Patents by Inventor Yoshiro Obayashi

Yoshiro Obayashi 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: 9914456
    Abstract: A rotation state of each rotating element of a four-wheel drive vehicle and an operating state of each engagement element of a disconnect mechanism, corresponding to an operating state of the disconnect mechanism, are displayed on or near a vehicle model image on a vehicle display. Thus, it is possible to inform a driver of the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time. Thus, the driver is able to recognize the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time, so the driver is able to carry out driving based on the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimizu, Yoshiro Obayashi, Ryota Horie, Norihiro Mizoguchi, Shintarou Mukougawa, Kunihiro Iwatsuki
  • Publication number: 20160229405
    Abstract: A rotation state of each rotating element of a four-wheel drive vehicle and an operating state of each engagement element of a disconnect mechanism, corresponding to an operating state of the disconnect mechanism, are displayed on or near a vehicle model image on a vehicle display. Thus, it is possible to inform a driver of the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time. Thus, the driver is able to recognize the operating state of the disconnect mechanism at any time, so the driver is able to carry out driving based on the operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi SHIMIZU, Yoshiro OBAYASHI, Ryota HORIE, Norihiro MIZOGUCHI, Shintarou MUKOUGAWA, Kunihiro IWATSUKI
  • Patent number: 9272700
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism is configured to disconnect a predetermined rotating element from an engine and an auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a two-wheel drive mode. The predetermined rotating element is configured to transmit power to the auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a four-wheel drive mode. An electronic control unit is configured to: execute shift control when a shift condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied; selectively engage or release the disconnect mechanism based on a traveling state of the vehicle and a driver's predetermined operation; and control at least one of the automatic transmission or the disconnect mechanism such that a shift period based on the shift condition of the automatic transmission and an engagement-release period of the disconnect mechanism at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Tamoto, Masayuki Arai, Yoshiro Obayashi, Kunihiro Iwatsuki
  • Publication number: 20150142280
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism is configured to disconnect a predetermined rotating element from an engine and an auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a two-wheel drive mode. The predetermined rotating element is configured to transmit power to the auxiliary drive wheels while the vehicle is traveling in a four-wheel drive mode. An electronic control unit is configured to: execute shift control when a shift condition of an automatic transmission is satisfied; selectively engage or release the disconnect mechanism based on a traveling state of the vehicle and a driver's predetermined operation; and control at least one of the automatic transmission or the disconnect mechanism such that a shift period based on the shift condition of the automatic transmission and an engagement-release period of the disconnect mechanism at least partially overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Hideki Tamoto, Masayuki Arai, Yoshiro Obayashi, Kunihiro Iwatsuki