Patents by Inventor Seiji Kuwahara

Seiji Kuwahara 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: 11225147
    Abstract: In a drive unit for four-wheel drive vehicle that allows a motor for driving front wheels to be easily installed, a torque of an engine is transmitted to a rear wheel axle via a transmission and a rear propeller shaft, and a torque of a front drive motor is transmitted to a front wheel axle via a front propeller shaft. A front drive unit is disposed between the transmission and the rear wheel axle. A case of the front drive unit houses: a main shaft that transmits to the rear propeller shaft an output torque of the transmission; the front drive motor; and a sub-shaft that is disposed in a position shifted in a vehicle width direction with respect to the main shaft and transmits to the front propeller shaft an output torque of the front drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Norifumi Takada
  • Patent number: 11198367
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle including: an engine longitudinally positioned on a front side of a vehicle body; a first motor; a rear wheel to which output torque of the engine and the first motor is transmitted to generate driving power; a second motor; and a front wheel to which output torque of the second motor is transmitted to generate driving power. Both the first motor and the second motor are disposed between the engine and an automatic transmission, coaxially with the engine and the automatic transmission. A power transmission mechanism that increases or decreases the driving power of the front wheel is provided. The second motor is coupled to the power transmission mechanism without being coupled to the engine and the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Habata, Seiji Kuwahara, Akira Ijichi
  • Patent number: 11046169
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive hybrid vehicle, in which all wheels are driven by an engine, and in which a spatial restriction to arrange a front motor is reduced. The hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine disposed on a side of front wheels; a first motor; an exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust gas from a rear side of the vehicle; a first propeller shaft that delivers output power of the engine to rear wheels; a transfer that distributes the output power of the engine to the front wheels; a second propeller shaft that delivers a drive force from the transfer to the front wheels; and a second motor that applies torque to the front wheels. The second propeller shaft is arranged on the other side of the exhaust pipe across the first propeller shaft while being connected to the second propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10787072
    Abstract: A vehicular control system for reducing shocks by inhibiting switching operation of a dog clutch when drive force cannot be assisted by an engine. A controller determines that an increase in the drive force by the engine is restricted. In a case that an increase in the drive force is not restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a first gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle, and shift to the second gear stage upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition during propulsion while increasing the drive force. In a case that an increase in the drive force is restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a second gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norifumi Takada, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10703368
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle without having a torque converter that can be launched rapidly and accelerated sharply in a WOT condition. The hybrid vehicle comprises a motor operated by an engine torque to generate electricity, and a clutch for selectively transmitting power between the first motor and drive wheels. The hybrid vehicle is launched by engaging the clutch to deliver the engine torque to the drive wheels. A torque absorbing control is executed to reduce the engine torque delivered to the clutch by operating the motor by the torque of the engine, when the clutch is disengaged and an accelerator pedal is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku Segawa, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Publication number: 20200062128
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle including: an engine longitudinally positioned on a front side of a vehicle body; a first motor; a rear wheel to which output torque of the engine and the first motor is transmitted to generate driving power; a second motor; and a front wheel to which output torque of the second motor is transmitted to generate driving power. Both the first motor and the second motor are disposed between the engine and an automatic transmission, coaxially with the engine and the automatic transmission. A power transmission mechanism that increases or decreases the driving power of the front wheel is provided. The second motor is coupled to the power transmission mechanism without being coupled to the engine and the automatic transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei HABATA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Akira IJICHI
  • Patent number: 10513253
    Abstract: A shift control device is configured to control switching between shift stages in a multi-stage automatic transmission such that a gear ratio selected at a predetermined vehicle speed and selected in a regenerative traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to an EV traveling mode becomes greater than a gear ratio selected at the predetermined vehicle speed and selected in an HV traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to the EV traveling mode, and is configured to control the switching between the shift stages such that a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the regenerative traveling mode to the EV traveling mode is greater than a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the HV traveling mode to the EV traveling mode under the same vehicle speed and parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Yusuke Suzuki, Naoki Nakanishi, Kunihiko Usui
  • Publication number: 20190299766
    Abstract: A vehicular control system for reducing shocks by inhibiting switching operation of a dog clutch when drive force cannot be assisted by an engine. A controller determines that an increase in the drive force by the engine is restricted. In a case that an increase in the drive force is not restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a first gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle, and shift to the second gear stage upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition during propulsion while increasing the drive force. In a case that an increase in the drive force is restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a second gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norifumi TAKADA, Seiji KUWAHARA
  • Patent number: 10295001
    Abstract: A control device of a lock-up clutch according to the disclosure is mounted on a vehicle including an engine, a transmission, a fluid-type power transmitting device interposed between the engine and the transmission, and the lock-up clutch provided on the fluid-type power transmitting device. The control device includes: a controller configured to slip-engage the lock-up clutch when accelerator opening of the vehicle changes in an accelerating direction, and configured to make a slip-engagement amount larger when a state of the fluid-type power transmitting device when the accelerator opening of the vehicle changes in the accelerating direction is a driven state than the slip-engagement amount when the state of the fluid-type power transmitting device is a driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Ando, Seiji Kuwahara, Seiji Masunaga, Tsubasa Kato, Yuki Aratsu
  • Publication number: 20190077268
    Abstract: In a drive unit for four-wheel drive vehicle that allows a motor for driving front wheels to be easily installed, a torque of an engine is transmitted to a rear wheel axle via a transmission and a rear propeller shaft, and a torque of a front drive motor is transmitted to a front wheel axle via a front propeller shaft. A front drive unit is disposed between the transmission and the rear wheel axle. A case of the front drive unit houses: a main shaft that transmits to the rear propeller shaft an output torque of the transmission; the front drive motor; and a sub-shaft that is disposed in a position shifted in a vehicle width direction with respect to the main shaft and transmits to the front propeller shaft an output torque of the front drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji KUWAHARA, Norifumi TAKADA
  • Publication number: 20190009781
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle without having a torque converter that can be launched rapidly and accelerated sharply in a WOT condition. The hybrid vehicle comprises a motor operated by an engine torque to generate electricity, and a clutch for selectively transmitting power between the first motor and drive wheels. The hybrid vehicle is launched by engaging the clutch to deliver the engine torque to the drive wheels. A torque absorbing control is executed to reduce the engine torque delivered to the clutch by operating the motor by the torque of the engine, when the clutch is disengaged and an accelerator pedal is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku SEGAWA, Seiji KUWAHARA
  • Publication number: 20180304738
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive hybrid vehicle, in which all wheels are driven by an engine, and in which a spatial restriction to arrange a front motor is reduced. The hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine disposed on a side of front wheels; a first motor; an exhaust pipe for discharging exhaust gas from a rear side of the vehicle; a first propeller shaft that delivers output power of the engine to rear wheels; a transfer that distributes the output power of the engine to the front wheels; a second propeller shaft that delivers a drive force from the transfer to the front wheels; and a second motor that applies torque to the front wheels. The second propeller shaft is arranged on the other side of the exhaust pipe across the first propeller shaft while being connected to the second propeller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji KUWAHARA
  • Patent number: 10093300
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to reduce shocks under an autonomous mode is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to select an operating mode of a vehicle from a manual mode in which a driving force and a braking force are controlled manually by a driver, and an autonomous mode in which the driving force and the braking force are controlled autonomously. A controller is configured to execute a fuel cut-off control, and a threshold selected under the autonomous mode is set in such a manner as to terminate the fuel cut-off control earlier than under the manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Kazumi Hoshiya, Norimi Asahara, Yoshio Ito, Takahito Endo, Tadashi Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10040457
    Abstract: A driving force control system of a vehicle installed with an automatic transmission that transmits torque generated by an engine to drive wheels while changing the speed is provided for controlling driving force based on the vehicle speed and the accelerator operation amount. In the driving force control, an acceleration characteristic that defines the relationship between re-acceleration-time acceleration as a control index used when the vehicle travels while being re-accelerated after deceleration traveling, and the vehicle speed, is stored, and the re-acceleration-time acceleration corresponding to the current vehicle speed is obtained, based on traveling data of the vehicle obtained before the deceleration traveling, and the acceleration characteristic. Then, the speed ratio of the automatic transmission which can realize the obtained re-acceleration-time acceleration is set, before the re-acceleration traveling is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10012269
    Abstract: A meshing-type engagement device includes a first member, a second member, a pressing mechanism, and a reaction force mechanism. The first member is provided with a plurality of first dog teeth. The second member is provided with a plurality of second dog teeth. The pressing mechanism is configured to press the first member to the second member side. The reaction force mechanism is configured to generate a reaction force with respect to a pressing force pressing the first member for the first dog teeth and the second dog teeth to mesh with each other such that the amount of increase in the reaction force with respect to a movement of the first member is larger at a position further on the second member side than a predetermined position compared to the amount of increase to the predetermined position when the first member is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Yoshino, Motoki Tabuchi, Takaho Kawakami, Seiji Kuwahara, Isamu Shiotsu
  • Publication number: 20180178776
    Abstract: A shift control device is configured to control switching between shift stages in a multi-stage automatic transmission such that a gear ratio selected at a predetermined vehicle speed and selected in a regenerative traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to an EV traveling mode becomes greater than a gear ratio selected at the predetermined vehicle speed and selected in an HV traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to the EV traveling mode, and is configured to control the switching between the shift stages such that a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the regenerative traveling mode to the EV traveling mode is greater than a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the HV traveling mode to the EV traveling mode under the same vehicle speed and parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji KUWAHARA, Yusuke SUZUKI, Naoki NAKANISHI, Kunihiko USUI
  • Patent number: 9981664
    Abstract: A control device includes a controller configured to perform control to increase a rotational speed of a power source when a brake is stepped on and accelerator opening becomes a predetermined value or larger while a vehicle stops, and thereafter, when the brake is stepped off, engage a plurality of engaging units to transmit a power, and start the vehicle. The controller includes: a parameter obtaining unit configured to obtain a parameter indicating requested acceleration when the vehicle starts; and a slip control unit configured to perform slip control on at least one of the plurality of engaging units such that difference in rotational speed occurs between frictionally engaging elements and set number of engaging units on which the slip control is performed according to a value of the obtained parameter when the vehicle starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Masunaga, Seiji Kuwahara, Takayuki Ando, Yuki Aratsu
  • Patent number: 9976604
    Abstract: A translational force Fh to one side in a rotational axis direction is caused to act from a hydraulic piston to a sleeve when an engaged stage between an engagement tooth and an engaged tooth is maintained, so that translation of the sleeve to the other side in the rotational axis direction and consequent disengagement of the engagement tooth and the engaged tooth can be prevented. Therefore, the engaged state between the engagement member and the engaged member can be stably maintained regardless of the condition of the torque acting from the drive source to the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isamu Shiotsu, Hirotsugu Yoshino, Motoki Tabuchi, Fusahiro Tsukano, Takaho Kawakami, Atsushi Honda, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9975556
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a transmission and an engine configured to input a torque into the transmission. The transmission has multiple transmission stages and includes a first engagement mechanism and a second engagement mechanism. The control device includes an ECU configured to: (a) control the second engagement mechanism when a second transmission stage is set such that the capacity of torque transmission of the second engagement mechanism is increased and a thrust for separating a first member and a second member of the first engagement mechanism from each other in an axial direction is generated; (b) calculate a decrement in an output torque of the transmission when the capacity of torque transmission of the second engagement mechanism is increased; and (c) increase a torque input into the transmission by the engine based on the decrement in the output torque by controlling the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Seiji Masunaga, Takayuki Ando, Yuki Aratsu, Hirotsugu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9915342
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes an ECU. The ECU stores a N?1 speed downshift/a N?2 speed downshift/a N?1 speed upshift/and a hysteresis lines. The hysteresis line is a predetermined distance above the N?1 speed upshift line, and is below the N?2 speed downshift line. The ECU controls the speed of the automatic transmission based on a quantity of state of a vehicle, and the plurality of stored shift lines, and execute, when an N speed is established, a first downshift that changes a speed from the N speed to an N?2 speed, when the quantity of state of the vehicle is in a region above the hysteresis line, after the quantity of state of the vehicle has risen above the N?1 speed downshift line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koshiro Kosaka, Seiji Kuwahara, Takahiro Kondo