Patents by Inventor Takeshi Kitahata

Takeshi Kitahata 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: 20190299969
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle with an engine and a rotary machine each coupled to a drive wheel in a power transmittable manner, comprises: an electronic control device that makes the rotary machine output a starting-time compensation torque to compensate a drop in a drive torque caused in a starting process of the engine in addition to a running torque when the engine is started while the vehicle is in a running state in which the drive torque is generated by the rotary machine and the engine is in a stopped state. The electronic control device starts the engine such that a starting-time inertia torque that is generated according to starting of the engine and causes the drop in the drive torque is made smaller when a torque margin of the rotary machine which is applied to the starting-time compensation torque is relatively small than when the torque margin is relatively large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi KITAHATA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Koichi OKUDA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Patent number: 10407075
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromasa Tatsushiro, Hiromichi Kimura, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kitahata, Shinichi Sasade, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 10369983
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Katsumata, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Takahiro Kimura, Daisuke Suyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 10343508
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10155509
    Abstract: An engine, a transmission unit which is connected to the engine and is shifted by an engagement apparatus, and a differential unit which connects the transmission unit and a drive wheel are included. The differential unit includes a first rotary element connected to an output element of the transmission unit, a second rotary element connected to a first rotary machine, and a third rotary element connected to the drive wheel. When an output from the first rotary machine is limited, the engagement apparatus is slipped and an operation point of the engine is changed. The change of the operation point can cause an increase in torque of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20180354495
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, and a mechanically operated transmission mechanism which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the motor/generator and drive wheels, the control apparatus including a motor/generator control portion configured to implement a regenerative torque control of the motor/generator so as to generate a regenerative torque according to a braking operation by an operator of the vehicle in a decelerating run of the vehicle, and a transmission shifting control portion configured to initiate a shift-down action of the mechanically operated transmission mechanism after a rate of change of the regenerative torque has been held within a predetermined range for at least a predetermined length of time, where a determination to implement the shift-down action is made in the process of the regenerative torque control of the motor/generator according to the braking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Masayuki BABA, Shun SATO, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10066718
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a dynamic power transmission apparatus is provided. The dynamic power transmission apparatus includes a differential mechanism, an electric generator, an electric motor, and a fluid coupling. The electric motor is disposed at a position apart from a transmission path along which a dynamic power of an engine is transmitted to a driving wheel. The fluid coupling is disposed between the electric motor and the transmission path. The control apparatus includes an electronic controller configured to restrict a charge of an electric storage apparatus with an electric power generated by the electric generator, depending on a state of the electric storage apparatus, and control the fluid coupling to differentially rotate and to drive the electric motor by the electric power such that a dynamic power loss is generated in the fluid coupling, when restricting the charge of the electric storage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Patent number: 10023171
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: an engine; a rotary machine; and an oil pump connected to each of a rotary shaft of the engine and a rotary shaft of the rotary machine through a one-way clutch. The power transmission device is configured to allow the rotary machine to rotate at a rotational speed higher than the rotational speed corresponding to a speed of the engine and lower than the rotational speed corresponding to an idling speed of the engine at the time of startup of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuya Imamura, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keita Imai, Keisuke Oomuro
  • Publication number: 20180178774
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a hybrid vehicle (10; 100) provided with an engine (14; 102) and an electric motor (MG2; MG) which function as a drive power source, and an automatic transmission (20; 110) which is placed in a selected one of speed positions with engagement of selected at least one of coupling devices (CB), the control apparatus including: an input torque control portion (84) to control the electric motor for controlling an input torque (Ti) transmitted to the automatic transmission (20; 110) during a shifting action of the automatic transmission, on the basis of an output torque (Te) of the engine and a torque (Tcb) transmitted through the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member (30; 124) of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
  • Publication number: 20180170390
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80; 122) for a vehicle provided with a motor/generator (MG2; MG) functioning as a drive power source, and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels (28; 116) and which is placed in a selected one of a plurality of speed positions with engagement of a selected one or ones of a plurality of coupling devices (CB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa TATSUSHIRO, Hiromichi KIMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Shinichi SASADE, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20180170345
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine and a motor/generator functioning as a drive power source, an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the drive power source and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, and an electric storage device giving/receiving electric power to/from the motor/generator, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion configured to control an input torque to the automatic transmission by the motor/generator during a shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such that a value representing a rotating state of an input rotary member of the automatic transmission coincides with a target value; a racing determining portion configured to determine whether a rotating speed of the engine is predicted to exceed a predetermined rotating
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
  • Publication number: 20180170355
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission, by controlling a releasing action of a releasing coupling device and an engaging action of an engaging coupling device; a torque control portion configured, during the shifting action of the step-variable transmission, to implement a feedback control to control an input torque inputted to the step-variable transmission, such that a value representing a state of a rotary motion of an input rotary member of the step-variable transmission coincides with a target value dependent on a degree of progress of the shifting action; and a backup control portion configured, when it is determined that the drive wheels are slipped, to inhibit the feedback control, and to compensate a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that the shifting action is facilitated by compensation of the transmitted torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Masayuki BABA, Takeshi KITAHATA
  • Publication number: 20180170346
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, a differential mechanism having a first rotary element to which the engine is operatively connected, a second rotary element to which a first motor/generator is operatively connected, and a third rotary element to which an intermediate power transmitting member is connected, a second motor/generator operatively connected to the intermediate power transmitting member, and an automatic transmission which constitutes a part of a power transmitting path between the intermediate power transmitting member and drive wheels and in which a shifting action is performed by selective engagement of a plurality of coupling devices, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion for controlling an output torque of the first motor/generator and an output torque of the second motor/generator during the shifting action of the automatic transmission on the basis of an output torque of the engine and a transmitted torque of the coupling devices, such t
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro KATSUMATA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Takahiro KIMURA, Daisuke SUYAMA, Kazuomi OKASAKA
  • Publication number: 20180170166
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a transmission shifting control portion configured to implement a shifting action of a step-variable transmission by controlling a releasing coupling device and an engaging coupling device; a hybrid control portion configured to control an output torque of a first motor/generator and an output torque of a second motor/generator, based on an output torque of an engine and a transmitted torque to be transmitted through an initiative coupling device, such that a rotational acceleration value of the second motor/generator and a rotational acceleration value of the engine are changed along respective target trajectories during the shifting action; and a target-trajectory setting portion configured to set the target trajectories, based on a maximum charging amount of an electric power that is chargeable to an electric power storage device and a maximum discharging amount of the electric power that is dischargeable from the electric power storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Sugiyama, Kenta Kumazaki, Hiromichi Kimura, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Shinichi Sasade, Takeshi Kitahata, Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20180154796
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicle (10; 100) having an electric motor (MG2; MG), and a step-variable transmission (20; 110) which is selectively placed in a plurality of speed positions with engagement of at least one of a plurality of coupling devices (CB), wherein the vehicle runs rearward with a reverse drive torque (TmR) of the electric motor generated in a forward-drive low-speed position of the transmission. The control apparatus includes: a first shift control portion (86) operated during a coasting shift-down action of the transmission to the low-speed position and configured to temporarily increase the forward drive torque (TmF) of the electric motor above its required value, for thereby temporarily increasing an input torque of the transmission to raise its input speed toward a synchronizing speed in the low-speed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Hisashi ISHIHARA, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Mitsuru MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20180148064
    Abstract: A control apparatus (80) for a vehicular drive system (12; 105) having a step-variable transmission portion (20; 110) which is shifted to a selected one of speed positions having respective speed ratio values, with engaging and releasing actions of coupling devices (B, C), and a drive power source portion (39; 103) operatively connected to an input shaft (30) of the step-variable transmission portion, the control apparatus being configured to implement a speed synchronizing control upon a shift-down action of the step-variable transmission portion in a coasting run of a vehicle (10; 100), wherein an input shaft speed of the step-variable transmission portion is raised with an input shaft torque transmitted from the drive power source portion to the input shaft, from a pre-shift-down synchronizing speed to a post-shift-down synchronizing speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun GOTO, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Masato YOSHIKAWA, Nobufusa KOBAYASHI, Hiromichi KIMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA
  • Patent number: 9944275
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor outputting a running torque at the time of motor running and a starting torque at engine start, in a state of the motor running using even the starting torque, the control device being configured to give a notification of the state to a driver when a charging capacity is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to start an engine when the charging capacity is smaller than a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Patent number: 9944278
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first motor generator, a second motor generator, a transmission, a differential device, and an electronic control unit. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a clutch. The electronic control unit is configured to detect a rotation speed difference between the input shaft and the output shaft when the clutch is controlled so as to be brought into a power transmission shut-off state. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the rotation speed difference detected by the electronic control unit is smaller than a target rotation speed difference between the input shaft and the output shaft that occurs in a case where the power transmission shut-off state of the clutch is established, suppress cranking of the engine by the first motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Shunya Kato, Kenji Uchida, Mitsuru Maeda
  • Patent number: 9932039
    Abstract: A control device is configured to: (i) control rotation speed of internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is increased with an increase in a traveling speed of a vehicle, (ii) execute a pseudo gear shift to control the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is decreased to a first rotation speed, (iii) execute a mechanical gear shift to change a second gear ratio according to a gear shift line determined by the traveling speed and a value according to the acceleration request, and (iv) execute adjustment control to adjust the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine in advance in a period before executing the mechanical gear shift such that the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine matches the pseudo gear shift threshold value when the mechanical gear shift is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iketomi, Shinichi Sasade, Munehiro Katsumata, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 9677655
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device includes: a first differential mechanism connected to an engine and transmitting a rotation of the engine; a second differential mechanism connecting the first differential mechanism and a drive wheel; engagement devices changing a speed of the first differential mechanism; and a valve arranged in a hydraulic circuit and regulating the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging. The second differential mechanism includes a first rotation element connected to an output element of the first differential mechanism, a second rotation element connected to a first rotating machine, and a third rotation element connected to a second rotating machine and the drive wheel. The valve regulates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the engine, and tolerates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata