Patents by Inventor Yoichi Tajima

Yoichi Tajima 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: 20080153660
    Abstract: A shock caused due to a change in the direction of torque transferred to an output shaft is reduced. There is provided a control device for a powertrain including a drive power source that transfers torque to an output shaft connected to a wheel of a vehicle, and a rotary electric machine that transfers torque to the output shaft via a transmission. When electric power generation performed using the rotary electric machine is restricted, if torque that decelerates the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, a control is executed so that torque that does not decelerate the vehicle is transferred from the drive power source to the output shaft, and a shift control over the transmission is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiyo Uejima, Hiroatsu Endo, Yoichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20080033620
    Abstract: In a drive system, where power from a motor is transmitted to a drive shaft and a transmission ratio is changed by a transmission, if the absolute value of the difference between the reference torque Tm2r0, which is the drive shaft side torque Tm2r at the onset of a change in the shift speed of the transmission, and the driving shaft side torque Tm2r during the change is less than the threshold value ? until the end of the change (S280), the application state of a brake in the transmission during the change and the state of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the brake are learned (S290). During the change, and actuator of the transmission is controlled using those learned results. Accordingly, any deviations that may have occurred due to changes over time in the transmission, etc. are corrected and the shift speed of the transmission is changed more appropriately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co.,Ltd
    Inventors: Kensuke Kamichi, Kiyoshiro Ueoka, Masaya Yamamoto, Kazuomi Okasaka, Yoichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 7291093
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism linked to an engine, a first motor, and a drive shaft and having a second motor attached to the drive shaft via a transmission, in a Lo gear position of the transmission, the control procedure of the invention drives the engine intermittently corresponding to a preset engine power demand Pe* (steps S170 and S230). In a Hi gear position of the transmission, the control procedure keeps the engine in load operation (step S330). When a relatively large driving force is required in the Hi gear position of the transmission, the drive control of the invention enables quicker output of the required driving force to the drive shaft, compared with the output of the driving force from the operation stop state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Kiyoshiro Ueoka, Kensuke Kamichi, Yoichi Tajima, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Publication number: 20070179014
    Abstract: A power output apparatus that suppresses wearing-out of the components of a transmission connected to a drive shaft and a rotating shaft of an electric motor as well as reducing the a shock imparted to the vehicle. The required drive power is output to the drive shaft by appropriately controlling and internal combustion engine, a power split device, the electric motor and a shifting portion. When the rotational speed of the drive shaft can be estimated, the speed ratio in the shifting portion is changed based on either the detected rotational speed of the drive shaft or the estimated rotational speed of the drive shaft and the rotational speed of the rotating shaft. However, when the rotational speed of the drive shaft cannot be estimated, the speed ratio is maintained in the shifting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masashi Yoshimi, Shinichi Sasade, Kazuo Kawaguchi, Yoichi Tajima, Shinobu Nishiyama, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 7111698
    Abstract: The controller includes motor control means for controlling the drive RPM of a motor generator to reach a specified RPM less than the idle RPM when the braking condition of a foot brake is detected by a brake-operating-state detecting means while a motor generator is being rotated at an idle RPM or more. This reduces uncomfortable shock which tends to occur because of a change in the rotation of the motor during braking as much as possible to improve drive feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yukinori Nakamori, Yasuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7089095
    Abstract: A control unit for a hybrid vehicle includes a take-off detection unit that detects a start of movement of the hybrid vehicle from a stopped state; and a torque control unit that limits a engine torque input to an automatic transmission from becoming excessive by generating negative torque using a regeneration operation of a motor on occasions when the start of running of the hybrid vehicle is detected by the take-off detection unit. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably inhibit problems, such as an occupant of the hybrid vehicle being caused to feel an unpleasant jolt due to torque transmitted to a driven wheel side increasing instantaneously as a result of change in an application state of a clutch during the start of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeki Takami, Takeshi Inuzuka, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Murase, Yoichi Tajima, Takayuki Kubo, Takahiro Kido
  • Publication number: 20060128523
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a planetary gear mechanism linked to an engine, a first motor, and a drive shaft and having a second motor attached to the drive shaft via a transmission, in a Lo gear position of the transmission, the control procedure of the invention drives the engine intermittently corresponding to a preset engine power demand Pe* (steps S170 and S230). In a Hi gear position of the transmission, the control procedure keeps the engine in load operation (step S330). When a relatively large driving force is required in the Hi gear position of the transmission, the drive control of the invention enables quicker output of the required driving force to the drive shaft, compared with the output of the driving force from the operation stop state of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Kiyoshiro Ueoka, Kensuke Kamichi, Yoichi Tajima, Kazuomi Okasaka
  • Patent number: 7019472
    Abstract: A vehicle and method of operating a vehicle including a motor that supplies a driving force to a wheel, a battery that supplies electric power to the motor and receives regenerative electric power from the motor and a controller that detects a state of the battery and sets, based on a detected state of the battery, a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value for a voltage value and an electric current value that is output from the battery to the motor, and a second upper limit value and second lower limit value for the voltage value and the electric current value that is input from the regenerative electric power to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kayukawa, Yoshitaka Murase, Yoichi Tajima, Yukinori Nakamori, Yasuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7017348
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a motor, connected to an engine output shaft, to which an engine output is transmitted, and an automatic transmission, the automatic transmission including an input shaft, connected to the engine output shaft, and an output shaft, connected to a driving wheel, the control device including a request output detection unit that detects a driver's requested output; an engine control unit that controls the engine output; a motor control unit that controls motor output so that total output of the motor output and the engine output becomes the driver's requested output; and a limitation request output unit that, when the driver's request output is larger than input-available driving force to the input shaft of the automatic transmission, outputs a limitation request to limit the total output to limitation output, which is smaller than or equal to the input-available driving force, wherein the motor control unit, when the limitation request is output
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Takayuki Kubo, Takeshi Inuzuka, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Shigeki Takami, Takahiro Kido
  • Patent number: 7011603
    Abstract: A fluid pressure control device including a torque converter that is placed between a output shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a transmission, a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the output shaft, a clutch that directly engages the output shaft and the input shaft by employing an engagement pressure based on a fluid pressure that is generated by the mechanical oil pump, an electric oil pump that can supply a fluid pressure to the clutch, and a control unit for controlling the electric oil pump, wherein when the engagement pressure based on the fluid pressure that is generated by the mechanical oil pump is an amount below a necessary engagement pressure that is necessary to engage the clutch, the control unit drives the electric oil pump so as to supply a fluid pressure by at least the amount to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Takeshi Inuzuka, Shigeki Takami, Yoshitaka Murase, Yoichi Tajima, Takayuki Kubo, Takahiro Kido
  • Patent number: 6988974
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including a motor, an engine, wherein the motor can be drivingly connected with the engine, a torque converter, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive torque, which is transmitted via the torque converter from the engine and the motor, to drive wheels, and a controller that controls a driving state of the motor, controls a driving state of the engine, and outputs a torque reduction command for controlling a drive torque of the motor in order to place the drive torque of the motor within a maximum input torque of the transmission mechanism, wherein the maximum input torque is calculated based on a torque ratio of the torque converter when the engine begins driving after the motor begins driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Yukinori Nakamori, Shigeki Takami, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase
  • Patent number: 6966867
    Abstract: A control device for hybrid vehicles, including a motor drivingly connected to an engine, a transmission that transmits output torques of the engine and the motor to drive wheels, and a controller that performs torque reduction control by which an input torque to the transmission is reduced, wherein when torque reduction control is consecutively performed, the input torque is reduced at least once by a negative torque output from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Takayuki Kubo, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Shigeki Takami, Yukinori Nakamori
  • Patent number: 6952057
    Abstract: A controller of a vehicle for igniting, i.e., starting-up an engine on the basis of a load condition. When a starting condition judging device judges that the vehicle is advanced, i.e., starts moving, during an idle stop, an engine water temperature detector and a lubricating oil temperature detector of a load condition detector detect, e.g., the water temperature of the engine and the temperature of lubricating oil of an automatic speed change gear as a load condition having an influence on the magnitude of the load torque given to a motor. When an ignition condition setting device sets an ignition condition for starting the engine on the basis of the load condition and an ignition condition judging device judges that the ignition condition occurs, an engine ignition device ignites the engine. Thus, when the load with respect to the motor is large, the engine is ignited from low speed rotation and electric power consumption is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Aw. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yukinori Nakamori, Yasuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20050011689
    Abstract: The controller includes motor control means for controlling the drive RPM of a motor generator to reach a specified RPM less than the idle RPM when the braking condition of a foot brake is detected by a brake-operating-state detecting means while a motor generator is being rotated at an idle RPM or more. This reduces uncomfortable shock which tends to occur because of a change in the rotation of the motor during braking as much as possible to improve drive feeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yukinori Nakamori, Yasuhiko Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20040235614
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a motor, connected to an engine output shaft, to which an engine output is transmitted, and an automatic transmission, the automatic transmission including an input shaft, connected to the engine output shaft, and an output shaft, connected to a driving wheel, the control device including a request output detection unit that detects a driver's requested output; an engine control unit that controls the engine output; a motor control unit that controls motor output so that total output of the motor output and the engine output becomes the driver's requested output; and a limitation request output unit that, when the driver's request output is larger than input-available driving force to the input shaft of the automatic transmission, outputs a limitation request to limit the total output to limitation output, which is smaller than or equal to the input-available driving force, wherein the motor control unit, when the limitation request is output
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Takayuki Kubo, Takeshi Inuzuka, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Shigeki Takami, Takahiro Kido
  • Publication number: 20040152558
    Abstract: A control unit for a hybrid vehicle includes a take-off detection unit that detects a start of movement of the hybrid vehicle from a stopped state; and a torque control unit that limits a engine torque input to an automatic transmission from becoming excessive by generating negative torque using a regeneration operation of a motor on occasions when the start of running of the hybrid vehicle is detected by the take-off detection unit. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably inhibit problems, such as an occupant of the hybrid vehicle being caused to feel an unpleasant jolt due to torque transmitted to a driven wheel side increasing instantaneously as a result of change in an application state of a clutch during the start of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki Takami, Takeshi Inuzuka, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Yoshitaka Murase, Yoichi Tajima, Takayuki Kubo, Takahiro Kido
  • Publication number: 20040144608
    Abstract: A fluid pressure control device including a torque converter that is placed between a output shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a transmission, a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the output shaft, a clutch that directly engages the output shaft and the input shaft by employing an engagement pressure based on a fluid pressure that is generated by the mechanical oil pump, an electric oil pump that can supply a fluid pressure to the clutch, and a control unit for controlling the electric oil pump, wherein when the engagement pressure based on the fluid pressure that is generated by the mechanical oil pump is an amount below a necessary engagement pressure that is necessary to engage the clutch, the control unit drives the electric oil pump so as to supply a fluid pressure by at least the amount to the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Takeshi Inuzuka, Shigeki Takami, Yoshitaka Murase, Yoichi Tajima, Takayuki Kubo, Takahiro Kido
  • Publication number: 20040134697
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including a motor, an engine, wherein the motor can be drivingly connected with the engine, a torque converter, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive torque, which is transmitted via the torque converter from the engine and the motor, to drive wheels, and a controller that controls a driving state of the motor, controls a driving state of the engine, and outputs a torque reduction command for controlling a drive torque of the motor in order to place the drive torque of the motor within a maximum input torque of the transmission mechanism, wherein the maximum input torque is calculated based on a torque ratio of the torque converter when the engine begins driving after the motor begins driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Yukinori Nakamori, Shigeki Takami, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase
  • Publication number: 20040127326
    Abstract: A control device for hybrid vehicles, including a motor drivingly connected to an engine, a transmission that transmits output torques of the engine and the motor to drive wheels, and a controller that performs torque reduction control by which an input torque to the transmission is reduced, wherein when torque reduction control is consecutively performed, the input torque is reduced at least once by a negative torque output from the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Takayuki Kubo, Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Shigeki Takami, Yukinori Nakamori
  • Publication number: 20040121882
    Abstract: A controller of a vehicle for igniting, i.e., starting-up an engine on the basis of a load condition. When a starting condition judging device judges that the vehicle is advanced, i.e., starts moving, during an idle stop, an engine water temperature detector and a lubricating oil temperature detector of a load condition detector detect, e.g., the water temperature of the engine and the temperature of lubricating oil of an automatic speed change gear as a load condition having an influence on the magnitude of the load torque given to a motor. When an ignition condition setting device sets an ignition condition for starting the engine on the basis of the load condition and an ignition condition judging device judges that the ignition condition occurs, an engine ignition device ignites the engine. Thus, when the load with respect to the motor is large, the engine is ignited from low speed rotation and electric power consumption is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Tajima, Yoshitaka Murase, Atsushi Kayukawa, Yukinori Nakamori, Yasuhiko Kobayashi