Patents by Inventor Makoto Yamazaki

Makoto Yamazaki 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).

  • Belt member and seatbelt apparatus including the belt member
    Patent number: 9340181
    Abstract: A belt member includes: a strip member having an elongate shape; a fastener disposed along the longitudinal direction of the strip member; and an opening-closing device that opens or closes the fastener. For reducing a contact pressure of the belt member per unit area, the fastener is opened by the opening-closing device to unfold the belt member into a form of a wide strip so that the width of the belt member is increased. On the other hand, when the fastener is closed by the opening-closing device, the belt member takes a form of a narrow tube so that the width of the belt member is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Fukamoto, Atsuki Ito, Nobuhiro Yamada, Makoto Yamazaki, Yasuhiko Matsuda, Seiji Koga
  • Vehicle and vehicle control method
    Patent number: 9296384
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a rotary electric machine that generates driving force for the vehicle, and a control unit that controls the internal combustion engine on the basis of a state of the vehicle. When the internal combustion engine is started in response to a request for the driving force, the control unit controls the internal combustion engine such that ignition timing of the internal combustion engine while a first mode is selected is later than the ignition timing while a second mode is selected. The vehicle is more likely to be driven using the rotary electric machine in a state where the internal combustion engine is stopped in the first mode than in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Yamazaki
  • Lighting unit and lighting device
    Patent number: 9194568
    Abstract: A lighting unit according to one embodiment includes a board, a support member, and a plurality of heat radiation fins. A light emitting element is disposed on a first surface of the board. The support member has an interior surface on which a second surface of the board that is opposite to the first surface is disposed to be in contact therewith to enable heat conduction from the board to the support member. The heat radiation fins are disposed on an exterior surface of the support member substantially parallel with each other and with a clearance between each other, and each having a flat shape that extends outwardly from the exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takayoshi Moriyama, Junya Murata, Makoto Yamazaki, Yumi Hanyuda, Katsumi Hisano, Mitsuaki Kato, Masataka Shiratsuchi, Yuichiro Yamamoto
  • BELT MEMBER AND SEATBELT APPARATUS INCLUDING THE BELT MEMBER
    Publication number: 20150239427
    Abstract: A belt member includes: a strip member having an elongate shape; a fastener disposed along the longitudinal direction of the strip member; and an opening-closing device that opens or closes the fastener. For reducing a contact pressure of the belt member per unit area, the fastener is opened by the opening-closing device to unfold the belt member into a form of a wide strip so that the width of the belt member is increased. On the other hand, when the fastener is closed by the opening-closing device, the belt member takes a form of a narrow tube so that the width of the belt member is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro FUKAMOTO, Atsuki ITO, Nobuhiro YAMADA, Makoto YAMAZAKI, Yasuhiko MATSUDA, Seiji KOGA
  • Vehicle and method of controlling vehicle
    Patent number: 9050975
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a power storage device, a motor generator using electric power from the power storage device for generating driving force, and an ECU. The vehicle is capable of running with the operation mode selectively switched between the CS mode in which the vehicle runs utilizing the driving force from the engine and the motor generator, and the CD mode in which the vehicle runs preferentially utilizing the driving force from the motor generator in the state where the engine is stopped. When the OBD is performed for detecting a malfunction in the engine in the state where the CD mode is selected, the ECU keeps the operation mode being temporarily switched from the CD mode to the CS mode until the OBD is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • Vehicle, method and device for controlling vehicle
    Patent number: 8983699
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes an engine and a catalyst for purifying gas exhausted from the engine. The engine is controlled in one control mode of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. In the CS mode, the temperature of the catalyst is increased to be equal to or higher than a prescribed activating temperature. The temperature of the catalyst is increased to be higher than the activating temperature before the control mode is changed from the CS mode to the CD mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • Vehicle, method and device for controlling engine
    Patent number: 8972148
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes a battery to supply electric power to the motor generator, an engine, and an ECU to control the vehicle in one of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. The ECU controls the engine in accordance with a condition different from a condition used to control the engine in the CS mode, if the engine is started at least due to decrease in a state of charge of the battery while the vehicle is controlled in the CD mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • FAILURE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS OF HYBRID VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20150032326
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to execute a failure diagnosis process of the internal combustion engine based on a predetermined diagnosis requirement. The diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is made different from the diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-normal-operation is executed such that a failure of the internal combustion engine in the case where the engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is less likely to be detected or the failure of the internal combustion engine is less likely to be recognized by a driver than in the case where the engine-normal operation is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki, Keita Fukui
  • Hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 8914178
    Abstract: In the case that an engine is started in a motor drive priority mode, a first motor and a second motor are controlled in a range of an input limit and an output limit of a battery, such that the first motor outputs a torque for motoring, and the second motor outputs the sum of a required torque and a torque of cancelling out a torque output from the first motor and applied to a driveshaft. Concurrently, the engine is controlled, such that the engine is started with increased fuel supply, compared with the case that the engine is started in a hybrid drive priority mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Yamazaki
  • CONTROL DEVICE OF A VEHICLE, VEHICLE INCLUDING CONTROL DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD OF VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20140311426
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one sensor generating a signal to control an operation of an internal combustion engine; and a control unit configured to store a control parameter to control an operation of the internal combustion engine, and to correct the control parameter based on an output of the at least one sensor. The control unit stops correcting the control parameter while the vehicle is at a halt, and the power generator is generating electric power by driving of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Yamazaki
  • Lighting apparatus
    Patent number: 8740405
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a lighting apparatus includes a light source unit having light emitting units arranged in a longitudinal direction. A transparent cover member is formed in a substantially straight pipe shape and having openings at both ends for housing the light source unit along the longitudinal direction. The cover member has a higher thermal expansion coefficient than that of the light source unit. End plate members are fixed to the both ends of the light source unit and close the openings at the both ends of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yamazaki
  • Control apparatus and control method for vehicle
    Patent number: 8694187
    Abstract: An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls a plug-in hybrid vehicle starts an engine when a required power as a value obtained by subtracting a required discharge amount from a drive power is larger than a threshold during intermittent control in a CD (Charge Depletion) mode, and stops the engine when the required power is smaller than a threshold. When intermittent control is being performed in the CD mode, the ECU limits the required discharge amount Pout to a relatively small value in a range where an engine coolant temperature is low, and sets the required discharge amount relatively large instead of imposing a limit thereon in a range where the engine coolant temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Osamu Harada, Shunsuke Fusiki
  • VEHICLE, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130304291
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes an engine and a catalyst for purifying gas exhausted from the engine. The engine is controlled in one control mode of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. In the CS mode, the temperature of the catalyst is increased to be equal to or higher than a prescribed activating temperature. The temperature of the catalyst is increased to be higher than the activating temperature before the control mode is changed from the CS mode to the CD mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130297137
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a power storage device, a motor generator using electric power from the power storage device for generating driving force, and an ECU. The vehicle is capable of running with the operation mode selectively switched between the CS mode in which the vehicle runs utilizing the driving force from the engine and the motor generator, and the CD mode in which the vehicle runs preferentially utilizing the driving force from the motor generator in the state where the engine is stopped. When the OBD is performed for detecting a malfunction in the engine in the state where the CD mode is selected, the ECU keeps the operation mode being temporarily switched from the CD mode to the CS mode until the OBD is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • LIGHTING UNIT AND LIGHTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130250574
    Abstract: A lighting unit according to one embodiment includes a board, an insulating plate, an optical lens, and a positioning member. The board has a mounting surface on which a light emitting element is mounted. The insulating plate is disposed on the mounting surface of the board to control the reflection direction of light emitted from the light emitting element. The optical lens diverges or converges the light reflected by the insulating plate. The positioning member positions the insulating plate and the optical lens such that the insulating plate and the optical lens are located away from each other by a predetermined distance. A lighting device according to one embodiment includes a plurality of the lighting units fixed to the lighting device via a fixing frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi MORIYAMA, Junya MURATA, Makoto YAMAZAKI, Yumi HANYUDA, Katsumi HISANO, Mitsuaki KATO, Masataka SHIRATSUCHI, Yuichiro YAMAMOTO
  • LIGHTING UNIT AND LIGHTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130250577
    Abstract: A lighting unit according to one embodiment includes a board, a support member, and a plurality of heat radiation fins. A light emitting element is disposed on a first surface of the board. The support member has an interior surface on which a second surface of the board that is opposite to the first surface is disposed to be in contact therewith to enable heat conduction from the board to the support member. The heat radiation fins are disposed on an exterior surface of the support member substantially parallel with each other and with a clearance between each other, and each having a flat shape that extends outwardly from the exterior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi MORIYAMA, Junya Murata, Makoto Yamazaki, Yumi Hanyuda, Katsumi Hisano, Mitsuaki Kato, Masataka Shiratsuchi, Yuichiro Yamamoto
  • HYBRID VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130226389
    Abstract: In the case that an engine is started in a motor drive priority mode, a first motor and a second motor are controlled in a range of an input limit and an output limit of a battery, such that the first motor outputs a torque for motoring, and the second motor outputs the sum of a required torque and a torque of cancelling out a torque output from the first motor and applied to a driveshaft. Concurrently, the engine is controlled, such that the engine is started with increased fuel supply, compared with the case that the engine is started in a hybrid drive priority mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Yamazaki
  • VEHICLE, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE
    Publication number: 20120310458
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes a battery to supply electric power to the motor generator, an engine, and an ECU to control the vehicle in one of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. The ECU controls the engine in accordance with a condition different from a condition used to control the engine in the CS mode, if the engine is started at least due to decrease in a state of charge of the battery while the vehicle is controlled in the CD mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
  • Light-Emitting Module and Luminaire
    Publication number: 20120293086
    Abstract: A light-emitting module in the embodiment includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, a power circuit, a power terminal, a feeding power terminal, and a substrate. The power circuit is configured to supply electric power to the light-emitting elements and performs lighting control. The power terminal is connected to the power circuit. The feeding power terminal is electrically connected to both ends of the power terminal. The substrate includes the plurality of light-emitting elements, the power circuit, the power terminal, and the feeding power terminal mounted thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIGHTING & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru ISHIKITA, Hirokazu OTAKE, Yoshiji KAMATA, Takayoshi MORIYAMA, Makoto YAMAZAKI, Koji SUZUKI, Shinichi KUMASHIRO
  • Power output apparatus, vehicle equipped with the same, and method of controlling power output apparatus
    Patent number: 8306720
    Abstract: In a power output apparatus, when the fuel vapor concentration is high and the target purge rate is high, an operating point on a purge priority operating line is selected as a target operating point of an engine. As a result, the intake manifold negative pressure greater than that when an operating point on an optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected, so that the flow rate of purge gas released from a canister is increased. When the fuel vapor concentration does not fall within a high-concentration range, the necessity to immediately purge fuel vapor trapped in the canister into the intake pipe is low, and thus an operating point on the optimum fuel efficiency operating line is selected to keep the engine operating at high fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Shunsuke Fushiki