Patents by Inventor Shohei Nomura
Shohei Nomura 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: 20240174007Abstract: A portable terminal has a thermal head. The portable terminal includes a first sensor unit configured to detect presence or absence of a sheet, a second sensor unit configured to detect information related to a mark provided on the sheet, and a sheet determination unit configured to determine a kind of the sheet. The sheet determination unit is configured to determine a kind of the sheet based on a result of detecting information related to the mark with use of the second sensor unit after the sheet is conveyed in a reverse direction with respect to a direction of discharging the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2023Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Yohei ISHIDOYA, Shohei NOMURA, Koki YOSHIDA, Soshiro AOKI
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Patent number: 11884174Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a battery management system with an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. The energy storage device includes a battery module with: at least one sensor, a processor, and an optical transceiver. The battery management system also includes a control unit to control the energy storage device, and a control unit optical transceiver configured for bidirectional free-space optical communication with the battery module optical transceiver via a free-space optical communication link. The battery module processor is configured to receive sensor readings and transmit them to the control unit via the free-space optical communication link. Based on the sensor readings, the control unit sends commands to the battery module processor via the free-space optical communication link.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Neil T. Moloney, Shohei Nomura
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Publication number: 20230079247Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a battery management system with an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. The energy storage device includes a battery module with: at least one sensor, a processor, and an optical transceiver. The battery management system also includes a control unit to control the energy storage device, and a control unit optical transceiver configured for bidirectional free-space optical communication with the battery module optical transceiver via a free-space optical communication link. The battery module processor is configured to receive sensor readings and transmit them to the control unit via the free-space optical communication link. Based on the sensor readings, the control unit sends commands to the battery module processor via the free-space optical communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Neil T. Moloney, Shohei Nomura
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Patent number: 10865671Abstract: An oil pan assembly having an oil pan and an intake pipe attached to a bottom of an engine block is provided. The oil pan assembly includes an inner plate mounted to the oil pan so as to be disposed between the oil pan and a bottom surface of the engine block. The inner plate is configured to slow the flow of oil to an intake pipe so as to provide additional time for entrained oil to de-areate.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Swetha Minupuri, Dong-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 10468124Abstract: The present invention provides a process for designing and producing a cooling fluid for use in a cooling system. The process uses molecular dynamics to calculate the thermal properties of one or more fluid-nanoparticle solutions, and thereby aids in the study, selection and/or production of desired cooling fluids based on first principle simulations.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Erich Benjamin Fiederlein, Kiyotaka Yamashita
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Patent number: 10119464Abstract: An engine assembly having a cover for catching oil splatted by crankshaft gear and a balance shaft gear is provided. The crankshaft gear is mechanically coupled to the balance shaft gear. The balance shaft gear may be partially submerged in a pool of oil formed at the bottom of the crankcase housing. The cover includes a first cover portion having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending along a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion covers a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the crankshaft gear. The bottom portion a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the balance shaft gear. Accordingly, oil splattered by the crankshaft gear and the balance shaft gear is caught by the cover, reducing oil entrainment and increasing oil pumping efficiency. Further, the cover helps prevent oil mist from escaping the system so as to reduce oil consumption.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Swetha Minupuri, Shohei Nomura
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Publication number: 20170260900Abstract: An engine assembly having a cover for catching oil splatted by crankshaft gear and a balance shaft gear is provided. The crankshaft gear is mechanically coupled to the balance shaft gear. The balance shaft gear may be partially submerged in a pool of oil formed at the bottom of the crankcase housing. The cover includes a first cover portion having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending along a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion covers a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the crankshaft gear. The bottom portion a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the balance shaft gear. Accordingly, oil splattered by the crankshaft gear and the balance shaft gear is caught by the cover, reducing oil entrainment and increasing oil pumping efficiency. Further, the cover helps prevent oil mist from escaping the system so as to reduce oil consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Swetha Minupuri, Shohei Nomura
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Patent number: 9528407Abstract: An oil separation device of the having a separation chamber configured to separate micron particles of oil from crankcase gas is provided. The separation chamber has passage having a first end and a second end, the second end has a diameter smaller than the first end. The second end is spaced apart from a bottom wall of a chamber. Crankcase gas is drawn along the passage in the same direction as oil falling along the inner wall of the passage. Crankcase gas exits the second end in a path different than oil falling from the second end. The oil separating device may further include a dividing wall having through-holes and a blocking wall disposed above the through-holes so as to facilitate the removal of oil from crankcase gas.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Shohei Nomura, Tenghua Tom Shieh, Swetha Minupuri
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Publication number: 20160319715Abstract: An oil pan assembly having an oil pan and an intake pipe attached to a bottom of an engine block is provided. The oil pan assembly includes an inner plate mounted to the oil pan so as to be disposed between the oil pan and a bottom surface of the engine block. The inner plate is configured to slow the flow of oil to an intake pipe so as to provide additional time for entrained oil to de-areate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Swetha Minupuri, Dong-Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 9064090Abstract: A process for selecting a piston ring for a piston containing internal combustion engine such that the engine experiences a reduction in lubrication oil consumption (LOC) used therein. The process can include providing engine specifications for an engine for which the piston ring is to be selected and simulating engine temperatures for the engine as a function of the engine specifications. The process can also include simulating bore distortion for the engine as a function of the simulated engine temperatures and simulating piston ring dynamics for the engine as a function of the simulated bore distortion. Once the simulated piston ring dynamics have been obtained, the process can include calculating a plurality of LOC values and selecting a piston ring as a function of the calculated LOC values.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Erich Benjamin Fiederlein
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Publication number: 20150167515Abstract: An oil separation device of the having a separation chamber configured to separate micron particles of oil from crankcase gas is provided. The separation chamber has passage having a first end and a second end, the second end has a diameter smaller than the first end. The second end is spaced apart from a bottom wall of a chamber. Crankcase gas is drawn along the passage in the same direction as oil falling along the inner wall of the passage. Crankcase gas exits the second end in a path different than oil falling from the second end. The oil separating device may further include a dividing wall having through-holes and a blocking wall disposed above the through-holes so as to facilitate the removal of oil from crankcase gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Shohei Nomura, Tenghua Tom Shieh, Swetha Minupuri
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Patent number: 8840380Abstract: An annular device for the temperature control of a pump is provided. That device is in fluid communication with the radiator coolant system of a vehicle, and the engine-warmed coolant flows through the annular device to warm the pump and thaw ice buildup. The device is removable and can be added on to an existing pump without any redesign of the existing pump housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Kyle Thomas Bernier, James Guitar, Shohei Nomura
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Publication number: 20130218535Abstract: A process for selecting a piston ring for a piston containing internal combustion engine such that the engine experiences a reduction in lubrication oil consumption (LOC) used therein. The process can include providing engine specifications for an engine for which the piston ring is to be selected and simulating engine temperatures for the engine as a function of the engine specifications. The process can also include simulating bore distortion for the engine as a function of the simulated engine temperatures and simulating piston ring dynamics for the engine as a function of the simulated bore distortion. Once the simulated piston ring dynamics have been obtained, the process can include calculating a plurality of LOC values and selecting a piston ring as a function of the calculated LOC values.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Erich Benjamin Fiederlein
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Publication number: 20130187079Abstract: The present invention provides a process for designing and producing a cooling fluid for use in a cooling system. The process uses molecular dynamics to calculate the thermal properties of one or more fluid-nanoparticle solutions, and thereby aids in the study, selection and/or production of desired cooling fluids based on first principle simulations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: TENGHUA TOM SHIEH, Shohei Nomura, Erich Benjamin Fiederlein, Kiyotaka Yamashita
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Patent number: 8433495Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a blow-by gas species concentration may include calculating one-dimensional engine performance data with a one-dimensional engine performance model. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be based at least in part upon an engine operating condition. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be transformed, automatically with a processor executing a two-dimensional ring dynamics model, into piston ring motion data. The two-dimensional ring dynamics model simulates geometrical changes to a piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined with a network model including the one-dimensional engine performance model and a two-dimensional ring pack model. The two-dimensional ring pack model simulates species concentration change in the piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined using the engine operating condition and the piston ring motion data.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingInventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Kyle Thomas Bernier, Wei Liu
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Publication number: 20120189436Abstract: An annular device for the temperature control of a pump is provided. That device is in fluid communication with the radiator coolant system of a vehicle, and the engine-warmed coolant flows through the annular device to warm the pump and thaw ice buildup. The device is removable and can be added on to an existing pump without any redesign of the existing pump housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Kyle Thomas Bernier, James Guitar, Shohei Nomura
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Publication number: 20120173119Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a blow-by gas species concentration may include calculating one-dimensional engine performance data with a one-dimensional engine performance model. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be based at least in part upon an engine operating condition. The one-dimensional engine performance data may be transformed, automatically with a processor executing a two-dimensional ring dynamics model, into piston ring motion data. The two-dimensional ring dynamics model simulates geometrical changes to a piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined with a network model including the one-dimensional engine performance model and a two-dimensional ring pack model. The two-dimensional ring pack model simulates species concentration change in the piston-ring pack flow path. The blow-by gas species concentration may be determined using the engine operating condition and the piston ring motion data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Kyle Thomas Bernier, Wei Liu
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Patent number: 8047186Abstract: An oil separating device for separating micron and sub-micron particles of oil from crankcase gases is provided. The oil separating device includes a housing having a first chamber in communication with a second chamber, and a narrow wave-shaped passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The narrow wave-shaped passage is defined by a first inner wall having a first undulating surface opposite and spaced apart from a second inner wall having a second undulating surface mirroring the first undulating surface. The narrow wave-shaped passage is disposed downstream of the first chamber and above the oil drain so as to allow oil particles in crankcase gases passing from the inlet to the outlet to accumulate on the first and second inner walls and assist gravity in forcing the accumulated oil through the narrow wave-shaped passage into the oil drain.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura
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Publication number: 20100126479Abstract: An oil separating device for separating micron and sub-micron particles of oil from crankcase gases is provided. The oil separating device includes a housing having a first chamber in communication with a second chamber, and a narrow wave-shaped passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The narrow wave-shaped passage is defined by a first inner wall having a first undulating surface opposite and spaced apart from a second inner wall having a second undulating surface mirroring the first undulating surface. The narrow wave-shaped passage is disposed downstream of the first chamber and above the oil drain so as to allow oil particles in crankcase gases passing from the inlet to the outlet to accumulate on the first and second inner walls and assist gravity in forcing the accumulated oil through the narrow wave-shaped passage into the oil drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Tenghua Tom Shieh, Shohei Nomura
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Patent number: 7380545Abstract: An oil separator separates oil from crankcase gases of an internal combustion engine. The oil drainage device includes an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of stages arranged in a stack between the inlet and the outlet. Each stage includes a generally upright side wall having opposite top and bottom faces. An end wall is disposed at the bottom face of the side wall. The end wall has opposite upper and lower surfaces. The end wall has a bore extending through the upper and lower surfaces for receiving a flow of crankcase gases therethrough. A plate diverts the flow of crankcase gases exiting the bore for creating a pressure increase that separates oil from the crankcase gases. A tube extends through the bore for directing the flow of crankcase gases therethrough. The tube being spaced apart from an inner surface of the bore allowing oil to flow therethrough in an opposite direction relative to the crankcase gases.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Teng-Hua Shieh, Shohei Nomura, Naveen Rajan