Patents by Inventor Naoki Itazu

Naoki Itazu 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: 8616079
    Abstract: A shift switching control device of a vehicle including a shift switching mechanism that electrically switches a shift position of an automatic transmission with activation of a step motor based on an operation signal indicative of an operating state of an operating device for switching a shift position of the automatic transmission, wherein if a first shift switching control is provided that is determined in advance as shift position switching control giving higher priority to higher output of the step motor rather than responsiveness of switching of a shift position, the shift switching control device of a vehicle drives the step motor in a one-two-phase excitation mode and sets a rotation speed of the step motor to a predetermined first rotation speed, and wherein if a second shift switching control is provided that is determined in advance as shift position switching control giving higher priority to responsiveness of switching of a shift position rather than higher output of the step motor, the shift swi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nozaki, Naoki Itazu
  • Patent number: 8579763
    Abstract: In a shift-by-wire gearshift control apparatus, even if a switching anomaly in which switching between forward and reverse gears is not possible has occurred, transmission of driving power to the output shaft 10 can be interrupted as quickly as possible. In the case of the occurrence of a switching anomaly in which switching from a forward gear stage to a reverse gear stage, or vice versa, is not possible, as a path for draining engaging hydraulic pressure supplied to a frictional engagement element (C1 to C4, B1, B2) involved in establishing the current gear stage, the hydraulic control circuit 4 secures an anomaly drain path (91 or 92) that is shorter than a normal drain path (81, 82 or 83) secured by the hydraulic control circuit 4 during normal switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakade, Naoki Itazu
  • Patent number: 8574128
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicle having a parking lock device 50 which is placed in its released state with a hydraulic pressure generated by an oil pump 58 operated by an engine 26, which control apparatus permits reduction of a risk of unintended releasing of the parking lock device 50 upon occurrence of an operating failure of an ON-OFF switching valve 72 or a switching valve 70 of a hydraulic device 69 provided to supply the hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Naoki Itazu
  • Patent number: 8538642
    Abstract: A range determination apparatus for preventing a shift range from being undefined during speed change states of an automatic transmission with no manual valve. The range determination apparatus includes a gear speed change mechanism and a plurality of friction engagement elements operative to have respective operation states changed between an engagement and a disengagement state. The range determination apparatus is used for automatic transmissions subject to speed changes via a torque transmission path of the gear speed change mechanism changed by the operation states of the friction engagement elements. A real shift range determination is carried out on the basis of the operation states of the friction engagement elements, where a T-ECU is operative to determine a current shift range based on detection results obtained by oil pressure sensors and operation patterns preliminarily memorized when the operation states of the friction engagement elements are not being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8527162
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission prevents friction engagement elements from being kept in an engagement state in accordance with the traveling state of a vehicle when a shift lever is operated to the position where a neutral range is formed, even if the malfunction of a solenoid valves occurs. If the shift range is switched to an N range, an ECU controls an So3 solenoid valve to enter an energized state, and controls a speed change mechanism to enter a non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that vehicle speed V is smaller than an N range forming method changing threshold Vn. The ECU controls an SL1 linear solenoid valve to enter a de-energized state, and controls the speed change mechanism to enter the non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that the vehicle speed V is no less than the N range forming method changing threshold Vn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20120283066
    Abstract: In a shift-by-wire gearshift control apparatus, even if a switching anomaly in which switching between forward and reverse gears is not possible has occurred, transmission of driving power to the output shaft 10 can be interrupted as quickly as possible. In the case of the occurrence of a switching anomaly in which switching from a forward gear stage to a reverse gear stage, or vice versa, is not possible, as a path for draining engaging hydraulic pressure supplied to a frictional engagement element (C1 to C4, B1, B2) involved in establishing the current gear stage, the hydraulic control circuit 4 secures an anomaly drain path (91 or 92) that is shorter than a normal drain path (81, 82 or 83) secured by the hydraulic control circuit 4 during normal switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakade, Naoki Itazu
  • Publication number: 20120234124
    Abstract: A shift switching control device of a vehicle including a shift switching mechanism that electrically switches a shift position of an automatic transmission with activation of a step motor based on an operation signal indicative of an operating state of an operating device for switching a shift position of the automatic transmission, wherein if a first shift switching control is provided that is determined in advance as shift position switching control giving higher priority to higher output of the step motor rather than responsiveness of switching of a shift position, the shift switching control device of a vehicle drives the step motor in a one-two-phase excitation mode and sets a rotation speed of the step motor to a predetermined first rotation speed, and wherein if a second shift switching control is provided that is determined in advance as shift position switching control giving higher priority to responsiveness of switching of a shift position rather than higher output of the step motor, the shift swi
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nozaki, Naoki Itazu
  • Patent number: 8224541
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission that includes a fail-safe function to establish a fail-safe traveling state where a predetermined shift speed is established, and a fail-safe stopping state where the primary pressure to all of the hydraulic servos is cut-off when a failure occurs. The hydraulic control device is able to switch between the fail-safe traveling state and the fail-safe stopping state even after a failure occurs, thereby enhancing a limp-mode function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Yoshioka, Kazuyuki Noda, Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8210990
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for a multi-speed automatic transmission includes friction engagement elements, several hydraulic servos that engage and release the friction engagement elements, solenoid valves for engagement control, and a sorting switch valve that allocates engagement pressure from at least one of the solenoid valves for engagement control to two of the hydraulic servos. The sorting switch is switched between a first position that supplies engagement pressure to one of the two hydraulic servos in at least a Reverse, non-drive range and a specific Forward gear range, and a second position that supplies engagement pressure to the two hydraulic servos in other than the Forward range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Yoshioka, Kazuyuki Noda, Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20110320096
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control apparatus for an automatic transmission which is capable of preventing friction engagement elements from being kept in an engagement state in accordance with the traveling state of a vehicle when a shift lever is operated to the position where an neutral range is formed, even if the malfunction of one or more solenoid valves occurs. In the case where the shift range is switched to an N range (“YES” in the step S11), an ECU controls an So3 solenoid valve to enter an energized state (step S15), and controls a speed change mechanism to enter a non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that vehicle speed V is smaller than an N range forming method changing threshold Vn (“YES” in step S13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20110294622
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicle having a parking lock device 50 which is placed in its released state with a hydraulic pressure generated by an oil pump 58 operated by an engine 26, which control apparatus permits reduction of a risk of unintended releasing of the parking lock device 50 upon occurrence of an operating failure of an ON-OFF switching valve 72 or a switching valve 70 of a hydraulic device 69 provided to supply the hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Naoki Itazu
  • Publication number: 20110190994
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a range determination apparatus of a vehicle which can prevent a shift range from being undefined in the speed change states of an automatic transmission with no manual valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7987959
    Abstract: An actuator for a state changeover element that is actuated in a manner interlocking with the tilting of a tilt member is provided. The actuator is equipped with a rotational power generating portion, an output shaft coaxially and integrally rotatably coupled to a tilt spindle of the tilt member to output a rotational power generated by the rotational power generating portion, a casing that covers the actuator and having an opening for exposing one axial end side of the output shaft to an outside. The actuator is further equipped with a rotational angle limiting unit provided between the output shaft and a wall portion of the casing radially facing the output shaft to physically limit a rotational angle of the output shaft. A range changeover device for an automatic transmission equipped with this actuator and a parking device equipped with this actuator are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20100294066
    Abstract: An operating device (40) for a state-changing element that is an embodiment of the present invention includes a detent mechanism (50) for displacing and positioning displacement members (22, 33) included in a state-changing element (10), an actuator (60) for driving the detent mechanism (50), and a control unit (5) that controls the actuator (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20100082209
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission that includes a fail-safe function to establish a fail-safe traveling state where a predetermined shift speed is established, and a fail-safe stopping state where the primary pressure to all of the hydraulic servos is cut-off when a failure occurs. The hydraulic control device is able to switch between the fail-safe traveling state and the fail-safe stopping state even after a failure occurs, thereby enhancing a limp-mode function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuhei Yoshioka, Kazuyuki Noda, Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20100081546
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for a multi-speed automatic transmission includes friction engagement elements, several hydraulic servos that engage and release the friction engagement elements, solenoid valves for engagement control, and a sorting switch valve that allocates engagement pressure from at least one of the solenoid valves for engagement control to two of the hydraulic servos. The sorting switch is switched between a first position that supplies engagement pressure to one of the two hydraulic servos in at least a Reverse, non-drive range and a specific Forward gear range, and a second position that supplies engagement pressure to the two hydraulic servos in other than the Forward range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuhei YOSHIOKA, Kazuyuki Noda, Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20090038430
    Abstract: An actuator for a state changeover element that is actuated in a manner interlocking with the tilting of a tilt member is provided. The actuator is equipped with a rotational power generating portion, an output shaft coaxially and integrally rotatably coupled to a tilt spindle of the tilt member to output a rotational power generated by the rotational power generating portion, a casing that covers the actuator and having an opening for exposing one axial end side of the output shaft to an outside. The actuator is further equipped with a rotational angle limiting unit provided between the output shaft and a wall portion of the casing radially facing the output shaft to physically limit a rotational angle of the output shaft. A range changeover device for an automatic transmission equipped with this actuator and a parking device equipped with this actuator are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20090000874
    Abstract: A breather device includes a main body that includes a breather chamber with an inner bottom surface; a first communicating portion provided at the main body; a second communicating portion provided at the main body and at a position above the first communicating portion in a vertical direction and away from the first communicating portion in a horizontal direction; and a downward gradient provided at the inner bottom surface of the breather chamber, the downward gradient guides the oil that has entered the breather chamber through the first communicating portion toward the first communicating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okada, Shyusaku Kitamura, Atsushi Nakamura, Naoki Itazu, Toshihiro Fukumasu, Hiromitu Metugi, Masaharu Tanaka