Patents by Inventor Kenji Kimura
Kenji 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).
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Publication number: 20230309961Abstract: Embodiments of ultrasound utility station and methods for using the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes displaying a status of the ultrasound machine that indicates a location of the ultrasound machine and an amount of charge of a battery of the ultrasound machine, and displaying an additional status that indicates an additional location of the ultrasound utility station and one or more available ultrasound probes on the ultrasound utility station. After receiving a selection of an ultrasound probe of the available ultrasound probes and a user input that determines a schedule for said configuring the ultrasound machine, the method instructs the ultrasound utility station to charge the battery of the ultrasound machine and provide the ultrasound probe for transfer to the ultrasound machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Craig CHAMBERLAIN, Andrew LUNDBERG, Patrick NALLY, Kenji KIMURA, Trevor ROGERS, Tyler DAWSON, Saeed ALIAKBARI, Davin Dhatt
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Publication number: 20230291212Abstract: A power supply system includes a forcible disconnecting unit configured to forcibly disconnect a battery in a battery module from series regardless of a gate drive signal. The power supply system obtains the number of batteries included in the battery modules which can be forcibly disconnected from the series according to the maximum voltage of the batteries that can be connected in the series and a voltage command value indicating a voltage to be output, and forcibly disconnects the obtained number of the batteries from the series by the forcible disconnecting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya MIZUNO, Shuji TOMURA, Naoki YANAGIZAWA, Kazuo OOTSUKA, Hiroshi TSUKADA, Junta IZUMI, Masakazu HABU, Kenji KIMURA, Hironori MIKI, Yasuhiro ENDO, Takayuki BAN
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Patent number: 11757291Abstract: A power supply device includes a plurality of battery modules, the battery modules are connected to one another in series according to a gate driving signal from a controller, the power supply device delays the gate driving signal in a gate driving signal processing circuit included in each of the battery modules, and thereafter, transmits the gate driving signal from an upstream to a downstream of the series connection, and the power supply device controls the battery modules by superimposing a control signal for the battery module on the gate driving signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kazuo Ootsuka, Kyosuke Tanemura, Shigeaki Goto, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura
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Publication number: 20230165564Abstract: An ultrasound probe and an ultrasound system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the ultrasound probe includes a probe body having a user interface with controls and a mode selector. In some embodiments, when the mode selector is in a first setting, the controls are configured to control a probe transducer, and when the mode selector is in a second setting, the controls are configured to control the ultrasound machine via a probe transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Patrick Nally, Tyler Dawson, Kenji Kimura, David Knapp, Floris Kruger, Lisa Spencer, Craig Chamberlain
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Publication number: 20230165560Abstract: An ultrasound probe and a ultrasound system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the ultrasound system includes a bite block configured to, during a transesophageal insertion of the probe cable starting from the distal end, guard the probe cable from a bite and prevent anteflexion and retroflexion movement of the transducer until a predetermined length of the probe cable is inserted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Patrick Nally, Tyler Dawson, Kenji Kimura, David Knapp, Floris Kruger, Lisa Spencer, Craig Chamberlain
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Patent number: 11646578Abstract: A control device of a power supply system includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit. The first processing unit is a processing unit configured to perform a first process of determining certain strings out of a plurality of strings connected in parallel to a power distribution device. The second processing unit is a processing unit configured to perform a second process of performing inputting of electric power to the plurality of strings connected in parallel to the power distribution device or outputting of electric power from the plurality of strings to the power distribution device using at least the certain strings determined by the first processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Juni Yasoshima, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura, Toshihiro Katsuda, Kohei Matsuura, Junichi Matsumoto, Shuji Tomura, Shigeaki Goto, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kyosuke Tanemura, Kazuo Ootsuka, Takayuki Ban, Hironobu Nishi
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Publication number: 20230136749Abstract: A monitoring apparatus includes: an input unit that accepts equipment identifying information for identifying monitoring object equipment and an analysis purpose; and an output unit that, when analysis item data corresponding to the analysis purpose among operation data indicating an operating status of the identified monitoring object equipment is a value within a specified range on the basis of the equipment identifying information and the analysis purpose which have been input, outputs a tendency of the analysis item data compared with predetermined comparison item data. According to the above-described configuration, the status of the monitoring object equipment can be diagnosed and visualized for the sake of the condition based maintenance to perform maintenance in accordance with the status of each equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Masashi KONO, Yuusuke NAKAGAWA, Hidetoshi HONJO, Kenji KIMURA
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Patent number: 11635469Abstract: Provided is a power supply device which includes a plurality of battery modules each having a secondary battery and in which the battery modules are connected in series with one another according to a gate driving signal from a controller. An SOC control target value that is a target value for states-of-charge of the battery modules is changed according to the number of the battery modules that are available to be connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuo Ootsuka, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kyosuke Tanemura, Shigeaki Goto, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura
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Patent number: 11610258Abstract: A computer of an auction system presents vehicle body quality information indicating a quality of a vehicle body excluding a battery of an electric vehicle and battery quality information, and receives an electric vehicle bid price, a vehicle body bid price, and a battery bid price. When a total of the vehicle body bid price and the battery bid price exceeds the electric vehicle bid price, the computer determines a battery purchase applicant who presents the battery bid price as a winning bidder of the battery, and a vehicle body purchase applicant who presents the vehicle body bid price as a winning bidder of the vehicle body. When the total is lower than the electric vehicle bid price, the computer determines an electric vehicle purchase applicant who presents the electric vehicle bid price as a winning bidder of the electric vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masashi Takahashi, Makoto Kakuchi, Yoichi Onishi, Kenji Kimura, Masakazu Habu
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Publication number: 20230060273Abstract: In a power supply system, a control device is configured to select one or more target batteries that are to perform requested energy management from a plurality of batteries included in an alternating-current battery string and a direct-current battery string, and perform the requested energy management using the one or more target batteries with the batteries other than the one or more target batteries being disconnected from a circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230062197Abstract: A power supply system includes an alternating current sweep unit and a first power supply circuit, and each of a U-phase battery string, a V-phase battery string, a W-phase battery string, and a first battery string includes a plurality of battery circuit modules connected in series, and each of the battery circuit modules includes a battery, output terminals, a first switch, and a second switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230063475Abstract: A power supply system includes an alternating current sweep unit and a first power supply circuit, and each of a first U-phase battery string, a first V-phase battery string, a first W-phase battery string, and a first battery string includes a plurality of battery circuit modules connected in series, and each of the battery circuit modules includes a battery, output terminals, a first switch, and a second switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230069512Abstract: In a power supply system, a control device is configured to adjust a state of charge of each of an alternating-current battery string and a direct-current battery string by power transfer between the alternating-current battery string and the direct-current battery string before performing requested energy management.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230069509Abstract: A power supply system that outputs AC power to an object to which power is to be supplied includes: a first power supply circuit including a DC battery string and an inverter and configured to output first AC power; a second power supply circuit including an AC battery string and configured to output second AC power; and a control device. In the first mode, power is transferred between the object and the second power supply circuit. In the second mode, power is transferred between the object and each of the first and second power supply circuits. The control device starts supplying the second AC power to the object in the first mode, and when a power supply current becomes larger than a first threshold, supply the first and second AC power to the object in the second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230068561Abstract: A power supply system comprises an alternating-current sweep unit that outputs alternating-current power from a U-phase battery string, a V-phase battery string, and a W-phase battery string that are Y-connected, a first power supply circuit that converts output of a direct-current sweep unit to alternating-current power using an inverter and outputs the alternating-current power, the direct-current sweep unit including a first battery string; and a control device. An energy density of a battery included in the U-phase battery string, the V-phase battery string, and the W-phase battery string is higher than an energy density of a battery included in the first battery string.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Publication number: 20230056441Abstract: An electric power supply system includes an alternating current electric power supply circuit that converts direct current electric power of a first direct current sweep unit including a battery string into alternating current electric power using a first inverter and outputs it, and an alternating current sweep unit that includes a U-phase battery string, a V-phase battery string, and a W-phase battery string that are Y-connected. Output densities of batteries of the battery string are higher than output densities of batteries of the alternating current sweep unit. Alternating current electric power is output from the alternating current sweep unit and the alternating current electric power supply circuit, and after a predetermined period elapses, the output of the alternating current electric power from the alternating current electric power supply circuit is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA
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Patent number: 11577744Abstract: A vehicle system includes a warning device and at least one electronic control unit. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to present a light stimulus to a driver, and determine whether the driver is facing forward, determine whether the driver holds a steering wheel, and cause the warning device to perform a first warning when it is determined that the driver is not facing forward while the light stimulus is being presented. The first warning is either the vibration or the sound. The at least one electronic control unit is configured to perform a second warning when it is determined that the driver does not hold the steering wheel before a predetermined time elapses after the first warning is started. The second warning includes the vibration and the sound.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kenji Kimura
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Patent number: 11500022Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of sweep modules, a defect detecting unit, and a control unit. Each sweep module includes a battery module and a power circuit module. The defect detecting unit detects a defect for each sweep module. The number of sweep modules is greater S (S?2) than a minimum number of sweep modules required for operation. When the number of defective sweep modules in which a defect has been detected is equal to or less than F (2?F?S), the control unit is configured to disconnect the defective sweep modules from a main line and to continuously execute sweep control.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Juni Yasoshima, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura, Toshihiro Katsuda, Kohei Matsuura, Junichi Matsumoto, Shuji Tomura, Shigeaki Goto, Naoki Yanagizawa, Kyosuke Tanemura, Kazuo Ootsuka, Takayuki Ban, Hironobu Nishi
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Patent number: 11476688Abstract: Provided is a power supply device which includes a plurality of battery modules and in which the battery modules are connected in series with one another in accordance with a gate driving signal from a controller. The power supply device includes a disconnecting part configured to forcibly isolate the battery module from a series connection regardless of the gate driving signal, and limits, in accordance with a target output voltage value, a number of the battery modules to be forcibly isolated by the disconnecting part.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoki Yanagizawa, Shuji Tomura, Kyosuke Tanemura, Kazuo Ootsuka, Shigeaki Goto, Junta Izumi, Kenji Kimura
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Publication number: 20220305925Abstract: A battery cellar includes: battery groups each including a plurality of batteries; a power converter (AC/DC converter and DC/DC converter) electrically connected between the plurality of batteries and an electric power system, the power converter being capable of bidirectional power conversion; and a server that controls operation of the power converter in accordance with a DR request from the electric power system, to cause charging and discharging of a plurality of batteries. The server suppresses charging and discharging of batteries of a rank representing a smaller degree of battery degradation, relative to charging and discharging of batteries of a rank representing a greater degree of battery degradation. Proper inventory of batteries of a higher rank can thus be ensured.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junta IZUMI, Kenji KIMURA, Masakazu HABU, Masanosuke SUFU, Makito MURAMATSU