Patents by Inventor Noritake Mitsutani

Noritake Mitsutani 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: 8443779
    Abstract: A boosting converter and a boosting control unit are mounted on a vehicle. A failure diagnosis unit makes a failure diagnosis of an atmospheric pressure sensor based on a detection result of the atmospheric pressure sensor and on a detection result of an intake pressure sensor detecting engine intake pressure that changes in accordance with a change in the atmospheric pressure. Boosting control unit controls an output voltage of the boosting converter based on the detection result of atmospheric pressure sensor and the detection result of intake pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20130106172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: an electrical-power-feed connector connecting an electrical power source and an electrical-power-fed object, the electrical-power-feed connector having a configuration to form a signal path as a closed system, the signal path being to transmit a signal between the electrical-power-feed connector and the electrical power source, the signal having a value to vary depending on: an electrical connection status of the electrical-power-feed connector with the electrical power source, and an instruction to allow feeding of electrical power from the electrical power source to the electrical-power-fed object; and an electrical power source being feedable electrical power to an electrical-power-fed object by being connected with the electrical-power-fed object via the electrical-power-feed connector, the electrical power source having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the electrical-power-feed connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya ONO, Shigeki KINOMURA, Kensuke KAMICHI, Noritake MITSUTANI
  • Patent number: 8368347
    Abstract: A charging ECU causes a charger to perform quick charging until a state of charge of a power storage device reaches a predetermined state. The charging ECU causes the charger to perform additional charging during which charging progresses more slowly than the quick charging, when the state of charge comes closer to full charge than the predetermined state. The charging ECU stops charging of the power storage device by the charger when the state of charge of the power storage device reaches a charging stop threshold value during the additional charging, and stops charging of the power storage device by the charger when a time of the additional charging exceeds a predetermined time even if the state of charge of the power storage device does not reach the charging stop threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8335603
    Abstract: Upon the occurrence of the abnormality that the inverter for driving the motor is in the one-phase short circuited state, this inverter is stopped in the three-phase short circuited state and sets the execution torque by subtracting the counter electromotive force application torque that is applied the driveshaft due to the counter electromotive force generated by rotation of the motor and the steering angle application torque corresponding to the steering angle from the torque demand according to the step-on amount of the accelerator pedal. The engine and the inverter for driving the motor is controlled so that the vehicle is driven with the set execution torque. This enables the driving force output to the driveshaft from the engine and the motor to be in accordance with the torque demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Wataru Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20120313581
    Abstract: A vehicle is a vehicle in which a high-voltage power supply can be charged with electric power from an external power supply. In a travel mode, a main microcomputer (MMC) of a controller outputs a request signal requesting to forcibly turn a plug-in main relay (PIMR) on to a sub-microcomputer (SMC), in order to activate a charging system that is essentially not required to be activated. Upon receiving the request signal, the SMC outputs a signal for turning the PIMR on to the PIMR. If the MMC does not receive electric power from a low-voltage power supply via the PIMR after outputting the request signal, the MMC determines that there is an abnormality in an activation circuit for the charging system, and alerts a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8301322
    Abstract: Until a vehicle system is activated, a switching circuit outputs a pilot signal to an OR circuit. As a result, lowering of the potential of the pilot signal caused by a resistance circuit is avoided, and the pilot signal is provided in a non-pulsed manner. A power supply CPU is activated in accordance with any one of a connector signal and the non-pulsed pilot signal. When the vehicle system is activated, the switching circuit switches an output destination of the pilot signal to the resistance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8103396
    Abstract: A shift position of an electric powered vehicle is selected by operating a shift lever and a P position switch. A power source position is selected by operating a power switch. When any of switching elements forming an inverter device is short-circuited, selection of the shift position and the power source position is controlled such that simultaneous selection of a power source position at which inverter control is turned off and a shift position at which a parking lock mechanism is inactivated can be avoided. Therefore, inverter control for reducing short-circuit current caused by back electromotive force derived from rotation of a motor generator after occurrence of short-circuit failure can reliably be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110309793
    Abstract: A charge control device includes a charge power detection unit for detecting charge power supplied to a power storage device; a target value determination unit for determining a target value of the charge power to the power storage device; a feedback control unit for correcting the target value based on a difference between the charge power and the target value to generate the power command value; a supply power detection unit for detecting supply power output from the charger; and a charge abnormality monitoring unit for, in a case where the charge power is decreased below a first threshold value and the supply power is decreased below a second threshold value, confirming a diagnosis that an abnormality occurs in the charger when the target value falls within an abnormality detectable range, and suspending performing a diagnosis of an abnormality in the charger when the target value is out of the abnormality detectable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110307136
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a target boost voltage to a maximum value when a request for changing a sub power supply is made; temporarily increasing discharge electric power of a main power supply and then restricting discharge electric power of the sub power supply before switching; shutting off a gate of a converter on the sub power supply side; performing processing for shutting off an SMR corresponding to the sub power supply before switching; connecting an SMR corresponding to a sub power supply after switching when an absolute value of a current is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; canceling shut-off of the gate of the converter on the sub power supply side; canceling temporary increase in discharge electric power of the main power supply and restriction of discharge electric power of the sub power supply; and canceling the setting of the maximum value as the target boost voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Komata, Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110285350
    Abstract: A charge control device includes a charge power detection unit for detecting charge power supplied to a power storage device; a target value determination unit for determining a target value of the charge power to the power storage device; a first feedback control unit for correcting the target value based on the difference between the charge power and the target value to generate a power command value; a supply power detection unit for detecting supply power output from the charger; a guard target value determination unit for determining a guard target value corresponding to an upper limit value of the power command value based on allowable power of a system for charging; a second feedback control unit for correcting the guard target value based on the difference between the supply power detected by the supply power detection unit and the guard target value; and an upper limit guard processing unit for limiting the target value corrected by the first feedback control unit based on the guard target value corr
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 8058848
    Abstract: A charger is operable in a normal mode such that output power matches a provided electric power command value CHPW, and limits the output power to a limit value PS in a saving mode if the electric power command value CHPW exceeds the limit value PS. A charging ECU performs feedback-control for compensating for the electric power command value CHPW such that a charging power monitor value PM sensed by a charging power sensing unit matches a target value PR, and in addition, limits an increase in the electric power command value CHPW such that the electric power command value CHPW does not significantly deviate from the target value PR. As a result, in a vehicle charging system on which an add-on charger having a power saving function is mounted, stabilization of the behavior when the add-on charger returns from a saving operation to a normal operation is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110227534
    Abstract: A charging ECU causes a charger to perform quick charging until a state of charge of a power storage device reaches a predetermined state. The charging ECU causes the charger to perform additional charging during which charging progresses more slowly than the quick charging, when the state of charge comes closer to full charge than the predetermined state. The charging ECU stops charging of the power storage device by the charger when the state of charge of the power storage device reaches a charging stop threshold value during the additional charging, and stops charging of the power storage device by the charger when a time of the additional charging exceeds a predetermined time even if the state of charge of the power storage device does not reach the charging stop threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110127956
    Abstract: An ECU detects a rated current that can be supplied from a power supply to a power storage device, based on a pilot signal. If a combination of detected values of a voltage; the rated current and a power supply frequency matches a predefined combination, the ECU executes charging with a voltage, a current and a frequency in accordance with the combination. On the other hand, if it is determined that the combination of the voltage, the rated current and the frequency does not match any one of predefined combinations and if it is determined that the power supply itself is normal, the ECU executes charging by limiting a charging current to a predefined minimum rated current value. If it is determined that the combination of the voltage, the rated current and the frequency does not match any one of predefined combinations and if it is determined that the power supply is abnormal, the ECU prohibits charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 7952236
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a load device mounted on a vehicle is provided with: a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an inverter; a voltage sensor detecting an applied voltage of the inverter; and a control unit operating the inverter in a case where the applied voltage is a predetermined upper limit value or lower whereas stopping the inverter in a case where the applied voltage is higher than the upper limit value based on a voltage detection result by the voltage sensor. The control unit sets the upper limit value based on temperature dependency of a withstand voltage of an IGBT element included in the inverter and a temperature detection result by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 7941254
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control unit performs diagnosis of a power generator using a target number of diagnoses during a trip period that extends from an ON state to an OFF state of an ignition key. For this, the control unit judges whether electricity is generated by the power generator from time to time. If no power is generated, it is judged whether the number of diagnoses which have been performed reaches the target number of diagnoses. If the target number of diagnoses is not reached, it is judged whether a diagnosis start condition appropriate for the diagnosis is satisfied. If yes, a gate arranged between a first inverter for controlling drive of the power generator and a power source is opened so that they are electrically connected. While keeping this state, a zero-torque control is executed to execute a diagnosis regarding the power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20110101915
    Abstract: A charging system of a vehicle for charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device includes a charger configured to receive electric power from a power supply external to the vehicle for charging the power storage device, a charging power sensing portion for sensing charging power supplied to the power storage device, and a charging control device for performing control on the charger by generating a power command value for the charger based on a target value. The charging control device detects a difference between charging power sensed by the charging power sensing portion and the target value and determines presence/absence of abnormality of the charger based on the detected difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100318250
    Abstract: In an external charging mode of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, electric power from an external power supply electrically connected to a connector is converted and supplied to a power line electrically connected to a battery and an electric air-conditioning device. If charge allowable power of the battery is smaller than or equal to a prescribed value when the electric air-conditioning device is operated, a DFR is opened to stop electric power supply from the external power supply and drive the electric air-conditioning device by electric power of the battery. As a result, even if the consumed power of the electric air-conditioning device is suddenly decreased, the inflow of surplus electric power that cannot be absorbed by the battery from the external power supply can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100299008
    Abstract: Until a vehicle system is activated, a switching circuit outputs a pilot signal to an OR circuit. As a result, lowering of the potential of the pilot signal caused by a resistance circuit is avoided, and the pilot signal is provided in a non-pulsed manner. A power supply CPU is activated in accordance with any one of a connector signal and the non-pulsed pilot signal. When the vehicle system is activated, the switching circuit switches an output destination of the pilot signal to the resistance circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100289516
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including a step of determining that a pilot wire for transferring a pilot signal CPLT, which is output when a charging cable is connected to a plug-in hybrid vehicle and an external power source, to the ECU is broken, when output of the pilot signal CPLT is currently stopped and a voltage VAC of the external power source (absolute value of voltage VAC) detected by a voltmeter provided within the plug-in hybrid vehicle is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Yoshinori Fujitake
  • Publication number: 20100256851
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control unit performs diagnosis of a power generator using a target number of diagnoses during a trip period that extends from an ON state to an OFF state of an ignition key. For this, the control unit judges whether electricity is generated by the power generator from time to time. If no power is generated, it is judged whether the number of diagnoses which have been performed reaches the target number of diagnoses. If the target number of diagnoses is not reached, it is judged whether a diagnosis start condition appropriate for the diagnosis is satisfied. If yes, a gate arranged between a first inverter for controlling drive of the power generator and a power source is opened so that they are electrically connected. While keeping this state, a zero-torque control is executed to execute a diagnosis regarding the power generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani