Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro Kuze

Yasuhiro Kuze 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: 11458950
    Abstract: A drive force control system configured to reduce a total energy consumption of a hybrid vehicle. The drive force control system calculates: an output power of the engine which can optimize a thermal efficiency given that the engine is operated at a best fuel point; and a required electric power to be supplied from a battery or to be generated by a control motor, which can adjust the drive power established by the output power of the engine to the required power. A power exchange between the control motor and the battery is interrupted if the required electric power to be supplied from the electric storage device or to be generated by the control motor is less than a first predetermined electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Ikemura, Naoto Kato, Takayoshi Kawai, Teppei Yoshioka, Hiromasa Hashimoto, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Patent number: 11422189
    Abstract: A switch includes an operating member and three contacts (first, second and third contacts). The operating member displaces between a first and a second positions. A state of the three contacts is switched between a first and a second states by displacement of the operating member. Each contact connects or disconnects a signal line in the first state, and puts, in the second state, the signal line into a state reverse to the first stat. In course of the displacement of the operating member from the first position to the second position, the first contact switches from the first state to the second state, the second contact switches from the first state to the second state after switching of the first contact, and the third contact switches from the second state to the first state at a timing between switching of the first contact and switching of the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Publication number: 20210181255
    Abstract: A switch includes an operating member and three contacts (first, second and third contacts). The operating member displaces between a first and a second positions. A state of the three contacts is switched between a first and a second states by displacement of the operating member. Each contact connects or disconnects a signal line in the first state, and puts, in the second state, the signal line into a state reverse to the first stat. In course of the displacement of the operating member from the first position to the second position, the first contact switches from the first state to the second state, the second contact switches from the first state to the second state after switching of the first contact, and the third contact switches from the second state to the first state at a timing between switching of the first contact and switching of the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Publication number: 20200247390
    Abstract: A drive force control system configured to reduce a total energy consumption of a hybrid vehicle. The drive force control system calculates: an output power of the engine which can optimize a thermal efficiency given that the engine is operated at a best fuel point; and a required electric power to be supplied from a battery or to be generated by a control motor, which can adjust the drive power established by the output power of the engine to the required power. A power exchange between the control motor and the battery is interrupted if the required electric power to be supplied from the electric storage device or to be generated by the control motor is less than a first predetermined electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Ryosuke IKEMURA, Naoto KATO, Takayoshi KAWAI, Teppei YOSHIOKA, Hiromasa HASHIMOTO, Hiroshi WATANABE, Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Patent number: 10710446
    Abstract: An engine starting system for starting an engine promptly during propulsion without reducing a drive force. When a condition to crank the engine is satisfied during propulsion in a neutral stage, torque is applied to an input rotary element to crank the engine by reducing a rotational speed of a control rotary element by increasing a torque capacity of a first engagement device to utilize an inertial force of the free rotary element as a reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kawai, Naoto Kato, Naoya Takagi, Yasuhiro Kuze, Teruhiko Miyake, Teppei Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10639984
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, in which that maintains a reaction force against the backward movement of a vehicle while preventing an overheating of a motor due to phase lock of the motor. When a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor exceeds a threshold value, a controller execute a phase shift control to reduce a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor by changing a rotational angle of the motor, while interrupting torque transmission between the motor and wheels and generating the torque to stop the vehicle by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kuze, Naoya Takagi, Teruhiko Miyake, Naoto Kato, Takayoshi Kawai, Teppei Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20190263249
    Abstract: An engine starting system for starting an engine promptly during propulsion without reducing a drive force. When a condition to crank the engine is satisfied during propulsion in a neutral stage, torque is applied to an input rotary element to crank the engine by reducing a rotational speed of a control rotary element by increasing a torque capacity of a first engagement device to utilize an inertial force of the free rotary element as a reaction force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayoshi KAWAI, Naoto Kato, Naoya Takagi, Yasuhiro Kuze, Teruhiko Miyake, Teppei Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20190135103
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, in which that maintains a reaction force against the backward movement of a vehicle while preventing an overheating of a motor due to phase lock of the motor. When a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor exceeds a threshold value, a controller execute a phase shift control to reduce a thermal load on a specific phase of the motor by changing a rotational angle of the motor, while interrupting torque transmission between the motor and wheels and generating the torque to stop the vehicle by the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KUZE, Naoya TAKAGI, Teruhiko MIYAKE, Naoto KATO, Takayoshi KAWAI, Teppei YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 10006384
    Abstract: A time point t0 represents a time point when a turbocharged engine is brought into a decelerating state, and an opening degree of a throttle valve is decreased. A time point t1 represents a time point when an opening command to an ABV is issued. When the ABV has an abnormality, and when a WGV is stuck open, a turbocharging pressure before the time point t0 shows a tendency to fall below a target turbocharging pressure, and a turbocharging pressure after the time point t1 reduces slowly to approach a predetermined pressure. When the WGV is stuck closed, a turbocharging pressure before the time point t0 shows a tendency to exceed the target turbocharging pressure, and the turbocharging pressure after the time point t1 reduces with vigor to approach the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Kuze, Noriyasu Adachi, Yusuke Saito, Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9897022
    Abstract: An engine includes a turbocharger, an air bypass valve, a wastegate valve, and an EGR apparatus. The engine also includes an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that adjusts an amount of air flowing through the ISC passage. A control apparatus for the engine performs valve opening control to set an opening of an ISC valve at a larger opening than a reference opening when a required torque required by the engine is smaller than an estimated torque that can be generated by the engine, and closes the air bypass valve and the wastegate valve for a fixed period following completion of the valve opening control when an EGR valve of a low pressure EGR apparatus is opened during execution of the valve opening control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Patent number: 9765714
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine equipped with port injectors. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air flowing in the ISC passage. A control device of the present invention performs valve opening control that makes an opening degree of the ISC valve an opening degree larger than a reference opening degree when request torque required by the internal combustion engine is smaller than estimated torque that can be generated in the internal combustion engine, and sets a timing for fuel injection from the port injector at an opening timing of an intake valve of a cylinder in which the port injector is installed during the valve opening control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Patent number: 9732667
    Abstract: The invention has an object to control an EGR amount accurately in transient time. An ECU switches EGR control to the one-valve EGR control and the both-valve EGR control based on a request EGR amount. When the EGR control is switched to the one-valve EGR control from the both-valve EGR control, an EGR valve of one bank is closed first. Next, during a time period until an opening degree restriction time period elapses after the EGR valve is closed, an opening degree of an EGR valve of the other bank is restricted to be smaller than a one-valve target opening degree. Subsequently, when the opening degree restriction time period elapses, restriction of the opening degree of the EGR valve is cancelled, and the opening degree of the EGR valve is changes to the one-valve target opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Patent number: 9644553
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine including a supercharger and an EGR device. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air that flows in the ISC passage. A control device of the present invention performs valve opening control that makes an opening degree of the ISC valve an opening degree larger than a reference opening degree when request torque required by the internal combustion engine is smaller than estimated torque that can be generated in the internal combustion engine, and prohibits opening of an EGR valve of the EGR device during execution of the valve opening control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Publication number: 20160061126
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine including a supercharger and an EGR device. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air that flows in the ISC passage. A control device of the present invention performs valve opening control that makes an opening degree of the ISC valve an opening degree larger than a reference opening degree when request torque required by the internal combustion engine is smaller than estimated torque that can be generated in the internal combustion engine, and prohibits opening of an EGR valve of the EGR device during execution of the valve opening control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Publication number: 20160053695
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine equipped with port injectors. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air flowing in the ISC passage. A control device of the present invention performs valve opening control that makes an opening degree of the ISC valve an opening degree larger than a reference opening degree when request torque required by the internal combustion engine is smaller than estimated torque that can be generated in the internal combustion engine, and sets a timing for fuel injection from the port injector at an opening timing of an intake valve of a cylinder in which the port injector is installed during the valve opening control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Publication number: 20160047350
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the present invention is an internal combustion engine equipped with a supercharger that can switch between a lean combustion operation that combusts a mixture gas with an air-fuel ratio leaner than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, and a stoichiometric combustion operation that combusts a mixture gas with an air-fuel ratio close to the theoretical air-fuel ratio. Further, the internal combustion engine has an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that regulates an amount of air flowing in the ISC passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Publication number: 20160047339
    Abstract: An engine includes a turbocharger, an air bypass valve, a wastegate valve, and an EGR apparatus. The engine also includes an ISC passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of a throttle valve in an intake passage, and an ISC valve that adjusts an amount of air flowing through the ISC passage. A control apparatus for the engine performs valve opening control to set an opening of an ISC valve at a larger opening than a reference opening when a required torque required by the engine is smaller than an estimated torque that can be generated by the engine, and closes the air bypass valve and the wastegate valve for a fixed period following completion of the valve opening control when an EGR valve of a low pressure EGR apparatus is opened during execution of the valve opening control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Publication number: 20160025046
    Abstract: The invention has an object to control an EGR amount accurately in transient time. An ECU switches EGR control to the one-valve EGR control and the both-valve EGR control based on a request EGR amount. When the EGR control is switched to the one-valve EGR control from the both-valve EGR control, an EGR valve of one bank is closed first. Next, during a time period until an opening degree restriction time period elapses after the EGR valve is closed, an opening degree of an EGR valve of the other bank is restricted to be smaller than a one-valve target opening degree. Subsequently, when the opening degree restriction time period elapses, restriction of the opening degree of the EGR valve is cancelled, and the opening degree of the EGR valve is changes to the one-valve target opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro KUZE
  • Patent number: 9228483
    Abstract: A first fluid system includes a thermostat portion T, a valve portion V, and an ECU 30A. The thermostat portion T includes a first thermostat 18 in a first divergent pathway PB1 and a second thermostat 19 in a second divergent pathway PB2. The valve portion V includes a valve mechanism in at least a second portion SG2 of portions SG1, SG2, SG3. In the ECU 30A, achieved is a control unit that controls the valve portion V to switch a flow control state of at least one of the valve mechanism of the valve portion V when one of an open failure and a close failure occurs in one of the thermostats 18, 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuze
  • Publication number: 20150308358
    Abstract: A time point t0 represents a time point when a turbocharged engine is brought into a decelerating state, and an opening degree of a throttle valve is decreased. A time point t1 represents a time point when an opening command to an ABV is issued. When the ABV has an abnormality, and when a WGV is stuck open, a turbocharging pressure before the time point t0 shows a tendency to fall below a target turbocharging pressure, and a turbocharging pressure after the time point t1 reduces slowly to approach a predetermined pressure. When the WGV is stuck closed, a turbocharging pressure before the time point t0 shows a tendency to exceed the target turbocharging pressure, and the turbocharging pressure after the time point t1 reduces with vigor to approach the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke MATSUMOTO, Yasuhiro KUZE, Noriyasu ADACHI, Yusuke SAITO, Satoru TANAKA