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: 20160325730
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine (2), a rotary machine (MG2), at least one driving wheel (25), a transmission member (11) arranged between the engine (2) and the driving wheel (25), a clutch (CL1) having a first engagement element (32) connected to the transmission member (11) and a second engagement element (33) connected to the rotary machine (MG2), the clutch (CL1) being configured to engage or disengage the first engagement element (32) and the second engagement element (33), and a controller. The controller includes an electronic control unit (40) configured to perform an idling mode after the clutch (CL1) is disengaged while the vehicle is traveling. The idling mode is a mode in which the rotary machine (MG2) rotates in a state where the rotation speed of the second engagement (33) element is lower than the rotation speed of the first engagement element (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito ONO, Takahito ENDO, Yuji IWASE, Makoto FUNAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20160325752
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito ONO, Takahito ENDO, Yuji IWASE
  • Patent number: 9475378
    Abstract: A driving device for the hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear mechanism; a first rotating machine coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; an engine coupled to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; a second rotating machine and a drive wheel that are coupled to a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; and a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, wherein the driving device has a first driving region that allows executing a dual-drive mode that causes running using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources, and a second driving region that allows executing a lubrication running mode that causes the first rotating machine to rotate the engine so as to lubricate the planetary gear mechanism and causes running using the second rotating machine as a single power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwase, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki, Hirotatsu Kitabatake
  • Publication number: 20160297444
    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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito ENDO, Kazumi HOSHIYA, Yoshio ITO, Norimi ASAHARA, Seiji KUWAHARA, Tadashi FUJIYOSHI, Yuji IWASE
  • Patent number: 9463789
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes a first electric motor; a differential mechanism having a rotating element coupled to the first electric motor, a rotating element that is an output rotating member coupled to drive wheels in a power transmittable manner, and a rotating element coupled to a non-rotating member by actuation of a lock mechanism; and a second electric motor coupled to the drive wheels in a power transmittable manner. During motor running for running with output torques from the first electric motor and the second electric motor used together in an actuated state of the lock mechanism, a drive torque shared by the first electric motor is made smaller in a requested drive torque when a rotation speed of a pinion making up the differential mechanism is higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Atsushi Tabata, Keita Imai, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9457790
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a planetary gear mechanism; a first rotary machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; an engine and a one-way clutch that are connected to a carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; a second rotary machine and a drive wheel that are connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; and a parking device connected to the ring gear. The power transmission device is configured to positively rotate the first rotary machine at a time a command to disengage the parking device is received and thereafter disengage the parking device, and a direction of the positive rotation is a rotational direction of the carrier rotary-driven by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Yosuke Suzuki, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9440641
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to improve a response of shifting operation of a drive mode while avoiding a shortage of drive force. The control system is applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and two motors, and configured to select a drive mode from a mode where the vehicle is powered by the engine and a mode where the vehicle is powered by at least one of the motors while stopping the engine. The control system predicts a fact that the engine is expected to be started based on a detection value representing a running condition of the vehicle, during propulsion of the vehicle by the two motors while stopping the engine; shifts a drive mode to a mode where the vehicle is powered by one of the motors without using a power of the other motor to be used to start the engine; and starts the engine upon satisfaction of a condition for propelling the vehicle by the power of the other motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Hideaki Komada, Yosuke Suzuki, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9440642
    Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid vehicle includes a planetary gear unit, a first rotating machine connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear unit, an engine connected to a carrier of the planetary gear unit, a second rotating machine and drive wheels connected to a ring gear of the planetary gear unit, a regulating mechanism that regulates rotation of the carrier, a first running mode in which the vehicle runs using the second rotating machine as a power source, and a second running mode in which the vehicle runs using the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine as power sources while the regulating mechanism regulates rotation of the carrier. The carrier is rotated by the first rotating machine when the vehicle shifts from the first running mode to the second running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
  • Publication number: 20160257300
    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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20160257189
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU
  • Publication number: 20160258496
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a first rotational member, a second rotational member, and a first rotational body. The second rotational member has plural first through holes in which bolts are inserted. A dimension of the first through hole in a circumferential direction is larger than a dimension of the first through hole in a radial direction. A first region and a second region are obtained by dividing the first through hole into two regions in the circumferential direction. The first region is located ahead of the second region in a rotatable direction of the second rotational member. The bolts are inserted such that the each of the bolts is located in the first region of the first through hole, and the second rotational member and the first rotational body are fastened by the bolts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seitaro NOBUYASU, Yosuke SUZUKI, Takahito ENDO, Suguru HIRAI, Yuji IWASE, Koichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20160251010
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having an engine and a motor configured to reduce torque pulses and vibrations. The control system is comprised of a determining means that determines a target operating point of the engine at which a target engine power based on a required driving force is generated while improving fuel economy (step S1); and an electric vehicle mode setting means that shift a driving mode to the EV mode to drive the vehicle by the motor, if a target engine speed to be achieved at the target operating point determined by the determining means is lower than a predetermined threshold value (steps S2, S6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20160229387
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Makoto FUNAHASHI, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Koichi WATANABE, Shojiro OYA, Yuta OSHIRO
  • Publication number: 20160207519
    Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle comprises a lubricating oil passage, a first oil pump, an electronic control unit, and an electronic control unit. The lubricating oil passage is configured to supply lubricating oil to the power split mechanism by causing the lubricating oil to flow outward in a radial direction of a power split mechanism. The first oil pump is configured to be allowed to be driven by a first motor, and configured to generate hydraulic pressure of the lubricating oil that lubricates the power split mechanism. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the hybrid vehicle is set to a one-motor mode after traveling in a two-motor mode, execute control for increasing an amount of the lubricating oil that is supplied to the power split mechanism by driving the first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Yota MIZUNO, Akiko NISHIMINE, Sohei MURATA
  • Publication number: 20160193938
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, a clutch being provided in a power transmission path leading from an engine to drive wheels, the clutch transmitting torque between the engine and the drive wheels when engaged, the clutch interrupting the transmission of torque between the engine and the drive wheels, the control apparatus including an ECU configured to execute drive control for consuming electric power of a storage device by driving a first motor, when the clutch is kept in a released state and the clutch cannot be engaged and an amount of electrical charge of the storage device is higher than a prescribed first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Taro MOTEKI
  • Patent number: 9376009
    Abstract: A driving device for hybrid vehicle provided with an engine, first and second electrical machines, a first and second differential mechanisms, and a switching device in which the first and second differential mechanisms are connected to each other through output rotational elements. The engine and the first and second rotating electrical machines are connected to different rotational elements out of rotational elements of the first and second differential mechanisms. The switching device switches between an independent mode and a four-element mode. In the four element mode, rotational elements connected to the engine, first and second rotating electrical machines, and the output rotational elements differentially rotate, and in an alignment chart in the four-element mode, any one of rotational elements connected to the first and second rotating electrical machines is located between a rotational element connected to the engine and the output rotational elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohito Ono, Yuji Iwase, Takahito Endo
  • Publication number: 20160176396
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle capable of selecting between a state where a clutch coupling an engine and a motor is engaged and the vehicle travels by drive power of the engine, and a state where the clutch is released and the vehicle travels with the engine stopped, wherein, if there is a request to restart the engine while the engine is rotating after control to release the clutch and stop the engine has been started, then upon the condition that the engine number of revolutions is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and in a state where the output torque of the motor is limited to a previously established torque or less, control to increase the transmission torque capacity of the clutch is implemented, whereupon the output torque of the motor is increased to a torque that cranks the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Taro MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20160176395
    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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Taro MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20160160939
    Abstract: A release mechanism includes a clutch, a bearing, a hydraulic actuator, and a return spring. The clutch transmits a torque between an input-side rotational member and an output-side rotational member by pressing the pressure plate against a clutch disc by an elastic force of a diaphragm spring. The bearing transmits a load in a direction in which a pressure plate is separated from the clutch disc. The bearing is placed on an outer peripheral side of the hydraulic actuator in a radial direction of the output-side rotational member. The hydraulic actuator transmits, to the bearing, a load to separate the pressure plate from the clutch disc. The return spring, the hydraulic actuator, and the bearing are placed so as to overlap with each other in an axis direction of the output-side rotational member. The return spring is placed on an outer peripheral side of the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Koichi KATO, Seitaro NOBUYASU, Taro MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20160159343
    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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei HATA, Makoto FUNAHASHI, Yuji IWASE, Yosuke SUZUKI, Hirotatsu KITABATAKE, Seitaro NOBUYASU