Toyota Patents Granted

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

  • Patent number: 9254834
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: executing fuel-cut control when an IG OFF operation has been performed and a vehicle is traveling; determining torque command values of a first MG and a second MG when a charge power upper limit value Win is reduced; controlling the first MG based on the determined torque command value of the first MG; and controlling the second MG based on the determined torque command value of the second MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Yaguchi, Takeshi Hoshiba, Akihiro Kimura, Masahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 9254871
    Abstract: The present invention comprises side members (15), which are vehicular skeleton members of a hybrid vehicle (10); a front cross member (18) for connecting the two side members (15); spring supports (16) connected to the side members (15); an auxiliary battery arranged further towards the vehicle front relative to a PCU (13) and attached to the front cross member (18) via a support platform (23) and a securing piece (22); a radiator (17) attached to the front cross member (18); a motor case (12) and an engine (11) connected to the vehicular skeleton member via an engine mount; an axle (25) extending from the motor case (12); and a PCU (13) connected to the motor case (12) via a guide plate (19) and a linkage bolt. Thus, there is provided a vehicular instrument-mounting structure capable of inhibiting collision of a power control device or other vehicle-mounted instrument with another member, and inhibiting damage caused to the power control device or other vehicle-mounted instrument during a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hotta, Kenshi Yamanaka, Yutaka Hotta
  • Patent number: 9258849
    Abstract: A fabric material includes a conductive wire material that generates heat when supplied with current. Part of the conductive wire material in a longitudinal direction of the conductive wire material is externally exposed from the fabric material. A first planar element and a second planar element, of which at least one has electrical conductivity, are electrically connected to an externally exposed portion of the conductive wire material in such a manner that the first and second planar elements sandwich the exposed portion and are bonded so as to be in planar contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouhei Kato, Akari Takahashi, Takahiro Harita
  • Patent number: 9255989
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first sensor and a second sensor, each having, respectively, different first and second modalities. A controller includes a processor configured to: receive a first sensor input from the first sensor and a second sensor input from the second sensor; detect, synchronously, first and second observations from, respectively, the first and second sensor inputs; project the detected first and second observations onto a graph network; associate the first and second observations with a target on the graph network, the target having a trajectory on the graph network; select either the first or the second observation as a best observation based on characteristics of the first and second sensors; and estimate a current position of the target by performing a prediction based on the best observation and a current timestamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Avdhut S. Joshi, Michael R. James, Michael E. Samples
  • Patent number: 9254835
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, a criterion temperature for locking a first electric motor/generator is set to a first temperature when the engine is in a reduced-cylinder operation. The criterion temperature is set to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, when the engine is in an all-cylinder operation. If the temperature of the first electric motor/generator is higher than the criterion temperature, the first electric motor/generator is set to a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Harada, Masatoshi Ito, Shohei Nagata
  • Patent number: 9257365
    Abstract: Cooling assemblies and power electronics modules having multiple-level porosity structures with both a micro- and macro-level porosity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling assembly includes a jet impingement assembly including a fluid inlet channel fluidly coupled an array of orifices provided in a jet plate, and a heat transfer substrate having a surface. The heat transfer substrate is spaced apart from the jet plate. A first array of metal fibers is bonded to the surface of the heat transfer substrate in a first direction, and a second array of metal fibers is bonded to the first array of metal fibers in a second direction. Each metal fiber of the first array of metal fibers and the second array of metal fibers includes a plurality of metal particles defining a micro-porosity. The first array of metal fibers and the second array of metal fibers define a macro-porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shailesh N. Joshi
  • Patent number: 9257867
    Abstract: An externally chargeable vehicle which is charged with electric power from an external power supply includes an HV-ECU for controlling a power storage device during any of operation of the vehicle and external charging, and a PLG-ECU for controlling a charging device during external charging. With such a configuration, running and charging can be controlled while a function of the HV-ECU for controlling operation of the vehicle and a function of the PLG-ECU for external charging is prevented from becoming redundant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu Masuda, Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9257881
    Abstract: A rotating electric machine includes a stator, a rotor, and a coolant supply passage. Coils are wound on the teeth of the stator. The rotor is disposed coaxially with the stator, and has an outer circumferential surface that faces respective distal end faces of the teeth with a constant gap formed therebetween. The coolant supply passage is disposed inside the rotor, and is configured to eject a coolant from a coolant outlet of the outer circumferential surface of the rotor toward the distal end face of a corresponding one of the teeth so as to supply the coolant to the gap. A discharge groove is formed in the distal end face of the corresponding tooth. The discharge groove is inclined radially outwardly of the stator, from a coolant supply position as an axial position of the stator facing the coolant outlet, toward one edge of the distal end face of the corresponding tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jodosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shingo Fubuki
  • Patent number: 9255509
    Abstract: The exhaust cleaner for internal combustion engine is equipped with NOx storage reduction catalyst (161, 162) which is disposed in exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine and which absorb and reduce the NOx contained in exhaust gas. The NOx storage reduction catalyst (161, 162) each include a coating layer that has been formed on the inner wall of cells through which the exhaust passage, the coating layer having the catalytic function. The coating layers have been formed so that the thickness of the coating layer of the NOx storage reduction catalyst (161) located upstream in the flow of the exhaust gas is smaller than the thickness of the coating layer of the NOx storage reduction catalyst (162) located downstream. Due to this configuration, the NOx storage reduction catalyst (161, 162) are inhibit from being poisoned by sulfur and high NOx removal percentage is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Toru Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 9257716
    Abstract: A battery includes a roll-up unit provided by winding a sheet unit around an axis, the sheet unit including an electrode sheet having an active material and a separator, the roll-up unit having an exposed portion on which the active material is not placed at an end of the electrode sheet in a direction of the axis; an outer case housing the roll-up unit and having an electrode terminal; an intermediate terminal inside the roll-up unit and having a pair of arm portions resistance-welded to the exposed portion, a first connecting portion connecting the arm portions, and a hole portion formed in the first connecting portion and located between welding points formed in the arm portions; and a collector terminal outside the roll-up unit and resistance-welded to a position opposite to the arm portion in the exposed portion to provide electrical continuity between the roll-up unit and the electrode terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mizuho Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9257227
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a rare-earth magnet with high coercive force, including a first step of pressing-forming powder as a rare-earth magnet material to form a compact S, the powder including a RE-Fe—B main phase MP (RE: at least one type of Nd and Pr) and a RE-X alloy (X: metal element) grain boundary phase surrounding the main phase; and second step of bringing a modifier alloy M into contact with the compact S or a rare-earth magnet precursor C obtained by hot deformation processing of the compact S, followed by heat treatment to penetrant diffuse melt of the modifier alloy M into the compact S or the rare-earth magnet precursor C to manufacture the rare-earth magnet RM, the modifier alloy including a RE-Y (Y: metal element and not including a heavy rare-earth element) alloy having a eutectic or a RE-rich hyper-eutectic composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Haga, Noritaka Miyamoto, Tetsuya Shoji, Noritsugu Sakuma, Shinya Omura, Motoki Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 9254836
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle provided with an engine, and a fluid-operated power transmitting device provided with a lock-up clutch and configured to transmit a drive force of said engine to drive wheels, and an engine connecting/disconnecting clutch configured to selectively place a power transmitting path between said engine and said fluid-operated power transmitting device in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state, said vehicle being able to run in an engine drive mode in which said engine is operated as a vehicle drive power source while said engine connecting/disconnecting clutch is placed in a fully engaged state, comprising: a lock-up clutch control portion configured to bring said engine connecting/disconnecting clutch from the fully engaged state into a slipping state and temporarily place the engine connecting/disconnecting clutch in the slipping state while said lock-up clutch is placed in a slipping state, when a lock-up slip control is implemented to place said lock-up clutch from a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norihiko Tokai
  • Patent number: 9255972
    Abstract: A method of testing a secondary battery includes first to fourth steps. At the first step, the secondary battery after manufacture is charged to a first voltage. At the second step, a second voltage lower than the first voltage is set as a target voltage and discharge or charge is performed in a constant-current constant-voltage mode before the secondary battery is left standing. At the third step, the open circuit voltage of the secondary battery is measured before and after the secondary battery is left standing. At the fourth step, it is determined whether the secondary battery is a conforming item or not based on the difference in the open circuit voltage before and after the secondary battery is left standing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hojo, Hisanao Kojima, Hiroaki Ikeda, Hisataka Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 9254756
    Abstract: A power supply device which performs power supply from an outside to a vehicle includes: a power source section for performing the power supply to the vehicle; and a control device that performs control of the power source section. The control device obtains information about power reception efficiency of the vehicle as an object of the power supply and determines a power reception efficiency range and a fee that correspond to the obtained information from a plurality of power reception efficiency ranges and plurality of fees that are set corresponding to the plurality of power reception efficiency ranges. The power supply device preferably further includes a power transmission section for receiving the power from the power source section and contactlessly performing power transmission to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Miwa, Takashi Kawai, Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9254475
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a composite oxide support, and a precious metal catalyst supported on the composite oxide support. The composite oxide support includes alumina, zirconia, ceria, a first additive element oxide and a second additive element oxide. The first additive element oxide contains an additive element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements excluding cerium and alkali earth elements. The second additive element oxide contains an additive element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements excluding cerium and alkali earth elements. In the composite oxide support, alumina is contained in a range of 30 to 40% by mass and zirconia is contained in a range of 36 to 46% by mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Saito, Yuki Aoki, Toshitaka Tanabe, Miho Hatanaka, Naoki Takahashi, Akira Morikawa
  • Patent number: 9254746
    Abstract: In a 4WD vehicle that is basically an FF type, a propeller shaft 4 includes, on a front end and a rear end thereof, respective driving force transmission devices 3 and 5. The propeller shaft 4 includes an electric motor 41, and when the electric motor 41 is rotated in a backward direction of the vehicle during a 2WD state, a hypoid ring gear 36 of a transfer mechanism 32 of the driving force transmission device 3 is moved so as to engage a clutch mechanism 31. By such an engagement, engine torque is transmitted to the driving force transmission device 5 via the propeller shaft 4. Thus, a hypoid ring gear 56 of a transfer mechanism 52 of the driving force transmission device 5 is moved so as to engage a clutch mechanism 51. Accordingly, a drive state is switched to a 4WD state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takami Yokoo
  • Patent number: 9248758
    Abstract: Creep control is performed, in response to an accelerator-off operation, to control a second motor to cause a predetermined creep torque Tcr to be output from the second motor to a driveshaft. First creep cut-off control is performed, in response to a brake-on operation during the creep control, to control the second motor to cause a torque reduced from the creep torque Tcr at a high rate by a predetermined high variation ?Thi to be output from the second motor to the driveshaft. Subsequent to the first creep cut-off control, second creep cut-off control is performed to control the second motor to cause a torque reduced at a low rate by a predetermined low variation ?Tlow smaller than the predetermined high variation ?Thi to be output from the second motor to the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakazu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9248722
    Abstract: A housing assembly is provided. The housing assembly may be used in an automotive vehicle. The housing assembly includes a trim piece and a base. The trim piece is configured to engage the interior trim panel and attach to the base. The base is attached to the trim piece wherein the attachment to the trim piece is weaker than the attachment of the trim piece to the interior panel so as to allow the trim piece to separate from the base before the trim piece separates from the interior trim panel. The housing assembly may further include a pair of spacers configured to maintain a spatial relationship between a first side wall and a second side wall so as to prevent the first and second side walls from squeezing inwardly with respect to each other when the trim piece is displaced from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Gillay, Que-Whang Rhee
  • Patent number: 9248800
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a B-pillar garnish mounted at a side pillar assembly of the vehicle. The B-pillar garnish includes an airbag jump bracket engaging feature including a hook-shaped engaging portion extending upwardly beyond an end of an outwardly turned flange portion of the airbag jump bracket. The hook-shaped engaging portion includes a stem portion and an enlarged head portion that overhangs the end of the outwardly turned flange portion of the airbag jump bracket that engages the outwardly turned flange portion during an airbag deployment event. The stem portion is located adjacent the end of the outwardly turned flange portion of the airbag jump bracket. The stem portion is arranged to engage the end of the outwardly turned flange portion of the airbag jump bracket to limit movement of an upper end portion of the B-pillar garnish into the occupant compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime N. Moore, Daniel F. Gillay
  • Patent number: 9248495
    Abstract: A platform mountable in a lower part of a die casting machine below the platens. The platform includes at least one pair of first and second coupled plates, the first plate affixed to an underlying base of the platform. The second plate is movable between first retracted positions overlaying the first plate to a second extended end-to-end co-planar position relative to the first plate to form an elongated co-planar platform surface. The base can support two pairs of coupled and longitudinally spaced first and second plates. An actuator coupled to each second plate for moving each second plate between the first retracted position and the second extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Doster, Jeffery L. Butler
  • Patent number: 9248766
    Abstract: A headrest stay includes a pair of first stay-composing parts extending in top and bottom directions of a seat back while supported by the seat back, the first stay-composing parts being arranged in different positions in a direction of vehicle width; and a second stay-composing part connecting specific parts of the first stay-composing parts in the direction of the vehicle width, the specific parts extending straight in the top and bottom directions of the seat back. The specific parts face a head of an occupant seated on the seat. A portion of the second stay-composing part, which portion is between the one specific part and the other specific part in the direction of the vehicle width, is not located further forward than the specific parts, and at least part of the portion is located further rearward than the specific parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Enoki, Masahide Sawada
  • Patent number: 9248830
    Abstract: The control apparatus of the present invention is applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine that is capable, during operation, of changing over its operational mode to lean combustion or to stoichiometric combustion. The control apparatus preferentially selects an operational mode having high system efficiency in relation to the requested power, and selects the stoichiometric combustion mode (S104) when, under the specific condition that the system efficiency is higher in the lean combustion mode as compared to the EV mode and moreover is lower in the stoichiometric combustion mode as compared to the EV mode, also the temperature (Tnc) of an exhaust purification catalyst is less than or equal to a first predetermined value (T?) (S101, S102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihito Kanno, Gohki Kinoshita, Hiroki Morita
  • Patent number: 9248842
    Abstract: A computing device and methods for restricting driver interactions with vehicle functions based on a challenging driving environment are disclosed. One example method for restricting driver interactions with vehicle functions based on a challenging driving environment includes identifying a challenging driving environment based at least in part on information regarding a driving condition; and preventing a driver from accessing one or more vehicle functions based on the challenging driving environment exists. Example implementations include identifying a challenging driving environment based on information received from on-vehicle sensors and/or external communication links; identifying a driver's skill level; and selectively blocking vehicle functionality, selectively presenting information to a driver, and selecting available driver interactions based on the driving environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Pujitha Gunaratne
  • Patent number: 9249944
    Abstract: It is provided a vehicle rear lamp structure that can effectively utilize light that is illuminated from a light source. A door side lamp portion of a rear combination lamp has a housing that supports an incandescent bulb for a back lamp, and a lens that covers the incandescent bulb for the back lamp by being fixed to the housing, and transmits light illuminated from the incandescent bulb for the back lamp. Further, a garnish is mounted to the door side lamp portion. A surface at the lens side of the garnish reflects light, that is illuminated from the incandescent bulb for the back lamp, toward a vehicle rear side. Due thereto, light illuminated from the incandescent bulb for the back lamp can be utilized effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Noritake, Ken Nishioka
  • Patent number: 9249768
    Abstract: Test liquid (3) including thermosetting resin is injected from an injection valve (2). Light (L) is irradiated to a spray (6) of the test liquid (3) injected from the injection valve (2) as a treatment for producing a hardening effect to the thermosetting resin. Liquid drops in the spray (6) are hardened and collected as particles. Spray characteristics such as a particle size distribution of the injection valve or the like are analyzed by using the collected particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sachio Mori, Tatsuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9252440
    Abstract: A gas supply system that supplies a gas after making confluence of the gas flows from gas containers includes: a supply pressure detector that detects supply pressure of the gas following the confluence; and a controller that permits a gas supply-destination apparatus to be activated if the supply pressure detected after an elapse of a determination time from a start of the gas supply is greater than or equal to a threshold pressure, and that prohibits the apparatus from being activated if the supply pressure is less than the threshold pressure. The controller uses a first determination time as the determination time if it is determined that internal pressures that are the gas pressures in the containers are not imbalanced between the containers, and uses a second determination time that is longer than the first as the determination time if it is determined that the internal pressures are imbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosei Yoshida, Kenji Komiya
  • Patent number: 9248867
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a panel opening includes a plug body including an interior portion and an exterior portion. The exterior portion of the plug body includes a pair of opposed sealing surfaces forming an annular ring. The apparatus also includes a locking blade extending from the interior portion of the plug body across the exterior portion of the plug body. The locking blade is configured to rest in a first position disposed within the annular ring and a second position extending beyond the annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Vikram Chopra
  • Patent number: 9248728
    Abstract: A deflector device for a vehicle includes an upper frame arranged along the front edge of an opening formed in the roof of the vehicle, and a mesh member coupled to the upper frame and fixed at the front edge of the opening. The upper frame is raised and lowered with respect to the roof in accordance with the opening and closing operation of a movable panel, which opens and closes the opening. The mesh member is changed between a deployed state and a stored state in accordance with the raising and lowering of the upper frame. The upper frame includes a front end in the vehicle front-rear direction and a coupling position to which the mesh member is coupled. The upper frame includes a protrusion between the front end and the coupling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Hiramatsu, Takanori Yano
  • Patent number: 9249961
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a substrate having a metal film on a first surface, a light-emitting element mounted on the first surface of the substrate and connected to the metal film, a heat sensitive circuit breaker mounted on the first surface of the substrate and connected to the metal film, a light-proof cover that covers the heat sensitive circuit breaker to block light emitted from the light-emitting element and travelling toward the heat sensitive circuit breaker, and a heat dissipating member formed on a second surface of the substrate to dissipate heat of the substrate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kato, Shota Shimonishi
  • Patent number: 9249771
    Abstract: An engine controlling apparatus for executing (i) an engine automatic stop control and/or (ii) an engine automatic restart control, during running of a vehicle. The controlling apparatus includes: an allowing/inhibiting device configured to selectively allow and inhibit execution of (i) the engine automatic stop control and/or (ii) the engine automatic restart control, by comparing each of at least one of (a) a plurality of physical amounts including (a-1) behavior-representing physical amounts and (a-2) turning-behavior-influencing physical amounts, with (b) a threshold value which is determined, depending on a running velocity of the vehicle, for the each of the at least one of the physical amounts. The behavior-representing physical amounts include at least one turning-behavior-representing physical amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9248838
    Abstract: A method and a system for making a one-time change to a primary departure schedule of a battery-electric vehicle for charging or pre-climate operations without affecting the future departure times of the primary departure schedule. The system can be a vehicle including an ECU, a memory, a battery, a charger connected to an external power source, a BMS, an HVAC and a display. The method may include receiving an alternate departure date and time different from the primary departure schedule, deactivating the charging or pre-climate operations based on the primary departure schedule and activating charging or pre-climate operations based on the alternate departure date and time. The method and system may also include receiving an immediate charge mode designation, deactivating the charging or pre-climate operations based on the primary schedule and immediately activating the charging operations without affecting the primary departure schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kusumi, Hisanori Ito
  • Patent number: 9249740
    Abstract: An engine includes variable valve mechanisms and a variable compression ratio mechanism. An ECU executes temperature balance control when a fuel-cut operation is executed. In the temperature balance control, valve opening characteristics of an exhaust valve are controlled based on a magnitude relation between an actual catalyst temperature and a target catalyst temperature and a magnitude relation between a water temperature and a required cylinder wall temperature. When executing a fuel-cut operation, it is thereby possible to control both the actual catalyst temperature and the water temperature in a well-balanced manner so that the actual catalyst temperature falls within a temperature range suitable for operation of the catalysts, and the water temperature becomes close to the required cylinder wall temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Matsuda, Kouji Morita, Takahiko Fujiwara, Takahiro Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 9248856
    Abstract: A vehicular steering controller includes an operating section for operating an actuator for steering-controlling a tire angle, a consistency-determining section, and a contribution ratio-increasing section. When a steering angle of a steering wheel is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle, the consistency-determining section determines whether consistency between first steering of the vehicle corresponding to an input operation performed on the steering wheel and second steering based on the target path is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. When the operating section operates the actuator based on the input operation performed on the steering wheel, the contribution ratio-increasing section increases a contribution ratio in which the target operation amount of the actuator contributes to an actual operation amount of the actuator by the operating section, provided that the consistency is greater than or equal to the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Fujii
  • Patent number: 9248720
    Abstract: A utility part assembly includes a vehicular interior part and a utility part. The vehicular interior part has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface and has a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole. The utility part includes a first member provided on the first surface and a second member provided on the second surface. The first member has a first coupling pin and one of a second coupling pin and a first coupling hole, and the second member has a coupling portion that is coupled to the first coupling pin and another one of the second coupling pin and the first coupling hole. The first coupling pin is inserted through the first mounting hole and coupled to the coupling portion, and the second coupling pin is inserted through the second mounting hole and coupled to the first coupling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hirano, Yuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9252410
    Abstract: A power storage apparatus includes a power storage module having a plurality of power storage elements which are aligned in one direction; a device placed adjacently to the power storage module in the direction of the alignment of the power storage elements; a high-voltage cable used in charge and discharge of the power storage module; and a support structure configured to support the high-voltage cable at a plurality of points to position the high-voltage cable along a reference path. The high-voltage cable is configured to electrically connect an electrode terminal of the power storage module to the device. The electrode terminal is one of two electrode terminals of the power storage module and is located on a farther side of the power storage module from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Kosaki, Masaaki Iwabe, Kenji Iida, Shinsuke Azuma, Shigeyuki Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9248866
    Abstract: A hood assembly is provided. The hood assembly includes an outer panel having an interior surface and a peripheral edge. The hood assembly further includes a frame mounted to the outer panel. The frame has a contoured section. The contoured section is spaced apart from the interior surface of the outer panel and adjacent a forward portion of the peripheral edge of the outer panel. The contoured section includes an opening disposed on the contoured section so as to facilitate a deformation of the outer panel from a top down load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremiah Thomas Hammer
  • Patent number: 9249300
    Abstract: A resin composition has a first resin, a second resin incompatible with the first, and a modified elastomer having a reactive group capable of reacting with the first resin. The resin composition has a co-continuous phase structure including continuous phases A and B respectively formed of the first and second resins, dispersed domains a and b respectively distributed in the continuous phases A and B, and finely dispersed subdomains a? and b? respectively distributed in the dispersed domains a and b. The dispersed domain a includes a dispersed domain formed of at least one of the second resin and a first resin, modified elastomer reaction product, the dispersed domain b at least one of the first resin and the reaction product, and the finely dispersed subdomains a? and b? each independently at least one of the first resin, the second resin, the modified elastomer, and the reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jumpei Kawada, Makoto Mouri, Osamu Watanabe, Arimitsu Usuki, Masayuki Kito, Akio Amari, Osamu Kito
  • Patent number: 9248787
    Abstract: A vehicle interior part includes a main wall portion, a flange portion, a clip mount base, a protrusion, and a sealing member. The clip mount base includes a projecting wall and a base. The projecting wall projects from an opposed surface of the flange portion away from a distal end of the flange portion. The base projects from a distal end of the projecting wall. The protrusion protrudes from the opposed surface between the projecting wall and the distal end of the flange portion and has a first height on a first side closer to the distal end of the flange portion and a second height on a second side closer to the clip mount base. The first height is greater than the second height. The sealing member is disposed on the opposed surface between the protrusion and the distal end of the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Hinokio, Bongkee Kim
  • Patent number: 9248781
    Abstract: A packaging tray for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment and a cargo area. The cargo area is separated from the passenger compartment by a structural support extending between a rear seat assembly and a rear windshield. The packaging tray includes a first component having interior and exterior surfaces and a second component. The second component includes a base portion and a plurality of standoff portions formed integrally as a one piece structure. An outer surface of the base portion conforms to a shape of the interior surface of the first component. The plurality of standoff portions extend outwardly from an inner surface of the base portion to contact the structural support. The plurality of standoff portions space the base portion apart from the structural support to reduce noise and vibrations from the cargo area entering the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Oppliger
  • Patent number: 9252458
    Abstract: An electrochemical device is provided having a carboranyl magnesium electrolyte. Specifically the disclosure relates to an electrochemical device having a magnesium anode, a cathode, and a current collector made of non-noble metal, and a carboranyl magnesium electrolyte. In contact with the electrolyte, the non-noble metal cathode current collector has unusually high oxidative stability>3.0V vs. a magnesium reference. Processes for making the electrochemical device are additionally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rana Mohtadi, Oscar Tutusaus, Timothy S. Arthur, Tyler J. Carter
  • Patent number: 9252608
    Abstract: A first electrical storage stack is connected in series with a second electrical storage stack. A current interrupter is configured to interrupt a current path by being removed from the current path. First and second detection line are respectively connected to first and second terminals of the first electrical storage stack. The second electrical storage stack is connected to the second terminal of the first electrical storage stack via the current interrupter. A third detection line is connected to a portion of the current path, located on the second electrical storage stack side of the current interrupter. A controller is configured to control charging and discharging operations of each of the first and second electrical storage stacks on the basis of the voltage of the first electrical storage stack, the voltage being detected via the first detection line and the third detection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironobu Kawashima, Yukinari Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9249707
    Abstract: In a plug-in hybrid vehicle that includes an EHC, an ECU eliminates a sulfur poisoned state by supplying external electric power to the EHC when it is necessary to eliminate a state in which adhesion to a catalyst in the EHC degrades a function of the catalyst and external charging is being performed. On the other hand, when it is necessary to eliminate the sulfur poisoned state, the external charging is not being performed, and operation of an engine is permitted, the sulfur poisoned state is eliminated by operating the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Hashimoto, Yuki Hamasaki
  • Patent number: 9248795
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a bumper beam and a bumper fascia that covers the bumper beam. An energy absorption member includes a first laterally positioned leg including a mounting flange connected to the bumper beam and a second laterally positioned leg including a mounting flange connected to the bumper beam. The first and second laterally positioned legs are located at opposite sides of a forward facing surface and are spaced-apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Schnabelrauch, Shunsukei Kanagai, Naipaul D. Ramoutar, Sagar Kulkarni, Corinne D. Uskali
  • Patent number: 9248741
    Abstract: Disclosed is a torque indicating device including: a first indicating section that indicates a torque transmitted to primary drive wheels of a vehicle; and a second indicating section that indicates a torque transmitted to secondary drive wheels of the vehicle. The second indicating section indicates a quantity that is less than or equal to the quantity indicated by the first indicating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ikushima, Satoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9248831
    Abstract: A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential device including four rotary elements; and an engine, first and second electric motors and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to the four rotary elements. One of the four rotary elements is constituted by a rotary component of a first differential mechanism and a rotary component of a second differential mechanism selectively connected through a clutch, and one of the rotary components is selectively fixed to a stationary member through a brake. The drive control device comprises: an engine start control portion configured to switch an operating state of the clutch during cranking of the engine to raise its speed for starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Hiroyasu Harada, Tomohito Ono, Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 9251926
    Abstract: A collective conductor includes a plurality of conductive wires that is arranged collectively; and a copper foil that is wound around the collectively-arranged conductive wires and fusion-bonded to the conductive wires, and the copper foil has a tin plating on the side in contact with the conductive wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Okada, Hiroaki Urano
  • Patent number: 9249935
    Abstract: A fuel supply system includes a fuel gas tank; a temperature detecting portion; a fuel gas discharge flow path; a main stop valve that is provided in the fuel gas discharge flow path; and a control portion. The main stop valve includes an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a main valve that is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion and that opens and closes the fuel gas discharge flow path, a pilot flow path that is provided so as to communicate the inlet portion with the outlet portion, a pilot valve that opens and closes the pilot flow path, and an actuator capable of opening and closing the main valve and the pilot valve at different timings. The control portion opens the pilot valve and closes the main valve when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than a first reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Okawachi, Kazushi Numazaki
  • Patent number: 9250315
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assisting collision avoidance between a vehicle and an object include receiving an acoustic signal from the object using microphones supported by the vehicle, and determining a location of the object using the acoustic signal and an acoustic model of the environment, the environment including a structure that blocks a direct view of the object from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Serdar H. Yonak
  • Patent number: 9248945
    Abstract: A mouthpiece structure for a pressure vessel includes a liner made of a synthetic resin, and constituting a vessel body and a cylindrical part communicating between an interior and an exterior of the vessel body, a cylindrical mouthpiece mounted closely to an inner periphery of the cylindrical part, a retainer having a covering portion which covers regions of outer surfaces of the cylindrical part and the mouthpiece respectively and a peripheral wall surrounding the cylindrical part, the cylindrical part and the mouthpiece having an interface between an inner periphery of the cylindrical part and an outer periphery of the mouthpiece, the interface having a distal end facing the regions, a first sealing member disposed between the mouthpiece and the covering portion, and a second sealing member disposed between the cylindrical part and the peripheral wall of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Aoe, Osamu Sekiguchi, Katsuya Manabe, Yoshinori Miyazaki, Masayoshi Takami, Masayoshi Taki, Ken Hatta
  • Patent number: 9248827
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is mounted with a traction motor, a power storage device for storing electric power input to and output from the traction motor, an engine, and a power generation mechanism to generate charging electric power for the power storage device by an output from the engine. An ECU sets charging/discharging electric power of the power storage device to control SOC of the power storage device to be within a predetermined range centered about a SOC control target in a running mode with the engine operating. The output from the engine is set to ensure the charging/discharging electric power. The ECU sets the charging/discharging electric power such that the power storage device is discharged to an extent corresponding to a predetermined SOC higher than the lower limit SOC according to requirement power required for vehicle running, even when the SOC is lower than the SOC control target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kamatani, Takashi Amano