Patents by Inventor Itaru Seta

Itaru Seta 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: 11964620
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device to be equipped in a vehicle includes an electric storage unit group, an inverter, a driving motor, a converter, an electric device group, a first switch, and a second switch. The electric storage unit group includes first and second electric storage units. The driving motor is to be coupled to the electric storage unit group via the inverter. The electric device group is to be coupled to the electric storage unit group via the converter. The first switch is to be controlled between a state where the first electric storage unit is coupled to the inverter and a state where the first electric storage unit is coupled to the converter. The second switch is to be controlled between a state where the second electric storage unit is coupled to the inverter and a state where the second electric storage unit is coupled to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Takashi Kono, Shinya Sagawa, Kazuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11891000
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device includes an inverter, a converter, a driving motor, an electric device group, a first electric storage unit to be coupled to the driving motor via the inverter, a second electric storage unit to be coupled to an electric device group via the converter, an electric power converter, first and second switches, and a switch controller. The electric power converter is provided between the two electric storage units and couples them in parallel with each other. The first switch is provided between the first electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The second switch is provided between the second electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The switch controller controls the first and second switches based on a state of charge of the first electric storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Takashi Kono, Kazuki Makino, Shinya Sagawa
  • Patent number: 11654881
    Abstract: A control apparatus is configured to control a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, a generator configured to generate electric power by using motive power outputted from the engine, and a drive motor coupled to a drive wheel. The engine, the generator, and the drive motor are coupled to each other via a planetary gear mechanism. The control apparatus includes a processor configured to diagnose a state of at least one of the engine, the generator, or the drive motor on the basis of a relationship between a rotational speed of the engine, a rotational speed of the generator, and a rotational speed of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Itaru Seta, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Shinya Sagawa, Takashi Kono, Kazuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11641125
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device to be applied to a vehicle includes an electric storage unit group, a charger, first and second switches, and a switch controller. The electric storage unit group includes a first electric storage unit and a second electric storage unit having higher internal resistance than the first electric storage unit. The charger is coupled to the electric storage unit group and charges one or both of the first electric storage unit and second electric storage unit. The first switch is provided between the first electric storage unit and the charger and controlled between an on state and an off state. The second switch is provided between the second electric storage unit and the charger and controlled between an on state and an off state. The switch controller controls the first and second switches based on a temperature of the electric storage unit group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komura, Takashi Kono, Kazuki Makino, Shinya Sagawa
  • Patent number: 11541767
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply includes an electric accumulator pack, an electric motor, first and second switches, an output determiner, and a switch controller. The electric accumulator pack includes first and second electric accumulators. The first and second switches are controlled between on- and off-states. The output determiner determines whether the first electric accumulator is in a first output state or a second output state, and whether the second electric accumulator is in the first output state or the second output state. If at least one of the first electric accumulator or the second electric accumulator is in the first output state, the switch controller controls either one of the first and second switches to the on-state, and the other switch to the off-state. If both the first and second electric accumulators are in the second output state, the switch controller controls both the first and second switches to the on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Makino, Itaru Seta, Yosuke Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Takashi Kono, Shinya Sagawa, Masaki Komuro, Masakazu Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20220118964
    Abstract: A control apparatus is configured to control a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, a generator configured to generate electric power by using motive power outputted from the engine, and a drive motor coupled to a drive wheel. The engine, the generator, and the drive motor are coupled to each other via a planetary gear mechanism. The control apparatus includes a processor configured to diagnose a state of at least one of the engine, the generator, or the drive motor on the basis of a relationship between a rotational speed of the engine, a rotational speed of the generator, and a rotational speed of the drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SUZUKI, Itaru SETA, Yosuke OHTOMO, Masaki KOMURO, Shinya SAGAWA, Takashi KONO, Kazuki MAKINO
  • Publication number: 20220089051
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply includes an electric accumulator pack, an electric motor, first and second switches, an output determiner, and a switch controller. The electric accumulator pack includes first and second electric accumulators. The first and second switches are controlled between on- and off-states. The output determiner determines whether the first electric accumulator is in a first output state or a second output state, and whether the second electric accumulator is in the first output state or the second output state. If at least one of the first electric accumulator or the second electric accumulator is in the first output state, the switch controller controls either one of the first and second switches to the on-state, and the other switch to the off-state. If both the first and second electric accumulators are in the second output state, the switch controller controls both the first and second switches to the on-state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuki Makino, Itaru Seta, Yasuke Ohtomo, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Takashi Kono, Shinya Sagawa, Masaki Komuro, Masakazu Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20220085639
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device to be applied to a vehicle includes an electric storage unit group, a charger, first and second switches, and a switch controller. The electric storage unit group includes a first electric storage unit and a second electric storage unit having higher internal resistance than the first electric storage unit. The charger is coupled to the electric storage unit group and charges one or both of the first electric storage unit and second electric storage unit. The first switch is provided between the first electric storage unit and the charger and controlled between an on state and an off state. The second switch is provided between the second electric storage unit and the charger and controlled between an on state and an off state. The switch controller controls the first and second switches based on a temperature of the electric storage unit group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Itaru SETA, Hiroyuki SUZUKI, Yosuke OHTOMO, Masaki KOMURA, Takashi KONO, Kazuki MAKINO, Shinya SAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20220080908
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device to be equipped in a vehicle includes an electric storage unit group, an inverter, a driving motor, a converter, an electric device group, a first switch, and a second switch. The electric storage unit group includes first and second electric storage units. The driving motor is to be coupled to the electric storage unit group via the inverter. The electric device group is to be coupled to the electric storage unit group via the converter. The first switch is to be controlled between a state where the first electric storage unit is coupled to the inverter and a state where the first electric storage unit is coupled to the converter. The second switch is to be controlled between a state where the second electric storage unit is coupled to the inverter and a state where the second electric storage unit is coupled to the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Takashi Kono, Shinya Sagawa, Kazuki Makino
  • Publication number: 20220080909
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device includes an inverter, a converter, a driving motor, an electric device group, a first electric storage unit to be coupled to the driving motor via the inverter, a second electric storage unit to be coupled to an electric device group via the converter, an electric power converter, first and second switches, and a switch controller. The electric power converter is provided between the two electric storage units and couples them in parallel with each other. The first switch is provided between the first electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The second switch is provided between the second electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The switch controller controls the first and second switches based on a state of charge of the first electric storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Takashi Kono, Kazuki Makino, Shinya Sagawa
  • Publication number: 20220076509
    Abstract: A malfunction diagnosing system includes a data acquirer, an appropriate range setter, and a malfunction determiner. The data acquirer is configured to acquire traveling environment data and actual traveling result data in association with each other for a target vehicle to be subjected to malfunction diagnosis. The traveling environment data includes at least driving operation data indicating a driving operation. The actual traveling result data indicates an actual traveling result based on the traveling environment data. The appropriate range setter is configured to derive an appropriate range of actual traveling results based on the traveling environment data for vehicles the models of which are identical to a model of the target vehicle. The malfunction determiner is configured to determine whether the target vehicle has a malfunction by determining whether the actual traveling result data falls within the appropriate range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki KOMURO, Hiroyuki SUZUKI, Yosuke OHTOMO, Takumi HOSHI, Takashi KONO, Kazuki MAKINO, Masakazu YOSHINO, Itaru SETA, Shinya SAGAWA
  • Patent number: 11084380
    Abstract: A power supply system including: a driving motor capable of outputting power for driving a driving wheel; a main battery that stores electricity to be supplied to the driving motor; an engine capable of outputting power for driving the driving wheel; a starter motor that starts the engine; an auxiliary battery that stores electricity to be supplied to the starter motor and auxiliaries; a switch of capable of making or breaking an electric coupling between the auxiliary battery and the starter motor, and the auxiliaries and the main battery; and a control apparatus that diagnoses an abnormality in the auxiliary battery. The main battery is coupled to the auxiliaries via a DC-DC converter capable of stepping down a voltage of electricity stored in the main battery. The auxiliary battery is coupled to the auxiliaries via the switch. The controller diagnoses an abnormality in the auxiliary battery with the switch open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Tatsuhiro Kubo
  • Publication number: 20200016980
    Abstract: A power supply system including: a driving motor capable of outputting power for driving a driving wheel; a main battery that stores electricity to be supplied to the driving motor; an engine capable of outputting power for driving the driving wheel; a starter motor that starts the engine; an auxiliary battery that stores electricity to be supplied to the starter motor and auxiliaries; a switch of capable of making or breaking an electric coupling between the auxiliary battery and the starter motor, and the auxiliaries and the main battery; and a control apparatus that diagnoses an abnormality in the auxiliary battery. The main battery is coupled to the auxiliaries via a DC-DC converter capable of stepping down a voltage of electricity stored in the main battery. The auxiliary battery is coupled to the auxiliaries via the switch. The controller diagnoses an abnormality in the auxiliary battery with the switch open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Itaru SETA, Tatsuhiro KUBO
  • Patent number: 9758050
    Abstract: An SOC display displayed on a display includes a first region and a second region. The first region presents an SOC range capable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The SOC display displays an SOC within the first region. The second region presents an SOC range incapable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The boundary between the first region and the second region corresponds to an SOC lower limit value indicating the SOC lower limit capable of ensuring the minimum traveling performance. The SOC lower limit value is set based on the temperature of a power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta
  • Patent number: 9457663
    Abstract: A vehicle speed acquisition unit acquires speed information indicating a vehicle speed. An output acquisition unit acquires output information indicating an output of a drive unit that drives the vehicle. An output rate derivation unit derives an output rate indicating a ratio of the output to a rated output of the vehicle at the current vehicle speed. A waste derivation unit derives waste information indicating a degree of waste of energy consumed by the vehicle. A display unit displays a waste status of the energy. When the speed is within a predetermined speed range and the output rate is within a preset first output range, the waste derivation unit derives the waste information indicating that the waste of energy when the speed is high is less than when the speed is low, even when the output rate is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Yosuke Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 9440540
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric motor outputting regenerative torque to a drive shaft connected to an axle shaft, a hydraulic brake providing braking force for the vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a regeneration coordination switch in which at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor is gradually switched to the braking force from the hydraulic brake. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a vibration suppression control that restrains vibration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to increase frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is performed, as compared to frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is not being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta
  • Patent number: 9108520
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: executing addition processing when current IB is equal to or more than a current upper limit value IB(0) and there is a divergence between command power Pc and an upper limit value Woutf of an allowable range of electric power at the time of agreement between the current IB and the current upper limit value IB(0); and executing normal Woutf determination processing when the current IB is less than the current upper limit value IB(0) or there is no divergence between the command power Pc and the upper limit value Woutf at the time of agreement between the current IB and the current upper limit value IB(0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta
  • Publication number: 20150191089
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric motor outputting regenerative torque to a drive shaft connected to an axle shaft, a hydraulic brake providing braking force for the vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a regeneration coordination switch in which at least part of the regenerative torque from the electric motor is gradually switched to the braking force from the hydraulic brake. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a vibration suppression control that restrains vibration of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to increase frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is performed, as compared to frequency of execution of the vibration suppression control when the regeneration coordination switch is not being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicants: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta
  • Publication number: 20150106002
    Abstract: A vehicle speed acquisition unit acquires speed information indicating a vehicle speed. An output acquisition unit acquires output information indicating an output of a drive unit that drives the vehicle. An output rate derivation unit derives an output rate indicating a ratio of the output to a rated output of the vehicle at the current vehicle speed. A waste derivation unit derives waste information indicating a degree of waste of energy consumed by the vehicle. A display unit displays a waste status of the energy. When the speed is within a predetermined speed range and the output rate is within a preset first output range, the waste derivation unit derives the waste information indicating that the waste of energy when the speed is high is less than when the speed is low, even when the output rate is the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Itaru SETA, Yosuke OHTOMO
  • Patent number: 9008882
    Abstract: A vehicle capable of traveling using electric power from a power storage device mounted thereon has an ECU executing, when traveling by electric power from the power storage device: the step of calculating a reference electric consumption based on an average operating point determined by an average vehicle speed and average driving force for every predetermined period; the step of calculating an actual electric consumption based on power consumption and travel distance during the period; the step of calculating a predicted electric consumption by a smoothing processing based on the reference electric consumption and actual electric consumption; and the step of calculating an allowed travel distance RMD that the vehicle can travel by the electric power remaining in the power storage device, based on the predicted electric consumption and the SOC of the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaya Yamamoto, Itaru Seta