Patents by Inventor Takuichiro Inoue

Takuichiro Inoue 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: 20110015839
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle continuously variable transmission 4 comprises a shift control means for controlling either of or both the speed ratio at the continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 and the gear position at the subtransmission mechanism 30 so as to adjust an overall speed ratio to a final speed ratio and a torque capacity control means for controlling the torque capacity at a disengagement-side frictional engagement element in the subtransmission mechanism 30 so as to sustain a torque capacity value substantially equal to zero in an inertia phase occurring during a process of adjusting the gear position at the subtransmission mechanism 30 from the first gear position to the second gear position when a negative torque is input to the vehicle continuously variable transmission 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryousuke Nonomura, Jouji Seki, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110015837
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle continuously variable transmission 4 comprises: inertia phase processing completing means for completing an instruction relating to inertia phase processing before an input rotation speed of the subtransmission mechanism 30 actually reaches an input rotation speed of the second gear position; and torque phase processing starting means for starting an instruction relating to torque phase processing, in which reception of an input torque of the subtransmission mechanism 30 is shifted from a disengagement side frictional engagement element to an engagement side frictional engagement element before the input rotation speed of the subtransmission mechanism 30 actually reaches the input rotation speed of the second gear position, after completing the instruction relating to the inertia phase processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryousuke Nonomura, Jouji Seki, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110015834
    Abstract: When a vehicle stops in a travel range, a transmission controller sets a subtransmission mechanism in a second speed interlocking condition in which a torque input into a continuously variable transmission is transmitted in a second gear position and both a frictional engagement element of a first gear position and a frictional engagement element of the second gear position are engaged, and when a predetermined condition is established while the vehicle is stationary, the transmission controller reduces an output shaft torque of the continuously variable transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Ryousuke NONOMURA, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Jouji Seki, Mamiko Inoue, Norio Asai, Seiichiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110015835
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle continuously variable transmission 4 includes: final speed ratio setting means for setting an overall speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 and the subtransmission mechanism 30 to be reached on the basis of an operating condition of the vehicle as a final speed ratio; shift control means for controlling the continuously variable transmission mechanism 20 and the subtransmission mechanism 30 such that the overall speed ratio aligns with the final speed ratio at a predetermined transient response; stagnation determining means for determining whether or not a stagnation period in which the overall speed ratio stops varying will occur during an upshift; and reduction control means for shortening a time required to advance to an inertia phase from a start of a shift in the subtransmission mechanism 30 following a determination that the stagnation period will occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryousuke Nonomura, Jouji Seki, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110015838
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission 4 for a vehicle includes a variator 20 that modifies a speed ratio continuously and a subtransmission mechanism 30 that is connected in series to the variator 20 and applies a first speed and a second speed, which is higher than the first speed, selectively. When the vehicle is running under a low load/high speed upshift condition having a lower load or a higher speed than a normal upshift condition, the subtransmission mechanism 30 is upshifted from the first speed to the second speed at a lower vehicle speed than under the normal upshift condition, and as a result, both rotation variation in an internal combustion engine 1 accompanying upshifting of the subtransmission mechanism 30 and an increase in a fuel consumption amount of the internal combustion engine 1 due to the shift operation in the continuously variable transmission 4 are suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichiro TAKAHASHI, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ryousuke Nonomura, Jouji Seki, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue, Tatsuo Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20110015840
    Abstract: A subtransmission mechanism 30 comprises a Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism 31, a Low brake 32 and a High clutch 33, shifts between a first speed gear position in which the Low brake 32 is engaged whereas the High clutch 33 is disengaged and a second speed gear position in which the Low brake 32 is disengaged and the High clutch 33 is engaged. A minute slip is caused at the Low brake 32 and then terminated by engaging the High clutch 33. A value representing the engaging state variation such as an engaging time period and/or an engaging speed of the High clutch 33 is learned and the pressure of oil supplied during the engaging operation of the High clutch 33 is corrected based upon the learned value, thereby assuring a smooth shift operation by compensating for any inconsistency in the torque transmission characteristics of the High clutch 33.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Seiichiro TAKAHASHI, Hiroyasu TANAKA, Ryousuke NONOMURA, Jouji SEKI, Takuichiro INOUE, Mamiko INOUE
  • Patent number: 7699729
    Abstract: This invention is a speed ratio change control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission that a minimum generated pressure of the primary pressure is estimated on the basis of a displacement speed of the movable sheave of the primary pulley and an opening area of a drain side passage of the speed ratio change control valve (S4), an upper limit value of a shift speed is calculated on the basis of the minimum generated pressure (S6), and the target speed ratio is set on the basis of the upper limit value of the shift speed (S10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Takuichiro Inoue, Midori Yamaguchi, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Publication number: 20100075801
    Abstract: When a through speed ratio, which is an overall speed ratio of a variator and a subtransmission mechanism, varies from a larger speed ratio than a mode switch speed ratio to a smaller speed ratio than the mode switch speed ratio, a gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is changed from a first gear position to a second gear position and the speed ratio of the variator is modified to a large speed ratio side. The mode switch speed ratio is set to be equal to a high speed mode Lowest speed ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hideaki SUZUKI, Ryousuke NONOMURA, Hiroyasu TANAKA, Takuichiro INOUE, Mamiko INOUE
  • Publication number: 20100075800
    Abstract: When a through speed ratio, which is an overall speed ratio of a variator and a subtransmission mechanism, varies from a larger speed ratio than a mode switch speed ratio to a smaller speed ratio than the mode switch speed ratio, a gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is changed from a first gear position to a second gear position and the speed ratio of the variator is modified to a large speed ratio side. The mode switch speed ratio is set midway between a low speed mode Highest speed ratio and a high speed mode Lowest speed ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hideaki SUZUKI, Ryousuke Nonomura, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Mamiko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20100075799
    Abstract: When a through speed ratio, which is an overall speed ratio of a variator and a subtransmission mechanism, varies from a larger speed ratio than a mode switch speed ratio to a smaller speed ratio than the mode switch speed ratio, a gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is changed from a first gear position to a second gear position. The mode switch speed ratio is set at a through speed ratio obtained when the speed ratio of the variator is a Highest speed ratio and the gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is the first gear position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hideaki SUZUKI, Ryousuke NONOMURA, Hiroyasu TANAKA, Takuichiro INOUE, Mamiko INOUE
  • Patent number: 7510501
    Abstract: When gear ratio is abnormally increased due to failure of a secondary pulley rotation sensor or slip in a V belt, demand torque of an engine is rapidly reduced, and after upper limit regulation of a target secondary pulley pressure is performed for a second predetermined time, control of the target secondary pulley pressure according to an output torque of the engine is performed. Thereby, since an actual torque of the engine does not exceed a belt capacity capable of holding a belt by a secondary pulley pressure which is actually generated, when the secondary pulley rotation sensor fails, no slip occurs in the V belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Masahiro Yamamoto, Kousuke Abe
  • Publication number: 20080269012
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control device is provided that that controls hydraulic pressure of a clutch supplying torque to a continuously variable transmission while the vehicle is stopped and in a running range. The hydraulic pressure control device has an control section that estimates a clutch engagement hydraulic pressure for the clutch based on initially rotational movement of a primary pulley of the continuously variable transmission, and then controls regulation of the hydraulic pressure to the clutch to a designated pressure that is no greater than the clutch engagement hydraulic pressure, when the vehicle is stopped and in the running range, so that the torque from the engine does not rotate a secondary pulley of the continuously variable transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: JATCO LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu TANAKA, Hideshi WAKAYAMA, Shoichi SEKIGUCHI, Yasuhiro TANI, Shinichi ARISAWA, Toshio SAITOU, Takashi FUKAGAWA, Takuichiro INOUE
  • Patent number: 7412907
    Abstract: A range recognition apparatus for an automatic transmission. A first contact is configured to generate a first range signal during a state of a range selector being within a first region. A second contact is configured to generate a second range signal during the state of the range selector being within a second region overlapping with the first region. A controller is configured to recognize that a first gear range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is present and the second range signal is absent; to recognize that a second gear range of the automatic transmission is selected, when the first range signal is absent and the second range signal is present; and to recognize that the first gear range is selected, when the first range signal and the second range signal are both present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Takeshi Oohori, Youhei Ishikawa, Takuichiro Inoue, Hiroyasu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080153636
    Abstract: When a vehicle decelerates rapidly, a lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt) is calculated on the basis of a primary pulley rotation speed (Npri) detected by a primary pulley rotation sensor. When a deceleration speed (Gdata) is greater than a predetermined deceleration speed (G1) and a secondary pulley pressure (Psec) detected by a secondary pulley pressure sensor is lower than the lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt), it is determined that slippage is about to occur in a V-belt 4 on a primary pulley side in particular, and therefore speed ratio fixing control is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Takuichiro Inoue, Hiroki Iwasa, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Publication number: 20080146410
    Abstract: This invention is a speed ratio change control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission that a minimum generated pressure of the primary pressure is estimated on the basis of a displacement speed of the movable sheave of the primary pulley and an opening area of a drain side passage of the speed ratio change control valve (S4), an upper limit value of a shift speed is calculated on the basis of the minimum generated pressure (S6), and the target speed ratio is set on the basis of the upper limit value of the shift speed (S10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Takuichiro INOUE, Midori Yamaguchi, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Patent number: 7331900
    Abstract: The shift control apparatus for a continuously-variable transmission includes a primary pulley; a secondary pulley connected with the primary pulley by a belt; a shift actuator that varies a speed ratio; a line pressure adjusting that adjusts a line pressure; a secondary-pressure adjusting section that adjusts a secondary pressure; and a control section that controls the shift actuator, the line pressure adjusting section, and the secondary-pressure adjusting section. Moreover, the control section includes a fail determining section that determines whether the shift actuator is under a failed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Youhei Ishikawa, Kousuke Abe
  • Publication number: 20070189510
    Abstract: Disclosed is a data collector that collects a first data string sent by a control unit to a network according to a predetermined format. The control unit has a first identification number, and the first data string includes the first identification number and a parameter which is used to control a vehicle or a vehicle component. The data collector includes a first collecting means for collecting the first data string sent by the control unit; and a second collecting means for collecting a second data string sent by a data converter. The data converter has a second identification number different from the first identification number of the control unit and the second data string conforms to the predetermined format. The data converter converts analog data sent from a sensor that detects a driving condition of the vehicle into digital data, puts the second identification number and the digital data in the second data string to be sent, and sends the second data string at a predetermined interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Youhei Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Tani, Toshiji Iida
  • Patent number: 7229382
    Abstract: An input torque control system is provided with a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, a V belt wound between these pulleys, a step motor to change a pressure difference between the primary pulley pressure and the secondary pulley pressure to change a gear ratio of the transmission, a memory unit to store pulley information immediately before a vehicle stop, and a torque restricting section. When an initialization operation of the step motor is started without pulley information stored in the memory unit, an output torque of the engine is restricted, and the restriction is removed after the initialization operation is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Aki Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 7192383
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, the vehicle having a continuously variable transmission associated with a vehicular engine and including a belt that transmits a revolution of a primary pulley to a secondary pulley that is enabled to make a gear shift by modifying a pulley ratio between the primary and secondary pulleys with a hydraulic, a determination is made as to whether a belt slip between at least one of the primary and the secondary pulleys occurs and an output section outputs a signal to command an engine control unit to increase an engine speed by a predetermined engine speed when the belt slip is determined to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Masahiro Iriyama, Kenichi Gotou, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Tatsuo Wakahara, Hisao Nobu
  • Patent number: 7179196
    Abstract: A transmission controller commands a demand torque of an engine to an engine controller according to an actual secondary pulley pressure that is detected by a secondary pulley pressure sensor when a vehicle speed is 0 km/h and a state wherein gear ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined gear ratio is continued for a first predetermined time or more. Thereby, since an input torque corresponding to a secondary pulley pressure which is actually generated is inputted to a primary pulley even when a failure occurs in the secondary pulley rotation sensor, engine performance of a vehicle can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Masahiro Yamamoto, Kousuke Abe