Patents by Inventor Giorgio L. Zoia

Giorgio L. Zoia 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: 11814027
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgio L Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20230304636
    Abstract: An apparatus, namely an infrared (IR) interference shield, is described that can be utilized with a vehicle that employs hydrogen fueling, such as a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). For example, the IR interference shield is mounted onto the vehicle's hydrogen fueling receptacle. The IR interference shield is distinctly structured to reduce or prevent interference of IR wireless communication between a vehicle-side IR transmitter on the receptacle, and an IR receiver of the hydrogen fueling station. The IR interference shield can block interference to IR signals that may negatively affect IR wireless communication between the hydrogen fueling station and the vehicle. Thus, the IR interference shield improves reliability of the communication between the vehicle and the hydrogen fueling station, thereby improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the hydrogen refueling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: GIORGIO L. ZOIA, Hannah L. WHITE, Dallas K. FOX, Jacquelyn A. BIRDSALL
  • Publication number: 20230249672
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc
    Inventors: Giorgio L Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10793157
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10518652
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10442297
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339604
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20180339594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339705
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo