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).
  • Publication number: 20190309804
    Abstract: A vehicle including a coupling device that includes (a) an engagement clutch mechanism for coupling an input side engagement member that is coupled to a drive power source of the vehicle and an output side engagement member that is coupled to a drive wheel of the vehicle; and (b) a cam mechanism for assisting engagement of the input and output side engagement members depending on a differential torque by which the input and output side engagement members are rotated differentially. The vehicle includes a control device configured, when the engagement of the input and output side engagement members is to be released, to cause a braking force to be applied to one of the input and output side engagement members such that the differential torque is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichiro SHIBATA, Masayuki ARAI
  • Publication number: 20190311826
    Abstract: To provide a production method capable of enhancing the magnetic properties, particularly, the coercive force, of a Sm—Fe—N-based rare earth magnet and a production apparatus used therefor. A method for producing a rare earth magnet, comprising mixing a magnetic raw material powder containing Sm, Fe and N with a modifier powder containing metallic Zn to obtain a mixed powder, filling the mixed powder into a molding die to obtain a filled product, melting at least a part of the modifier powder in the filled product while applying a pressure of 20 MPa or less to the filled product or without applying a pressure to obtain an intermediate molded product, and subjecting the intermediate molded product to liquid phase sintering at a pressure of 20 MPa or more to obtain a sintered body; and a production apparatus used therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noritsugu SAKUMA, Kazuaki HAGA
  • Publication number: 20190309800
    Abstract: A joint-center-fixed constant velocity joint configured to be provided in a vehicle includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, a first ball, a second ball, and a cage. While a center of the first ball is moving to a position of the maximum use angle on an opening side from a joint center, a first open angle faces the opening side. While a center of the second ball is moving to a position of the maximum use angle on a bottom side from the joint center, a second open angle is not reversed from a state where the second open angle faces the bottom side to a state where the second open angle faces the opening side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicants: JTEKT Corporation, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isashi KASHIWAGI, Masahito Ikeo, Yoshitaka Shinoda, Hideki Sugiura
  • Publication number: 20190308490
    Abstract: The control apparatus includes a heater configured to generate heat to heat the internal combustion engine, a controller configured to control a heat exchange system in such a way as to transfer EV exhaust heat to the internal combustion engine, and an controller configured to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heater before the internal combustion engine is started if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will not be established before the start of the internal combustion engine and not to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heating if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will be established before the start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi OBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190311454
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a registration unit configured to receive registration of action schedules from users and store the action schedules in action schedule information; a selection unit configured to extract, from the action schedule information, users who registered an action schedule of heading for a prescribed destination, and select the extracted users as ride-sharing candidate, users; and a notification unit configured to notify, the ride-sharing candidate users, of proposal information that includes proposal of moving to the prescribed destination by riding on a shared vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Mitsumaki, Masato Endo, Ryota Kondo, Yasuhisa Obata
  • Patent number: 10439231
    Abstract: A metal separator for a fuel cell is disposed on each side of a membrane electrode assembly. The metal separator includes a base material containing Fe as a primary component and 10 mass % or more of Cr. The base material further contains at least any one of 0.1 to 15 mass % of Ta, 0.1 to 15 mass % of V, and 4 to 10 mass % of Sn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kono, Masao Igarashi, Yasuki Miura
  • Patent number: 10434970
    Abstract: A vehicle side section structure capable of stabilizing the deployment behavior of an airbag that inflates and deploys from a side door toward a vehicle width direction outer side is obtained. An impact beam is attached to a door inner panel. The impact beam includes a support portion that supports an inflator and that includes a side-wall portion disposed at the vehicle width direction inner side of the inflator. Accordingly, reaction force from the deployment of the airbag is able to be supported by the support portion of the impact beam when the airbag inflates and deploys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Saito, Junichi Takayanagi, Masato Kunisada, Takashi Sasaki, Takaki Fukuyama, Shigeyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10434884
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor housing accommodating motors for driving wheels, and a power control unit fixed on the motor housing. The power control unit includes: a stacked unit in which multiple power modules accommodating power semiconductor elements for electric power conversion and multiple coolers are stacked; and reactors. The stacked unit is disposed in the case of the power control unit such that the stacking direction of the power modules and the coolers is directed toward the vehicle-longitudinal direction. The reactors are disposed in the case so as not to overlap with the stacked unit as viewed from the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Sawazaki, Kenshi Yamanaka, Ryusuke Baba, Hiromi Yamasaki, Hitoshi Imura, Hideaki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10436900
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus is applied to a movable body including an object detection sensor which transmits a search wave and receives a reflected wave of the search wave as detection information of an object, and detects the object present around the movable body based on the detection information. The apparatus includes a frequency detection section which detects an occurrence frequency of a disturbance signal at the same time within a predetermined transmission time period determined with reference to a transmission period of the search wave, and a disturbance determination section which determines presence or absence of occurrence of disturbance based on the occurrence frequency detected by the frequency detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Motonari Ohbayashi, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 10436899
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes a first acquisition unit that acquires, as a first direct wave group, reflected versions of first probing waves transmitted from and received at a first position, and acquires, as a first indirect wave group reflected versions of the first probing waves received at a second position, a second acquisition unit that acquires, as a second indirect wave group, reflected versions of second probing waves transmitted from the second position and received at the first position, and acquires, as a second direct wave group, reflected versions of the second probing wave received at the second position, and a determination unit that determines whether the object is a real object or a ghost in accordance with the receptions times of the first and second direct wave groups and the first and second indirect wave groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Motonari Ohbayashi, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 10434887
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power storage device, a charging inlet, an electric power reception device, and a controller. The controller is configured to start charging the electric power storage device when the time reaches a set time set in advance in a case where scheduled charging control that starts charging the electric power storage device at the set time is planned to be executed in a state in which electric power is receivable through either the charging inlet or the electric power reception device. The controller is configured to execute the contacted charging control by suppressing execution of the scheduled charging control that starts the contactless charging control, when the charging connector is connected to the inlet in a case where the scheduled charging control that starts the contactless charging control at the set time is planned to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yamato Niwa, Toshiya Hashimoto, Takahiro Misawa
  • Patent number: 10437240
    Abstract: Manufacturing evaluation systems including motion sensors are disclosed. A manufacturing evaluation system includes one or more motion sensors configured to output motion data in response to motions of a user in association with manufacturing of an article, a processor communicatively coupled to the one or more motion sensors, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable instructions stored in the memory module. The machine readable instructions cause the manufacturing evaluation system to perform, when executed by the processor, receiving the motion data output by the one or more sensors, calculating a quality score associated with the article of manufacture based on the motion data, comparing the quality score to a quality score threshold, and providing a notification in response to comparing the quality score to the quality score threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Carlo Cruz
  • Patent number: 10436302
    Abstract: A torque vectoring device has a downsized brake device for stopping drive wheels. The torque vectoring device comprises: a drive motor; a differential unit including a first planetary gear unit connected to a right drive wheel, and a second planetary gear unit connected to a left drive wheel; a differential motor that applies torque to any one of reaction elements; a torque reversing mechanism that transmits torque between the reaction elements while reversing; a rotary shaft connecting input elements; a rotary member that transmits torque of an output shaft of the drive motor; and a brake device that is contacted frictionally to the rotary member to establish a braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ALCHEMICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isono, Nobuyoshi Sugitani, Aizoh Kubo
  • Patent number: 10439453
    Abstract: A stator includes a stator core has slots that are each provided between stator teeth disposed on the stator core. The insulation paper is disposed in the slot between the coil and the stator core defining the slot has a recess at a position adjacent to connection parts between side walls and a bottom wall of the insulation paper. The recess extends so as to be apart from the connection parts in one of a radial direction and the circumferential direction. The insulation members include a projection that is configured to be disposed inside the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 10439260
    Abstract: A battery that can inhibit temperature rising when generating heat due to a short circuit etc., while inhibiting degradation of the battery output performance, includes a plurality of unit batteries stacked together; and an endothermic layer arranged between the unit batteries adjacent in a stacking direction, the layer including an endothermic material, wherein each unit battery includes: a pair of current collectors; and at least one electrode body, wherein: the pair of current collectors are arranged to both ends of the unit battery in the stacking direction respectively, the electrode body includes a first pole active material layer, a second pole active material layer which is different from the first pole active material layer, and a solid electrolyte layer; the first and second pole active material layer are arranged between the pair of current collectors; and the current collectors have contact with the first or second pole active material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyo Ebisuzaki, Hideaki Nishimura, Yuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10435082
    Abstract: A multi-panel deck side extender system including a deck rail assembly and a deck side extender assembly. The deck rail assembly includes a rail extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a bracket connected to the rail. The rail is secured to a sidewall of the pickup truck. The deck side extender assembly pivotally connects to the bracket. The deck side extender assembly is slidably displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction with respect to the rail. The deck side extender assembly is pivotally displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position. In the lowered position the deck side extender assembly is positioned below the upper surface sidewall in a vehicle vertical direction and adjacent the interior surface of the sidewall in a vehicle lateral direction. In the raised position the deck side extender assembly is positioned above the upper surface of the sidewall in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Kupina, Todd M. Bello
  • Patent number: 10439545
    Abstract: In a control apparatus including a drive unit, first and second power supplies, a first diode, first and second control units, and a control method of the control apparatus, the first diode is connected to first and second power lines such that a direction from the second power line to the first power line is set as a forward direction, the second control unit is configured to calculate correction information for a first state value based on the voltage of the first power line before and after an abnormality has occurred in the first power supply and to transmit the correction information to the first control unit when the abnormality has occurred in the first power supply, and the first control unit is configured to correct the first state value using the correction information when the correction information has been received from the second control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Hata
  • Patent number: 10437242
    Abstract: A vehicle remote operation system includes a controller correcting a map, which indicates a relationship between an operation amount of a reference vehicle and an operation amount of a vehicle to be operated, based on vehicle characteristic data of the vehicle to be operated, characteristic of the operation device being determined based on characteristic of an operation device of the reference vehicle, correcting an operation amount, which is indicated by the operation signal, in accordance with a characteristic of the vehicle to be operated by using the corrected map, and outputting a control signal indicating the corrected operation amount to the vehicle to be operated so that the vehicle to be operated can be operated in accordance with the corrected operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Naoya Ishizaki, Tomoharu Maeda, Yushi Seki, Hiroshi Majima, Katsuya Terahata
  • Patent number: 10434559
    Abstract: A spray nozzle (10) of a press apparatus includes a nozzle main body (11) having a through-hole (12), and a diffusion member (13) provided inside the through-hole (12). The diffusion member (13) includes a protruding portion (22) that diffuses coolant that flows through the through-hole (12), by interfering with the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Iwano, Junichi Komatsu, Shigeaki Ando, Masaru Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10437257
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving system that can determine whether an interruption of autonomous driving control is required. The autonomous driving system can determine that interruption is required based on an evaluation value dependent upon a target position and a control position, and an evaluation value threshold. The vehicle further includes communication systems that provide interruption information on the autonomous driving control to an occupant of the vehicle and to other vehicles around the vehicle if it is determined that the interruption of the autonomous driving control is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10434960
    Abstract: A member attachment structure includes: a first member on which an attachment portion equipped with an engaged portion is provided; a second member in which an attachment hole is provided; and an attachment clip equipped with a distal end portion, a pair of plate-shaped portions are disposed opposing each other with the attachment portion of the first member being inserted therebetween, an engaging portion engages with the engaged portion, an engaging claw portion engages with an edge portion of the attachment hole, and a projecting portion that is provided on the opposing surface of the plate-shaped portion and projects, in an opposing direction in which the pair of plate-shaped portions oppose each other, from an end portion side in a width direction orthogonal to a direction in which the at least one plate-shaped portion extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Kamei, Atsushi Usami, Masayuki Amano
  • Patent number: 10436128
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes: an engine; a plurality of accessories including an air conditioner; a battery; a generator; and an ECU configured to automatically stop the engine, control the generator to charge or discharge the battery, inhibit the engine from being automatically stopped, calculate a first stop time as a length of time for which the engine can be automatically stopped, during operation of the air conditioner, calculate a first electric quantity as an estimated quantity of electricity consumed, calculate a second stop time as a length of time for which the vehicle is predicted to be stopped in the future, calculate a second electric quantity as an estimated quantity of electricity consumed, and determine the SOC target value, based on the first electric quantity and the second electric quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shinohara, Kohei Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10436304
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is arranged between an output-side rotary shaft and a rotor shaft. For this reason, even when looseness in a spline fitting portion of the output-side rotary shaft and rotor shaft is not filled, both the output-side rotary shaft and the rotor shaft are held by the tolerance ring so as not to rattle. Therefore, it is possible to reduce tooth hammer noise that occurs in the spline fitting portion. An output-side rotary shaft has oil passages for supplying lubricating oil to a tolerance ring. Lubricating oil is forcibly supplied through these oil passages to an annular space in which a tolerance ring is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Fujii, Yuji Yasuda, Atsushi Tabata, Haruhisa Suzuki, Koichi Okuda, Hiroyuki Tateno
  • Patent number: 10439466
    Abstract: A fixture for fixing, to a motor case, a holding jig configured to hold a plurality of power lines connected to respective stator coils so as to restrict a relative movement between the plurality of power lines includes: a fastening hole through which a bolt for fastening the fixture to a motor case is inserted; and a mounting portion on which the holding jig holding the power lines is mountable. The mounting portion includes: an accommodation space in which to accommodate the holding jig; and holding pawls for sandwiching the holding jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yousuke Kurono, Yasuhiro Makido
  • Patent number: 10434908
    Abstract: An air conditioning seat configured to blow temperature-adjusted air and including: a seat including a seat cushion and a seat back; a lateral member which is provided along the seated person seated on the seat on a lateral side of the seated person; a first air duct which is provided in the lateral member and is configured to guide the temperature-adjusted air towards the seated person; and a first air outlet from which the temperature-adjusted air is configured to be blown out from first the air duct, wherein the temperature-adjusted air is configured to be directed and blown out towards at least one of a knee and a lower leg portion of a leg of the seated person through the first air outlet, the at least one of the knee and the lower leg portion being positioned on a front side than a front end of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Akaike, Hiroshi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10434919
    Abstract: The seat cushion includes side frames and an ottoman support portion provided at front end portions of the side frames. The ottoman support portion is arranged between the side frames. The ottoman support portion includes an upper member, a lower member, and a mount connected to the lower member and provided with the ottoman. The upper member includes a first side portion connected to the side frame, a second side portion connected to the side frame, and a connection portion provided between the first side portion and the second side portion. The lower member includes a third side portion connected to the side frame, a fourth side portion connected to the side frame, and a connection portion provided between the third side portion and the fourth side portion. The connection portion of the upper member and the connection portion of the lower member are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Kimura
  • Patent number: 10434973
    Abstract: An adjustable airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflatable airbag and at least one tether formed from a shape memory material. The at least one tether has at least one portion thereof secured to the airbag. The at least one tether is structured to contract so as to control an inflated dimension of the airbag when the at least one tether is heated to a temperature above a transformation temperature of the shape memory material and also above a superelastic temperature range of the shape memory material, prior to airbag deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 10438739
    Abstract: A transformer includes a magnetic core assembly including a cylindrical bobbin around which transformer windings are wrapped. Primary transformer windings are wrapped around the cylindrical bobbin of the magnetic core assembly with additional primary transformer windings that are extended to come in contact with one or more external surfaces of the magnetic core assembly. Secondary transformer windings are wrapped around the cylindrical bobbin of the magnetic core assembly with additional secondary transformer windings that are extended to come in contact with the one or more external surfaces of the magnetic core assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Jongwon Shin
  • Patent number: 10439417
    Abstract: A battery system includes: a battery configured to be charged or discharged; a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the battery; a heater configured to warm the battery; a charger configured to supply electric power from an external power supply to the battery and the heater; a relay provided in a passage through which the electric power from the charger is supplied to the battery; and a controller configured to control operations of the charger and the relay. The controller is configured to supply predetermined electric power from the charger to the heater and turn off the relay so as not to supply the electric power from the charger to the battery in a case where an SOC of the battery is equal to or more than a threshold and the temperature of the battery is lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Murata
  • Patent number: 10434868
    Abstract: A grille shutter control device includes a control section and a diagnostic section. The control section is connected to a communication line in a vehicle and controls opening and closing of a grille shutter that introduces air to a cooling target of the vehicle. In a case in which a communications fault is detected, the control section controls to open the grille shutter. The diagnostic section is connected to the communication line and detects a degree of opening of the grille shutter by communicating with the control section. A temperature detection section detects a temperature of the cooling target. In a case in which the communications fault is detected, the diagnostic section diagnoses a malfunction of the grille shutter if a temperature detected by the temperature detection section is higher than a pre-specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Nishioka, Yoichi Onishi, Shuichi Morie, Masafumi Nakamine
  • Patent number: 10440846
    Abstract: A bracket for attaching an electronic control unit to a panel member is provided with: a plate-shaped insertion portion to be inserted into a gap between an outer peripheral side surface of a case of an electronic control unit and an elastic pressing portion which protrudes from the outer peripheral side surface and bends and extends in an outer circumferential direction of the case; a detachment preventing latch portion to be latched with the elastic pressing portion of the case, thereby retaining the case in a detachment prevented state, when the insertion portion is inserted to a predetermined assembled position in the gap; and abutting wall portions which extend from the side surface opposed portion on both outer sides in the outer circumferential direction of the insertion portion, to come into contact with the outer peripheral side surface, in the detachment prevented state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: DAIWA KASEI INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Kato, Hirofumi Kataoka, Yoshiki Inamukai
  • Patent number: 10439233
    Abstract: A connector unit comprises a plurality of connector modules. Each connector module is coupled to an adjacent connector module in a first direction and is matable with a mating object in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Each connector module includes a holding portion holding a contact and a coupling portion positioned adjacent to the holding portion on an end side of the connector module in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The coupling portion has a protrusion protruding toward the end side of the connector module, a concave part receiving the protrusion of the adjacent connector module, and a separation inhibiting part inhibiting separation of the protrusion of the adjacent connector module from the concave part. The connector modules coupled by the coupling portions are each displaceable in the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daiji Hotta, Seiji Komatsu, Masahiro Imanishi
  • Patent number: 10434910
    Abstract: Provided is a seat cushion member for use in a vehicle seat. The seat cushion member includes a cushion pad; a first side frame; a second side frame; at least one coupling member; and a load receiving member arranged in an area lower than the cushion pad and capable of receiving a downward load that acts on the cushion pad. The load receiving member is joined to the at least one coupling member and is spaced apart from the second side frame with a void therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Furukawa, Teruyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10435080
    Abstract: A vehicle lower structure includes: a floor panel disposed in a lower part of a vehicle; an undercover disposed lower than the floor panel; and a brace extending in a vehicle width direction between the floor panel and the undercover in a vehicle vertical direction. The brace is connected to the floor panel and the undercover. An undercover-side connecting portion of the brace that is connected to the undercover is located at a lower position than a floor-panel-side connecting portion of the brace that is connected to the floor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunihiro Hijikata
  • Patent number: 10434890
    Abstract: A controller performs first control to fourth control whenever the voltage of a cell reaches a specified voltage during discharging. The first control is to stop the discharging. The second control is to close a relay connected, in parallel, to a cell having a voltage having reached the specified voltage. The third control is to measure AC impedance in a state in which relays connected, in parallel, to respective corresponding cells having voltages having reached the specified voltage are all closed. The fourth control is to resume discharging cells having voltages higher than the specified voltage. The controller diagnoses whether the cell having the voltage having reached the specified voltage is abnormal, by comparing (i) AC impedance when the cell having the voltage having reached the specified voltage is included with (ii) AC impedance when the cell having the voltage having reached the specified voltage is excluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 10439478
    Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor core and a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft includes an insertion portion, an external thread portion, a key groove and a nut. The insertion portion is inserted into a cylindrical hole of the rotor core. The external thread portion extends from the insertion portion to an outer side in an axial direction of the rotor shaft. The external thread portion has a plurality of thread ridges formed on an outer peripheral surface. The key groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft so as to extend in the axial direction from the external thread portion through the insertion portion. The nut is screwed onto the external thread portion, and has a crimped portion formed so as to enter the key groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Matsumoto, Yasuaki Shirasaki, Akira Nakatani
  • Patent number: 10436134
    Abstract: When it is determined that the combustion state during the catalyst warm-up control is unstable, an additional ignition is performed on the TDC side relative to the discharge period CP. In a first countermeasure example, an additional ignition period CP2 is provided on the TDC side relative to the ignition period CP1 at the normal time while performing normal ignition and injection. A second countermeasure example is carried out when it is determined that the combustion state is still unstable despite the first countermeasure example. In the second countermeasure example, an additional ignition period CP3 which is a longer period than the additional ignition period CP2 is provided instead of the additional ignition period CP2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10436260
    Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate provided with one side surface where a plurality of housing recesses is formed, each housing recess housing a plate-shaped engagement piece; a hollow disk-shaped notch plate disposed to face to the one side surface of the pocket plate, configured to rotate relative to the pocket plate, and including an engagement recess formed on a surface of the notch plate facing to the housing recess and a first communication groove communicating from the engagement recess to an outer peripheral side of the notch plate; a resilient member disposed between a bottom portion of the housing recess and the engagement piece to urge the engagement piece toward the notch plate; and a selector plate provided between the pocket plate and the notch plate to switch between storage of the engagement piece and release of the engagement piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kouhei Miyake
  • Patent number: 10434891
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is configured to include a first battery; a second battery; a first converter configured to step-down an electric power of the first power line and supply the stepped-down electric power to a second power line with which the second battery is connected; a third battery; a solar charging device configured to generate electric power using sunlight and supply the generated electric power to the third battery; and a second converter configured to transmit electric power accompanied with a change in a voltage between the second power line and a third power line with which the third battery is connected. The motor vehicle of this configuration is configured to provide permission for relief charging that is charging of the third battery using an electric power on a first power line side, when a voltage of the second battery is not lower than a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumiyoshi Kuribara
  • Patent number: 10436305
    Abstract: A belt-driven continuously variable transmission in which a collision noise of a broken chain belt can be suppressed is provided. In the transmission, a chain belt is applied to belt grooves of pulleys to transmit power therebetween, and a speed ratio is varied by changing a width of the belt groove of at least one of pulleys. The transmission comprises: a guiderail that is contacted to the chain belt to suppress vibrations in the chain belt and that is allowed to rotate with a change in an inclination of the chain belt; and a pushing mechanism that applies a load to the guiderail to rotate the guiderail to alter an inclination of the chain belt in a direction to increase the speed ratio when the chain belt is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Naoyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 10439462
    Abstract: A stator coil includes a plurality of flat wire-shaped coil pieces extending in a circumferential direction of a rotary electric machine at a position on an outer side of a stator core in an axial direction of the rotary electric machine. At the position on the outer side of the stator core in the axial direction, a distal end portion of one of the coil pieces, extending in a first direction in the circumferential direction, is joined with a distal end portion of another one of the coil pieces, extending in a second direction in the circumferential direction. The second direction in the circumferential direction is reverse to the first direction in the circumferential direction. An axially outer end face of the distal end portion of each coil piece is a circular arc face that is convex toward the outer side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Hirao
  • Patent number: 10436132
    Abstract: An engine system includes: an engine including a plurality of cylinders; an EGR passage including EGR branch passages each configured to recirculate part of exhaust gas into an intake port of a corresponding one of the plurality of cylinders; an EGR valve configured to be capable of adjusting an EGR flow rate; and an ECU configured to control the EGR valve. When an engine rotation fluctuation amount in an EGR OFF state is less than a first determination value, and when the engine rotation fluctuation amount in an EGR ON state is greater than a second determination value, the ECU imposes an EGR restriction for restricting the EGR flow rate. When it is determined that the engine rotation fluctuation amount in the EGR ON state is greater than a third determination value less than the second determination value after the EGR restriction is imposed, the ECU continues the EGR restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Keisuke Nagakura
  • Patent number: 10439178
    Abstract: An in-vehicle battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells, a battery cell holder, a protective case, a vent cover provided such that the battery cell holder is positioned between the protective case and the vent cover, the vent cover and the battery cell holder disposed such that a vent space in which gas discharged from an end face on a second-electrode side of the cylindrical battery cell flows is provided between the vent cover and the battery cell holder, at least one first-electrode bus bar, at least one second-electrode bus bar provided in the vent space, and a support member disposed partially in the vent space and the support member being configured to support the second-electrode bus bar from the vent cover side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Morioka
  • Patent number: 10436078
    Abstract: In a control device for an engine, the engine includes combustion chambers, ports connected to the combustion chambers, and valves that open and close areas between the combustion chambers and the ports. The control device includes an electronic control unit that is configured to execute an anti-freezing operation of performing control to fully close the valves or make the valves be in a state of being opened with a lift amount of 1 mm or more, in a case where temperatures around the valves are lowered to a predetermined temperature range after the engine is stopped, or in a case where an outside air temperature when the engine is stopped is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature range is a temperature range in which an upper limit value is lower than 10° C., and the predetermined temperature is lower than 5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 10439247
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack comprises a stacked body, an end plate and a case configured such that the stacked body is placed therein. The end plate is arranged to cover an end face of the stacked body in a stacking direction and an end face of the case in the stacking direction and is fastened to the end face of the case. A placement groove is formed in at least one surface out of two surfaces of the end plate and the case opposed to each other, such that a seal member is placed in the placement groove. The end plate includes a resin layer formed to continuously cover an inner circumferential wall surface of the fluid flow path hole, a surface of the end plate opposed to the stacked body, and an outer circumferential side end of the placement groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd., Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Shimizu, Hitoshi Hamada, Tatsuya Tokumasu, Tadanobu Ota, Yoshiki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10439515
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a first switching element configured by using a first semiconductor material and a second switching element connected in parallel with the first switching element and configured by using a second semiconductor material having a band gap narrower than that of the first semiconductor material. The power conversion device further includes a control device configured to selectively execute any one of first switching control and second switching control of intermittently turning on the first switching element and the second switching element, respectively, according to a current command value. A size of the first switching element is smaller than a size of the second switching element. The control device selects the first switching control if the current command value is smaller than a first threshold value and selects the second switching control if the current command value is larger than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Miyake
  • Patent number: 10434955
    Abstract: A luggage compartment structure of a vehicle includes a luggage compartment floor component and a luggage compartment mat assembly. The luggage compartment floor component includes a handle retaining recess. The luggage compartment mat assembly is disposed on the luggage compartment floor component. The luggage compartment mat assembly includes a luggage compartment mat and a recessed handle that is for lifting the luggage compartment mat. The luggage compartment mat includes a mounting hole. The recessed handle includes a flat portion and a recessed portion. The flat portion includes at least one edge disposed on a top surface of the luggage compartment mat. The recessed portion is recessed downward relative to the flat portion and disposed in the mounting hole of the luggage compartment mat to project from a back surface of the luggage compartment mat. The recessed portion is retained in the handle retaining recess of the luggage compartment floor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Teruki Ono
  • Patent number: 10436216
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a cooling passage. The cooling passage is arranged along a diffuser surface, which faces a diffuser passage in a compressor housing member. The compressor housing member is constituted by combining a first piece, a second piece, and a third piece, which are produced by die casting or the like. The cooling passage is defined by assembling the first piece and the second piece to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Uesugi, Koichi Yonezawa
  • Patent number: D862314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Takei, Yahiko Kumai, Tomonori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: D862315
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Takei, Yahiko Kumai, Tomonori Matsumoto