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: 20150246671
    Abstract: On a vehicle, there are mounted a differential device including a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier, a first motor generator coupled to the sun gear, a second motor generator coupled to the ring gear, an automatic transmission provided between the ring gear and a drive wheel, an engine coupled to the carrier, and a brake suppressing the rotation of the carrier. In the vehicle, a traveling mode is selected from a first mode in which traveling is performed by using a torque outputted from the first and second motor generators in a state where the brake is engaged, and a second mode in which the traveling is performed by operating the engine in a state where the brake is disengaged. When the traveling mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode, the traveling mode is switched to the second mode after the automatic transmission is downshifted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20150224980
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20150224983
    Abstract: A power transmission device of a hybrid vehicle includes: a transmission including a planetary mechanism including a plurality of transmission rotational elements, one of the transmission rotational elements being connected to a rotary shaft of an engine; a differential device including a plurality of differential rotational elements including one connected to one of the transmission rotational elements of the transmission, one connected to a rotary shaft of a first rotary machine, and one connected to a rotary shaft of a second rotary machine and a driven wheel; a transmission control device configured to control the transmission; and a control device configured to control the first rotary machine such that pinion differential rotation of the transmission or the differential device is set to be not higher than a predetermined value at a time unique motor EV driving is performed only by power of the second rotary machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20150217645
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle, an automatic transmission is provided between a differential unit and drive wheels. The differential unit includes a motor-generator and a power split device, and the motor-generator is cooled by lubricant of the automatic transmission. A battery charger is operable to charge a power storage device using a power supply outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the lubricant is lower than a predetermined temperature upon execution of charging of the power storage device using the charger, and the automatic transmission is in a neutral state, or a power cutting-off state, the controller rotates the motor-generator of the differential unit so as to perform warming control for raising the temperature of the lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Takeshi KITAHATA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Patent number: 9096218
    Abstract: It is provided a control device of a vehicle power transmission device including: a torque limiter device blocking transmission of a torque amount exceeding a predetermined torque with operation involving differential rotation between a first rotating member and a second rotating member; and an electric motor coupled to one of the first rotating member and the second rotating member in a power transmittable manner, wherein when a rotation speed difference is generated between the first rotating member and the second rotating member due to the operation of the torque limiter device, the electric motor is operated so as to suppress the rotation speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Toru Saito, Masahiro Tanae
  • Publication number: 20150211620
    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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20150197244
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission device that includes a carrier to which an engine rotation shaft is connected; a differential device that includes a plurality of rotation components individually connected to a ring gear of the transmission device, an MG1 rotation shaft, an MG2 rotation shaft, and a drive wheel; a gear shift adjustment device that includes an engagement portion capable of controlling the transmission device to a neutral state where transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is not allowed or to a state where the transmission of power is allowed; and an HVECU that includes a first step of decreasing a rotating speed of a first rotating electric machine at the time an engine is started up during an EV travel mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150166042
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving device includes: an engine; a rotation machine; and a transmission unit configured to connect and disconnect the engine and the rotation machine, wherein when the engine is stopped while a vehicle travels by using the engine as a power source, the engine is stopped by the rotation machine in a state in which the gear stage of the transmission unit is fixed, and then the transmission unit is set to a neutral state after the engine is stopped. It is desirable that the hybrid vehicle driving device stop the engine by the rotation machine in a state in which the corresponding relation between a rotation angle of the engine and a rotation angle of the rotation machine is already learned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150151627
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a transmission device that includes a carrier to which an engine rotation shaft is connected; a differential device that includes a plurality of rotation components individually connected to a drive wheel, an MG2 rotation shaft, an MG1 rotation shaft, and a ring gear of the transmission device; a gear shift adjustment device that is able to control the transmission device to a neutral state where the transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is not allowed or to a state where the transmission of power is allowed; and an HVECU that includes a first step of controlling the transmission device to the neutral state in a state where the transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150142232
    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: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Publication number: 20150046011
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle is configured to select motor running by one motor, motor running by two motors, and engine running. A charging capacity of an electric storage device allowing selection of the motor running by two motors is higher than a charging capacity allowing selection of the motor running by one motor. In the motor running by two motors and the engine running, a drive force larger than in the motor running by one motor is generated. When the motor running by one motor is performed with a charging capacity equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and a driver's drive request amount is increased, if the charging capacity is equal to or greater than a second threshold value higher than the first threshold value, the motor running by two motors is selected, while if the charging capacity is less than the second threshold value, the engine running is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Tatsuya Imamura, Kouichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20150006007
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including an engine, an electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the engine, and an engagement device non-rotatably fixing the engine, the vehicle further including an electric circuit controlling giving/receiving of electric power related to operation of the electric motor and having an electric storage member temporarily storing the electric power, if the vehicle is damaged, or if a damage of the vehicle is predicted, during rotating operation of the engine, a rotation speed of the engine being reduced by an engagement actuation of the engagement device, and after the rotation speed of the engine is reduced to be equal to or less than a predetermined rotation speed, electric power stored in the electric storage member being discharged by the electric circuit and the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Yuji Iwase, Tomohito Ono
  • Publication number: 20140371964
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential mechanism having a first rotary element, a second rotary element serving as an input rotary member and connected to an engine, and a third rotary element serving as an output rotary member, an electric motor connected to said first rotary element, and a locking mechanism configured to fix an output shaft of said engine to a stationary member, the control apparatus comprising: an electric motor drive control portion configured to reduce an absolute value of a torque of said electric motor before said locking mechanism is changed from a locking state in which said output shaft is fixed to the stationary member while a drive force of said electric motor is transmitted to said third rotary element, to an unlocking state in which said output shaft is released from the stationary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Yuji Iwase, Tomohito Ono
  • Publication number: 20140358349
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes a first electric motor; a differential mechanism having a rotating element coupled to the first electric motor, a rotating element that is an output rotating member coupled to drive wheels in a power transmittable manner, and a rotating element coupled to a non-rotating member by actuation of a lock mechanism; and a second electric motor coupled to the drive wheels in a power transmittable manner. During motor running for running with output torques from the first electric motor and the second electric motor used together in an actuated state of the lock mechanism, a drive torque shared by the first electric motor is made smaller in a requested drive torque when a rotation speed of a pinion making up the differential mechanism is higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Tabata, Keita Imai, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20140245860
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device includes: a transaxle case including a tubular case opened in at least one end portion and a cover fixed to an opening portion of the tubular case to close an opening of the tubular case, the transaxle case housing a transmission; and a mount device attached between the cover of the transaxle case and a vehicle body to support the transaxle case, the mount device including a support plate member fixedly disposed on the cover, the support plate member being fastened by at least three first fastening members through the cover to the opening portion of the tubular case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Taturou Obata, Yoshinori Morita, Shingo Katou, Takeshi Kitahata, Takuya Kodama
  • Publication number: 20140232228
    Abstract: A rotational difference is generated between a first and a second rotor and a third rotor, which causes an induced current to flow in a first rotor winding. This causes a torque to act between the first rotor and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the induced current flowing through a second rotor winding interacts with a second stator, which in turn generates an induced electromotive force in a second stator winding. The induced electromotive force is applied via a phase adjustment circuit to a first stator winding, which generates a rotary magnetic field and causes a torque to act between the first stator and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the second rotor winding and the induced current flowing in the second stator winding causes a torque to act between the second stator and the second rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao WATANABE, Eiji TSUCHIYA, Hiroyuki NISHIZAWA, Takeshi KITAHATA
  • Publication number: 20140180441
    Abstract: Provided is a control device of a vehicle, the vehicle having an electric motor and an engine. The control device includes an operating device and a controller. The operating device is configured to be selected a running capability of the vehicle. The controller configured to increase a running capability to be achieved using the electric motor alone, in a case where the vehicle travels using the electric motor alone according to the selected running capability, as compared with a case where the vehicle travels using the electric motor alone and the running capability is not selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro HIASA, Atsushi TABATA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Takeshi KITAHATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kenta KUMAZAKI, Kouichi OKUDA, Masafumi YAMAMOTO, Keita IMAI, Keisuke OMURO
  • Patent number: 8733480
    Abstract: A rotational difference is generated between a first and a second rotor and a third rotor, which causes an induced current to flow in a first rotor winding. This causes a torque to act between the first rotor and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the induced current flowing through a second rotor winding interacts with a second stator, which in turn generates an induced electromotive force in a second stator winding. The induced electromotive force is applied via a phase adjustment circuit to a first stator winding, which generates a rotary magnetic field and causes a torque to act between the first stator and the third rotor. The rotary magnetic field generated by the second rotor winding and the induced current flowing in the second stator winding causes a torque to act between the second stator and the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Eiji Tsuchiya, Hiroyuki Nishizawa, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Patent number: 8720660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a parking lock mechanism of a power transmission apparatus which can stably supply lubrication oil to the sliding surface of a parking cam to decrease the sliding resistance of the parking cam. The parking lock mechanism 52 includes a support portion 73 for positioning a sleeve 71 with respect to an extension housing 6, and a first guide rib 74 provided on the support portion 73 for catching oil circulating in a transaxle case 4 to supply the oil to the support portion 73. The sleeve 71 has an upper portion formed with a notch 71c for allowing a parking pawl 62 to be held in abutment with a parking cam 61. The oil caught by the first guide rib 74 is supplied through the support portion 73 and the notch 71c of the sleeve 71 to the sliding surface of the parking cam 61, viz., the sliding surface between the parking pawl 62 and the parking cam 61 and the sliding surface between the parking cam 61 and the sleeve 71.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Michitaka Tsuchida, Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Yosuke Suzuki, Takeshi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8668612
    Abstract: In a lubrication structure of a differential gear unit, a case has a guide rib that extends over a certain area with respect to a rotation path of a head of a bolt when a ring gear rotates, and that protrudes out from the case toward the head of the bolt. Also, a through-hole that extends in a vertical direction is formed in an upper portion of a hollow supporting portion, and the guide rib has an oil reservoir that curves toward an upper end opening of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kimura, Takeshi Kuwahara, Takeshi Kitahata, Tatsuo Obata, Masahiro Tanae