Patents by Inventor Yuji Iwase

Yuji Iwase 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: 20180236998
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The control device includes an ECU. The ECU includes a first traveling mode. The first traveling mode includes a second traveling mode, a third traveling mode, and a fourth traveling mode. The ECU is configured to select the second traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a low vehicle speed range equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed when the ECU selects the first traveling mode, to select the third traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a high vehicle speed range equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, and to select the fourth traveling mode if the vehicle speed is in a vehicle speed range between the low vehicle speed range and the high vehicle speed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito ONO, Takahito ENDO, Yuji IWASE, Makoto FUNAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10030724
    Abstract: An engagement device includes: a first member including a plurality of engaged teeth; a second member arranged coaxially with the first member, the second member including a plurality of engaging teeth; a rotation unit configured to relatively rotate the first member and the second member about an axis; a movement unit configured to relatively move the first member and the second member in an axial direction; and a control unit configured to control operations of the rotation unit and the movement unit, and the engaged teeth are formed on the first member at a side opposing the second member along a circumferential direction around the axis, and the engaging teeth are formed on the second member at a side opposing the first member along the circumferential direction around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Yuji Iwase, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10017040
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid-vehicle to realize a variety of drive modes for covering various running conditions. A first planetary gear unit is included of a first carrier, a first sun gear, and a first ring gear. A second planetary gear unit is included of a second carrier, a second sun gear, and a second ring gear. A first clutch connects the engine selectively with the first carrier. A first motor is connected with the first sun gear, the second motor is connected with the second sun gear, and the first ring gear and the second ring gear are individually connected with an output member. The drive unit is with a second clutch for connecting the first carrier selectively with the second sun gear. In the drive unit, a reverse stage fixing-mode to propel the vehicle backwardly while changes the output member speed in accordance with the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 10000198
    Abstract: In a control system and a control method, an electronic control unit is configured to crank an engine by setting a clutch to a half engaged state in a state where operation of the engine is stopped during traveling. The half engaged state is a state where the clutch is engaged with a slip. The electronic control unit is configured to, after a rotation speed of the engine has reached an ignition permission rotation speed or higher, increase a transmitted torque capacity of the clutch to a transmitted torque capacity that satisfies the following conditions i) and ii): i) the transmitted torque capacity is larger than a transmitted torque capacity before the rotation speed of the engine has reached the ignition permission rotation speed; and ii) the transmitted torque capacity allows the clutch to be kept in the half engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Makoto Funahashi, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Koichi Watanabe, Shojiro Oya, Yuta Oshiro
  • Patent number: 9994212
    Abstract: A drive control system for preventing damage from a power distribution device under a motor mode and for improving fuel efficiency. A time duration from termination of the first operating mode where a torque of the first motor is applied to the power distribution device while halting a carrier (at step S4), and a temperature of the power distribution device is estimated based on the calculated time duration (at step S13). The first operating mode is enabled if the estimated temperature is lower than a predetermined allowable temperature (at step S15), and inhibited if the estimated temperature is higher than the allowable temperature (at step S10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Akira Murakami, Akiko Nishimine, Sohei Murata
  • Patent number: 9981666
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an engine, a rotary machine, at least one driving wheel, a first clutch disposed between a power transmission member and the rotary machine, the power transmission member being disposed between the engine and the driving wheel, the first clutch being configured to be switched to an engaged state or a disengaged state, and a second clutch disposed in parallel with the first clutch, the second clutch being a one-way clutch. The controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control at least one of the rotary machine or the first clutch so as to reduce inertia of the power transmission member based on a torsional load acting on the power transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9956954
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicle for extending a possible travelling distance of the vehicle in the event of clutch failure is provided. The control system is configured to select a first drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by an engine in case an estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is larger than a first threshold value, and to select a second drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by a motor in case the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is smaller than the first threshold value. The control system is further configured to reduce an engine torque to be smaller than the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in case the first drive mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9944279
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly shift a drive mode. In the single-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by a second motor while bringing an engagement device into disengagement and stopping the engine. In the dual-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by both a first motor and the second motor while bringing the engagement device into engagement and stopping a rotation of the output shaft of the engine by a stopper device. When shifting the drive mode from the single-motor mode to the dual-motor mode, the control system controls the first motor in a manner such that a speed difference between an input speed and an output speed of the engagement device is reduced while increasing a torque transmitting capacity of the engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9902393
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to ensure acceleration response while improving energy efficiency in an autonomous vehicle in which an operating mode is selected from an autonomous mode and a manual mode. A switching device is disposed between a motor and drive wheels to switch a driving mode between a direct drive mode and a differential drive mode. A controller executes a motor-idling control to keep a speed of the motor to a standby speed during propulsion in a motor-standby mode. The controller is configured to select a first standby speed of a motor idling control in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the manual mode, and to select a second standby speed that is lower than the first standby speed in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the autonomous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya, Yoshio Ito, Norimi Asahara, Seiji Kuwahara, Tadashi Fujiyoshi, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9896084
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle to start an engine without causing a torque drop is provided. A combined planetary gear unit is configured in such a manner that an input element connected to the engine and an output element are situated between a reaction element connected to a first motor and a fixed element connected to a brake in a nomographic diagram. The first motor is selectively connected to the engine by a clutch. A controller is configured to start the engine by the first motor while engaging the brake to restrict rotation of the fixed element and engaging the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Takahito Endo, Kensei Hata, Shotaro Kato, Hidekazu Nagai
  • Patent number: 9873434
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to improve energy efficiency of a vehicle that can be operated not only manually but also autonomously. The vehicle control system is configured to deliver oil to an oil requiring site in a first feeding amount under the manual mode, and to deliver oil to the oil requiring site in a second feeding amount that is smaller than the first feeding amount during propulsion under the autonomous mode in line with a travel plan. When a required amount of oil delivered to the oil requiring site is expected to be increased based on the travel plan under the autonomous mode, the controller increases an oil feeding amount to the oil requiring site from the second feeding amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya, Yoshio Ito, Norimi Asahara, Seiji Kuwahara, Tadashi Fujiyoshi, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9849874
    Abstract: A control system of a hybrid vehicle, in which a driving power source for travel includes an engine that is started by cranking, a motor that can control a torque, and a clutch that is coupled with the motor and in which a transmission torque capacity continuously changes depending on a change of a control amount is configured to estimate a torque of the clutch based on the torque that the motor outputs, and change rates of the rotational speed of the motor and the clutch caused by changing the control amount, when the torque that the motor outputs is transmitted by the clutch that is in a slip state by changing the control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Makoto Funahashi, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Seitaro Nobuyasu
  • Patent number: 9834203
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for preventing malfunction of the clutch for selectively connecting the engine with the power train. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having an engine, a motor disposed on a power train, and a clutch interposed therebetween. In order to prevent a malfunction of the clutch, the vehicle control system is configured to engage the clutch while causing a slip but without starting the engine if the engine has not yet been started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9816570
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an electromagnetic coil, fixed portions placed around the electromagnetic coil, and a movable portion including a magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic coil together with the fixed portions. The movable portion is configured to operate an operated member by moving in a predetermined direction due to an electromagnetic force generated in the magnetic circuit. The movable portion includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are supported respectively by the fixed portions. The first member and the second member are incorporated to each other by sandwiching the operated member from both sides in the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Yuji Iwase, Shotaro Kato, Hidekazu Nagai, Hiroto Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9783191
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a differential mechanism, and a clutch. The control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (a) set an EV mode in which a vehicle travels at least by drive power of the second motor among the first motor and the second motor in a state that the engine stops, (b) prohibit setting of the EV mode in a state that the clutch is fully engaged when a vehicle speed is at least equal to a predetermined first vehicle speed threshold value, and (c) prohibit setting of the EV mode in a state that the clutch is disengaged when the vehicle speed of the vehicle that travels in the EV mode is at most equal to a predetermined second vehicle speed threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20170282890
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform feedback control of a motor such that a torque is output for stopping a crankshaft at a target angle. A first angle is used as the target angle during a first period from start of the feedback control to first detection of rotation of the crankshaft in a negative rotational direction for returning the crank angle. A second angle is used as the target angle during a second period from the lapse of the first period to detection of a changeover in a rotational direction of the crankshaft from the negative to a positive rotational direction. The electronic control unit is configured to return the target angle to the first angle at a first timing after the lapse of the second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiro FUJIMOTO, Wan Leng ANG, Yu MIYAHARA, Yuji IWASE
  • Patent number: 9758161
    Abstract: At the time of changing from an EV mode, in which a hybrid vehicle travels with the use of a second motor provided on an output side of a differential mechanism while torque that acts on any one of rotating elements of the differential mechanism is interrupted by a clutch, to an HV mode, in which the hybrid vehicle travels while transmitting output torque of an engine to a drive wheel, when the engine is started in a state where the clutch is slipped and torque is transmitted from the engine so as to increase the rotation speed of the first rotating element while the clutch is slipped, torque starts being output from a first motor such that torque input from the first rotating element to the differential mechanism to increase the rotation speed of the drive wheel is output from the third rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20170232958
    Abstract: When an engine is started by causing a first motor coupled to first drive wheels to motor the engine while a hybrid vehicle is turning with the engine stopped, an electronic control unit controls output torque of a second motor, in such a direction as to curb change of a steering characteristic of the hybrid vehicle due to change of drive torque of the first drive wheels induced by motoring of the engine by the first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Akira MURAKAMI, Hidekazu NAGAI, Takahito ENDO, Yuji IWASE
  • Patent number: 9724988
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a first motor, a second motor, and a differential mechanism that includes a first rotation element connected to the first motor, a second rotation element connected to the second motor, and a third rotation element connected to driving wheels, the first rotation element and the second rotation element are located on the opposite sides with the third rotation element interposed therebetween in a collinear diagram of the differential mechanism, and an area that is not able to be selected as a target control quantity is determined within a range of the control quantity that is able to be output by one motor of the first motor and the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Kensei Hata
  • Patent number: 9724991
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle driving apparatus includes: an engine; a first rotating machine; a second rotating machine; planetary gear mechanisms capable of forming a four-element complex planetary to which the engine, the first rotating machine, the second rotating machine, and drive wheels are connected; and a controller. In a collinear diagram of the complex planetary, the first and second rotating machines are adjacent to each other and disposed on one side with respect to the engine. In a state in which the complex planetary is formed, the controller is configured to operate, in a predetermined mode, the first and second rotating machines at operating points at which a total of absolute values of workloads of the first and second rotating machines is smaller than the total of the absolute values at operating points for achieving an electric power balance between the first and second rotating machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase