Patents by Inventor Kenshi Yamanaka

Kenshi Yamanaka 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: 11247573
    Abstract: A power unit of an electric vehicle may be connected to a main battery, an AC inlet, and a DC inlet. The power unit may include a battery connector to which a battery power cable is connected, an AC inlet connector to which an AC inlet power cable is connected, and a DC inlet connector to which a DC inlet power cable is connected. The battery connector may be closer to the main battery than a center of the power unit is to the main battery. The AC inlet connector may be closer to the AC inlet than the center of the power unit is to the AC inlet. The DC inlet connector may be closer to the DC inlet than the center of the power unit is to the DC inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenshi Yamanaka, Hiroto Kusaka
  • Patent number: 11142092
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle is provided, and the system may include: a charging inlet connected to a main battery and connectable to a power supply external to the vehicle; a voltage converter configured to step down a power of the main battery by a switching element and supply the stepped-down power to a sub-battery; and a controller configured to control the voltage converter, in which the controller is configured to slow down a switching speed of the switching element, as compared with when the main battery is not being charged, while the charging inlet is connected to the power supply and the main battery is being charged by the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Handa, Kenshi Yamanaka, Kenji Goto
  • Patent number: 10850687
    Abstract: In a vehicle-mounting structure disclosed by the present specification, a housing (20) of an electric power controller (5) is supported above an in-vehicle transaxle via a bracket having an insulative vibration-proof material. The housing (20) and the transaxle are connected to each other by power cables (19). A braided wire (17) for grounding is routed along the power cables (19). A connector (10) of the power cables (19) has a resin flange (112) on a surface thereof that is joined to the housing (20). The connector (10) is fixed to the housing (20) by bolts (12a and 13a) that penetrate the flange (112). An end fitting (16) of the braided wire (17) is attached to the flange (112). The end fitting (16) and the bolt (13a) are electrically connected to each other by a conductive plate (14a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenshi Yamanaka, Shinichi Miura, Keisuke Sawazaki, Yasuhiro Kudo, Kan Murai
  • Publication number: 20200282862
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle is provided, and the system may include: a charging inlet connected to a main battery and connectable to a power supply external to the vehicle; a voltage converter configured to step down a power of the main battery by a switching element and supply the stepped-down power to a sub-battery; and a controller configured to control the voltage converter, in which the controller is configured to slow down a switching speed of the switching element, as compared with when the main battery is not being charged, while the charging inlet is connected to the power supply and the main battery is being charged by the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu HANDA, Kenshi YAMANAKA, Kenji GOTO
  • Publication number: 20200238930
    Abstract: In a vehicle-mounting structure disclosed by the present specification, a housing (20) of an electric power controller (5) is supported above an in-vehicle transaxle via a bracket having an insulative vibration-proof material. The housing (20) and the transaxle are connected to each other by power cables (19). A braided wire (17) for grounding is routed along the power cables (19). A connector (10) of the power cables (19) has a resin flange (112) on a surface thereof that is joined to the housing (20). The connector (10) is fixed to the housing (20) by bolts (12a and 13a) that penetrate the flange (112). An end fitting (16) of the braided wire (17) is attached to the flange (112). The end fitting (16) and the bolt (13a) are electrically connected to each other by a conductive plate (14a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenshi YAMANAKA, Shinichi MIURA, Keisuke SAWAZAKI, Yasuhiro KUDO, Kan MURAI
  • Publication number: 20200207297
    Abstract: An electric vehicle disclosed in the description herein may comprise: an inlet configured connectable with a power supply outside the vehicle; a main battery; an electric power converter; and a power unit. The electric power converter may be configured to convert electric power of the main battery to drive power of a traction motor. The power unit may be connected to the main battery by a battery power cable, connected to the inlet by an inlet power cable, and connected to the electric power converter by a converter power cable. The power unit may be configured capable of transmitting electric power supplied via the inlet to the main battery and capable of transmitting electric power of the main battery to the electric power converter. The power unit may be fixed to one of a body and a frame of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenshi YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20200207200
    Abstract: Electrical equipment disclosed herein may include: a case; a partition plate provided in the case, the partition plate including a first surface, a second surface located opposite to the first surface, and a through hole; a first heat generating member attached to the first surface of the partition plate; and a second heat generating member attached to the second surface of the partition plate, wherein the first heat generating member may seal the through hole from a first surface side and the second heat generating member may seal the through hole from a second surface side, and the first heat generating member, the second heat generating member, and the through hole may configure a coolant passage in which a liquid coolant flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenshi YAMANAKA, Hiroto KUSAKA
  • Publication number: 20200207220
    Abstract: A power unit of an electric vehicle may be connected to a main battery, an AC inlet, and a DC inlet. The power unit may include a battery connector to which a battery power cable is connected, an AC inlet connector to which an AC inlet power cable is connected, and a DC inlet connector to which a DC inlet power cable is connected. The battery connector may be closer to the main battery than a center of the power unit is to the main battery. The AC inlet connector may be closer to the AC inlet than the center of the power unit is to the AC inlet. The DC inlet connector may be closer to the DC inlet than the center of the power unit is to the DC inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenshi YAMANAKA, Hiroto KUSAKA
  • Patent number: 10660229
    Abstract: An electrical device is provided. The electrical device includes a case, a first electrical part, a second electrical part, and a connecting portion. The case includes a first case and a second case coupled to the first case. The first electrical part is fixed to the first case. The second electrical part is fixed to the second case. The connecting portion is configured to connect a first conductor extending from the first electrical part and a second conductor extending from the second electrical part each other. Either one of the first case and the second case includes a through hole. The connecting portion is disposed so as to be entirely visible from the through hole as viewed from an outside of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Umeda, Kenshi Yamanaka, Shinichi Miura, Hiromi Yamasaki, Hitoshi Imura, Yutaka Morimoto, Kazuki Hayashi, Hideaki Tachibana, Yoshiki Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20190359068
    Abstract: A structure of mounting a power converter in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The structure may include a converter casing of the power converter, the converter casing including legs connected to the converter casing and extending downward; and a motor housing that houses a traction motor. The legs may be integrally configured with the converter casing. Lower ends of the legs may be fixed to an upper portion of the motor housing with a space provided between the motor housing and a lower surface of the converter casing. A weak portion may be provided in at least one of the legs, and the weak portion may be configured to break or deform prior to break of fixed portions between the legs and the motor housing when crash load is applied to the converter casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki MARUKAWA, Kenshi YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 10471842
    Abstract: An on-vehicle structure of a power converter includes a housing of the power converter mounted on a vehicle, a structure mounted on the vehicle, and a high-voltage connector attached to the housing. The high-voltage connector is configured to apply a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold voltage, the high-voltage connector is positioned between the housing and the structure such that the high-voltage connector faces the structure in a removal direction of the high-voltage connector when the high-voltage connector is attached to the housing, and in a state where the high-voltage connector is attached to the housing, a length of a portion of the high-voltage connector embedded in the housing is determined so as to be longer than a distance between the high-voltage connector and the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Sawazaki, Kenshi Yamanaka, Hiromi Yamasaki, Hitoshi Imura, Akira Saito
  • Patent number: 10434884
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor housing accommodating motors for driving wheels, and a power control unit fixed on the motor housing. The power control unit includes: a stacked unit in which multiple power modules accommodating power semiconductor elements for electric power conversion and multiple coolers are stacked; and reactors. The stacked unit is disposed in the case of the power control unit such that the stacking direction of the power modules and the coolers is directed toward the vehicle-longitudinal direction. The reactors are disposed in the case so as not to overlap with the stacked unit as viewed from the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Sawazaki, Kenshi Yamanaka, Ryusuke Baba, Hiromi Yamasaki, Hitoshi Imura, Hideaki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10374523
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a case including an upper case and a lower case; an inverter that is accommodated in a first partial case and is fixed to the first partial case, the first partial case being one of the upper case and the lower case; and a capacitor that is connected to the inverter by a positive electrode bus bar and a negative electrode bus bar, the capacitor being disposed in an internal space of a second partial case that is another of the upper case and the lower case. The first partial case includes a fastening portion that extends from an internal space of the first partial case to the internal space of the second partial case. In the internal space of the second partial case, the capacitor is fastened to the fastening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Miura, Hiroki Umeda, Kenshi Yamanaka, Yutaka Morimoto, Kazuki Hayashi, Hiromi Yamasaki, Hitoshi Imura, Tomohisa Sano, Daisuke Harada, Hideaki Tachibana
  • Publication number: 20190173394
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a case including an upper case and a lower case; an inverter that is accommodated in a first partial case and is fixed to the first partial case, the first partial case being one of the upper case and the lower case; and a capacitor that is connected to the inverter by a positive electrode bus bar and a negative electrode bus bar, the capacitor being disposed in an internal space of a second partial case that is another of the upper case and the lower case. The first partial case includes a fastening portion that extends from an internal space of the first partial case to the internal space of the second partial case. In the internal space of the second partial case, the capacitor is fastened to the fastening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi MIURA, Hiroki UMEDA, Kenshi YAMANAKA, Yutaka MORIMOTO, Kazuki HAYASHI, Hiromi YAMASAKI, Hitoshi IMURA, Tomohisa SANO, Daisuke HARADA, Hideaki TACHIBANA
  • Publication number: 20190174647
    Abstract: An electrical device is provided. The electrical device includes a case, a first electrical part, a second electrical part, and a connecting portion. The case includes a first case and a second case coupled to the first case. The first electrical part is fixed to the first case. The second electrical part is fixed to the second case. The connecting portion is configured to connect a first conductor extending from the first electrical part and a second conductor extending from the second electrical part each other. Either one of the first case and the second case includes a through hole. The connecting portion is disposed so as to be entirely visible from the through hole as viewed from an outside of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki UMEDA, Kenshi YAMANAKA, Shinichi MIURA, Hiromi YAMASAKI, Hitoshi IMURA, Yutaka MORIMOTO, Kazuki HAYASHI, Hideaki TACHIBANA, Yoshiki KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190152331
    Abstract: An on-vehicle structure of a power converter includes a housing of the power converter mounted on a vehicle, a structure mounted on the vehicle, and a high-voltage connector attached to the housing. The high-voltage connector is configured to apply a voltage exceeding a predetermined threshold voltage, the high-voltage connector is positioned between the housing and the structure such that the high-voltage connector faces the structure in a removal direction of the high-voltage connector when the high-voltage connector is attached to the housing, and in a state where the high-voltage connector is attached to the housing, a length of a portion of the high-voltage connector embedded in the housing is determined so as to be longer than a distance between the high-voltage connector and the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke SAWAZAKI, Kenshi YAMANAKA, Hiromi YAMASAKI, Hitoshi IMURA, Akira SAITO
  • Patent number: 10236596
    Abstract: A connection terminal includes a terminal main body, a contact member, a locking structure, and a position adjustment structure. The terminal main body is electrically conductive and includes a female connector. The contact member is disposed, in a first region of an internal space of the female connector, to face an inner circumferential surface of the female connector. The locking structure holds the contact member at a position thereof after completion of housing of the contact member in the internal space. The position adjustment structure adjusts the position of the contact member in the internal space. The position adjustment structure includes a locked holder disposed in the contact member and a locking holder disposed in the terminal main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Hirakawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Kengo Machida, Akio Kitami, Kenshi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20190006773
    Abstract: A connection terminal includes a terminal main body, a contact member, a locking structure, and a position adjustment structure. The terminal main body is electrically conductive and includes a female connector. The contact member is disposed, in a first region of an internal space of the female connector, to face an inner circumferential surface of the female connector. The locking structure holds the contact member at a position thereof after completion of housing of the contact member in the internal space. The position adjustment structure adjusts the position of the contact member in the internal space. The position adjustment structure includes a locked holder disposed in the contact member and a locking holder disposed in the terminal main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Takayoshi Hirakawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Kengo Machida, Akio Kitami, Kenshi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20180281605
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor housing accommodating motors for driving wheels, and a power control unit fixed on the motor housing. The power control unit includes: a stacked unit in which multiple power modules accommodating power semiconductor elements for electric power conversion and multiple coolers are stacked; and reactors. The stacked unit is disposed in the case of the power control unit such that the stacking direction of the power modules and the coolers is directed toward the vehicle-longitudinal direction. The reactors are disposed in the case so as not to overlap with the stacked unit as viewed from the stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke SAWAZAKI, Kenshi YAMANAKA, Ryusuke BABA, Hiromi YAMASAKI, Hitoshi IMURA, Hideaki TACHIBANA
  • Publication number: 20170355272
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle structure described in the present specification, an electric-power converter is fixed onto a transaxle and positioned in front of a cowl top. The electric-power converter includes a capacitor configured to restrain a high-frequency fluctuation in a voltage of electric power supplied from a battery, and a discharge circuit configured to discharge the capacitor. A connector (a signal connector) to which a wiring harness for communication of a discharge instruction signal to operate the discharge circuit at a time of a collision is connected is provided on a side face of the electric-power converter, the side face of the electric-power converter being facing in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryusuke BABA, Kenshi YAMANAKA