Patents by Inventor Tadashi Tamura
Tadashi Tamura 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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Publication number: 20030130779Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including an automatic transmission which changes a speed of rotation of an input shaft drivingly connected to a driving source and outputs the rotation of the input shaft to an output shaft, and a shift execution device that executes shifting of the automatic transmission, including a shift control device that calculates a predetermined target input shaft rotation number based on road information and vehicle state information, and controls an input shaft rotation number such that the input shaft rotation number becomes equal to the predetermined target input shaft rotation number, by executing shifting of the shift execution device; and a shifting speed setting device that sets a shifting speed, when control based on the road information begins after switching from control based on the vehicle state information by the shift control device, to a predetermined shifting speed such that shifting is executed rapidly, and sets the shifting speed, when shifting needs to be executed durinType: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihiro Shiimado, Kazuomi Okasaka, Yuuji Imanaga, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Hiroji Taniguchi, Fumiharu Ogawa
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Publication number: 20030130780Abstract: A driving force control apparatus for a vehicle includes an accelerator opening sensor that detects an accelerator opening for a vehicle, and an automatic transmission control device that controls an automatic transmission based on road information and the accelerator opening. The automatic transmission control device, in an interval prior to a deceleration required interval, controls an automatic transmission so as to ease a shifting operation that corresponds to a decrease in the accelerator opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihiro Shiimado, Kazuomi Okasaka, Yuuji Imanaga, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Hiroji Taniguchi, Fumiharu Ogawa
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Patent number: 6537179Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus has a pump that supplies operating fluid for performing speed shift control of a power transfer apparatus, and a driving motor that drives the pump. If it is determined that the power transfer apparatus is in a neutral state (N range), it is then determined whether the vehicle is running. If the vehicle is running, it is determined whether the operation speed of the driving motor has reached a speed that allows the pump to produce a predetermined fluid pressure. If that speed has not been reached, the motor operation speed is controlled to the speed that allows the pump to produce the predetermined fluid pressure. The vehicle drive apparatus secures a pressure and a flow of fluid when the power transfer apparatus is operated to the neutral state during the running of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidoshi Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Hiroji Taniguchi, Tetsuo Hamajima
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Patent number: 6514175Abstract: A hydraulic control system including: a rotating speed raising unit for raising the rotating speed of the prime mover while the transmission is not rotated by the prime mover, to increase an output volume of the hydraulic pump; at oil pressure instructor for outputting a plurality of instruction signals of different pressure instruction values to the valve modulating mechanism while the output volume of the hydraulic pump is increased; an oil pressure detector for detecting the oil pressure to be modulated and fed to the transmission, at a plurality of pressure levels; and a learning corrector for learning and correcting the instruction signals on the basis of the outputted pressure instruction value and the detected oil pressure detected.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Ryoji Habuchi, Yuji Hattori, Hiroshi Morioka, Hiroki Kondo
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Patent number: 6461261Abstract: An apparatus and a method control a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle which includes a power transmitting member for power transmission by use of friction. A controller of the apparatus detects slippage of the power transmitting member in a predetermined period of running of the vehicle, and increases a clamping pressure that is applied to the power transmitting member when slippage of the power transmitting member is detected. The controller also stores a state of increase of the clamping pressure in a memory, and increases the clamping pressure applied to the power transmitting member in accordance with a previous state of increase of the clamping pressure that was stored in the memory in a previous period of operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Katsumi Kono, Hiroji Taniguchi
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Patent number: 6459978Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes a controller that controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition. The method and apparatus perform shift control in a specific manner during an operation of an anti-lock brake system, for example, by smoothing at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft, reducing a rate of change in the speed ratio during down shifting, restricting upshifting of the CVT, increasing an amount of hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump, and/or increasing belt clamping force.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Yuji Hattori, Syoichi Sayo
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Patent number: 6450917Abstract: A speed change control system for a continuously variable transmission, for controlling a gear ratio by deciding an abrupt acceleration demand of a driver, to effect an abrupt speed change when it is decided that the driver demands an abrupt acceleration. The speed change control system comprises: a drive state decider for deciding that the vehicle has changed from a driven state to a drive state, when said abrupt acceleration is demanded at the driven state; and a speed change controller for controlling said continuously variable transmission to effect said abrupt speed change, after said drive state decider decides that the vehicle has changed from the driven state to the drive state.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2001Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Isao Takagi, Zenichiro Mashiki, Hirofumi Kubota, Hiroya Tanaka, Shinichi Matani
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Patent number: 6443871Abstract: An apparatus and a method control a belt-type continuously variable transmission of a vehicle having a continuously variable speed ratio, which is a ratio of a rotation speed of an input shaft to a rotation speed of an output shaft. The speed ratio of the transmission is controlled by changing a groove width of each of the pulleys, and a belt clamping pressure applied to at least one of the pulleys to clamp the torque transfer belt also is controlled. Furthermore, the speed ratio of the transmission is set to a low-load speed ratio when it is determined that control of the belt clamping pressure has failed and the belt clamping pressure is raised to a high level. The low-load speed ratio is predetermined so that a load applied to the torque transfer belt is substantially minimized.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morioka, Hiroki Kondo, Ryoji Habuchi
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Patent number: 6425868Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system provides for high density scanning (transmit/receive) of color flow signals. The ultrasound scan sequence of each transmitted and received color flow ultrasound beam is laterally spaced through the imaging field to calculate flow velocities. The color flow beams are transmitted and received only once at each position along the horizontal scanning axis of the imaging field. The scanning technique of the present invention enables a large number of color flow lines to be acquired while keeping a high frame rate. The color line density is comparable to that of a B-mode image. A method of high-speed calculation or a high-speed autocorrelation is also provided to process the greater number of signals generated by the present scanning technique. A time-sharing scanning technique between color flow and B-mode images is also provided to synchronize blood flow and tissue (B-mode) images together.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Aloka Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Tamura
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Publication number: 20020072441Abstract: A shift control apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission device including a continuously variable transmission mechanism having rotary elements and operable to transmit a rotary motion of a drive power source of an automotive vehicle to a drive wheel of the automotive vehicle, such that a speed ratio of said mechanism is continuously variable, the shift control apparatus includes a power-transmission-state determining device for determining whether the mechanism is placed in a non-power-transmitting state, a speed-ratio determining device for determining whether the mechanism is placed in a lowest-speed position, a rotation-stop detecting device for determining whether the rotary elements are at rest, and a compulsory-speed-ratio-change implementing device for effecting a compulsory shift-down action of the mechanism toward the lowest-speed position when the mechanism is placed in the non-power-transmitting state while the mechanism is not placed in the lowest-speed position and while thType: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Inoue, Masami Sugaya, Hideki Yasue, Kunio Morisawa, Katsumi Kono, Tadashi Tamura, Ryoji Habuchi, Hiroji Taniguchi, Kenji Matsuo
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Patent number: 6405115Abstract: A shift control system for a continuously variable transmission, in which a road load on a vehicle is detected, the lower limit speed is set according to the detected road load, in which a target input speed, as set according to the running state of a vehicle, is restricted with the set lower limit speed, and in which the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled so that the actual input speed may be equal to the target input speed restricted. The target input speed is restricted after the actual input speed is more than the lower limit value, when the road load is light, and said target input speed is restricted irrespective of the actual input speed when the road load is heavy.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morioka, Hiroki Kondo, Ryoji Habuchi, Yuji Hattori
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Publication number: 20020014958Abstract: A control apparatus for feedback-controlling an engaging action of a clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission (18) of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engaging force control device is operated upon an engaging action of the clutch, for determining a control amount and feedback-controlling the engaging action on the basis of the determined control amount such that the clutch is placed in a desired state of engagement, and a control amount limiting device is operated to limit the determined control amount when the determined control amount has changed to cause an engaging force of said clutch to be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Inoue, Hideki Yasue, Katsumi Kono, Tadashi Tamura, Hiroji Taniguchi, Kenji Matsuo
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Patent number: 6345221Abstract: A control apparatus is provided in a vehicle equipped with a power source and a continuously variable transmission. The continuously variable transmission is connected to the power source. The control apparatus includes a target power determinator, a target revolutions determinator, a determining device, a setting device and a target torque determinator. The target power determinator determines a target power of the power source. The target revolutions determinator determines target revolutions on the basis of the target power. The determining device determines whether the vehicle is a transient driving condition or not. The setting device sets the target revolutions as setting revolutions when the determining device determines that the vehicle is not in the transient driving condition. The setting device sets revolutions different from the target revolutions as the setting revolutions when the determining device determines that the vehicle is in a transient driving condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Hattori, Kenji Matsuo, Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Tadashi Tamura, Hideki Yasue
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Publication number: 20020011792Abstract: A method and apparatus control an automatic transmission. A controller prohibits a down-shift of the automatic transmission when the input rotation speed of the automatic transmission is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value due to operating characteristics of a device or a plurality of devices installed in a vehicle equipped with the automatic transmission and an engine. Since the down-shift of the automatic transmission is prohibited, when the input rotation speed is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the input rotation speed of the automatic transmission is prevented from being further increased. Consequently, overrun of the engine is effectively avoided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Takashi Inoue, Hiroki Kondo, Yuji Hattori
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Publication number: 20010049319Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus has a pump that supplies operating fluid for performing speed shift control of a power transfer apparatus, and a driving motor that drives the pump. If it is determined that the power transfer apparatus is in a neutral state (N range), it is then determined whether the vehicle is running. If the vehicle is running, it is determined whether the operation speed of the driving motor has reached a speed that allows the pump to produce a predetermined fluid pressure. If that speed has not been reached, the motor operation speed is controlled to the speed that allows the pump to produce the predetermined fluid pressure. The vehicle drive apparatus secures a pressure and a flow of fluid when the power transfer apparatus is operated to the neutral state during the running of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Hiroji Taniguchi, Tetsuo Hamajima
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Publication number: 20010049574Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes a controller that controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition. The method and apparatus perform shift control in a specific manner during an operation of an anti-lock brake system, for example, by smoothing at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft, reducing a rate of change in the speed ratio during downshifting, restricting upshifting of the CVT, increasing an amount of hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump, and/or increasing belt clamping force.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Yuji Hattori, Syoichi Sayo
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Publication number: 20010049316Abstract: An apparatus and a method control a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle which includes a power transmitting member for power transmission by use of friction. A controller of the apparatus detects slippage of the power transmitting member in a predetermined period of running of the vehicle, and increases a clamping pressure that is applied to the power transmitting member when slippage of the power transmitting member is detected. The controller also stores a state of increase of the clamping pressure in a memory, and increases the clamping pressure applied to the power transmitting member in accordance with a previous state of increase of the clamping pressure that was stored in the memory in a previous period of operation of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Katsumi Kono, Hiroji Taniguchi
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Publication number: 20010046911Abstract: An apparatus and a method control a belt-type continuously variable transmission of a vehicle having a continuously variable speed ratio, which is a ratio of a rotation speed of an input shaft to a rotation speed of an output shaft. The speed ratio of the transmission is controlled by changing a groove width of each of the pulleys, and a belt clamping pressure applied to at least one of the pulleys to clamp the torque transfer belt also is controlled. Furthermore, the speed ratio of the transmission is set to a low-load speed ratio when it is determined that control of the belt clamping pressure has failed and the belt clamping pressure is raised to a high level. The low-load speed ratio is predetermined so that a load applied to the torque transfer belt is substantially minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morioka, Hiroki Kondo, Ryoji Habuchi
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Publication number: 20010046924Abstract: When the temperature of operating fluid of an actuator is low, a target input rotation speed lower limit value NinL is set. The lower limit value NinL is greater than a lower limit value set for a normal temperature of operating fluid. A target input rotation speed Nint is calculated from the state of running of a vehicle, such as the amount of operation of an accelerator, the vehicle speed, etc. If the target input rotation speed is lower than the lower limit value NinL, the target input rotation speed is reset to the lower limit value NinL. As a result of a control that includes the above-described steps, the speed ratio &ggr; becomes relatively high before the vehicle stops. Therefore, even if the speed ratio-changing rate is low, the speed ratio &ggr; can be brought to or near a maximum value &ggr;max before the vehicle stops. Thus, reductions in the speed ratio-changing rate caused by low temperature of the operating fluid of the actuator can be curbed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadashi Tamura, Hideki Yasue, Katsumi Kono, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Hiroji Taniguchi, Kenji Matsuo, Yuji Hattori
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Publication number: 20010044686Abstract: A shift control system for a continuously variable transmission, in which a road load on a vehicle is detected, the lower limit speed is set according to the detected road load, in which a target input speed, as set according to the running state of a vehicle, is restricted with the set lower limit speed, and in which the gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission is controlled so that the actual input speed may be equal to the target input speed restricted. The target input speed is restricted after the actual input speed is more than the lower limit value, when the road load is light, and said target input speed is restricted irrespective of the actual input speed when the road load is heavy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morioka, Hiroki Kondo, Ryoji Habuchi, Yuji Hattori