Patents by Inventor Hirotaka Sunada

Hirotaka Sunada 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: 20230234396
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor unit provided in a wheel of a wheel unit, includes: a motor having a rotor disposed on a radially outer side of a stator; a brake disposed on an inner side of the motor; and a housing that accommodates the motor and the brake. Further, the housing has a cylindrical partition that radially partitions a space for accommodating the motor and a space for accommodating the brake, the stator is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the partition, and the brake is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the partition, and a fixing portion included in the brake is fixed to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi TOMINAGA, Tadashi FUJIYOSHI, Hirotaka SUNADA, Katsuhiko TATEBE, Tetsuyoshi FUKAYA
  • Patent number: 11410197
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle that is a mobile unit according to this disclosure is a mobile unit configured to transport a user to a facility that provides services or commercial products and, at the same time, configured to perform an advertising activity for the services or the commercial products of the facility. The mobile unit includes a control unit configured to acquire data for providing a promotion in the mobile unit and is configured to provide a promotion in the mobile unit based on the acquired data. The promotion is related to the services and the commercial products at the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Takahashi, Hirotaka Sunada, Hideo Hasegawa, Naomi Kondo, Takashi Shiomi, Kazuya Mikashima, Jun Usami, Yasuhiko Fukuzumi, Sayaka Ishikawa, Katsuhito Yamauchi, Tasuku Kuno
  • Publication number: 20210235025
    Abstract: A control unit of an autonomous vehicle, which is a moving object of the present disclosure, acquires a video of the outside of the autonomous vehicle to be displayed on a window display on an inner wall surface of the autonomous vehicle, and superimposes, on the acquired video, an image corresponding to a location of the autonomous vehicle to display on the window display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro TAKAHASHI, Hirotaka SUNADA, Hideo HASEGAWA, Naomi KONDO, Takashi SHIOMI, Kazuya MIKASHIMA, Jun USAMI, Yasuhiko FUKUZUMI, Sayaka ISHIKAWA, Katsuhito YAMAUCHI, Tasuku KUNO
  • Publication number: 20210166273
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle that is a mobile unit according to this disclosure is a mobile unit configured to transport a user to a facility that provides services or commercial products and, at the same time, configured to perform an advertising activity for the services or the commercial products of the facility. The mobile unit includes a control unit configured to acquire data for providing a promotion in the mobile unit and is configured to provide a promotion in the mobile unit based on the acquired data. The promotion is related to the services and the commercial products at the facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro TAKAHASHI, Hirotaka SUNADA, Hideo HASEGAWA, Naomi KONDO, Takashi SHIOMI, Kazuya MIKASHIMA, Jun USAMI, Yasuhiko FUKUZUMI, Sayaka ISHIKAWA, Katsuhito YAMAUCHI, Tasuku KUNO
  • Patent number: 10995694
    Abstract: A cylinder block defines a cylinder, in which a piston is reciprocated. The cylinder includes an upper bore, a center bore, and a lower bore arranged in order from proximity to a cylinder head in the axial direction of the cylinder. The inner diameter of the center bore is greater than the inner diameters of the upper bore and the lower bore. The cylinder block defines an upper recess that serves as an upper water jacket surrounding the upper bore and a lower recess that serves as a lower water jacket surrounding the lower bore. The upper recess and the lower recess are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cylinder so as to sandwich a spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Sunada
  • Publication number: 20200284218
    Abstract: A cylinder block defines a cylinder, in which a piston is reciprocated. The cylinder includes an upper bore, a center bore, and a lower bore arranged in order from proximity to a cylinder head in the axial direction of the cylinder. The inner diameter of the center bore is greater than the inner diameters of the upper bore and the lower bore. The cylinder block defines an upper recess that serves as an upper water jacket surrounding the upper bore and a lower recess that serves as a lower water jacket surrounding the lower bore. The upper recess and the lower recess are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction of the cylinder so as to sandwich a spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka SUNADA
  • Publication number: 20190154361
    Abstract: A heat exchange device includes: a first flow path through which a first fluid flows; a second flow path through which a second fluid flows, the second flow path being separated from the first flow path by a tubular partition wall and positioned close to an outer circumference of the tubular partition wall; an offset fin installed in a tubular shape extending along an inner circumferential surface of the tubular partition wall; and a pressing member disposed inward of the offset fin such that the offset fin is pressed toward the inner circumferential surface of the partition wall while being elastically deformed. The offset fin is provided with a plurality of wave-shaped portions arranged in an axial direction of the tubular partition wall and positions of wave-shapes of the wave-shaped portions adjacent to each other are offset from each other in a circumferential direction of the tubular partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka SUNADA, Yoshikazu ABE, Taku TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 9759272
    Abstract: A clutch is provided with a drive-side rotational body and a driven-side rotational body, which can move in the axial direction between a coupled position and a decoupled position. The driven-side rotational body has a groove having a helical portion and an annular portion that is deeper than the helical portion. The driven-side rotational body is urged toward the coupled position by an urging member. The driven-side rotational body is moved to the decoupled position against the urging force of the urging member by insertion of a pin into the helical portion. A projection is provided on the tip of the pin, and a recessed groove for accommodating the projection when the pin is inserted into the helical portion is provided in the bottom surface of the helical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Masao Nakayama, Hideki Tsutsui, Shintaro Nakano, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9494202
    Abstract: An annular groove is provided in a driving-side rotor of a clutch. Guide grooves are provided on a driven-side rotor of the clutch. By moving the driving-side rotor relative to the driven-side rotor, balls are moved that are accommodated in the spaces provided by the sections where the guide grooves and the annular groove face each other. Moving the balls toward the sections where the gap between the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor is narrow causes the balls to engage with the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor to achieve an engaged state. A disengaged state, in which engagement is cancelled, is achieved by moving the balls to the sections where the gap is wide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Shintaro Nakano, Daisuke Kobayashi, Akifumi Oosugi
  • Publication number: 20160169301
    Abstract: An annular groove is provided in a driving-side rotor of a clutch. Guide grooves are provided on a driven-side rotor of the clutch. By moving the driving-side rotor relative to the driven-side rotor, balls are moved that are accommodated in the spaces provided by the sections where the guide grooves and the annular groove face each other. Moving the balls toward the sections where the gap between the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor is narrow causes the balls to engage with the driving-side rotor and the driven-side rotor to achieve an engaged state. A disengaged state, in which engagement is cancelled, is achieved by moving the balls to the sections where the gap is wide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka SUNADA, Shintaro NAKANO, Daisuke KOBAYASHI, Akifumi OOSUGI
  • Publication number: 20150252857
    Abstract: The clutch is provided with a drive-side rotational body, a driven-side rotational body, driven-side rotational body, and an urging member. The driven-side rotational body is movable in the axial direction of the drive-side rotational body between a first position, at which the driven-side rotational body is coupled to the drive-side rotational body, and a second position, at which the driven-side rotational body is decoupled from the drive-side rotational body. The urging member urges the driven-side rotational body from the second position toward the first position. The driven-side rotational body includes a helical groove that extends in the urging direction of the urging member. The clutch is further provided with a pin that can be inserted into the helical groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Masao Nakayama, Hideki Tsutsui, Shintaro Nakano, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150247535
    Abstract: A clutch is provided with a drive-side rotational body and a driven-side rotational body, which can move in the axial direction between a coupled position and a decoupled position. The driven-side rotational body has a groove having a helical portion and an annular portion that is deeper than the helical portion. The driven-side rotational body is urged toward the coupled position by an urging member. The driven-side rotational body is moved to the decoupled position against the urging force of the urging member by insertion of a pin into the helical portion. A projection is provided on the tip of the pin, and a recessed groove for accommodating the projection when the pin is inserted into the helical portion is provided in the bottom surface of the helical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka SUNADA, Masao NAKAYAMA, Hideki TSUTSUI, Shintaro NAKANO, Daisuke KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150247536
    Abstract: A clutch is provided with a drive-side rotational body and a driven-side rotational body, which is movable in the axial direction of the drive-side rotational body between a coupled position. The driven-side rotational body has a groove having a helical portion and an annular portion. The clutch also includes an urging member and a pin that is selectively inserted into and retracted from the groove. The clutch moves the driven-side rotational body to the decoupled position against the urging force of the urging member by inserting the pin in the helical portion. The clutch further includes a restricting portion that restricts shifting of the position of the pin from the annular portion to the helical portion when the pin is positioned in the annular portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka SUNADA, Masao NAKAYAMA, Hideki TSUTSUI, Shintaro NAKANO, Daisuke KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150135871
    Abstract: A water pump has a pulley provided with an internally toothed gear and an externally toothed gear that is further in than the internally toothed gear in a radial direction, a shaft gear involved in transmission of power to and from the pulley, and a transmission mechanism that mediates transmission of power between the pulley and the shaft gear. The transmission mechanism includes gears and that set a transmission gear ratio to a first value when the transmission mechanism engages with the internally toothed gear and set the transmission gear ratio to a second value different from the first value when the transmission mechanism engages with the externally toothed gear, a rocker arm that switches an engagement object of the gears on a pulley side between the internally toothed gear and the externally toothed gear, and a DC motor that drives the rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Sunada
  • Patent number: 8955476
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a helical wall part provided in a guide rail for changing valve opening characteristics of a valve and a projection part, and can secure a contact area between the two when the two are engaged, thus successfully reducing the contact pressure generated between the two. The placement of the projection part with respect to the helical wall part is determined such that the central axis line of the projection part and the central axis line of a camshaft perpendicularly intersect with each other in a state in which the projection part is protruded toward the guide rail by an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Motohiro Tsuzuki, Woongseon Ryu, Akihiko Kawata
  • Patent number: 8925504
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can switch, based on an actuation of a single actuator, operating characteristics of valves for a plurality of cylinders collectively and smoothly using a rigid member, while suppressing an increase in wear of a guide rail and reducing the number of delay mechanisms. A changeover mechanism to switch operating characteristics of valves for each cylinder of first and second cylinder groups is provided. The changeover mechanism includes link shafts as a rigid member which is displaced when being engaged with a helical guide rail as a result of the actuation of an electromagnetic solenoid. The changeover mechanism includes a delay mechanism, which delays the displacement of the second link shaft in a cylinder in which the valves are lifting when the electromagnetic solenoid is actuated, at some point in the link shafts between the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohiro Tsuzuki, Shinobu Shimasaki, Akio Kidooka, Hirotaka Sunada
  • Publication number: 20120222635
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a helical wall part provided in a guide rail for changing valve opening characteristics of a valve and a projection part, and can secure a contact area between the two when the two are engaged, thus successfully reducing the contact pressure generated between the two. The placement of the projection part with respect to the helical wall part is determined such that the central axis line of the projection part and the central axis line of a camshaft perpendicularly intersect with each other in a state in which the projection part is protruded toward the guide rail by an actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Motohiro Tsuzuki, Woongseon Ryu, Akihiko Kawata
  • Publication number: 20120138002
    Abstract: Provided is a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which can switch, based on an actuation of a single actuator, operating characteristics of valves for a plurality of cylinders collectively and smoothly using a rigid member, while suppressing an increase in wear of a guide rail and reducing the number of delay mechanisms. A changeover mechanism to switch operating characteristics of valves for each cylinder of first and second cylinder groups is provided. The changeover mechanism includes link shafts as a rigid member which is displaced when being engaged with a helical guide rail as a result of the actuation of an electromagnetic solenoid. The changeover mechanism includes a delay mechanism, which delays the displacement of the second link shaft in a cylinder in which the valves are lifting when the electromagnetic solenoid is actuated, at some point in the link shafts between the first cylinder group and the second cylinder group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motohiro Tsuzuki, Shinobu Shimasaki, Akio Kidooka, Hirotaka Sunada
  • Patent number: 8186318
    Abstract: To provide a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can reduce a range where heat treatment is required, thereby favorably suppressing distortion which occurs in a camshaft during heat treatment, to a low level. A changeover mechanism is provided which includes a slide pin which is adapted to move within a predetermined reciprocating range thereby switching between operational states of a variable mechanism, and a guide rail provided in an outer peripheral surface of the camshaft and guides the movement of the slide pin from one end to a remaining end of the reciprocating range. A projection part which is engageable with the guide rail is provided in the slide pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Kiyoharu Nakamura, Shinobu Shimasaki, Motohiro Tsuzuki, Yusuke Kato
  • Publication number: 20110214636
    Abstract: To provide a variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can reduce a range where heat treatment is required, thereby favorably suppressing distortion which occurs in a camshaft during heat treatment, to a low level. A changeover mechanism is provided which includes a slide pin which is adapted to move within a predetermined reciprocating range thereby switching between operational states of a variable mechanism, and a guide rail provided in an outer peripheral surface of the camshaft and guides the movement of the slide pin from one end to a remaining end of the reciprocating range. A projection part which is engageable with the guide rail is provided in the slide pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sunada, Kiyoharu Nakamura, Shinobu Shimasaki, Motohiro Tsuzuki, Yusuke Kato