Toyota Patents

Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles and sells passenger cars, minivans and commercial vehicles under the Toyota and Lexus brands. The company also provides financial services products to customers and dealers seeking loans to purchase or leases of Toyota vehicles.

Toyota Patents by Type
  • Toyota Patents Granted: Toyota patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Toyota Patent Applications: Toyota patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 8707924
    Abstract: An engine is driven by a starter including a pinion gear that can be engaged with a ring gear coupled to a crankshaft; an actuator causing, in a driven state, the pinion gear to be moved to a position where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear; and a motor causing the pinion gear to be rotated. The engine is provided with a rotation angle sensor for detecting rotation of the crankshaft. ECU detects the crank angle of the crankshaft based on a signal from the rotation angle sensor after the actuator is driven and the motor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouki Moriya
  • Patent number: 8710790
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell that generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas, and a control portion that controls amount of electricity generation at a time of starting the fuel cell, characterized in that the control portion has voltage drop control means for controlling speed of dropping a starting voltage of the fuel cell from an open-circuit voltage to a high-potential-avoiding voltage according to an initial voltage of the fuel cell and to a pre-determined threshold voltage that is lower than the high-potential-avoiding voltage, when the starting voltage of the fuel cell is dropped from the open-circuit voltage to the high-potential-avoiding voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Atsushi Imai, Tomoya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8708070
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus is provided with an electric motor shaft that is connected to a rotor of an electric motor, an input shaft arranged parallel to the electric motor shaft and transmits power to and from an internal combustion engine positioned on one side in the axial direction, an input shaft rotating member provided on an end portion of the input shaft that is on the side opposite the internal combustion engine side and transmitting at least one of the power from the input shaft or the power from the electric motor shaft to a drive shaft of a vehicle, and a pump driven by the power from the internal combustion engine and pumps lubrication oil, and the electric motor is arranged on the opposite side of the input shaft rotating member from the internal combustion engine in the axial direction. The input shaft rotating member is rotatably supported by the case via a bearing, and at least part of the pump is arranged radially inward of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michitaka Tsuchida, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hideaki Komada, Makoto Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8708402
    Abstract: A battery protection structure for an automobile includes a rocker placed in a side portion of a body, a floor panel whose outer end in a body width direction is secured to the rocker, a reinforcement located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and secured to the floor panel, the reinforcement forming a part of a frame of the body, a battery located more inward in the body width direction than the rocker, and placed below the floor panel in the body, and an input member that connects between the rocker and the reinforcement, and configured to input, upon input of a collision load directed inward in the body width direction to the rocker, a part of the collision load to a midsection of the floor panel between the rocker and the reinforcement as a component directed upward of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Saeki
  • Patent number: 8708428
    Abstract: In a pump control apparatus that controls the discharge of brake fluid using the rotation of a motor, the number of windings in a low speed circuit is set such that the motor operates at a second rotation speed when the low speed circuit is connected to a power supply. A high speed circuit shares a portion of the windings of the low speed circuit so that the motor operates at a first rotation speed when a power supply voltage is supplied to an input terminal which is disposed midway in the windings of the low speed circuit. An ECU determines the load state of the motor based on a difference between the output voltage at an output terminal and the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakuni Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8712750
    Abstract: A molten alloy solidification analyzing method of the invention is characterized in that the amount of change in fraction solid is calculated based on the solidification rate of molten alloy and the solidification rate parameter that is a parameter for evaluating the influence of the solidification rate on solidification of the molten alloy, according to the fraction solid. By conducting such a simulation that takes into consideration the supercooling, a highly accurate solidification analysis is relatively easily performed for various molten alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Shuxin Dong, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Takashi Nakamichi, Norihiro Amano, Hiroyuki Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20140111160
    Abstract: An electrical storage system includes: serially connected electrical storage blocks each including at least one electrical storage element; a voltage detection circuit connected to each electrical storage block via voltage detection lines; a protection circuit including an overvoltage protection element connected in parallel with each electrical storage block via the voltage detection lines and a first resistor connected in series with the overvoltage protection element; a discharge circuit connected in parallel with each overvoltage protection element via the voltage detection lines and in series with the first resistor, the discharge circuit including a second resistor having a larger resistance value than the first resistor; and a controller detecting an abnormality in the overvoltage protection elements by, while the electrical storage elements are not connected to the load, comparing a voltage of a discharging first electrical storage block with a voltage of a non-discharging second electrical storage bl
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20140110975
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a vehicular seat having a seatback, a seat cushion, a table and an armrest. The seatback is preferably tiltably connected to a seat cushion. The table is preferably provided beside the seat cushion. The armrest is preferably mounted to a side portion of the seatback. The table preferably has a recess for avoiding from interfering the table with the armrest when the seatback is brought down to a predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi TSUCHIDA, Kenji FURUKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140111171
    Abstract: A switching control circuit includes voltage application means that applies a first voltage to a gate of a power device in a first period and applies a second voltage to the gate of the power device in a second period, wherein the first period starts when the power device is turned on; current detection means that detects whether a current flowing through the power device exceeds a threshold; and voltage decrease means that decreases the voltage with a first speed if the current detection means detects that the current exceeds the threshold in a second detection period, decreases the gate voltage with a second speed, lower than the first speed, if the current detection means detects that the current exceeds the threshold in a third detection period, and does not decrease the gate voltage if the current detection means detects that the current exceeds the threshold in the first period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hajime KOSUGI
  • Publication number: 20140112410
    Abstract: A system and method for realizing virtual interference alignment. The system comprises a retrieving module, a determination module and a precoding module. The retrieving module retrieves source data. The determination module receives shared data and transmission information. The shared data and transmission information are generated from a shared signal received from one or more participating communication systems associated with a first virtual transmitting group. The precoding module calculates a precoding vector describing one or more requirements of interference alignment based at least in part on the transmission information. The precoding module generates a first transmission signal based at least in part on the precoding vector, the source data and the shared data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihisa Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20140109533
    Abstract: An oil mist separator includes: a separator body having a gas flow path; a gas introduction part introducing the blow-by gas into the separator body; a gas discharge part discharging the blow-by gas from the separator body; a separation unit separating oil from the blow-by gas; dams provided on the bottom wall of the separator body downstream of the separation unit in the gas flow path and configured to block the oil separated from flowing to the downstream side; and an oil discharge part provided upstream of the dams in the gas flow path and configured to discharge the oil separated from the separator body, wherein the dams are formed along the gas flow path so as to alternately extend from the pair of side walls, and the dams extend such that tip ends of the dams are located beyond a center of the gas flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoji Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20140111021
    Abstract: A power transmission device for use in a power transfer system in which resonance through an electromagnetic field is used includes a power-transmission-side electromagnetic induction coil, a power-transmission-side resonance unit, and a power-transmission-side shield unit surrounding the power-transmission-side electromagnetic induction coil and the power-transmission-side resonance unit. The power-transmission-side electromagnetic induction coil and the power-transmission-side resonance unit are disposed in an identical plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140114485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device applied to an engine including a controlled object and for controlling the operation state of the controlled object such that the controlled output from the controlled object corresponds to the target controlled output. In the invention, when the reference engine state parameter is maintained constant during the predetermined time period and it is predicted that the reference engine state parameter changes at the predetermined time period having elapsed, the primary or secondary predicted controlled output which satisfies the output control condition at the predetermined time period having elapsed assuming that the reference engine state parameter does not change during the predetermined time period is calculated as a look-ahead predicted controlled output and then, the target controlled output setting logic for performing the functions of the target controlled output setting architecture is corrected on the basis of the look-ahead predicted controlled output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hayato Nakada
  • Publication number: 20140111003
    Abstract: A power converter includes a capacitor, a case, and a filler. The case houses the capacitor and includes a metal plate and a partition wall. The filler is interposed between the case and the capacitor. The metal plate is positioned between the capacitor and another electronic component, inside the power converter. Also, the partition wall separates the capacitor from the metal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei IMAI, Takashi HAMATANI, Kunihiro IWATA
  • Publication number: 20140110985
    Abstract: A seat frame structure includes a first mechanism element; a second mechanism element; a bolt shaft; and a seat frame that has a fitting portion that fits together with the first mechanism element, and a hole through which the bolt shaft passes, the seat frame being sandwiched between the first mechanism element and the second mechanism element, and integrated with the first mechanism element and the second mechanism element by fastening of the bolt shaft in the hole in a state extending between the first mechanism element and the second mechanism element. The first mechanism element has a fitting portion that fits together with the seat frame, and the second mechanism element is integrally assembled, by the fastening of the bolt shaft, to the first mechanism element in a state positioned on the seat frame by the fitting of the each fitting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao YAMAGUCHI, Yoshiyuki KUMAZAKI, Shinya NAGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20140109767
    Abstract: A method of removing ash from a wall flow type particulate filter which is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in which combustion is performed in an excess of oxygen for trapping particulate matter in exhaust gas, using a solid acid which is carried on the particulate filter, renders the state of the particulate filter a state where the exhaust gas which flows into the particulate filter is lowered in concentration of oxygen and the particulate filter is raised in temperature, and then renders the state of the particulate filter a state where the exhaust gas which flows into the particulate filter in an oxidizing atmosphere contains SOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Otsuki, Shigeki Nakayama, Hiromasa Nishioka, Katsuhiko Oshikawa, Yoshihisa Tsukamoto, Junichi Matsuo, Yuichi Sobue, Daichi Imai, Kou Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20140109556
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and a motor-generator for running the vehicle, includes: a power storage device to be supplied to the motor-generator; a current leakage detection circuit detecting a decrease in insulation resistance, the current leakage detection circuit being electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power storage device; an electrical heated catalyst device; and a power supply device that converts electric power from the power storage device into energization power of the electrical heated catalyst device by a power conversion path passing through an insulating mechanism. The power supply device includes a switching device. The switching device is opened when the electrical heated catalyst device is energized, and is closed when the decrease in insulation resistance of the electrical heated catalyst device is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140110639
    Abstract: A negative-electrode active material characterized by containing a silicon oxide represented by a general formula SiOx (0<x<2) and a silicate compound represented by a composition formula MaSibOc-m(OH)-n(H20), and a method for the production of a negative-electrode active material which includes a mixing step of mixing a silicon oxide that is represented by a general formula SiOy (0<y<2) and a metal oxide, and a heat treatment step of performing a heat treatment on the mixture that is obtained in the mixing step in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and in which the negative absolute value of the standard Gibbs energy of the oxidation reaction of the metal oxide at the heating temperature in the heat treatment step is smaller than the negative absolute value of the standard Gibbs energy of the oxidation reaction of Si at the heating temperature in the heat treatment step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideyuki Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20140110489
    Abstract: A vehicular heating control system, method, and program acquire an operation value that is a setting by an occupant and, when there is no manual operation, acquire a fuel consumption reduction amount and a fuel consumption amount and, when the fuel consumption reduction amount exceeds the fuel consumption amount and an improvement in fuel economy is expected, execute seat heater control, that is, heating by an electrothermal heater, decrease the wind force of a blower fan, and lower an engine startup threshold value. Heating by an air conditioning system and heating by the electrothermal heater are combined, so a heating effect is obtained while reducing the fuel consumption amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20140110988
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a cushion member forming an outside shape of the seat and configured to elastically support an occupant, a frame member configuring a skeleton of the seat, a belt member configured to restrain an occupant, a buckle member configured to lock the belt member, and a storage portion configured to store the buckle member. The storage portion is provided to a cutout portion or a hole portion that is formed on a lateral end portion of the cushion member. A reinforcing member that has a flat plate shape and has strength higher than the cushion member is directly or indirectly fixed to the frame member while covering the storage portion from a lateral side of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi NAKANISHI, Hiroyuki HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140113161
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle (1) includes: a fuel cell (11); a storage battery (17); a power control unit (10), electrically connected to the fuel cell (11) and the storage battery (17), for controlling electric power in the vehicle (1); a power distribution unit (16), provided on an electrical path between the storage battery (17) and the power control unit, for distributing the electric power from the storage battery; and power-generation auxiliary machines (15) which are electrically connected to the power distribution unit (16) and to which the electric power, distributed by the power distribution unit (16), is supplied for performing operation for electric power generation by the fuel cell (11). The power distribution unit (16) and the power control unit (10) are connected directly without use of a harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Katano
  • Publication number: 20140113164
    Abstract: A current interrupting device of a sealed battery includes a conductive member that is electrically connected to an external terminal arranged on an outside portion of a battery case; and a reversing plate that is electrically connected to a collector terminal arranged inside of the battery case, and that electrically cuts off the conductive member from the collector terminal by deforming in response to an increase in pressure inside of the battery case. The current interrupting device is attached to an outside portion of the battery case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20140114523
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle illustrated as a representative example of an electrically-powered vehicle includes a chargeable/dischargeable power storage device, a motor configured to generate a vehicle drive force by receiving supply of power from the power storage device, an internal combustion engine as a drive force source, and a generator configured to generate charging power for the power storage device by power generation using an output of the internal combustion engine. If the generator cannot be operated normally, the control unit causes the electrically-powered vehicle to perform limp-home mode traveling by traveling using only the motor. During the limp-home mode traveling, the control device calculates a remaining travelable distance in the limp-home mode traveling, based on at least a remaining capacity of the power storage device and a vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Keiji Kaita
  • Publication number: 20140113066
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a secondary battery electrode, includes conveying an electrode current collector; applying an active material layer-forming composition that is prepared in a slurry state onto the electrode current collector; and drying a coating film that is made of the active material layer-forming composition formed on the electrode current collector. The coating film is dried by blowing a first hot air in a direction parallel to a coating film surface of the electrode current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20140114628
    Abstract: A particle size distribution creating method includes a particle size range determining step, an integrating step of integrating the frequency of appearance of particles within the particle size range determined in the particle size range determining step, a division point determining step of determining particle sizes that provide division points, using the integral of the frequency of appearance obtained in the integrating step, and a typical point determining step of determining the minimum particle size, maximum particle size and the particle sizes of the division points as typical points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroko Kimura, Naoki Takehiro, Manabu Kato, Kazutaka Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140111950
    Abstract: A bracket for a vehicle blind spot monitor. The bracket can have upper and bottom members that are spaced apart from each other and connected by a side member. The upper, bottom and side members of the bracket can also form an opening where a blind spot monitor can be located. The bottom member can have a debris-blocking flange that protects or shields the outer radar surface from debris such as rocks, sand, etc., that are thrown up from a road surface towards the blind spot monitor. The bracket can have a plurality of protrusions to guide the blind spot monitor into the bracket opening. The bracket additionally features clips that affix the blind spot monitor to the bracket prior to installation on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Else Yamasaki, Charan Singh Lota
  • Publication number: 20140113163
    Abstract: A current interrupting device of a sealed battery includes a conductive member that is electrically connected to an external terminal of a battery case; a collector terminal that is arranged inside the battery case; and a reversing plate that is interposed between the conductive member and the collector terminal, and that electrically cuts off the conductive member from the collector terminal by deforming in response to an increase in pressure inside the battery case. An inner peripheral surface of the conductive member is joined to an outer peripheral surface of the reversing plate. An upper surface of the reversing plate does not contact the conductive member regardless of an activation of the current interrupting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAGATA, Shigeru TAKASHIRO
  • Publication number: 20140110554
    Abstract: A seat sliding device allows a vehicle seat to be positioned in the vehicle front back direction. The seat sliding device includes a pair of rail units aligned in the lateral direction of the seat. Each of the rail units includes a first rail member, which is attached to a seat mounting surface, and a second rail member, which is attached to the seat. Three rollers are arranged in each rail unit, and the second rail member is supported on the first rail member at three points by the three rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Oya, Toshio Araki, Shinji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20140110375
    Abstract: In the present invention, the form in which roughness is formed on the surface of an article being processed through plasma exposure is controlled by varying the frequency for a main voltage applied to two discharge electrodes, a conductive housing and a rod shaped electrode, provided in a plasma generating unit and the frequency for a bias voltage applied between the conductive housing (2) and the article being processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehito Kobayashi, Noriyuki Ueno, Katsuya Kurachi
  • Publication number: 20140111158
    Abstract: A charging cable housing device includes: a charging connector; a casing having an internal space and extending along a top-bottom direction; a charging cable housed in the internal space of the casing, and having one end which is extended outward from an opening provided in the casing and to which the charging connector is connected, and the other end from which electric power is supplied; and a cable reel housed in the internal space of the casing and located lower than the opening, with the other end of the charging cable wound up around the cable reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Kinomura, Tomoya Ono
  • Publication number: 20140110986
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a stopping structure that stops forward tilting rotation of a seatback between the seatback and a base on a floor. The stopping structure includes a stopping portion provided on one of the seatback or the base, and a stopper that is provided in a state supported in a cantilevered manner on the other of the seatback or the base, and that extends to a position overlapping with the stopping portion in a seat width direction. The stopping structure is configured to stop the forward tilting rotation of the seatback by abutment of the stopping portion and the stopper. A deformation inhibiting member that minimizes deformation in the seat width direction from the stopper abutting against the stopping portion following forward tilting rotation of the seatback, is provided on the other of the seatback or the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takao YAMAGUCHI, Yoshiyuki KUMAZAKI, Shinya NAGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20140113063
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery electrode includes the steps of: coating an electrode paste on an electrode base material; drying the electrode paste coated on the electrode base material in a drying furnace; measuring a radiation heat of the electrode paste during drying with a radiation heat meter; and determining a dried state of the electrode paste during drying based on the measured radiation heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiko NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20140111146
    Abstract: A charging device includes a fixing member fixed to a fixed object, a cable holder mounted on the fixing member in an attachable and detachable manner and a charging cable unit mounted on the cable holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Ono, Shigeki Kinomura, Michiaki Arasu
  • Publication number: 20140110955
    Abstract: An example gusset for attaching a rear bumper assembly to a vehicle has a first attachment portion configured to attach to the bumper reinforcement bracket and the lower back panel of the vehicle, a second attachment portion configured to attach to the rear side member of the vehicle, and an angled portion presenting an oblique surface to a rear impactor to the vehicle. A pair of side portions are interconnected and spaced apart by the second attachment portion, and each side portion has an angled edge adjacent the angled portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Kors, Palaniappan Palaniappan, Sanjeev Gupta
  • Publication number: 20140111122
    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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironobu KAWASHIMA, Yukinari TANABE
  • Publication number: 20140112538
    Abstract: A subject is to provide a pedestrian motion predicting device capable of accurately predicting a possibility of a rush out before a pedestrian actually begins to rush out. According to the embodiments, the pedestrian is detected from input image data, a portion in which the detected pedestrian is imaged is cut out from the image data, a shape of the pedestrian imaged in the cut-out partial image data is classified by collating the shape with a learning-finished identifier group or a pedestrian recognition template group, and the rush out of the pedestrian is predicted based on a result of the acquired classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Ogawa, Toshiki Kindo, Ryuji Funayama, Tadaaki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20140110640
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a sulfide compound semiconductor containing Cu, Zn, Sn and S, in which the method includes a solvothermal step of conducting a solvothermal reaction of Cu, Zn, Sn and S in an organic solvent, and a rod-like crystal of sulfide compound semiconductor containing Cu, Zn, Sn and S.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: KOCHI UNIVERSITY, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sumio Kamiya, Keisuke Kishita, Kazumichi Yanagisawa, Haijun Tao
  • Publication number: 20140110387
    Abstract: A heater system for an electric vehicle that is void of engine coolant. The heater system can include an air duct having an opening into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a heater unit attached to the air duct. The heater unit can have a self-contained quantity of oil within an oil reservoir and an oil channel in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. The oil channel can be located between a front wall and a back wall of the heater unit and the unit can also have an electric heating element at least partially within the oil reservoir. The electric heater unit can be operable to heat oil in the oil reservoir and thereby result in the oil flowing through the oil channel and heating the front wall and the back wall of the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140111861
    Abstract: A multilayer stack displaying a red omnidirectional structural color. The multilayer stack includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer extending across the reflector layer, and an absorbing layer extending across the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer reflects more than 70% of incident white light that has a wavelength greater than 580 nanometers (nm). In addition, the absorbing layer absorbs more than 70% of the incident white light with a wavelength less than 580 nm. In combination, the reflector layer, dielectric layer, and absorbing layer form an omnidirectional reflector that reflects a narrow band of electromagnetic radiation with a center wavelength between 580-680 nm, has a width of less than 200 nm wide and a color shift of less than 100 nm when the reflector is viewed from angles between 0 and 45 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Masahiko Ishii, Li Qin Zhou, Yumi Kato
  • Publication number: 20140110922
    Abstract: A head protection device includes an air bag and a guiding bracket, and the guiding bracket includes an attachment surface that has an attachment portion attached to a body panel, a guiding wall that has a support portion for supporting the air bag, and a contact portion that is coupled to an end of the guiding wall in the vehicle cabin side and contacts a ceiling material. A weak portion deformed toward the vehicle cabin outer side by a load of a passenger's head at a collision causing no activation of an inflator is formed between the support portion of the guiding wall and the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunori UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140110974
    Abstract: A vehicle ceiling structure includes a ceiling interior material that covers a curtain shield air bag with a terminal side; an assist grip attached to a body panel through an attachment hole formed in the ceiling interior material; and an attachment portion provided on the assist grip, the attachment portion being in contact with or facing to outer circumference of the attachment hole in a surface of the ceiling interior material in a vehicle cabin side, wherein the vehicle ceiling structure on a surface thereof in a vehicle cabin outer side has an annular groove on outer circumference of the attachment portion in such a manner that the annular groove surround the attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasunori UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140111120
    Abstract: When an ECU disconnects a second power storage device BAT2 from a drive device 90 while a hybrid vehicle is traveling, ECU disconnects one of a contact point B1 and a contact point G2 of a system main relay SMR2 and causes the vehicle to continue traveling using electric power supplied from a first power storage device BAT1 to drive device. After the vehicle finishes traveling, ECU performs a discharging operation for discharging a charge remaining in a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2 with the one contact point of system main relay SMR2 being disconnected. If the charge is not discharged appropriately, ECU determines that welding occurs in at least one of system main relay SMR1 and system main relay SMR2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake MITSUTANI
  • Publication number: 20140109392
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a rotor in which a plurality of cleaved magnet pieces are mounted in a rotor core with cleaved surfaces of the cleaved magnet pieces in an engaged state. In a cleaving step, a magnet workpiece having a recess in a surface thereof is cleaved at the recess as a starting point, thereby producing a first magnet piece and a second magnet piece. In a surface processing step, the cleaved surface is processed to reduce protrusions on the cleaved surface of the first magnet piece. Accordingly, the engagement between the cleaved surfaces is poor, the contact area is reduced, and the contact resistance is increased. As a result thereof, the eddy currents in the cut magnets flow less easily, and loss caused by eddy currents may be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishikuma, Tetsuyoshi Fukaya, Katsuhiko Tatebe, Shingo Fubuki
  • Publication number: 20140112580
    Abstract: An ECU which is connected to an image sensor and an illuminance sensor includes an eyelid detection unit that detects the positions of the upper and lower eyelids from a face image, an eyelid determination unit that determines the positions of the upper and lower eyelids detected by the eyelid detection unit, and an eye opening degree calculation unit that calculates the degree of eye opening. The eyelid determination unit searches for a red-eye candidate in the range in which the skin is assumed to be present from the positions of the upper and lower eyelids detected by the eyelid detection unit. When the red-eye candidate is searched in the range, the eyelid determination unit determines that the eyelid detection unit falsely detects the positions of the upper and lower eyelids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoto Hanita, Yoshinao Takemae
  • Publication number: 20140111002
    Abstract: A power reception device includes: a vehicle-side resonant portion mounted on a vehicle and resonating, through an electromagnetic field, with a facility-side resonant portion provided in an external facility; and a vehicle-side support including a first support member supporting the vehicle-side resonant portion, and a second support member spaced apart from the vehicle-side resonant portion and supporting the first support member, wherein a dielectric tangent of the first support member is smaller than a dielectric tangent of the second support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20140110490
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator, and a heater core for adjusting a temperature in a vehicle compartment by using operating oil supplied to the motor generator. The heater core includes a tube in a first region that connects between an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a tube in a second region that connects between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, and a first adjusting valve for shutting off, where a temperature of the operating oil is lower than a prescribed temperature range, flow of the operating oil in the tube in the second region by being changed to a closed position, and for adjusting an amount of flow of the operating oil in the tube in the second region in accordance with the temperature of the operating oil where the temperature of the operating oil is within the prescribed temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunihiko Arai
  • Publication number: 20140111057
    Abstract: A first insulation-coated conductive wire of a first coil forming body is positioned between one conductive wire exposed region, from among the conductive wire exposed regions that are positioned on both sides of a curved portion positioned on an outermost periphery of a coil assembly, and a second insulation-coated conductive wire that forms the curved portion, and the first coil forming body is different from a second coil forming body that has the second insulation-coated conductive wire, and the first insulation-coated conductive wire of the first coil forming body forms another curved portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Takasaki, Hiroshi Kaneiwa
  • Publication number: 20140109613
    Abstract: A cooling system (1) includes: a compressor (12) that circulates refrigerant; a heat exchanger (14) and a heat exchanger (15) that carry out heat exchange between refrigerant and outside air; a decompressor (16) that decompresses refrigerant; a heat exchanger (18) that carries out heat exchange between refrigerant and air-conditioning air; a cooling portion (30) that is provided in a path of refrigerant flowing between the heat exchanger (14) and the heat exchanger (15) and that uses refrigerant to cool a heat generating source (31); a first line (24) through which refrigerant circulates between the cooling portion (30) and the heat exchanger (15); a second line (27) through which refrigerant circulates between the heat exchanger (18) and the compressor (12); and an internal heat exchanger (40) in which refrigerant that circulates through the first line (24) and refrigerant that circulates through the second line (27) exchange heat with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Ohno, Kazuhide Uchida, Yuki Jojima, Yoshiaki Kawakami, Eizo Takahashi, Kousuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20140110987
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back connected to the seat cushion and including a storage portion, a belt member configured to restrain an occupant while the belt member is routed from a side of the seat back to a side of the seat cushion, and a rerouter member configured to be taken out from the storage portion of the seat back and connected to the belt member to change a routing position of the belt member at a middle portion thereof. In a state where a portion of the rerouter member is stored in the storage portion, another portion of the rerouter member is exposed from the storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi NAKANISHI, Hiroyuki HAYASHI
  • Patent number: D703591
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Pansoo Kwon, Yuji Fujiwara