. The creep control unit controls a creep cut amount defined by a decrement of creep torque when the brake pedal is operated relative to creep torque when the brake pedal is not operated such that the creep cut amount when reverse running is selected is smaller than the creep cut amount when forward running is selected.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Eiji Fukushiro, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9037377Abstract: A vehicle includes a braking force application device that executes braking force holding control which holds braking force irrespective of braking operation by a driver during a stop on a slope; and a control limiting device that limits execution of the braking force holding control when a shift position is set in a neutral position.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20140294600Abstract: A control device for an electric pump, the electric pump pumping a cooling medium, the control device includes a controller configured to determine a presence of an abnormality in the electric pump when a temperature of the cooling medium is higher than a threshold value and the electric pump is locked. The threshold value being predetermined as a temperature that is higher than a freezing point of the cooling medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noritaka TAKUDA, Mitsuaki HIGA, Masashi YOSHIMI
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Publication number: 20140129068Abstract: A hybrid vehicle outputs creep torque by output torque of a second MG. A creep control unit controls creep torque when an accelerator pedal is not operated. The creep control unit controls a creep cut amount defined by a decrement of creep torque when the brake pedal is operated relative to creep torque when the brake pedal is not operated such that the creep cut amount when reverse running is selected is smaller than the creep cut amount when forward running is selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2011Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Eiji Fukushiro, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20120203433Abstract: A vehicle includes a braking force application device that executes braking force holding control which holds braking force irrespective of braking operation by a driver during a stop on a slope; and a control limiting device that limits execution of the braking force holding control when a shift position is set in a neutral position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7854680Abstract: In a power train in which a differential mechanism is coupled with a transmission mechanism, a transmission member is free with no engagement in a second shift portion when a P position or an N position is selected, and a ring gear thereby becomes free in a power split device. During an idle operation with such a shift position, a behavior of an engine rotation speed is retained in a stable manner in the power split device which functions as the differential mechanism through a power supply control (lock control) such that a rotor of a second MG coupled with the ring gear is locked by an electromagnetic force, and then, a learning control of an idle speed control is appropriately implemented.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Sugai, Mitsuaki Higa
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Patent number: 7794356Abstract: When a vehicle speed V is out of a non-rotational synchronizing range, V?Vref1 or Vref2?V, in a neutral state of a transmission set in response to an operation of a gearshift lever to an N (neutral) position during operation of an engine, the engine and a motor MG1 are controlled to make a ring gear shaft rotate at a target rotation speed Nr*, which is expected in response to an operation of the gearshift lever to a D (drive) position or an R (reverse) position, and to enable self-sustained operation of the engine at the greater rotation speed between an idle speed Nidl and a minimum engine speed Nmin calculated from a minimum rotation speed Nm1min of the motor MG1. Such control effectively reduces a potential shock occurring in the case of the operation of the gearshift lever from the N position to the D position or the R position without causing negative overspeed of the motor MG1.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichiro Muta, Mitsuaki Higa, Tomokazu Nomura, Daisuke Suyama
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Patent number: 7575078Abstract: The control procedure of the invention sets a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* of an engine corresponding to a torque demand Td* required for driving the vehicle (steps S100 to S120). In response to an upshift request for a gear of a transmission, the control procedure sets a positive pre-upshift target rotation speed Nmtag to a target rotation speed Nm1* of a first motor (step S230). The control procedure changes the target rotation speed Ne* of the engine to a specific rotation speed corresponding to the pre-upshift target rotation speed Nmtag of the first motor (step S240) and subsequently implements an actual change of the gear in the transmission (step S310). This arrangement effectively restrains a battery from being overcharged with excess electric power.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichiro Muta, Mitsuaki Higa, Yuichiro Kitamura
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Publication number: 20090203495Abstract: When a vehicle speed V is out of a non-rotational synchronizing range, V?Vref1 or Vref2?V, in a neutral state of a transmission set in response to an operation of a gearshift lever to an N (neutral) position during operation of an engine, the engine and a motor MG1 are controlled to make a ring gear shaft rotate at a target rotation speed Nr*, which is expected in response to an operation of the gearshift lever to a D (drive) position or an R (reverse) position, and to enable self-sustained operation of the engine at the greater rotation speed between an idle speed Nidl and a minimum engine speed Nmin calculated from a minimum rotation speed Nm1min of the motor MG1. Such control effectively reduces a potential shock occurring in the case of the operation of the gearshift lever from the N position to the D position or the R position without causing negative overspeed of the motor MG1.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichiro Muta, Mitsuaki Higa, Tomokazu Nomura, Daisuke Suyama
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Publication number: 20080188346Abstract: In a power train in which a differential mechanism is coupled with a transmission mechanism, a transmission member is free with no engagement in a second shift portion when a P position or an N position is selected, and a ring gear thereby becomes free in a power split device. During an idle operation with such a shift position, a behavior of an engine rotation speed is retained in a stable manner in the power split device which functions as the differential mechanism through a power supply control (lock control) such that a rotor of a second MG coupled with the ring gear is locked by an electromagnetic force, and then, a learning control of an idle speed control is appropriately implemented.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinichi Sugai, Mitsuaki Higa
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Publication number: 20080093141Abstract: The control procedure of the invention sets a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* of an engine corresponding to a torque demand Td* required for driving the vehicle (steps S100 to S120). In response to an upshift request for a gear of a transmission, the control procedure sets a positive pre-upshift target rotation speed Nmtag to a target rotation speed Nm1* of a first motor (step S230). The control procedure changes the target rotation speed Ne* of the engine to a specific rotation speed corresponding to the pre-upshift target rotation speed Nmtag of the first motor (step S240) and subsequently implements an actual change of the gear in the transmission (step S310). This arrangement effectively restrains a battery from being overcharged with excess electric power.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koichiro Muta, Mitsuaki Higa, Yuichiro Kitamura