Patents by Inventor Shigeki Shimanaka

Shigeki Shimanaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20040171444
    Abstract: In case information such as an actual gear ratio is not stored in an EEPROM 28 due to a trouble of a backup power source 29 or like when an initialization operation of a step motor 27 is performed at the time of start of a vehicle or during stoppage of the vehicle, an output torque of an engine is limited before the initialization operation. Thereby, even if an accelerator is depressed during the initialization operation of the step motor 27 in which a sufficient primary pulley pressure cannot be ensured, the output torque of the engine is limited, so that torque inputted to a V-belt type continuously variable transmission is small and slippage does not occurs between the primary pulley and a secondary pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20040133318
    Abstract: An abnormal oil pressure reduction determining device has an oil pressure sensor which detects a real oil pressure, a sensor which detects a vehicle running state, and a controller which sets an oil pressure command value for an oil pressure control mechanism. The controller computes the lower limiting oil pressure which is possible in the present vehicle running state, and when the real oil pressure is less than this lower limiting oil pressure and the pressure difference between the real oil pressure and oil pressure command value exceeds a reference value, determines that there is an abnormal pressure reduction due to a fault in the oil pressure control mechanism. Even if the oil pressure of the transmission has dropped abnormally due to some reason, the abnormal oil pressure reduction determining device determines the situation without fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Jihoon Kang, Yasutaka Kawamura, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Donggyun Park, Hirofumi Okahara
  • Publication number: 20040127313
    Abstract: During a downshift of a belt-drive continuously variable transmission, occurring owing to vehicle deceleration, a CVT controller foretells that a slippage between a drive belt and each of primary and secondary variable-width pulleys tends to occur, when a primary pulley pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure level and a primary pulley speed is less than a first predetermined rotational speed. When the belt slippage has been foretold, the CVT controller inhibits the primary pulley pressure from dropping by setting an actual transmission ratio calculated before a set time period from a time when the slippage has been foretold or a transmission ratio of a relatively higher speed side as compared with a ratio-change operating state obtained when the slippage has been foretold, to a desired transmission ratio, or by relatively rising a line pressure as compared with a line pressure level produced when the slippage has been foretold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Youhei Ishikawa, Tatsuo Wakahara, Yoshihisa Kodama, Hideki Oshita
  • Publication number: 20040116244
    Abstract: A system for controlling a V-belt type CVT is constructed to change a first position of a step motor to a second position of the step motor corresponding to a second target shift ratio if it is determined that the primary-pulley pressure fails to reach a predetermined value. The second target shift ratio is on the high-speed side with respect to a third position of the step motor corresponding to a third target shift ratio to be achieved if it is determined that the primary-pulley pressure reaches the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Katsumi Doihara
  • Publication number: 20040110599
    Abstract: A speed change ratio control unit for a continuously variable transmission that uses a step motor as a driving actuator of a speed change control valve comprising a step-out determination means that compares a variable (ASTP) representing a step position of the step motor and a step position (BSTP) of the step motor that is necessary for realizing a desired speed change ratio at every predetermined operation cycle, and if ASTP≠BSTP is satisfied determines that a step-out has occurred on the step motor; a step-out correction means (S17d,S17f) that when a step-out is determined by the step-out determination means (S17b) corrects the ASTP so as to reduce a difference between the ASTP and the BSTP; and a drive means for driving the step motor using the corrected ASTP. The speed change ratio control unit for a continuously variable transmission is provided that can detect and correct a step-out at any speed change ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tateki Jozaki, Shigeru Ishii, Tatsuo Wakahara, Masahiro Yamamoto, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Midori Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040063537
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, the vehicle having a continuously variable transmission associated with a vehicular engine and including a belt that transmits a revolution of a primary pulley to a secondary pulley that is enabled to make a gear shift by modifying a pulley ratio between the primary and secondary pulleys with a hydraulic, a determination is made as to whether a belt slip between at least one of the primary and the secondary pulleys occurs and an output section outputs a signal to command an engine control unit to increase an engine speed by a predetermined engine speed when the belt slip is determined to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd and NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Masahiro Iriyama, Kenichi Gotou, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Tatsuo Wakahara, Hisao Nobu
  • Patent number: 6679808
    Abstract: A starting shift control system for a continuously variable transmission is provided which includes a control unit having a high start judgment device for judging whether or not a high start in a high speed side gear ratio is caused on the basis of a comparison between the generated number of the input rotation pulses and the generated number of the output rotation pulses from the time a first vehicle starting operation is performed after start of a prime mover, and a high start control device for restricting downshifting from the high speed side gear ratio to a target gear ratio when a start of the vehicle is judged to be the high start. A starting shift control method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Jatco LTD
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Junya Takayama, Satoshi Takizawa, Masato Koga, Takayuki Suzuki, Takashi Hara
  • Publication number: 20030135316
    Abstract: A shift control system of a toroidal CVT for a vehicle is arranged to calculate a command gear ratio by adding a desired gear ratio and a torque shift compensation quantity for compensating a difference between the desired gear ratio and an actual gear ratio which difference is generated by a shifting operation of the toroidal CVT, and to set a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in an automatic shift range to be larger than a magnitude of the torque shift compensation quantity employed in other shift range except for the automatic shift range when the actual gear ratio is in a first gear ratio region except for a second gear ratio region including a largest gear ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kawamura, Shigeki Shimanaka, Masaki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030064855
    Abstract: A shift control system for a vehicle automatic transmission includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a first control means normally performs a shift control of the transmission so that a target speed ratio of the transmission is achieved, which is determined based at least on a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor. The shift control system further includes a second control means that properly performs shift control of the transmission when the vehicle speed sensor is in trouble, by generating a command for holding or changing a current speed ratio based on an input rotation speed of the transmission and/or driver's accelerating or decelerating operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Satoshi Takizawa, Masatoshi Akanuma, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6537178
    Abstract: After an engine (1) has started, a controller (6) starts determining whether lockup should be prohibited or permitted based on the cooling water temperature of an engine (1) or the oil temperature of a transmission (2). Once it has been determined that lockup should be permitted, the controller (6) stops determining whether lockup should be prohibited or permitted until the next time the engine (1) is started. In this way, once the conditions for determining that lockup should be permitted hold, lockup prohibition or permission based on the engine cooling water temperature or transmission oil temperature is no longer determined, so repeat engaging and disengaging of the lockup clutch (5) due to fluctuations of engine cooling water temperature or transmission oil temperature, is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takizawa, Tateki Jozaki, Masato Koga, Masatoshi Akanuma, Mitsuru Watanabe, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6505139
    Abstract: The vehicle comprises a continuously variable transmission and traction control system (TCS) which controls a driving force. When the TCS is not operating, a controller computes a final target ratio based on a sensor detected vehicle speed. When the TCS is operating, the final target ratio is computed based on an estimated vehicle speed, and the final target ratio is limited by a speed ratio upper limiting value computed based on the sensor detected vehicle speed. The controller controls a speed change actuator so that a real speed ratio approaches the final target ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Koga, Mitsuru Watanabe, Satoshi Takizawa, Masatoshi Akanuma, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6478712
    Abstract: An alarm is emitted when a vehicle attempts to start when the speed ratio of a toroidal continuously variable transmission is small. A sensor (63. 67. 73) detects that the speed ratio is smaller than a predetermined range. A microprocessor (61) controls an alarm (68) to operate when an ignition switch (66) is in a position for starting an engine, while the speed ratio is smaller than the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Kawamura, Masato Koga, Masatoshi Akanuma, Mitsuru Watanabe, Satoshi Takizawa, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6442466
    Abstract: A first switch (2) which can select a manual mode, and a second switch (5, 6) which can select one of an upshift and a downshift, are provided. A microprocessor (1) varies a speed ratio of an automatic transmission (10) according to the specification of the second switch (5, 6) when the first switch (2) has previously selected the manual mode, and the second switch (5, 6) subsequently specifies one of the upshift and the downshift (S20, S21, S33, S40, S41, S34, S36, S37, S53, S54, S55). On the other hand, variation of the speed ratio of the automatic transmission (10) according to the specification of the second switch (5, 6) is prohibited when the second switch (5,6) specifies one of the upshift and the downshift at a timing not later than a timing at which the manual mode is selected by the first switch (2) (S20, S22, S33, S40, S38, S34, S36, S38, S53, S54, S56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Akanuma, Mitsuru Watanabe, Masato Koga, Satoshi Takizawa, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6398691
    Abstract: A speed change control device for an automatic transmission wherein the speed ratio is automatically varied according to a running state when an automatic shift mode is selected, and the speed ratio is varied based on a manual operation when the manual shift mode is selected. When there is a change-over from the automatic shift mode to the manual shift mode, a speed ratio immediately after the change-over is set to a speed ratio such that a transmission input rotation speed after the change-over increases by at least a predetermined rotation speed compared to the transmission input rotation speed before the change-over. In this way, the effectiveness of engine braking is enhanced immediately after a change-over to the manual shift mode, or a downshift for acceleration can be definitively performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takizawa, Masato Koga, Masatoshi Akanuma, Mitsuru Watanabe, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6370468
    Abstract: When a slip control system starts operating, a vehicle speed VSP used for speed change control is simultaneously changed over from a sensor detected vehicle speed VSPSEN to an estimated vehicle speed VSPFL. On the other hand, when the slip control system has stopped, it is first determined whether a speed ratio variation amount, due to the change-over of the vehicle speed used for speed change control from the estimated vehicle speed VSPFL to the sensor detected vehicle speed VSPSEN, is less than a permissible amount. When it is determined that the speed ratio variation amount is smaller than the permissible amount, the vehicle speed used for speed change control is changed over from the estimated vehicle speed VSPFL to the sensor detected vehicle speed VSPSEN. By performing this change-over, a sharp variation of the vehicle speed used for speed change control is suppressed, and a sharp variation of the speed ratio leading to shocks or slipping is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Koga, Mitsuru Watanabe, Satoshi Takizawa, Masatoshi Akanuma, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Publication number: 20020037791
    Abstract: A starting shift control system for a continuously variable transmission is provided which includes a control unit having a high start judgement device for judging whether or not a high start in a high speed side gear ratio is caused on the basis of a comparison between the generated number of the input rotation pulses and the generated number of the output rotation pulses from the time a first vehicle starting operation is performed after start of a prime mover, and a high start control device for restricting downshifting from the high speed side gear ratio to a target gear ratio when a start of the vehicle is judged to be the high start. A starting shift control method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: JATCO TRANSTECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Junya Takayama, Satoshi Takizawa, Masato Koga, Takayuki Suzuki, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 6347270
    Abstract: A controller determines whether or not the vehicle dynamics controller is operating, and when it is determined that it is operating, a speed change operation by an actuator which changes over a gear position of the automatic transmission is prohibited. This speed change prohibition is continued for a predetermined time even when the vehicle dynamics controller has stopped. In this way, control performance of the vehicle dynamics controller is prevented from becoming unstable due to a speed change of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takizawa, Masato Koga, Masatoshi Akanuma, Mitsuru Watanabe, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6345223
    Abstract: A lock-up torque converter is equipped with a lock-up clutch. The lockup clutch may engage even when the vehicle is coasting (lock-up coasting). When an accelerator pedal is depressed in a stepwise manner during lock-up coasting, the lock-up clutch is temporarily disengaged. By setting the threshold value used for determination so that it is easier to determine that the accelerator pedal was depressed in a stepwise manner the lower the vehicle speed, the dual objectives of vibration suppression of the drive system and improvement of fuel cost-performance are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Takizawa, Masato Koga, Mitsuru Watanabe, Masatoshi Akanuma, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6345226
    Abstract: When a slip control system is not operating, a speed ratio control device uses a sensor detected vehicle speed for speed ratio control, and when the slip control system is operating, it uses an estimated vehicle speed for speed ratio control. It is determined whether a variation amount of the estimated vehicle speed is greater than a threshold set to a variation amount which could not be obtained when there is no error. When the variation amount of the estimated vehicle speed is greater than the threshold, it is determined that the estimated vehicle speed is abnormal, and use of the estimated vehicle speed for speed ratio control is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Koga, Mitsuru Watanabe, Satoshi Takizawa, Masatoshi Akanuma, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Junya Takayama
  • Patent number: 6138070
    Abstract: A controller for a continuously variable transmission of a vehicle sets a command speed ratio so that a real speed ratio approaches a target speed ratio which is set according to running conditions including throttle opening. When an upshift is performed, this controller determines, from the variation of throttle opening, whether the upshift is due to a decrease in throttle opening or whether it is another type of upshift. When it is determined that the upshift is due to throttle opening decrease, a response rate of the command speed ratio relative to the target speed ratio immediately after start of speed change is temporarily increased, and subsequently slowly decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Shimanaka, Toshiji Iida