Patents by Inventor Tadayuki Nagai
Tadayuki Nagai 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: 9829092Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a change gear ratio changing circuit configured to execute an up-shift of a change gear ratio in an automatic transmission; a change gear ratio determination circuit configured to determine whether or not an up-shift condition is satisfied based on a change gear diagrammatic view; a combustion mode determination circuit configured to determine whether or not a switching condition for switching from a predetermined combustion mode, in which an air-fuel ratio of the engine is an air-fuel ratio on a rich side than a lean air-fuel ratio, to a supercharged lean combustion mode, in which the air-fuel ratio of an engine is made to the lean air-fuel ratio while executing supercharging by a supercharger, is satisfied; and a change regulating circuit configured to regulate the change gear ratio changing circuit to execute the up-shift at the time both conditions are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Masami Kondo
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Patent number: 9644550Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an engine having a turbocharger and an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: control an air-fuel ratio of the engine and an operating state of the turbocharger based on a parameter indicating a load of the engine; control the turbocharger to execute turbocharging and operate the engine in a turbocharging lean combustion mode when the parameter is within a predetermined range, an air-fuel ratio set in the turbocharging lean combustion mode being a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio; and operate the engine in a predetermined operation mode instead of the turbocharging lean combustion mode in at least a part of the predetermined range when a downshift is performed in the automatic transmission, an air-fuel ratio set in the predetermined operation mode being a richer air-fuel ratio than the predetermined lean air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Masami Kondo
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Patent number: 9605609Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an engine having a turbocharger and an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: control an air-fuel ratio of the engine and an operating state of the turbocharger based on a parameter indicating a load of the engine; control the turbocharger to execute turbocharging and operate the engine in a turbocharging lean combustion mode when the parameter is within a predetermined range, an air-fuel ratio set in the turbocharging lean combustion mode being a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio; and operate the engine in a predetermined operation mode instead of the turbocharging lean combustion mode in at least a part of the predetermined range when a downshift is performed in the automatic transmission, an air-fuel ratio set in the predetermined operation mode being a richer air-fuel ratio than the predetermined lean air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Masami Kondo
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Publication number: 20160061317Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a change gear ratio changing circuit configured to execute an up-shift of a change gear ratio in an automatic transmission; a change gear ratio determination circuit configured to determine whether or not an up-shift condition is satisfied based on a change gear diagrammatic view; a combustion mode determination circuit configured to determine whether or not a switching condition for switching from a predetermined combustion mode, in which an air-fuel ratio of the engine is an air-fuel ratio on a rich side than a lean air-fuel ratio, to a supercharged lean combustion mode, in which the air-fuel ratio of an engine is made to the lean air-fuel ratio while executing supercharging by a supercharger, is satisfied; and a change regulating circuit configured to regulate the change gear ratio changing circuit to execute the up-shift at the time both conditions are satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki NAGAI, Masami KONDO
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Publication number: 20150361906Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an engine having a turbocharger and an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: control an air-fuel ratio of the engine and an operating state of the turbocharger based on a parameter indicating a load of the engine; control the turbocharger to execute turbocharging and operate the engine in a turbocharging lean combustion mode when the parameter is within a predetermined range, an air-fuel ratio set in the turbocharging lean combustion mode being a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio; and operate the engine in a predetermined operation mode instead of the turbocharging lean combustion mode in at least a part of the predetermined range when a downshift is performed in the automatic transmission, an air-fuel ratio set in the predetermined operation mode being a richer air-fuel ratio than the predetermined lean air-fuel ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki NAGAI, Masami Kondo
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Patent number: 8600632Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus (100) for controlling a vehicle (10) provided, as a drive system, with: an internal combustion engine (200) in which a compression ratio is variable; and a transmission (500) which has a torque converter (300) and a lockup mechanism (400) between an input shaft and an engine output shaft (205) of the internal combustion engine and which can change a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed (Nout) of an output shaft coupled with an axle, is provided with: a first controlling device for changing an operating state of the lockup mechanism in accordance with an operating condition of the vehicle; and a second controlling device for changing the compression ratio in at least one portion of a case where the operating state is changed.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 8485940Abstract: A power control device includes: an engine control unit and a transmission control unit provided so as to control power of the engine, and configured such that if an actual operating point, which is an operating point indicating a combination of actual revolution speed and torque of the engine, is located in a non-supercharging region and a final target operating point, which serves as a target operating point during acceleration, is located in a supercharging region, the revolution speed of the engine is increased until the actual operating point is shifted into the supercharging region, and the revolution speed of the engine is decreased after the actual operating point has entered the supercharging region, thereby shifting the actual operating point into the final target operating point when accelerating the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadayuki Nagai
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Publication number: 20120035816Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus (100) for controlling a vehicle (10) provided, as a drive system, with: an internal combustion engine (200) in which a compression ratio is variable; and a transmission (500) which has a torque converter (300) and a lockup mechanism (400) between an input shaft and an engine output shaft (205) of the internal combustion engine and which can change a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed (Nout) of an output shaft coupled with an axle, is provided with: a first controlling device for changing an operating state of the lockup mechanism in accordance with an operating condition of the vehicle; and a second controlling device for changing the compression ratio in at least one portion of a case where the operating state is changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tadayuki Nagai
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Publication number: 20120035017Abstract: A power control device includes: an engine control unit and a transmission control unit provided so as to control power of the engine, and configured such that if an actual operating point, which is an operating point indicating a combination of actual revolution speed and torque of the engine, is located in a non-supercharging region and a final target operating point, which serves as a target operating point during acceleration, is located in a supercharging region, the revolution speed of the engine is increased until the actual operating point is shifted into the supercharging region, and the revolution speed of the engine is decreased after the actual operating point has entered the supercharging region, thereby shifting the actual operating point into the final target operating point when accelerating the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7536248Abstract: A take-off control apparatus and method is provided for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control that releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, and executes a neutral cancellation control that cancels the neutral control when a different predetermined condition is satisfied. The take-off control apparatus and method detects an engine speed and calculates an apply hydraulic pressure of the apply element during cancellation of the neutral control based on a fluctuation in the engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tooru Matsubara
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Patent number: 7359784Abstract: A control apparatus and a control method for an automatic transmission installed in a vehicle, which detect an inclination of a road on which the vehicle is running; calculate actual torque of an engine installed in the vehicle; store reference torque of the engine; correct an inclination threshold value based on the actual torque and the reference torque and make a determination on whether ascending slope control or descending slope control needs to be performed in the vehicle based on the detected inclination of the road and the corrected inclination threshold value; and control the automatic transmission to perform the ascending slope control or the descending slope control based on the result of the determination. Thus, the control apparatus and the control method make an accurate determination on an ascending slope in a highland area, and accurately perform the ascending slope control or the descending slope control.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Murasugi, Tooru Matsubara, Tadayuki Nagai, Katsumi Nakatani
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Publication number: 20080076633Abstract: A take-off control apparatus and method is provided for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control that releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, and executes a neutral cancellation control that cancels the neutral control when a different predetermined condition is satisfied. The take-off control apparatus and method detects an engine speed and calculates an apply hydraulic pressure of the apply element during cancellation of the neutral control based on a fluctuation in the engine speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tooru Matsubara
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Patent number: 7328094Abstract: A take-off control apparatus and method is provided for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control that releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, and executes a neutral cancellation control that cancels the neutral control when a different predetermined condition is satisfied. The take-off control apparatus and method detects an engine speed and calculates an apply hydraulic pressure of the apply element during cancellation of the neutral control based on a fluctuation in the engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tooru Matsubara
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Patent number: 7325665Abstract: The ECT_ECU performs a step of determining that an ON failure has occurred in a depressing force switch when the depressing force switch is turned ON while a brake lamp switch is OFF, and setting a flag F; a step of determining whether the brake lamp switch, which is turned OFF at a position on a release side with respect to a depressing force switch setting position, has been turned OFF, when the flag F has been set; and a step of increasing commanded pressure for engaging an input clutch as rapidly as possible, when the brake lamp switch has been turned OFF.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Kamishima, Takanori Sakamoto, Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7149616Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control which releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, includes a controller that detects a target idle speed of an engine and determines whether the neutral control can be executed based on the target idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tooru Matsubara, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7146262Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control which releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, includes a controller that detects a target idle speed of an engine and determines whether the neutral control can be executed based on the target idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tooru Matsubara, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7134538Abstract: A take-off control apparatus and method is provided for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control that releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, and executes a neutral cancellation control that cancels the neutral control when a different predetermined condition is satisfied. A braking state of the vehicle is detected, and completion of cancellation of the neutral control is determined based on the detected braking state.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshio Hasegawa, Tooru Matsubara, Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7108633Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, a return control is executed to engage a clutch that has had its engagement pressure lowered and to disengage a brake so as to resume the state of the automatic transmission from the neutral state under a neutral control to the one where the forward speed is established. As the time for the neutral control becomes longer, the decrease in the torque of an output shaft of the automatic transmission becomes gentler. Accordingly an initial value of a control command value for the clutch pressure is decreased with the increase in the neutral control time such that the engagement of the clutch becomes gentler.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshio Hasegawa, Tooru Matsubara, Tadayuki Nagai
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Patent number: 7048671Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for an engine able to control at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve via a driving mechanism actuated without a torque from an output shaft of the engine, and a transmission connected to the engine. The control device includes a torque transmitting device for reducing the torque from the engine while that torque is being transmitted to an output shaft of the transmission, and control means for controlling the torque transmitting device so as to reduce the torque transmitted from the engine to the output shaft of the transmission during an upshift, controlling a engine speed to a target speed after shifting during the unshift, and controlling the torque transmitting device so as to increase the torque transmitted to the output shaft of the transmission after the engine speed is synchronized with the speed after shifting.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kunio Morisawa, Toshinari Ogawa, Naoki Moriguchi, Tadashi Tamura, Tadayuki Nagai, Makoto Ogiso, Keiji Yoeda, Hideyuki Nishida
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Publication number: 20060100765Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having an apply element that is applied when the vehicle takes off from a standstill, which executes a neutral control which releases the apply element when the automatic transmission is in a forward-drive range and the vehicle is stopped with a predetermined condition being satisfied, includes a controller that detects a target idle speed of an engine and determines whether the neutral control can be executed based on the target idle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2005Publication date: May 11, 2006Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tooru Matsubara, Yoshio Hasegawa, Tadayuki Nagai