Nissan Patents Granted

Patents granted to Nissan by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11462449
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip provided inside with a p-n junction, an opaque sealing resin covering a surface of the semiconductor chip, and a functional region arranged between the semiconductor chip and the sealing resin and configured to prevent light, which is generated when a forward current flows through the p-n junction and has a particular wavelength causing deterioration of the sealing resin, from reaching the sealing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Yoshinori Murakami, Hidekazu Tanisawa, Shinji Sato, Fumiki Kato, Kazuhiro Mitamura, Yui Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11463004
    Abstract: A boost converter control method in one aspect of the present invention is the control method of the boost converter that boosts a voltage input from a power supply and supplies a boosted voltage to a load-side. The control method of the boost converter is securing an output electric power required according to an operation point of a motor connected to the load-side, calculating a lower limit voltage value at which the output voltage of the boost converter does not oscillate, setting a target output voltage of the boost converter to a value equal to or higher than the lower limit voltage, and controlling the boost converter so as to output a voltage according to the target output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Mori, Toshio Ouchi, Yoshihiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11453396
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle in which a sailing control for traveling under inertia is executed when a vehicle is traveling. Each time the sailing control is executed, a history of sailing control is stored as history information classified according to situations in which sailing control was canceled. Also, a current travel situation is specified, history information corresponding to a current travel situation is specified from the stored history information, and whether to allow or disallow sailing control is determined based on the specified history information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakane, Takeshi Hirata, Takanobu Sawada
  • Patent number: 11456477
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack including: a metal-supported cell including a power generation cell formed of paired electrodes and an electrolyte sandwiched from both sides between the paired electrodes, and a metal supporting portion which is made of metal and which supports the power generation cell; a separator defining and forming a flow passage portion for gas flow between the separator and the power generation cell; a welded portion in which the metal-supported cell and the separator are welded to each other; a spring portion configured to apply absorption reaction force for absorbing displacement in a stacking direction in the welded portion to the metal-supported cell; and a stopper portion configured to restrict a displacement amount of the spring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoki Yaginuma, Manabu Sugino
  • Patent number: 11454317
    Abstract: A method controls a power transmission device including a continuously variable transmission, an electric oil pump provided in a first oil passage connecting primary and secondary pulley oil chambers of the continuously variable transmission, and a switching valve provided at a branch point between the first oil passage and a second oil passage that branches from the first oil passage between the electric oil pump and the primary pulley oil chamber and that is connected to an oil reservoir. A third oil passage branches from the first oil passage between the electric oil pump and the secondary pulley oil chamber. The method makes a magnitude of a hydraulic pressure difference between the third oil passage and the first oil passage one the side of the primary pulley oil chamber smaller than a prescribed threshold value when the switching valve switches between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohey Toyota
  • Patent number: 11456447
    Abstract: A predoping method for a negative electrode active material to dope the negative electrode active material with lithium ions. The predoping method for a negative electrode active material includes: a predoping process and a post-doping modification process. In the predoping process, the negative electrode active material is doped with lithium ions, to thereby reduce a potential of the negative electrode active material relative to lithium metal. In the post-doping modification process, after the predoping process, reaction is caused between a reactive compound that is reactive with lithium ions and lithium ions doped into the negative electrode active material, to thereby increase the potential of the negative electrode active material relative to lithium metal. The potential of the negative electrode active material relative to lithium metal is 0.8 V or more at completion of the post-doping modification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Doi, Yuki Kusachi, Noboru Yamauchi, Tomohiro Kaburagi, Hideaki Horie, Yusuke Nakashima, Kazuya Tsuchida, Naofumi Shoji, Koji Sumiya, Shigehito Asano, Yasuyuki Koga, Nobuo Ando, Terukazu Kokubo
  • Patent number: 11447130
    Abstract: A behavior prediction apparatus specifies a first object that affects a behavior of a vehicle from objects present around the vehicle. The behavior prediction apparatus performs a prediction process of extracting a second object that affects a behavior of the first object among a plurality of objects present around the first object and predicting a behavior. The behavior prediction apparatus sets the extracted second object as a new first object, and performs a prediction process of extracting a new second object affecting the behavior of the new first object and predicting the behavior. The behavior prediction apparatus repeats the prediction process by a predetermined number of times. The behavior prediction apparatus predicts the behavior of the first object in the first prediction process based on the behavior of each of the second objects subjected to the prediction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fang Fang, Takuya Nanri
  • Patent number: 11447136
    Abstract: A travel control method for a vehicle includes: presenting a vehicle traveling on a route to a preliminarily set destination with overtaking information as to whether to accept execution of an overtaking assist function for overtaking a preceding vehicle by changing lanes through autonomous travel control; and executing the overtaking assist function when an acceptance input of accepting the execution of the overtaking assist function is detected in response to presentation of the overtaking information. This method further includes: detecting a position of the vehicle on the route; and detecting whether or not there is a traveling direction change point on the route ahead of the position of the vehicle, a point at which the vehicle must change its traveling direction. When the distance from the vehicle to the traveling direction change point is shorter than a preliminarily set distance, the presentation of the overtaking information is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11447135
    Abstract: A travel assistance method for a vehicle, executed by the processor, comprising: detecting a road structure including a merging point where a merging lane and a merged lane merge, detecting a state of another vehicle traveling toward a merging point, setting, based on the road structure, a merging position relative to a traveling vehicle (other vehicle) traveling in the merged lane and a determination criterion for determining whether or not merging is possible at the merging position, and determining whether or not merging is possible based on the state of the subject vehicle, the state of the other vehicle and the determination criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Takamatsu, Yohei Mishina, Takato Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11444285
    Abstract: A lithium metal battery has a cathode current collector, a cathode active material layer, an electrolyte, and an anode current collector host structure interfacing with the electrolyte. The anode current collector host structure comprises a conductive layer, a non-conductive layer on the conductive layer, and recesses formed through the non-conductive layer and into the conductive layer, each recess having an opening in the non-conductive layer with a width that is smaller than a largest width of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinwei Cao, Yunhui Gong
  • Patent number: 11441497
    Abstract: During a transient period, the opening degree of a throttle valve (throttle opening degree) is varied from a steady-period target throttle opening degree in a region A1 toward a valve closing side by a predetermined amount ?P, and is thereafter controlled so as to become a steady-period target throttle opening degree in the region A1. The transient period is a transient period in which the operation state is shifted from a region B2 in which an air-fuel ratio in a supercharged state becomes a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio to a region A1 in which the air-fuel ratio in a non-supercharged state becomes a predetermined rich air-fuel ratio richer than the lean air-fuel ratio. In this transient period, by reducing the air amount in a cylinder, the combustion torque of an internal combustion engine is suppressed, and consequently; a torque overshoot can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Yonekura, Hirofumi Tsuchida
  • Patent number: 11440549
    Abstract: An automated lane change control detects a preceding vehicle that is traveling in a same travel lane as a host vehicle, determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and executes an automated lane change in the host vehicle after a first predetermined time has elapsed from determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied. The automated lane change of the host vehicle is executed after a first predetermined time has elapsed after determining that the predetermined condition has been satisfied. A second predetermined time is set that is longer than the first predetermined time as a time for prohibiting the automated lane change upon assessing the presents of a previous driver lane change. The automated lane change is prohibited in an interval that starts when a prohibiting condition is satisfied and ends when the second predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shuko Ishimaru, Tatsuya Shino, Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 11440544
    Abstract: A control method and a control apparatus for a vehicle are provided which allow a subject vehicle to start moving at an appropriate time during automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on a brake operation performed by the driver. The control method includes executing the automated travel control in which the subject vehicle is controlled to make a stop without depending on the braking operation performed by the driver, and when detecting a stop of a preceding vehicle during execution of the automated travel control, presenting start-moving command information for reminding the driver of a start-moving command for the subject vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nariaki Etori, Ryuji Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 11433539
    Abstract: An abnormality determination device includes an input unit to which a device-condition signal output from an operating device is input, a first memory configured to store a determination algorithm for determining a predetermined abnormality of the operating device, an abnormality determination unit configured to determine the predetermined abnormality of the operating device in accordance with the device-condition signal and the determination algorithm, an output unit configured to output a determination result regarding the predetermined abnormality made by the abnormality determination unit to a user, an operation unit configured to receive an input of true-or-false information of whether the determination result is correct from the user, and an update unit configured to update the determination algorithm in accordance with the true-or-false information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kobayashi, Toru Takagi
  • Patent number: 11433952
    Abstract: A vehicle work area assembly includes a tailgate moved to a horizontally oriented position. The tailgate has a main surface with a utility track fixed thereto. A fence accessory is releasably attached to the utility track and is positioned and fixed to any of a plurality of locations to the utility track. The fence accessory defines a stop location for one end of a workpiece. A clamp accessory releasably attaches to the utility track such that the clamp accessory temporarily clamps the workpiece to the main surface such that the workpiece can be measured and/or cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: David Smolik
  • Patent number: 11434798
    Abstract: A catalyst warm-up control method for a hybrid vehicle includes a battery supplying electric power to an electric motor, the battery is charged by an engine for electric power generation, and exhaust gas discharged from the engine 1 is treated by a catalyst. By the catalyst warm-up control method, when temperature of the catalyst is lower than required warm-up temperature for activating the catalyst, target revolution speed and target torque of the engine are controlled based on a state of charge of the battery, and, when target revolution speed is lower than lower-limit revolution speed at which the catalyst can be heated to the required warm-up temperature, the target revolution speed is controlled so as to be required warm-up revolution speed that is equal to or higher than the lower-limit revolution speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Azusa Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Ishikawa, Hidekatsu Akiyama, Shinsuke Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11433841
    Abstract: A truck bracket assembly including a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket is provided to mount a sports bar to a side panel of a vehicle truck bed. The first bracket has a panel facing surface that faces the side panel. The second bracket has a first portion supported to the panel facing surface of the first bracket. The second bracket has a second portion that extends cantilevered with respect to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emmanuel Agustín Nava Reyes
  • Patent number: 11433729
    Abstract: A control device applies a target control force to a variable damping force damper in a suspension mechanism based on a damping coefficient of the variable damping force damper to eliminate unsprung tramp sensations and feelings of hardness when the stroke speed decreases in a conventional skyhook control. The control device includes a state estimation unit for calculating the sprung mass speed of the sprung mass based on a value detected by several of a plurality of sensors, an application control unit for calculating and outputting a damping coefficient of the variable damping force damper based on the calculated sprung mass speed, and a target control amount management unit for determining the target control force based on the damping coefficient output by the application control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11433835
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a first energy absorbing member extending in a lateral direction of a vehicle. A reinforcement member extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and is connected to the first energy absorbing member. A second energy absorbing member is connected to the reinforcement member. The second energy absorbing member includes a first bracket member configured to be connected to a vehicle body structure of the vehicle. A retaining member extends outwardly from the first bracket member. The retaining member has a first portion having a substantially constant first height and a second portion having a second height less than the first height. At least one first compression member is movably disposed in the retaining member. The at least one first compression member is configured to move through the retaining member responsive to an impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Aravind Chandrasekaran
  • Patent number: 11433894
    Abstract: A driving assistance method includes: detecting a first other vehicle entering an intersection on a first route where a host vehicle is traveling from a second route; predicting whether or not the first other vehicle will stop in the intersection, and predicting a stop position of the first other vehicle; calculating a minimum distance of a first gap between a vehicle body of the first other vehicle and a surrounding object around the first other vehicle or between the vehicle body of the first other vehicle and a road edge of a travel lane of the first other vehicle when the first other vehicle stops at the predicted stop position; and predicting according to the calculated minimum distance whether or not a second other vehicle, which is a following vehicle behind the first other vehicle, may slip through the first gap from behind the first other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shotaro Yamaguchi, Fang Fang, Takuya Nanri
  • Patent number: 11434356
    Abstract: Disclosed is a propylene-based resin composition comprising more than 15 parts by mass and 40 parts by mass or less of an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer (E1) and 4 to 20 parts by mass of an ethylene/?-olefin/diene copolymer (E2), and comprising also a propylene-based polymer (P1) having an amount of a n-decane-soluble part at 23° C. of 5 to 25% by mass, wherein the ethylene content of the n-decane-soluble part is more than 40% by mass and 60% by mass or less, a propylene homopolymer (P2) and an inorganic filler (F) [providing that the total amount of the components (P1), (P2), (E1), (E2) and (F) is taken as 100 parts by weight]. The propylene-based resin composition is capable of producing a molded article which is excellent in mechanical properties, unnoticeable flow marks, low gloss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: PRIME POLYMER CO., LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Inoue, Satoru Kinouchi, Kazuaki Tokumo, Takao Jouduka
  • Patent number: 11433708
    Abstract: A vehicle tire assembly having a plurality of flexible spoke portions that extend from an outer annular ring to and inner annular ring. Adjacent pairs of the flexible spoke portions define a plurality of gaps therebetween. A plurality of electro-active members, are disposed radially inward from the outer annular ring and radially outward of the inner ring. The plurality of electro-active members are configured such that in the absence of an electric current flowing therethrough, the plurality of electro-active members flex in response to flexing of the plurality of flexible spoke portions. In the presence of an electric current flowing through the plurality of electro-active members, the plurality of electro-active members become more rigid and less flexible adding corresponding stiffness to the plurality of flexible spoke portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jinwei Cao, Nanzhu Zhao
  • Patent number: 11433834
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure includes a front bumper assembly, an overrider bracket, and a vehicle sensor. The front bumper assembly has a reinforcement bracket and a first energy absorbing member attached to forward portions of a vehicle body structure. The reinforcement bracket is located rearward of and spaced apart from a forward section of the first energy absorbing member defining a space therebetween. The first energy absorbing member further has a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion with a central gap defined therebetween. The overrider bracket is installed to the reinforcement bracket and is located within the central gap between the first lateral portion and the second lateral portion. The overrider bracket defines a pocket area with a second energy absorbing member installed within the pocket area. The vehicle sensor is supported to vehicle body structure and positioned above the second energy absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Emilio Novoa Liceaga, Minerva Nieto Torres, Omar Rene Manzano Miranda, Arturo Barrera Anaya
  • Patent number: 11433637
    Abstract: A heat shield component includes a substrate, and a heat shield film arranged on the substrate. The heat shield film includes a first layer arranged on the substrate, including pores, and having a thermal conductivity of 0.3 W/(m·K) or less and a volumetric specific heat of 1200 kJ/(m3·K) or less, and a second layer arranged on the first layer to provide closed pores between the first layer and the second layer. The heat shield film has a surface roughness on a top surface which is 1.5 ?m Ra or less. The heat shield component can achieve high heat-insulating properties and an improved effect of reducing the emission amount of hydrocarbon in an internal combustion engine, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuka Suzuki, Yutaka Mabuchi, Takuma Suzuki, Ken Tsutsuji
  • Patent number: 11439048
    Abstract: An electronic component housing that internally houses an electronic component includes a portion formed of a resin material and a portion formed of a metallic material. The portion formed of the resin material is a connection side portion opposed to a member as a connection partner of the electronic component housing, or an opposite portion opposed to the connection side portion. The electronic component housing further includes an electromagnetic shield member that covers an outer surface of the portion formed of the resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimihiro Ono
  • Patent number: 11433745
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly includes an inner door panel, a pillar panel and a first cushioning pad. The inner door panel has an attachment area, a first edge portion and a second edge portion, with the first edge portion defining hinge attachment locations. The pillar panel is fixedly attached to at least the second edge portion and the attachment area such that the inner door panel and the pillar panel define a hollow B-pillar structure. The pillar panel further includes an offset portion that is spaced apart from a central portion of the attachment area of the inner door panel such that the attachment area and the offset portion define a recessed area therebetween. The first cushioning pad has a main body installed within the recessed area between the offset portion of the pillar panel and the inner door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Luke Cordes, Michael Enochs
  • Patent number: 11427180
    Abstract: A control method for a hybrid vehicle (1) is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor (13) that drives the vehicle to travel, a generator (12) that supplies power to the electric motor, and an engine (11) that drives the generator. The control method includes storing the timing at which an amount or factor of change in target driving force (Fd) for the vehicle becomes a predetermined threshold or more, calculating an estimated trajectory of the rotational speed of the engine in accordance with the amount or factor of change in the target driving force, and when an increase request for power generation is issued to the engine at different timing than the timing, controlling the rotational speed of the engine on the basis of the calculated estimated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ariyoshi, Satomi Eto
  • Patent number: 11427261
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a resin floor part provided with a flange portion bent toward an upper side or a lower side at an end in a vehicle width direction, and a metal side sill part joined to the flange portion of the floor part. The side sill part includes a rim portion, a peak portion, and intermediate portions that link the rim portion to the peak portion. The peak portion and the intermediate portions form a protruding portion projecting from the rim portion toward the floor part. The flange portion of the floor part is joined to the peak portion of the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Naito, Toshikazu Torigaki, Shinichirou Takemoto, Katsumi Morohoshi
  • Patent number: 11427080
    Abstract: A power transmission device of a four-wheel drive electrically driven vehicle comprises a transverse engine that is supported on one right side surface of two side surfaces of the gear case, and a motor that is supported on the other left side surface of the two side surfaces of the gear case. The power transmission device includes a transfer case that is supported by a gear case and the distributes power from a power source between the left and right front wheels and the left and right rear wheels. The transfer case wraps around from the side surface to a rear surface of the gear case, as seen from above, and outputs power to the left and right rear wheels from the rear surface side of the gear case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 11420574
    Abstract: A steering switch is provided on a spoke of a steering wheel for steering a vehicle, and includes a main switch pressed to input an ON/OFF operation of a drive assistance system installed in the vehicle, and an approval switch pressed to input an approval of a lane change executed by the drive assistance system. The approval switch is arranged adjacent to the upper side of the main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Yano
  • Patent number: 11420628
    Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle including a drive motor connected to a rotation shaft of wheels, a battery that supplies electricity to the drive motor, and an internal combustion engine connected to the drive motor. The vehicle is equipped with, as traveling modes, a normal mode, and an eco-mode having a larger regenerative braking force than the normal mode obtained such that rotational energy of the wheels is converted into electrical energy. A controller stops the internal combustion engine and switches from the normal mode to the eco-mode when detecting at least an abnormality in the internal combustion engine during traveling of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hoshi, Naoki Nakada, Kenichi Gotou, Takayuki Shimizu, Yohei Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11424689
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a case, a power module, a smoothing capacitor and a high-voltage connection portion. The power module is housed in the case. The smoothing capacitor is fixed to the case by capacitor fixing bolt, and suppresses voltage fluctuations. In the high-voltage connection portion, the power module and the smoothing capacitor are electrically connected. The locations at which the smoothing capacitor is fixed to the case by the capacitor fixing bolts correspond to the capacitor fixing points. The capacitor fixing points are arranged at positions that avoid corner portions of the smoothing capacitor. The power module and the smoothing capacitor are disposed adjacent to each other at the high-voltage connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keita Abe
  • Patent number: 11420466
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle wheel is disclosed that includes a cover and a backbone. The cover includes recessed portions and non-recessed portions defining inner surfaces that are spaced about a periphery of the cover, and the backbone defines at least one first support that is configured and positioned for contact with the inner surfaces defined by the recessed portions and at least one second support that is configured and positioned for contact with the inner surfaces defined by the non-recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Miller
  • Patent number: 11424459
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell configured to be supplied with a fuel and air to generate an electric power; a combustor configured to combust an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell to produce a combustion discharged gas; a fuel heating part configured to heat the fuel to be supplied to the fuel cell by the combustion discharged gas; an air heating part configured to heat the air to be supplied to the fuel cell by the combustion discharged gas; an anode-side distribution passage configured to distribute the combustion discharged gas to the fuel heating part; a cathode-side distribution passage configured to distribute the combustion discharged gas to the air heating part; and a discharged gas distribution ratio adjustment part configured to adjust a discharged gas distribution ratio, the discharged gas distribution ratio being a ratio of an anode-side combustion discharged gas flow rate to a cathode-side combustion discharged gas flow rate, the anode-side combustion discharged gas flow rate b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eisuke Fukushima, Hayato Chikugo
  • Patent number: 11421772
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes: a cylindrical member including an opening formed at a first end in an axial direction, and a wall portion formed at a second end in the axial direction; and a planetary gear set received within the cylindrical member; a carrier of the planetary gear set which includes a protruding portion protruding toward an outer circumference side, and the protruding portion being positioned between the wall portion and a ring gear of the planetary gear set, wherein the carrier is integrally formed with a hub portion of a clutch; the hub portion is positioned on a wall portion side of the carrier; and an outermost circumference portion of the protruding portion is positioned radially outside of an outermost circumference portion of the hub portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsushita, Akira Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 11421778
    Abstract: As a driving source, an engine and an assist motor are provided. An engine control module includes a torque assist control unit for controlling the assist motor by a plurality of types of switching patterns having different torque assist levels. A CVT control unit includes a torque assist coordination control unit that, when a torque assist request is input from the torque assist control unit, carries out the control that increases commanded hydraulic pressure so as to increase the hydraulic pressure of hydraulically operated members. When carrying out the control that increases the commanded hydraulic pressure, the torque assist coordination control unit unifies the levels of the commanded hydraulic pressure regardless of the types of the switching patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Hirata, Hironori Miyaishi
  • Patent number: 11413728
    Abstract: A rod tightening tool includes an elongated member, a clamping assembly and a wrench attachment end. The elongated member has a semi-hollow interior and defines an opening at one end thereof providing access to the semi-hollow interior. The elongated member has a slot formed along a portion thereof that extends to the semi-hollow interior. The clamping assembly has a first member and a second member. The first member is installed for sliding movement along an exterior surface of the elongated member. The second member is installed to the first member such that the first and second members clamp to the elongated member. The wrench attachment end is fixedly attached to the elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Pedro R. Ponce, Guillermo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11417903
    Abstract: An anode layer for a solid oxide electrochemical device comprises a metal support structure having an electrolyte-facing surface and a gas distribution-facing surface, the metal support structure defining pores having a pore diameter, anode catalyst supported within the metal support structure, channels formed within the gas distribution-facing surface of the metal support structure, and a first reformer catalyst deposited onto surfaces of the metal support structure defining the channels, the first reformer catalyst having a diameter greater than the pore diameter. The anode layer can further comprise a second reformer catalyst, with the first reformer catalyst reforming a first fuel and the second reformer catalyst reforming a second fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar
  • Patent number: 11416199
    Abstract: A system for displaying information is intended to be incorporated in a motor vehicle including at least a dashboard, a central console, a display screen on the central façade and a front windscreen. The display system includes a manual or automatic selection device for selecting among at least three display modes each containing information, being progressively off-centre with respect to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: Renault s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Enregle
  • Patent number: 11417891
    Abstract: A cathode having a tandem electrocatalyst structure is provided. The cathode includes a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other, a layer formed on a surface of each of the plurality of wires, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed on the layer. Each of the plurality of wires includes a first perovskite material or a metal. The layer includes a second perovskite material. Each of the nanoparticles includes a metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Cenk Gumeci, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Jabbar
  • Patent number: 11413944
    Abstract: A cargo management system for a vehicle cargo box includes a utility rail and a utility track cover. The utility rail is configured to be installed to the cargo box. The utility track cover is configured to be removably disposed over the utility rail. The utility track cover has a base, a guide rail and a stopper. The guide rail extends along a longitudinal length of the base. The stopper is defined by the guide rail. The stopper is integrally connected to the base at a first contact point and a second contact point between the stopper and the base. The first and second contact points are spaced from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jim Thomas, III, Scott Dearing
  • Patent number: 11414100
    Abstract: A travel assistance method generates a first traveling path based on map information around a circumference of a host vehicle, generates a second traveling path based on the surroundings, determines that a switch from the first traveling path to the second traveling path is needed when detecting that the first traveling path being generated is to end ahead of the host vehicle while the host vehicle is traveling on the first traveling path, and controls the host vehicle to make a transition from the first traveling path to the second traveling path when the switch is determined to be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Tsuji, Hirotoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 11408487
    Abstract: A forward/reverse switching mechanism is provided with a planetary gear set, a reverse brake and a forward clutch. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear which serves as an input part, a carrier which serves as an output part, and a ring gear. The reverse brake is adapted to fix the ring gear. The forward clutch is adapted to connect the ring gear and the sun gear to each other. The ring gear, a drive plate provided on a ring gear side of the reverse brake and a driven plate provided on a ring gear side of the forward clutch are spline-fitted to a clutch drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Numata, Hiroyuki Matsushita, Akira Kamiyama, Ryousuke Katsuyama, Tsukasa Shiino
  • Patent number: 11408501
    Abstract: Disclosed is a support structure for a ring gear, which includes: a clutch drum coupled by spline fitting with the ring gear; and first and second snap rings mounted to a circumferential wall of the clutch drum and supporting the ring gear. The first snap ring is positioned so as not to overlap with the ring gear in a radial direction. The second snap ring is positioned so as to overlap with the ring gear in the radial direction. A length of the first snap ring in the radial direction is longer than a length of the second snap ring in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Numata, Hiroyuki Matsushita, Akira Kamiyama, Ryousuke Katsuyama, Tsukasa Shiino
  • Patent number: 11407440
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a first shaft, a second shaft, and a clip. The first shaft has a first yoke disposed at an end thereof. The second shaft has a second yoke disposed at an end thereof. The second yoke is connected to the first yoke such that rotation of the first shaft is configured to rotate the second shaft and such that the second shaft is rotatable relative to the first shaft. The clip is removably connected to one of the first shaft and the second shaft. The clip limits rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft prior to installation of the steering column assembly in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt Achenbach, Takeshi Kawai, Jeffrey Mazur, Amarendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 11407449
    Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a first structural member and an energy absorbing structure connected to the first structural member. The first structural member extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. An energy absorbing structure is connected to the first structural member. The energy absorbing structure includes a first fixed member, an impact member and a connecting member. The first fixed member is connected to the first structural member. The impact member is connected to the first structural member. A connecting member is movably connected to the first fixed member and has a first end fixed to the impact member such that movement of the impact member moves the connecting member about the first fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Grattan
  • Patent number: 11407398
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a drive shaft, an engine coupled to the drive shaft, an electric motor coupled to the drive shaft, and a control unit. The control unit increases a torque of the electric motor when an accelerator pedal opening increases to equal to or more than a predetermined degree of opening during switching of driving sources, and decreases the torque of the electric motor while increasing the torque of the engine after a change of the torque of the engine turns to increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Nishihiro, Masaharu Mochizulki, Takashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11411275
    Abstract: A grid spring is provided with first raised pieces that generate an elastic force for pressing a separator toward a power generation cell and second raised pieces that generate an elastic force independently of the first raised pieces. The spring constant of the first raised pieces decreases as a result of heating of a grid spring. The grid spring functions as a high reaction force spring as a result of a larger spring constant of the first spring member relative to a spring constant of the second spring member before heating. After being heated, the grid spring functions as a low reaction force spring as a result of the smaller spring constant of the first spring member before being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoki Yaginuma, Norihiro Tajima, Koichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11402628
    Abstract: A vehicular display apparatus that displays an image on a windshield of a vehicle has an attention target detector configured to detect an attention target to which attention of a driver of the vehicle needs to be drawn, and calculate a distance from the attention target to the vehicle, and a display controller configured to perform display control that displays an attention mark on the windshield in a superimposed manner such that, from a point of view of the driver, the attention mark is displayed close to the attention target detected by the attention target detector, the attention mark being displayed to draw the attention of the driver to the attention target. The display controller sets a base point at a position of the attention target on the windshield, sets a display position of the attention mark at a position which is a predetermined distance away from the base point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Kosaka, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: D962132
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Utsunomiya, Masato Koyama