Patents by Inventor Takahiko Tsutsumi

Takahiko Tsutsumi 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: 20160236675
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine, an MG, a first rotary shaft, a second rotary shaft, a transmission disposed between the first rotating shaft and the second rotary shaft, a driving wheel, a first clutch capable of interrupting power transmission between the engine and the first rotary shaft, a second clutch capable of interrupting power transmission between the MG and the first rotary shaft, and an ECU for controlling the engine, the MG, the transmission, the first clutch and the second clutch. The ECU releases the second clutch as a rotation speed of the first rotary shaft becomes higher than a threshold value, and sets the threshold value lower in the case where an acceleration request is issued from the driver than in the case where no acceleration request is issued to reduce the operation times for the clutch to engage or disengage the MG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki BABA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Shun SATO
  • Patent number: 9381801
    Abstract: Control device of hybrid vehicle including an engine connected via a clutch to power transmission path and a rotator acting at least as an electric motor, hybrid vehicle being configured to execute an engine running mode in which clutch is engaged to use at least engine as a drive force source for running and a motor running mode in which clutch is released to use rotator as drive force source for running, control device putting clutch into slip engagement to crank and start engine before clutch is completely engaged at time of switching to engine running mode during stop of engine with clutch released, control device of hybrid vehicle, when clutch temperature reaches predefined value at time of switching to the engine running mode, releasing clutch and causing rotator to generate drive force for running while controlling rotation speed of engine to synchronize rotation speeds before and after clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Koki Minamikawa, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 9382953
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for a drive line includes first and second switching valves and first and second solenoid valves. Each switching valve is alternatively switched by a switching hydraulic pressure to connect any two of three ports. The first port of the first switching valve is connected to a hydraulic actuator. The first port of the second switching valve is connected to the second port of the first switching valve. The first solenoid valve supplies the switching hydraulic pressure to the switching valves. The second solenoid valve regulates a control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator. Any one of three oil paths is communicated with the hydraulic actuator by supplying the control hydraulic pressure via the third port of the first switching valve or the second or third port of the second switching valve and supplying the switching hydraulic pressure to at least one switching valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Toshio Sugimura, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Masato Yoshikawa, Koki Minamikawa, Naoki Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20160144849
    Abstract: An upper limit charging rate is limited when a speed position of an automatic transmission is high as compared to when the speed position is low, so an engine is hard to enter a high torque state even when the speed position is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress vibrations and noise that tend to occur at the time when the engine is driven at a low rotation speed and high torque. On the other hand, the upper limit charging rate increases when the speed position is low as compared to when the speed position is high, with the result that a charging rate increases, so it is possible to keep a state of charge of a battery within an appropriate range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koki MINAMIKAWA, Toshio SUGIMURA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Masato YOSHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9221350
    Abstract: When a charge connector has been removed from a vehicle-side connector while parking lock is set, an ECU determines whether or not there is return history that a momentary shift lever has moved to a home position after removal of the charge connector from the vehicle-side connector. When there is return history and when a brake-on state is set, the shift lever has been operated from the home position to any position of N, D and R, and the resultant position is continuously maintained for a prescribed period of time, the ECU unlocks the parking lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori
  • Patent number: 9205832
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting of an engine and a shift-down action of a transmission, while assuring a reduction of heat generated by a clutch and an improvement of a response of the hybrid vehicle to a vehicle operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that, when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, a rate of change of the input speed of said transmission is lower than when only the shift-down action is required to be performed, such that the rate of change of the input speed is relatively low when the input speed of the transmission to be established upon completion of the shift-down action is relatively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Koki Minamikawa, Shun Sato
  • Publication number: 20150336570
    Abstract: Control device of hybrid vehicle including an engine connected via a clutch to power transmission path and a rotator acting at least as an electric motor, hybrid vehicle being configured to execute an engine running mode in which clutch is engaged to use at least engine as a drive force source for running and a motor running mode in which clutch is released to use rotator as drive force source for running, control device putting clutch into slip engagement to crank and start engine before clutch is completely engaged at time of switching to engine running mode during stop of engine with clutch released, control device of hybrid vehicle, when clutch temperature reaches predefined value at time of switching to the engine running mode, releasing clutch and causing rotator to generate drive force for running while controlling rotation speed of engine to synchronize rotation speeds before and after clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio SUGIMURA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Koki MINAMIKAWA, Shun SATO
  • Publication number: 20150329106
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a first electric motor; a second electric motor coupled to a drive shaft of the engine; a clutch disposed in a power transmission path between the engine and the first electric motor; an electric oil pump generating an oil pressure by electric power; a mechanical oil pump included in a power transmission path closer to the first electric motor relative to the clutch, the mechanical oil pump generating an oil pressure by a drive force of at least one of the engine and the first electric motor; and an electric storage device giving/receiving electric power to/from the second electric motor and supplying electric power to the electric oil pump. When an open failure occurs in the clutch, the second electric motor generates electricity by driving the engine and an oil amount supplied from the electric oil pump is larger than an oil amount supplied from the mechanical oil pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji KUWAHARA, Toshio SUGIMURA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Koki MINAMIKAWA, Shun SATO
  • Patent number: 9180876
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Shun Sato, Koki Minamikawa
  • Publication number: 20150136253
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit for a drive line includes first and second switching valves and first and second solenoid valves. Each switching valve is alternatively switched by a switching hydraulic pressure to connect any two of three ports. The first port of the first switching valve is connected to a hydraulic actuator. The first port of the second switching valve is connected to the second port of the first switching valve. The first solenoid valve supplies the switching hydraulic pressure to the switching valves. The second solenoid valve regulates a control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator. Any one of three oil paths is communicated with the hydraulic actuator by supplying the control hydraulic pressure via the third port of the first switching valve or the second or third port of the second switching valve and supplying the switching hydraulic pressure to at least one switching valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Toshio Sugimura, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Masato Yoshikawa, Koki Minamikawa, Naoki Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9022899
    Abstract: Control apparatus for hybrid vehicles are described which reduce the heat generated by a clutch and improve the response of the hybrid vehicle when an operator requests a high degree of acceleration while starting the engine and the transmission is required to perform a shift-down. In one embodiment, when the engine is required to start while the transmission is required to perform a shift-down action, the control apparatus holds a hydraulic pressure of a releasing side clutch of the transmission at a predetermined lowest stand-by value preventing a slipping action of the releasing side clutch, while a clutch K0 between the motor and engine is placed in a slipping state, and reduces the hydraulic pressure of the releasing side clutch from the lowest stand-by value in the slipping state of the clutch K0 after the clutch K0 is placed in the fully engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Koki Minamikawa, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 8914185
    Abstract: An ECU is connected to a multi-system shift sensor detecting a shift lever position in a shift direction associated with detection of the R position, and to a multi-system select sensor detecting a shift lever position in a select direction not associated with detection of the R position. When only one or more, but not all, of sensors in the select sensor are abnormal, the ECU controls the shift range according to the shift position detected based on the remaining proper sensor. When only one or more of sensors in the shift sensor are abnormal, the ECU maintains the current range until an operation of a shift lever is detected, and switches the shift range to the N range at the point of time of detecting an operation of the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Ichiro Kitaori, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hiroatsu Endo, Takashi Yuma, Masayuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8814752
    Abstract: It is provided a shift control device for a vehicle having a parking lock device driven by an actuator to selectively switch switching positions between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein when a run-enable operation is made by a driver and a non-running state is switched to a running state, shift position recognizing control is executed for recognizing an initial switching position appearing at the beginning when the running state is established, by driving the actuator in response to switching position information indicative of the switching position on a stage before the running state is established, wherein: the non-running state is configured to be switched to the running state prior to the execution of the run-enable operation; and updating of the switching position information, stored in the switching position information storage device, is permitted to be executed subjected to the switching position recognizing control being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Osamu Kanai, Koki Ueno, Keisuke Sekiya, Toshinari Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140222270
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting of an engine and a shift-down action of a transmission, while assuring a reduction of heat generated by a clutch and an improvement of a response of the hybrid vehicle to a vehicle operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that, when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from the motor drive mode to the engine drive mode, a rate of change of the input speed of said transmission is lower than when only the shift-down action is required to be performed, such that the rate of change of the input speed is relatively low when the input speed of the transmission to be established upon completion of the shift-down action is relatively high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Koki Minamikawa, Shun Sato
  • Publication number: 20140221156
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle that includes an engine, a motor, and a clutch provided in a power transmission path between the engine and the motor. The control device includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to switch travel states of the vehicle from a first to a second travel state. In the first travel state, the vehicle travels by using driving force generated by at least the engine while the clutch is engaged. In the second travel state, the vehicle travels by using driving force generated by the motor while the engine is stopped and the clutch is disengaged. The ECU is configured to maintain an operation of the engine and keep the clutch engaged after target driving force of the engine changes to a negative value when disengagement of the clutch is prohibited in switching from the first travel state to the second travel state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio SUGIMURA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Koki MINAMIKAWA, Shun SATO
  • Publication number: 20140221152
    Abstract: Embodiments of control apparatus for hybrid vehicles are described which reduce the heat generated by a clutch and improve the response of the hybrid vehicle when an operator requests a high degree of acceleration while starting the engine and the transmission is required to perform a shift-down. In one embodiment, when the engine is required to start while the transmission is required to perform a shift-down action, the control apparatus holds a hydraulic pressure of a releasing side clutch of the transmission at a predetermined lowest stand-by value preventing a slipping action of the releasing side clutch, while a clutch K0 between the motor and engine is placed in a slipping state, and reduces the hydraulic pressure of the releasing side clutch from the lowest stand-by value in the slipping state of the clutch K0 after the clutch K0 is placed in the fully engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Koki Minamikawa, Shun Sato
  • Publication number: 20140222269
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles which permit starting the engine and a shift-down action of the transmission while assuring not only a reduction of the heat generated by a clutch, but also an improvement in the response of the vehicle to an operator's desire for high drivability. In one embodiment, the control apparatus controls the hybrid vehicle such that when the transmission is required to be shifted down while the hybrid vehicle is switched from a motor drive mode to an engine drive mode, a time of initiation of the shift-down action of the transmission is delayed by a longer length of time when a temperature of the clutch upon initiation of an engine starting control to start the engine is relatively high than when the temperature is relatively low. Various other embodiments of control apparatuses for hybrid vehicles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Tsutsumi, Toshio Sugimura, Seiji Kuwahara, Shun Sato, Koki Minamikawa
  • Publication number: 20140148985
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle includes a controller. When a downshift of a transmission and an increase in an amount of regeneration are carried out during regenerative coast traveling in which regeneration is carried out by an electric motor, and when a state of charge of a battery is lower than a predetermined value, the controller increases the amount of regeneration before completion of the downshift. When the state of charge of the battery is higher than or equal to the predetermined value, the controller increases the amount of regeneration after completion of the downshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shun SATO, Toshio SUGIMURA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Takahiko TSUTSUMI, Koki MINAMIKAWA
  • Patent number: 8734295
    Abstract: A vehicular shift control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a parking lock device selectively switched to a locking position in which rotation of wheels of the vehicle is prevented and a non-locking position in which the rotation of the wheels is not prevented, by an operation of an electrically operated actuator, the vehicular shift control apparatus being configured to perform a failure diagnosis to determine whether the actuator is operable or not, the vehicular shift control apparatus includes: the vehicular shift control apparatus permits the operation of the actuator if a supply voltage to the actuator is raised from a value lower than a predetermined threshold supply voltage value to a value not lower than the threshold supply voltage value after a determination that the actuator is inoperable is obtained in the failure diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori, Toshinari Suzuki, Hiroatsu Endo, Koki Ueno, Keisuke Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8718885
    Abstract: A shift control device for vehicle is provided capable of controlling an actuator to switch shift ranges of a transmission and switching establishment of operating states between a first operating state enabling a detection of a reference position for controlling the actuator during an initial operation of the actuator, and a second operating state disabling the detection of the reference position, besides the first and second operating states, a third operating state being able to be established with an inability to detect the reference position but with an ability to detect vehicle information; and when the second operating state is switched to the first operating state with the third operating state continuously remained, after switching from the first operating state to the second operating state, the reference position being detected again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Takashi Yuma