Patents by Inventor Kenichiro Kimura

Kenichiro Kimura 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: 20070199747
    Abstract: This control method for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a target motor output power obtaining step which obtains a target motor output power corresponding to an accelerator opening degree; and a high output power control step which controls operations of a first DC-DC converter and a second DC-DC converter, such that an output voltage of a power source becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined voltage that is required for securing a desired motor output power, when the target motor output power is larger than a predetermined output power threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Hibiki Saeki, Kenichiro Kimura, Hiroaki Takanohashi, Hiroyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20070176762
    Abstract: This fuel efficiency display device for a fuel cell vehicle includes: a first interval vehicle efficiency obtaining device which obtains a first interval vehicle efficiency being a fraction of a generated traveling energy with respect to a consumed fuel amount in a predetermined first time-interval; a second interval traveling energy obtaining device which obtains a second interval traveling energy being a traveling energy generated in a predetermined second time-interval which is shorter than the first time-interval; and a second interval fuel efficiency obtaining device which obtains a second interval fuel efficiency being a fuel efficiency in the second time-interval, based on at least the first interval vehicle efficiency and the second interval traveling energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Kenichiro Kimura, Sachito Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20070088468
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD_CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vbat_o) of a battery 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Asao Uenodai, Shinji Yoshikawa, Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 7177736
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD_CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vcap_o) of a capacitor 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Asao Uenodai, Shinji Yoshikawa, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20070029250
    Abstract: A fuel filter is provided with a filtering element and a resin case housing the element. The case includes a case body formed with upper and lower openings and covers closing the upper end lower openings. The case body is provided with a rib extending vertically therein. The upper and lower covers are welded to upper and lower end of the case body respectively. The element is welded, at upper and lower ends thereof, to the covers. Here, the element has a lateral end part bent in V-shape which is placed so as to overlap the rib. Upper and lower ends of the lateral end part together with upper and lower ends of the rib are welded to the upper and lower covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichiro Kimura, Kosaku Terada
  • Publication number: 20050214605
    Abstract: A fuel cell system has a fuel cell, a gas supply device and an electronic control unit. The gas supply device supplies a scavenging gas to the fuel cell. The electronic control unit controls scavenging of the fuel cell with the scavenging gas when a request for discontinuing power generation is given to the fuel cell. A humidification control device for controlling humidification of the scavenging gas and a cooling control device for controlling cooling of the scavenging gas are provided in a passage connecting the gas supply device and the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Saitoh, Yoshikazu Murakami, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20050142396
    Abstract: A current limiting system for fuel cells, which limits electric current generated by a fuel cell stack including a plurality of single cells generating electricity by a chemical reaction between fuel gas and oxidant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daishi Igarashi, Kenichiro Kimura, Yoshikazu Murakami, Chirhiro Wake, Kenichiro Ueda
  • Publication number: 20040069718
    Abstract: Problems
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Xulin Sun, Junko Ishibashi, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20020188395
    Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a control device for a fuel cell vehicle which suppresses the deterioration of driveability upon acceleration without increasing the size of a driving electric motor or a motor driver. When a requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a first output limit determined depending on a continuous output rating of an electric motor 10 or a motor driver 5 and an increasing rate of the requested output (PD_CAL) exceeds a reference increasing rate, an upper-limit target output determining unit 52 determines an assist time used as a time during which the electric motor 10 can be operated continuously by the requested output (PD_CAL) on the basis of the requested output (PD CAL) and an open-circuit voltage (Vcap_o) of a capacitor 3. Until the assist time is elapsed, the upper-limit target output (PD_LMT) is set to a second output limit (>the first output limit) determined depending on a short-time output rating of the electric motor 10 or the motor driver 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Asao Uenodai, Shinji Yoshikawa, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6469462
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle is provided, which is capable of reducing the weight of the electric vehicle and preventing the inverter circuit from overheating. When the vehicle stops on an uphill due to stalling, the control unit 30 starts counting the time over which current is supplied through the same IGBT element. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to the time at which the IGBT 40 starts generating heat, the control unit 30 outputs a control signal to reduce the motor driving current to the IPM 20. The rotation sensor 60 detects the rotational position when the motor rotates in the reverse direction, while the reduction of the motor driving current reduces the driving power of the motor. Based on the detection of the rotational position, the control unit 30 performs switching of the phase of the IGBT 40, and when the normal current supply phase is connected, the motor driving current which drives the motor is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwao Shimane, Satoru Adachi, Hiroaki Takanohashi, Yuji Saito, Hajime Kondou, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6273232
    Abstract: In an electric parking lock device having a motor for generating a drive force for engagement and release of a parking lock pawl from a parking lock gear in response to a command output from a selector switch. A compression spring if used for applying a force so as to release the parking lock pawl from the parking lock gear. A shift arm is provided on a side which is closer to an input end of the parking lock pawl than to the compression spring, whereby when driving of the parking lock pawl in a lock releasing direction is effected, the motor side and the parking lock pawl side are connected directly, while when driving the parking lock pawl in a lock effecting direction, the compression spring is interposed between the motor side and the parking lock pawl, so that a manual lock release operation can be performed within a range where the compression spring is allowed to be deflected irrespective of the state of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaishi
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Yasuo Kima, Kenichiro Kimura, Shugo Kondo, Toru Namiki
  • Patent number: 5426589
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of and an apparatus for limiting electrical loads due to electrical equipment on an electric vehicle. In the electrical load limiting apparatus, a desired running distance is inputted by a desired running distance inputting device and a depth of discharge of a battery is detected by a battery condition detecting device. Ambient environment data for the electric vehicle are obtained from an illuminance sensor, a temperature sensor and a raindrop sensor. An arithmetic device is activated to determine and compute running conditions on the basis of the desired running distance, the depth of discharge and the ambient environment data. The electrical loads are controlled by an electrical load limiting device based on the result of the determination by the arithmetic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Kitagawa, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 5416702
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical-load limiting apparatus wherein the priority given over a plurality of electrical loads, for restricting the driving of the electrical loads mounted on a vehicle, is first decided in order of importance and the amount of drive restriction of each of the electrical loads is then determined based on the remaining capacity of a vehicle electric source, thereby restricting the driving of the electrical loads. A fuzzy inference is carried out by making use of membership functions corresponding to both (a) the deviation indicative of the difference between a standard value set for each electrical load attached to the vehicle and a value of an electrical load when now in use, and (b) the residual capacity of the electric source. Then, the amount of the drive restriction of each of the electrical loads is obtained from the result of the fuzzy inference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Kitagawa, Kenichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 5367455
    Abstract: A running performance control apparatus suitable for use in an electric vehicle, which is capable of restricting the running performance of the vehicle when the capacity of a battery of the vehicle is reduced to the preset residual capacity. The battery capacity reduced to the preset residual capacity is detected and a vehicle running state including the speed of a running vehicle and the acceleration of the vehicle, is detected. An operating state, including shift positions of a transmission of the vehicle and the degree of opening of a vehicle accelerator is detected. When the battery capacity is reduced to the preset residual capacity, it is determined whether the vehicle running state should be restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Kitagawa, Kenichiro Kimura, Takahiro Iwata