Patents by Inventor Yoshinobu Sugiyama

Yoshinobu Sugiyama 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).

  • Publication number: 20150202972
    Abstract: When a vehicle configured to be capable of charging an auxiliary battery with a driving battery's electric power while the vehicle is left unattended has ignition turned off with the main battery having an SOCm smaller than a threshold value, an ECU calculates and indicates to the user a currently permissible unattended period of time in days, and the ECU also inquires of the user whether the user requests to execute engine involved charging control to extend the permissible unattended period of time in days. If the engine involved charging control is requested, the ECU initiates the engine involved charging control, and once the engine involved charging control has been executed for a duration exceeding a commanded period of time, the ECU ceases the engine involved charging control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventor: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9073541
    Abstract: A power source system for a vehicle includes a first power storage device, a second power storage device, a voltage converter, and a controller. The controller is configured to (a) execute a charging control in which the second power storage device is charged by the voltage converter when a parking time of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined period of time, (b) estimate a decrease amount in a state of charge of the first power storage device in a time period from after elapse of the predetermined period of time until a start of the vehicle, (c) set a lower limit of the state of charge based on the decrease amount, and (d) not execute the charging control when the state of charge is lower than the lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9061596
    Abstract: A charger includes a conversion unit for converting external electric power from a charging port into DC, a conversion unit for converting the output of the preceding conversion unit into high-frequency AC, and a conversion unit for converting the electric power generated by transforming the output of the preceding conversion unit by an insulated transformer into DC to output the DC to a power storage device. The charger further includes a switch unit that enables the circuit configuration of the charger to switch between a single-stage charging circuit and a dual-stage charging circuit. The switch unit is controlled by a control signal from an ECU. The ECU controls the switch unit in accordance with the SOC of the power storage device and switches the circuit configuration of the charger to one of the single-stage charging circuit and the dual-stage charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9007001
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a first electrical storage device; a charging device charging the first electrical storage device with external power from an external power supply; a second electrical storage device supplying an auxiliary load with a voltage lower than an output voltage of the first electrical storage device; a first converter stepping down a voltage of power from the first electrical storage device and supplying the auxiliary load and the second electrical storage device with a voltage; a second converter having a capacity smaller than that of the first converter and charging the second electrical storage device with the external power; and a controller, when the external power is charged, controlling charging power from the charging device to the first electrical storage device and charging power from the second converter to the second electrical storage device based on a state of charge of the second electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Wanleng Ang
  • Patent number: 8963457
    Abstract: An electric storage system includes a charger which supplies power from an external power source to an electric storage apparatus and supplies power of the electric storage apparatus to an external device. A first and a second system main relay allow connection between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and a load, respectively. A third system main relay is connected in series with a current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first system main relay. A first and a second charge relay allow connection between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and the charger, respectively. A third charge relay is connected in series with the abovementioned current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first charge relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Hidenori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8963482
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle has a main battery and an auxiliary battery mounted therein. In external charging, a charging device performs AC/DC power conversion converting power received from an external power supply into power charged to main battery. A sub charging relay is connected between a predetermined node on an electric conduction path of the charging device in the AC/DC power conversion and the auxiliary battery. The sub charging relay is turned off in the external charging. The charging device is configured such that when the external charging is not performed and the sub charging relay is turned on the charging device performs DC/DC power conversion to convert power of the main battery via at least a portion of the electric conduction path in the AC/DC power conversion into power to be charged to the auxiliary battery and outputs the converted power on the predetermined node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wanleng Ang, Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8928280
    Abstract: A switching relay is configured to switch between a first power feeding path for feeding power from a charge inlet to an outlet and a second power feeding path for feeding power from a power storage device to the outlet. A PM-ECU controls the switching relay to switch between the first power feeding path and the second power feeding path, based on a result of comparison between a power cost in a case where the power is fed to the outlet through the first power feeding path and a power cost in a case where the power is fed to the outlet through the second power feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Wanleng Ang
  • Patent number: 8907622
    Abstract: An AC/DC converter is configured to perform voltage conversion on power supplied from an AC power supply and supply the power to an auxiliary load during external charging in which a main power storage device is charged by the AC power supply. An auxiliary power storage device stores power to be supplied to the auxiliary load. A diode permits discharging of the auxiliary power storage device while preventing charging of the auxiliary power storage device during the external charging. A current sensor detects discharging of the auxiliary power storage device. A controller adjusts an output voltage of the AC/DC converter while confirming whether or not the auxiliary power storage device discharges, based on a detection value of the current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Itagaki, Wanleng Ang, Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Yoshikazu Kataoka, Naomi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140343776
    Abstract: A power supply system for a vehicle includes: first and second power lines connected to a PCU; first and second power storage devices each configured to be rechargeable; a capacitor connected between the first power line and the second power line; a switching unit configured to be able to switch between a first state in which one of the first and second power storage devices is connected between the first power line and the second power line, and a second state in which the first and second power storage devices are connected in series between the first power line and the second power line; and a control device for setting the switching unit in the first state to charge the capacitor, and thereafter setting the switching unit in the second state to charge the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wanleng Ang, Ryouji Oki, Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8836272
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a PCU controlling electric power supplied to a motor, a first power storage device, a second power storage device, an ECU, a charger, system main relays SMR1 to SMR4, SMRA, SMRB, and charging relays CR1 to CR4. The first power storage device is formed such that a first module and a second module which are separately disposed are connected in series through SMRA and SMRB. The first power storage device is connected to the PCU through SMR1 and SMR2. The second power storage device is connected to the PCU through SMR3 and SMR4. The charger has a capacitor that is connected to the first power storage device through CR1 and CR2 and also connected to the second power storage device through CR3 and CR4. When charging is completed, the ECU turns on CR1, CR2, SMR1, and SMR2, and turns off SMRA, SMRB, CR3, CR4, SMR3, and SMR4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Wanleng Ang, Kenji Itagaki, Yoshikazu Kataoka, Naomi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8810061
    Abstract: A charger is configured to receive electric power from an external power supply and charge a main power storage device and a power storage device for auxiliary machinery. The charger includes a capacitor for smoothing charging power outputted to the main power storage device. A PM-ECU controls charging of the power storage device for auxiliary machinery by the charger such that the power storage device for auxiliary machinery can receive residual electric charge in the capacitor. The PM-ECU controls the charger, after the end of charging of the main power storage device by the charger, such that the residual electric charge in the capacitor is discharged into the power storage device for auxiliary machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Yosei Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140217812
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a storage device configured to store power used for traveling; an auxiliary battery configured to store power supplied to an auxiliary load; a converter configured to charge the auxiliary battery by using power supplied from the storage device; and a shut-off device configured to switch between a supply condition in which power is supplied to the auxiliary load from the auxiliary battery and a shut-off condition in which power is not supplied to the auxiliary load from the auxiliary battery. During control of the electric vehicle, the converter is controlled such that an output voltage of the converter is higher when the shut-off device is in the shut-off condition than when the shut-off device is in the supply condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA, Keiji KAITA, Takahiko HIRASAWA, Yasuomi TAKEUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140214251
    Abstract: A power source system for a vehicle includes a first power storage device, a second power storage device, a voltage converter, and a controller. The controller is configured to (a) execute a charging control in which the second power storage device is charged by the voltage converter when a parking time of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined period of time, (b) estimate a decrease amount in a state of charge of the first power storage device in a time period from after elapse of the predetermined period of time until a start of the vehicle, (c) set a lower limit of the state of charge based on the decrease amount, and (d) not execute the charging control when the state of charge is lower than the lower limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140203735
    Abstract: An electric storage system includes a charger which supplies power from an external power source to an electric storage apparatus and supplies power of the electric storage apparatus to an external device. A first and a second system main relay allow connection between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and a load, respectively. A third system main relay is connected in series with a current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first system main relay. A first and a second charge relay allow connection between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the electric storage apparatus and the charger, respectively. A third charge relay is connected in series with the abovementioned current limiting resistor and, together with the current limiting resistor, is connected in parallel with the first charge relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Hidenori Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140203759
    Abstract: A power supply system of a vehicle includes: a first power storage device that stores power for travel; a second power storage device that stores power for auxiliary equipment; a voltage conversion device that is provided between the first power storage device and the second power storage device, and that charges the second power storage device through voltage conversion of power that is outputted by the first power storage device; and a control device that executes charging control of charging the second power storage device by way of the voltage conversion device, while the vehicle is parked. The control device determines an abnormality in the second power storage device on the basis of information relating to dark current in the second power storage device during parking, and, upon determination of abnormality in the second power storage device, sets the charging control to non-execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140203634
    Abstract: During external charging, a charger converts AC electric power from an external power supply into electric power for charging a main battery. An AC/DC converter converts the AC electric power on the power line into auxiliary electric power. The charger is further capable of executing power conversion for converting output electric power of the main battery into AC electric power for output to the power line. While a vehicle is running, normally, the charger and the AC/DC converter are stopped, and the auxiliary electric power obtained by converting the output electric power of the main battery by a main DC/DC converter is output. At the time of regenerative braking of the vehicle, where charging of the main battery is prohibited or restricted, the charger and the AC/DC converter are further operated to intentionally increase loss power, thereby generating auxiliary electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Wanleng Ang
  • Publication number: 20140203637
    Abstract: First and second system main relays are connected between a first power storage device and a second power storage device, respectively, and a first power line. First and second relays for charging are connected between first and second power storage devices, respectively, and a second power line. A control device selectively forms any of a first power feed path formed by connecting each of the first and second power storage devices to the first power line, and a second power feed path formed by connecting, to the first power line, one of the first and second power storage devices connected in parallel when the first and second relays are turned ON, thereby ensuring a power feed path to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140191720
    Abstract: A power storage device mounted on an electric powered vehicle is configured to include a plurality of battery units. A charger outputs onto power lines the charging power for charging the power storage device by a power supply external to the vehicle. A plurality of relays switch the electrical connection between the power lines and the plurality of battery units. A control device controls the plurality of relays to reduce the number of battery units that are the subject of charging when the current leakage value during overall charging of the plurality of battery units is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Ryoji Oki
  • Publication number: 20140183942
    Abstract: A power conversion unit including a bidirectional converter, a sub DC-DC converter, and a main DC-DC converter selectively performs first power conversion converting power supplied from outside of a vehicle into charging power for a power storage unit, and second power conversion converting power stored in the power storage unit into output power to the outside of the vehicle. When charging of the power storage unit from the outside of the vehicle is performed in an emergency where power or a power amount to be output to the outside of the vehicle when the second power conversion is performed is requested to be greater than usual, the power conversion unit performs the first power conversion such that a state quantity indicating a state of charge of the power storage unit becomes greater than usual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8755964
    Abstract: An outlet is provided to output power stored in a power storage device as commercial power, and the outlet receives power supply from the power storage device via a voltage converter. A car navigation device is configured to store information about traveling of a vehicle to a destination. An ECU obtains the information about traveling to the destination from the car navigation device, and controls a state of charge of the power storage device based on the information up to the destination and a usage status of the outlet up to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wanleng Ang, Yoshinobu Sugiyama