Patents Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA AND
  • FUEL CELL APPARATUS AND FUEL CELL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100136440
    Abstract: The present invention reduces deterioration in the output of a fuel cell caused by a high moisture concentration at an oxidant electrode. A control apparatus for a fuel cell comprising an electrolyte membrane, an oxidant electrode provided on one side of the electrolyte membrane, and a fuel electrode provided on the other side of the electrolyte membrane, in which electric power is generated from an oxidant gas supplied to the oxidant electrode and a fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode, wherein when the current-voltage characteristics of the fuel cell fall below a predetermined reference level, and the electrolyte membrane has not dried beyond a predetermined reference level, the control apparatus executes a control operation that increases the gas pressure at the oxidant electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hashimoto, Hideki Kubo
  • ELECTRIC SYSTEM, CHARGING DEVICE AND CHARGING METHOD FOR ELECTRIC SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100134065
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of causing a battery pack to discharge when an external power supply is connected to a charger, stopping discharge of the battery pack when a state of charge of the battery pack is reduced to a reset value, and charging the battery pack after the state of charge is reduced to the reset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Takahide Iida
  • VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD AND VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100138077
    Abstract: This invention is intended to ensure that a vehicle control method or vehicle control device is capable of achieving the object of each of a plurality of control logics in a balanced manner and performing an appropriate control for the vehicle as a whole. Demands concerning a plurality of control parameters of a vehicle are output from each of a plurality of control logics having an object individually. The target value of each of the control parameters is determined by mediating the demands from each of the control logics with respect to each kind of control parameter. In doing so, the demand from the control logic whose demand has been reflected to the target value in the already-performed mediation is withdrawn or relieved in the following mediation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Kawai
  • TRAVEL TRACE GENERATION METHOD AND TRAVEL TRACE GENERATION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100138099
    Abstract: A running locus generating apparatus 1 for generating a future running locus of a vehicle driven by a hybrid scheme comprises constraint condition computing means 30 for convergently computing a constraint condition including at least a road boundary condition and evaluation function computing means 30 for deriving a running locus by a convergent computation with an evaluation function including at least an evaluation of an electric power balance in a hybrid system when the electric power balance is positive in a state where the constraint condition by the constraint condition computing means 30 is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Taguchi
  • TRAFFIC INFORMATION GENERATION METHOD, TRAFFIC INFORMATION GENERATION DEVICE, AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100138141
    Abstract: Disclosed is a traffic information generation method for generating traffic information for each link, the method including a vehicle speed detection step of detecting a vehicle speed at predetermined distance intervals or at predetermined time intervals using a vehicle speed sensor; and a traffic jam degree detection step of referring to a specified speed and a specified distance prescribed in association with a traffic jam degree representing a level of a traffic jam and a connection determination distance prescribed in accordance with a road type to detect the traffic jam degree corresponding to the vehicle speed. When a link length falls within a predetermined range, information on the traffic jam degree corresponding to a fastest vehicle speed within a prescribed starting point distance from a beginning of the link is allocated to the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhide Hayashida, Tomoyuki Zaitsu, Kazutaka Yoshikawa, Kenji Nagase, Hiroki Ishikawa
  • HYBRID DRIVE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20100133930
    Abstract: The hybrid drive device characterized in that: a case space (G1, G2) is divided by a partition wall (24) into a first case part (22) and a second case part (23); a drive electric motor (8) is provided in the first case part (22); a friction engagement element (B1) is provided in the second case part (23); and a through hole (59) that communicates the case spaces (G1, G2) is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruhisa Suzuki, Masatoshi Adachi
  • Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7726289
    Abstract: In at least a first cycle at startup, an opening timing of an exhaust valve is controlled to 45 degrees before-bottom-dead-center of an exhaust stroke, or to a retard side of the normal closing timing that is set after warm-up is complete. Also, the closing timing of the exhaust valve is preferably controlled to an advance side of top-dead-center in a second cycle at startup and thereafter at the latest. Accordingly, the amount of unburned HC discharged during a cold start of an internal combustion engine is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nao Murase, Hiroki Ichinose, Yuuichi Katou
  • Direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine and fuel injection method for same
    Patent number: 7726282
    Abstract: A direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder and intensifies a tumble flow using the fuel injected into the cylinder bore at a time near an intake stroke bottom dead center during homogenous combustion. The thrust force of the fuel injected from the fuel injector is set to intensify the tumble flow based on at least one of the state of the combustion chamber, the temperature of the injected fuel, and the orientation of the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ashizawa
  • Variable intake device
    Patent number: 7726272
    Abstract: A variable intake device includes an intake pipe through which air flows towards a combustion chamber of an engine, defining a first streamline at an intermediate portion of the pipe, a short-circuit pipe connected at the intermediate portion, defining a second streamline crossing the first streamline at the connected other end, and a valve arranged at the short-circuit pipe adjacent to the intermediate portion. The valve includes a valve body regulating air flow. When the valve allows air flow merging into the intake pipe from the short-circuit pipe, the valve body is positioned to extend in a direction between the extending direction of the first streamline indicated by arrow and the extending direction of the second streamline indicated by arrow. By such a configuration, a variable intake device having pressure loss at the intake path sufficiently reduced can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Kitadani, Kazuyoshi Abe, Chiemi Sasaki
  • Vehicle bumper structure
    Patent number: 7726709
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure includes a pipe member that extends along the vehicle-width direction. A bumper shock absorbing member extends along the vehicle-width direction, and has a loading space in which the pipe member is placed. A fixing member has a first end portion which is fixed to a vehicle body and a second end portion to which the bumper shock absorbing member is fixed. A bumper cover may be provided on the outer side of the bumper shock absorbing member, and cover the bumper shock absorbing member, the pipe member, and the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sergio Sampaio
  • Control system for power transmission unit of vehicle
    Patent number: 7727112
    Abstract: A control system for a power transmission unit of a vehicle transmitting power outputted from a prime mover is disclosed. The control system includes a resonance detecting/predicting device which detects or predicts a generation of a resonance of the power transmission unit resulting from a power transmission; a driving condition detecting device which detects a driving condition of a vehicle in case the generation of a resonance is detected or predicted by the resonance detecting/predicting device; and a resonance dampening control selecting device which selects a control for dampening the detected or predicted resonance on the basis of the driving condition of the vehicle detected by the driving condition detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Kakinami, Yuji Iwase, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Control apparatus and method for continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 7729837
    Abstract: When the vehicle is traveling on an uphill road (step 100: YES), the ECU executes a program in which, if the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than Vblt (step 102: NO) and a speed ratio ?(1) required to secure a sufficient climbing capacity of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a speed ratio ?(2) required to secure a sufficient returnability of the belt of the continuously variable transmission (step 106: NO), a belt returnability securing control is executed (step 110), and otherwise (step 102: YES or step 106: YES), a climbing control is executed (step 104 or step 108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroya Fujiwara, Akira Hino, Shinya Toyoda, Tadashi Tamura
  • Digital signal processing and receiving apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7729449
    Abstract: A DSP tuner, which is equipped with an A/D converter and a digital signal processing part, is provided to the receiving parts of an in-vehicle equipment and a portable equipment that constitute an in-vehicle equipment remote control system. The A/D converter quantizes analog input signals received by receiving antennas and converts them into digital values. The digital signal processing part always appears, and removes as a noise a frequency band of which spectrum hardly change within a predetermined time period. Moreover, the digital signal processing part sets a frequency band with a comparatively large spectrum change as an FSK modulation signal corresponding to code contents, and outputs binary data corresponding to the frequency band as a code signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Okada, Yuichi Murakami
  • Airbag device for vehicle
    Patent number: 7726433
    Abstract: In a plan view seen from above a vehicle, a cover (20), which closes an airbag deployment opening (14) formed in a hood outer panel (12), is elongate, and has an arc shape. The center portion of the cover (20) in a vehicle-width direction protrudes toward the front of the vehicle. Hinge portions (20E) of the cover (20) are formed in the vehicle rear-side edge of the cover (20) at positions near both end portions in the vehicle-width direction. Each clip (28), which fixes the cover (20), is disposed in a vehicle front-side edge (20J) at a position offset outward from a center portion (20K) in the vehicle-width direction. Thus, the clips (28) are prevented from interfering with an airbag that has passed through the airbag deployment opening (14) and has been deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Satou, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Rotary atomizing head and rotary atomizing coating machine
    Patent number: 7726586
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rotary atomizing head that paint supplied to an inner peripheral surface is spread on the inner peripheral surface uniformly so as to improve the quality of coating and to lengthen the life of the rotary atomizing head. An inner peripheral surface 67 diametrically expanded from the center of the rotary atomizing head to a peripheral edge 61b is formed and centrifugal force generated by the rotation is applied on the paint supplied to the inner peripheral surface 67 so as to discharge the paint outside atomizingly. A step part 68 is formed at the middle portion of the inner peripheral surface 67 between paint supply holes 65d, supplying paint or solvent to the inner peripheral surface 67, and the peripheral edge 61b of the inner peripheral surface 67.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Trinity Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Murai, Makoto Ichimura
  • Vehicle and control method of the same
    Patent number: 7729838
    Abstract: A vehicle having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear of a planetary gear mechanism respectively connected to a first motor, an engine, and a drive shaft and second motor. When the combination of measured accelerator opening and measured vehicle speed is in an ordinary acceleration area, the vehicle sets a torque demand to decrease with an increase in measured vehicle speed at a specific reduction rate that ensures substantially constant output power to the drive shaft corresponding to the accelerator opening. When the combination of the measured accelerator opening and the measured vehicle speed is in an acceleration feel improvement area, on the other hand, the vehicle sets the torque demand to an extent of or below a maximum allowable value of the torque demand to decrease with an increase in measured vehicle speed at a lower reduction rate than the specific reduction rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kaya
  • Controller and control method of vehicle
    Patent number: 7727113
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program sets a driver requested torque based on the accelerator operation amount, and sets a torque-boost amount so that the torque-boost amount increases as the driver requested torque increases, until the driver requested torque exceeds a predetermined torque T(0). When the driver requested torque exceeds the predetermined torque T(0), the torque-boost amount decreases as the driver requested torque increases. However, the torque obtained by adding the torque-boost amount to the driver requested torque increases as the accelerator operation amount increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Toshio Sugimura, Tomohiro Asami, Nobufusa Kobayashi
  • Vehicle remote control apparatus and method
    Patent number: 7729815
    Abstract: A vehicle remote control apparatus (100) for causing a vehicle (101) to perform a requested operation in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user includes a location identifying unit (204) configured to identify a latest vehicle location where the vehicle is parked, and a decision unit configured to decide whether it is acceptable to cause the vehicle to perform an operation requested from the vehicle user at the latest vehicle location identified by the location identifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Naoki Taki, Atsushi Niwa, Tatsunori Kato
  • Air-fuel ratio control device of internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7729847
    Abstract: The combustion air-fuel ratio is made leaner than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio at the time of engine startup and the combustion air-fuel ratio is made richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio and the exhaust downstream part of the three-way catalyst apparatus is raised in temperature when it is judged that just the exhaust upstream part of the three-way catalyst apparatus arranged in the engine exhaust system has been raised to the catalyst activation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mizoguchi, Takahiko Fujiwara, Kunihiko Nakata, Kenji Sakurai, Hiroki Ichinose, Masaaki Kawai, Atsunori Hirata
  • Front combination lamp for an automobile
    Patent number: D617019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Takei