Patents by Inventor Tatsuya Imamura

Tatsuya Imamura 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).

  • Patent number: 9682697
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and motors is provided. The control system is configured to select an operating mode of the vehicle from a first operating mode in which the vehicle is powered by the engine, a second operating mode in which the vehicle is powered by two motors, and a third operating mode in which the vehicle is powered by the motor of the smaller number. The control system does not select the second operating mode when a required driving force is changed at rate greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada, Tatsuya Imamura, Isao Satou, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Tooru Matsubara
  • Publication number: 20170166191
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to reduce frequency of engagement and disengagement of engagement devices involved in a shifting operation to a hybrid mode. A controller is configured: to determine whether or not the engine is required to be started; to determine an operating mode to be established after starting the engine; to engage at least one of the first engagement device and the second engagement device to achieve the determined operating mode; and to start the engine while engaging said one of the first engagement device and the second engagement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigetsugu IWATA, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170166200
    Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to shift an operating mode smoothly to an electric vehicle mode in which an engine is stopped. A controller is configured to select the electric vehicle mode to be established from the first electric vehicle mode and the second electric vehicle mode upon satisfaction of the determination to shift the operating mode to the electric vehicle mode, to select the clutch to be engaged from the first clutch and the second clutch to establish the selected electric vehicle mode, and to stop the engine while engaging the selected clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi MIYAGAWA, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9670971
    Abstract: A power transmission unit for a vehicle comprises: a motor arranged on an output side of an engine coaxially therewith in a housing adjacent to an outer face of the engine; an end cover arranged in the housing to cover an end portion of the motor to protect from the engine; a rotary shaft extending coaxially with the motor to be connected to an output shaft of the engine while penetrating through the end cover; and an engagement device disposed on an outer circumferential side of the rotary shaft between the motor and the engine to selectively restrict a rotation of the rotary shaft. A sub-cover to which the rotary shaft penetrates is attached to an end face of the end cover and a chamber is hermetically enclosed by the sub-cover, the end cover, and the rotary shaft. The engagement device is held in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouichi Okuda, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Yasuda, Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada, Isao Sato, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Publication number: 20170137020
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to reduce a shock resulting from switching a travelling direction between the forward direction and the backward direction. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle in which an operating mode can be selected at least from a series mode and a series parallel mode. A travelling direction of the vehicle is switched by a shifting device between forward direction and backward direction. A controller is configured to maintain the previous operating mode after switching the travelling direction of the vehicle by the shifting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi KAWANISHI, Atsushi TABATA, Tatsuya IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 9649926
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9630487
    Abstract: A hybrid system includes an engine, a first rotary machine, a speed change device to which the engine is connected, a differential gear to which the speed change device and the first rotary machine are connected, a clutch and a brake causing the speed change device to change gears by engagement and disengagement between first plates and second plates, a casing configured to house therein these members except the engine and to be connected to the engine, and a cover wall configured to cover an opening of the casing which opening is provided on an engine side. The first rotary machine is placed on the engine side relative to the clutch and the brake, the clutch is placed inside a cylinder member of the brake, and the cylinder member is connected to a cover wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kanada, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Yasuda, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Publication number: 20170106872
    Abstract: A control system controls a power transmission system located between a motive power source and drive wheels. The power transmission system includes a fluid coupling and an engagement device. The control system includes an electronic control unit configured to: obtain information concerning vibration of the power transmission system; determine whether the vibration of the power transmission system is in a resonance region of the power transmission system; control the engagement device so that the engagement device slips, when the electronic control unit determines that the power transmission system is in the resonance region; and control the motive power source when the electronic control unit determines that the power transmission system is in the resonance region, so that a rotational speed of the motive power source increases as compared with a case where the power transmission system is not in the resonance region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Publication number: 20170096058
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid vehicle an axial length thereof is shortened is provided. A power distribution device is disposed in an inner circumferential side of a cylindrical output gear, and at least a portion of a second clutch is also disposed in the inner circumferential side of the output gear while being adjacent to the power distribution device in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki KANADA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yasuki YOSHIKAWA, Atsushi TABATA
  • Patent number: 9604530
    Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid vehicle, the drive system includes an engine (1), a rotary machine (MG1), a differential unit (20), and a transmission unit (10). The rotary machine (MG1) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1). The differential unit (20) connects the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG1) to a drive wheel side. The differential unit (20) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG1). The differential unit (20) is arranged between the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG2). The transmission unit (10) changes rotation of the engine in speed and transmits the rotation to the differential unit (20). The transmission unit (10) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1), the rotary machine (MG1) and the differential unit (20). The rotary machine (MG1) and the differential unit (20) are arranged between the transmission unit (10) and the engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Omuro, Atsushi Tabata, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Yasuda, Isao Sato, Toshiki Kanada, Tatsuya Imamura, Kouichi Okuda, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 9604525
    Abstract: A vehicle-drive-device control device controls an operating point of the engine by adjusting a torque of a first electric motor, such that a sum of the engine torque and the first electric motor torque is balanced with a torque of an input-side rotating element of a fluid transmission device, which is generated depending on a speed ratio of the fluid transmission device. The control device obtains the input-side rotating element torque based on the engine rotation speed indicated by a target engine operating point, and to determine the first electric motor torque based on the obtained torque and the engine torque indicated by the target engine operating point. The control device adjusts the first electric motor torque while giving/receiving the electric power between the first and second electric motors, to make the speed ratio lower when a temperature of operating oil is low, than when the temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9586580
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Yuji Iwase, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 9562481
    Abstract: In a drive system, a first differential mechanism transmits engine rotation, a second differential mechanism connects the first differential mechanism with drive wheels, and a switching device changes a speed ratio of the first differential mechanism. The second differential mechanism has first, second, and third rotational elements, which connect respectively to the first differential mechanism, a first rotating machine, and a second rotating machine. In a first running condition, the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, while differentially operating the first differential mechanism. In a second running condition, the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, without differentially operating the first differential mechanism. A region in which the vehicle runs in the second running condition in the case where the engine cannot start by itself is larger than that in the case where the engine can start by itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20170021817
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with: an air-fuel ratio determinator configured to determine an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine in a predetermined period until speed change by a transmission is actually performed; and a controller configured to control at least one of the internal combustion engine and an electric motor in such a manner that a possible amount of torque down of the internal combustion engine is increased if the air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine is lean in the predetermined period. By this, it is possible to avoid a detrimental effect, such as a torque shock, deterioration of durability of a friction material, and the like, which can occur in the speed change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta KUMAZAKI, Atsushi TABATA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kazuyuki SHIIBA
  • Patent number: 9551400
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Publication number: 20170015298
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electrically driven vehicle includes a electronic control unit and a dynamic power transmission mechanism. The electronic control unit is configured to control the dynamic power transmission mechanism to execute a slip control such that the speed of an electric motor is a higher speed than a speed of the electric motor at a time point and speed of a relative rotation in the fluid coupling increases, in a case of determining that the operating state of the electric motor enters the operating state in which the value of the heat load is the predetermined value or greater, the time point being a time point when the operating state of the electric motor enters the operating state in which the value of the heat load is the predetermined value or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Atsushi TABATA, Koichi OKUDA, Tooru MATSUBARA, Yasuhiro HIASA, Keita IMAI, Takeshi KITAHATA
  • Publication number: 20170008510
    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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Tooru Matsubara, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20160347307
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit configured to, when the drive mode is changed from one of the series-parallel mode and the parallel mode to the other one of the series-parallel mode and the parallel mode and the speed stage is changed from one of the low speed stage and the high speed stage to the other one of the low speed stage and the high speed stage, selectively execute either one of a first control and a second control. The first control is control in which the drive mode and the speed stage are changed by passing through the series mode. The second control is control in which one of the drive mode and the speed stage is changed and then the other one of the drive mode and the speed stage is changed without passing through the series mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko BANSHOYA, Atsushi TABATA, Toshiki KANADA, Haruhisa SUZUKI, Atsushi KAWAMOTO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Kiyonori TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 9505399
    Abstract: A vehicle having mounted thereon 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. The vehicle has a traveling mode that 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Kenta Kumazaki, Takeshi Kitahata, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata