Patents by Inventor Yusai YOSHIMURA

Yusai YOSHIMURA 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: 11855319
    Abstract: When leakage of fuel gas is detected by detection signals or disruption of the detection signals is detected, a FCECU limits a supply amount of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device, and shuts off the supply of the fuel gas by the fuel gas supply device when determining, after limiting the supply amount of the fuel gas, that the leakage of the fuel gas or the disruption of the detection signals has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Nishio, Tomonari Hattori, Koichi Kato, Yusai Yoshimura, Kazuhide Inoue, Koichi Takaku, Kuniaki Ojima
  • Patent number: 11824237
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a circulation circuit, a gas liquid separator section, a purge channel, a purge valve and an ECU. In a method of operating the fuel cell system at low temperature, after start-up of the fuel cell system, the ECU performs a freezing determination processing step of determining freezing or non-freezing of the gas liquid separator, and in the case where freezing of the gas liquid separator is determined in the freezing determination step, the ECU performs a freezing confirmation processing step of immediately opening the purge valve for predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Hamachi, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20220311032
    Abstract: When leakage of fuel gas is detected by detection signals or disruption of the detection signals is detected, a FCECU limits a supply amount of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device, and shuts off the supply of the fuel gas by the fuel gas supply device when determining, after limiting the supply amount of the fuel gas, that the leakage of the fuel gas or the disruption of the detection signals has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Jin NISHIO, Tomonari HATTORI, Koichi KATO, Yusai YOSHIMURA, Kazuhide INOUE, Koichi TAKAKU, Kuniaki OJIMA
  • Patent number: 11444294
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply channel, a fuel gas circulation channel, a circulating pump that is driven by a pump motor having no sensor, and an ECU for controlling the rotation of the pump motor. A method for operating the fuel cell system rotates the pump motor when starting, and stops the supply of electric power to the pump motor after the rotational speed of the pump motor has reached a given value, and determines, in an inertial period, whether or not the rotational speed of the pump motor has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value within a given time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusai Yoshimura, Hideo Numata, Nobuki Koiwa
  • Patent number: 11398635
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply channel, a circulation passage, a purge valve, and a temperature sensor. A method of operating the fuel cell system performs a judging step of determining whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is at or below a given temperature. Then, if the temperature is at or below the given temperature, the method performs a purge valve scavenging process step of intermittently opening and closing the purge valve multiple times, while supplying the fuel gas through the fuel gas supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Hideo Numata, Jumpei Ogawa, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11394042
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a gas liquid separator, a water level sensor, a drain valve, and a control unit. When a failure detection processing method is performed, a control unit makes a determination of main conditions where the water level sensor determines that water is present, a power generation current value of the fuel cell stack is not more than a predetermined current threshold value, a drain valve for discharging water in the gas liquid separator is open. Then, the control unit counts elapsed time when the main conditions are satisfied, and in the case where the main conditions are kept satisfied for the elapsed time which is larger than a time threshold value, the control unit determines that the water level sensor has a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusai Yoshimura, Joji Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20210305599
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply channel, a circulation passage, a purge valve, and a temperature sensor. A method of operating the fuel cell system performs a judging step of determining whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is at or below a given temperature. Then, if the temperature is at or below the given temperature, the method performs a purge valve scavenging process step of intermittently opening and closing the purge valve multiple times, while supplying the fuel gas through the fuel gas supply channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuki KOIWA, Hideo NUMATA, Jumpei OGAWA, Yusai YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210305596
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a fuel gas supply channel, a fuel gas circulation channel, a circulating pump that is driven by a pump motor having no sensor, and an ECU for controlling the rotation of the pump motor. A method for operating the fuel cell system rotates the pump motor when starting, and stops the supply of electric power to the pump motor after the rotational speed of the pump motor has reached a given value, and determines, in an inertial period, whether or not the rotational speed of the pump motor has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value within a given time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Yusai YOSHIMURA, Hideo NUMATA, Nobuki KOIWA
  • Publication number: 20210143454
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a circulation circuit, a gas liquid separator section, a purge channel, a purge valve and an ECU. In a method of operating the fuel cell system at low temperature, after start-up of the fuel cell system, the ECU performs a freezing determination processing step of determining freezing or non-freezing of the gas liquid separator, and in the case where freezing of the gas liquid separator is determined in the freezing determination step, the ECU performs a freezing confirmation processing step of immediately opening the purge valve for predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Masakazu HAMACHI, Yusai YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210091396
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack, a gas liquid separator, a water level sensor, a drain valve, and a control unit. When a failure detection processing method is performed, a control unit makes a determination of main conditions where the water level sensor determines that water is present, a power generation current value of the fuel cell stack is not more than a predetermined current threshold value, a drain valve for discharging water in the gas liquid separator is open. Then, the control unit counts elapsed time when the main conditions are satisfied, and in the case where the main conditions are kept satisfied for the elapsed time which is larger than a time threshold value, the control unit determines that the water level sensor has a failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yusai YOSHIMURA, Joji NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 10230118
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, includes measuring an impedance of the fuel cell that includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. An output electric current output from the fuel cell is increased to a threshold electric current value when the impedance is equal to or higher than a threshold impedance value and a target electric current value is larger than the threshold electric current value. The output electric current is maintained at the threshold electric current value. The output electric current is increased from the threshold electric current value to the target electric current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Osamu Ogami, Takashi Yamamoto, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10050292
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, includes driving a pump to supply an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The pump has a minimum supply amount of the oxidant gas. A fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. It is determined whether a target amount of the oxidant gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode is lower than the minimum supply amount. An opening degree of a pressure adjusting valve is adjusted to adjust an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode to be the target amount when the target amount is determined to be lower than the minimum supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki Koiwa, Osamu Ogami, Yusai Yoshimura, Akiji Ando
  • Publication number: 20180027364
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a power supply part provided with a temperature raising unit, a vehicle compartment environment adjustment part configured to adjust the temperature inside the vehicle, a wireless communication part to communicate with the outside of the vehicle, and a control part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoko Shintani, Kanako Ikeda, Chihiro Wake, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20170352903
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes first and second tanks, first and second pipes, a pipe, a first valve, a second valve, a pressure sensor, and circuitry. The first pipe is connected to the first tank. The second pipe is connected to the second tank. The pipe is connected to a fuel cell and connected to the first and second pipes to supply a reaction gas from the first and second tanks to the fuel cell. The first valve is provided at the first pipe. The second valve is provided at the second pipe. The pressure sensor is provided at the pipe between the joint point and the fuel cell. The circuitry determines whether a failure occurs in at least one of the first and second valves based on a change in the pressure detected by the pressure sensor while the first and second valves are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusai YOSHIMURA, Satoru KAWASE, Yuji MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20170250422
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which includes an anode electrode and a cathode electrode sandwiching a solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween, includes driving a pump to supply an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The pump has a minimum supply amount of the oxidant gas. A fuel gas is supplied to the anode electrode to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between the fuel gas and the oxidant gas. It is determined whether a target amount of the oxidant gas to be supplied to the cathode electrode is lower than the minimum supply amount. An opening degree of a pressure adjusting valve is adjusted to adjust an amount of the oxidant gas supplied to the cathode electrode to be the target amount when the target amount is determined to be lower than the minimum supply amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki KOIWA, Osamu OGAMI, Yusai YOSHIMURA, Akiji ANDO
  • Publication number: 20170250425
    Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, includes measuring an impedance of the fuel cell that includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane to generate electric power via an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas. An output electric current output from the fuel cell is increased to a threshold electric current value when the impedance is equal to or higher than a threshold impedance value and a target electric current value is larger than the threshold electric current value. The output electric current is maintained at the threshold electric current value. The output electric current is increased from the threshold electric current value to the target electric current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki KOIWA, Osamu OGAMI, Takashi YAMAMOTO, Yusai YOSHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9543600
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can supply fuel gas appropriately is provided. The fuel cell system includes an injector 23A and an injector 23B which inject fuel gas, and an ECU 50. The ECU 50 adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas that is injected from the injector 23A by adjusting the valve opening time period and the valve closing time period of the injector 23A, which are repeated alternately, and make at least a part of the valve opening time period of the injector 23B overlap with the valve closing time period of the injector 23A when opening the valve of the injector 23B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro Morita, Koichiro Miyata, Yusai Yoshimura, Osamu Ohgami
  • Patent number: 9373855
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel-cell system having a control device which controls driving of a first fuel supply device and a second fuel supply device. The control device includes, a driving-interval setting unit which sets first driving intervals for the first fuel supply device and second driving intervals for the second fuel supply device, a first fuel-supply-device control unit which sets valve-open durations of the first fuel supply device according to the first driving intervals, and a second fuel-supply-device control unit which sets valve-open durations of the second fuel supply device according to the second driving intervals. The driving-interval setting unit sets the second driving intervals to be shorter than the first driving intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Ohgami, Koichiro Miyata, Yusai Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20140147760
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel-cell system having a control device which controls driving of a first fuel supply device and a second fuel supply device. The control device includes, a driving-interval setting unit which sets first driving intervals for the first fuel supply device and second driving intervals for the second fuel supply device, a first fuel-supply-device control unit which sets valve-open durations of the first fuel supply device according to the first driving intervals, and a second fuel-supply-device control unit which sets valve-open durations of the second fuel supply device according to the second driving intervals. The driving-interval setting unit sets the second driving intervals to be shorter than the first driving intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu OHGAMI, Koichiro MIYATA, Yusai YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20140141345
    Abstract: A fuel cell system that can supply fuel gas appropriately is provided. The fuel cell system includes an injector 23A and an injector 23B which inject fuel gas, and an ECU 50. The ECU 50 adjusts the flow rate of the fuel gas that is injected from the injector 23A by adjusting the valve opening time period and the valve closing time period of the injector 23A, which are repeated alternately, and make at least a part of the valve opening time period of the injector 23B overlap with the valve closing time period of the injector 23A when opening the valve of the injector 23B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinjiro MORITA, Koichiro MIYATA, Yusai YOSHIMURA, Osamu OHGAMI