Patents by Inventor Akihiro Imura
Akihiro Imura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220108248Abstract: A vehicle allocation management method, which is executed by a computer to manage an allocation of service vehicles used in a mobility service to a user, includes instructions to be executed by at least one processor. The instructions include: estimating an energy consumption generated in response to a service provision to the user; estimating a performance deterioration of a service vehicle associated with the service provision to the user; generating an operation plan to be provided to the service vehicle with consideration of the energy consumption and the performance deterioration; obtaining, from the service vehicle, a modified operation plan which is estimated to be able to suppress at least one of the energy consumption or the performance deterioration compared with the operation plan that is generated; and determining whether to approve an operation of the service vehicle under the modified operation plan obtained from the service vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Hironori OOBAYASHI, Akihiro IMURA
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Publication number: 20210354587Abstract: In a control apparatus for an electric vehicle driven by an electric motor being actuated based on electric power supplied from a battery, a predictor is configured to calculate a predicted amount of remaining power of the battery that will remain on arrival of the vehicle at a destination. A notification controller is configured to cause a notifier to provide a notification based on the predicted amount of remaining power of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro IMURA, Mitsuharu HIGASHITANI
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Patent number: 10865757Abstract: A first controller includes a start control section and a passage determination section. After activating a second starter to start cranking, the start control section stops the operation of the second starter and starts the motor operation of the first starter at a predetermined timing. The passage determination section determines whether a predetermined passage conditional expression holds after cranking is started by the second starter. The start control section stops the operation of the second starter and starts the motor operation of the first starter if the passage conditional expression holds before the engine passes the first compression top dead center, regardless of whether the engine has passed the first compression top dead center.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuro Nakaoka, Akihiro Imura, Mitsuru Shibanuma, Yuki Kubo, Minoru Okamiya, Suguru Mizuno
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Patent number: 10837417Abstract: A control apparatus controls the operation of a starter such that, after an idling stop is executed and before a request for starting an engine is subsequently issued, the control apparatus executes a preset which causes a pinion to engage a ring gear. A control apparatus controls the operation of a starter such that, after an idling stop is executed and before a request for starting an engine is subsequently issued, the control apparatus executes a preset which causes a pinion to engage a ring gear. It is determined that the preset condition has been cancelled, and the preset is again executed. In that case, the pinion is already engaged with the ring gear at the time point when a request for starting the engine is issued. In that way it is unnecessary for the control apparatus to push out the pinion after a start request is issued.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshitomo Takeuchi, Atsuyuki Hiruma, Akira Yamada, Akihiro Imura, Takuro Nakaoka
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Patent number: 10801497Abstract: A controller that controls an electric compressor, which is mounted to a vehicle and configures a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle device, has a deceleration section, an operation stop section, and a restart section. The deceleration section reduces a rotational speed of an electric motor by controlling an AC current which is output to the electric motor, when a two-stage compression mode, in which an intermediate-pressure refrigerant flows into the electric compressor from an intermediate-pressure port, is performed and an operation stop request to stop the electric compressor is made. The operation stop section stops the electric motor after the deceleration section reduces the rotational speed of the electric motor. The restart section restarts the electric compressor when the operation stop request is canceled after the operation stop section stops the electric compressor.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinji Nakamoto, Koji Sakai, Akihiro Imura, Akitomo Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20190145368Abstract: A first controller includes a start control section and a passage determination section. After activating a second starter to start cranking, the start control section stops the operation of the second starter and starts the motor operation of the first starter at a predetermined timing. The passage determination section determines whether a predetermined passage conditional expression holds after cranking is started by the second starter. The start control section stops the operation of the second starter and starts the motor operation of the first starter if the passage conditional expression holds before the engine passes the first compression top dead center, regardless of whether the engine has passed the first compression top dead center.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuro NAKAOKA, Akihiro IMURA, Mitsuru SHIBANUMA, Yuki KUBO, Minoru OKAMIYA, Suguru MIZUNO
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Patent number: 10288028Abstract: A control device sets reverse rotation period as a cranking prohibition period, and when a start request of an engine is generated during reverse rotation period, cranking is started by driving either or both of the first starter and the second starter when it is detected that a crankshaft is shifted from reverse rotation to forward rotation based on an information of a rotation angle sensor. As a result, the delay from generation of the start request of the engine until cranking is started can be reduced, so that the starting time of the engine can be shortened.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuro Nakaoka, Akihiro Imura
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Patent number: 10247160Abstract: A control device sets reverse rotation period as a cranking prohibition period, and when a start request of an engine is generated during reverse rotation period, cranking is started by driving either or both of the first starter and the second starter when it is detected that a crankshaft is shifted from reverse rotation to forward rotation based on an information of a rotation angle sensor. As a result, the delay from generation of the start request of the engine until cranking is started can be reduced, so that the starting time of the engine can be shortened.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuro Nakaoka, Akihiro Imura
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Publication number: 20190032621Abstract: A control apparatus controls the operation of a starter such that, after an idling stop is executed and before a request for starting an engine is subsequently issued, the control apparatus executes a preset which causes a pinion to engage a ring gear. A control apparatus controls the operation of a starter such that, after an idling stop is executed and before a request for starting an engine is subsequently issued, the control apparatus executes a preset which causes a pinion to engage a ring gear. It is determined that the preset condition has been cancelled, and the preset is again executed. In that case, the pinion is already engaged with the ring gear at the time point when a request for starting the engine is issued. In that way it is unnecessary for the control apparatus to push out the pinion after a start request is issued.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshitomo TAKEUCHI, Atsuyuki HIRUMA, Akira YAMADA, Akihiro IMURA, Takuro NAKAOKA
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Publication number: 20180202442Abstract: A controller that controls an electric compressor, which is mounted to a vehicle and configures a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle device, has a deceleration section, an operation stop section, and a restart section. The deceleration section reduces a rotational speed of an electric motor by controlling an AC current which is output to the electric motor, when a two-stage compression mode, in which an intermediate-pressure refrigerant flows into the electric compressor from an intermediate-pressure port, is performed and an operation stop request to stop the electric compressor is made. The operation stop section stops the electric motor after the deceleration section reduces the rotational speed of the electric motor. The restart section restarts the electric compressor when the operation stop request is canceled after the operation stop section stops the electric compressor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2016Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Shinji NAKAMOTO, Koji SAKAI, Akihiro IMURA, Akitomo YAMANAKA
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Patent number: 9982647Abstract: An engine start system has a rotating electrical machine, a starter motor, an engine ECU and an ISG controller. The rotating electrical machine is connected to an output shaft of an engine. The starter motor drives the engine to be restarted. The engine ECU controls the engine operation. The ISG controller instructs an inverter when the rotating electrical machine performs power running and regenerative power generation. The ISG controller communicates with the engine ECU, and adjusts the operation of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine. When receiving an engine restart request, the ISG controller drives at least one of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine so as to restart the engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro Imura, Takuro Nakaoka, Atsuyuki Hiruma
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Publication number: 20170254310Abstract: A control device sets reverse rotation period as a cranking prohibition period, and when a start request of an engine is generated during reverse rotation period, cranking is started by driving either or both of the first starter and the second starter when it is detected that a crankshaft is shifted from reverse rotation to forward rotation based on an information of a rotation angle sensor. As a result, the delay from generation of the start request of the engine until cranking is started can be reduced, so that the starting time of the engine can be shortened.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuro NAKAOKA, Akihiro IMURA
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Publication number: 20170204828Abstract: An engine start system has a rotating electrical machine, a starter motor, an engine ECU and an ISG controller. The rotating electrical machine is connected to an output shaft of an engine. The starter motor drives the engine to be restarted. The engine ECU controls the engine operation. The ISG controller instructs an inverter when the rotating electrical machine performs power running and regenerative power generation. The ISG controller communicates with the engine ECU, and adjusts the operation of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine. When receiving an engine restart request, the ISG controller drives at least one of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine so as to restart the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro IMURA, Takuro NAKAOKA, Atsuyuki HIRUMA
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Publication number: 20170127566Abstract: A cooling structure for electronic components includes: a case having a refrigerant intake port and a refrigerant channel through which a refrigerant introduced from the refrigerant intake port flows, the refrigerant channel being formed by a wall section; a cooling section having a plurality of flat surfaces formed inside of the case in a manner to interpose the wall section between the flat surfaces and the refrigerant channel; and a plurality of electronic components arranged inside of the case and each of which is in contact with one of the flat surfaces. Each of the electronic components is cooled by the refrigerant via a corresponding flat surface of the flat surfaces and the wall section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Akihiro IMURA, Tsuyoshi TAKEMOTO
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Patent number: 8872454Abstract: In a control unit that controls a control amount of a rotary device by controlling on and off states of switching elements of a power converting circuit, a relative rate predicting section temporally sets operation states of the power converting circuit and predicts a relative rate of a control amount according to each of the temporally set operation states relative to a command value thereof. Each of the operation states is indicated by a voltage vector defined by the on and off states of the switching elements. A determining section determines an operation state of the power converting circuit based on the relative rate predicted by the relative rate predicting section. An operating section operates the power converting circuit to the operation state determined by the determining section.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Akihiro Imura
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Patent number: 8760003Abstract: The vehicle-use power supply control apparatus is for controlling transmission of electric power between a vehicle-mounted power supply apparatus including switching elements turned on and off in accordance with manipulation signals and an external power supply located outside the vehicle. The vehicle-use power supply control apparatus includes a control section to output an electric power transmission command signal depending on an electric power transmission request signal received from an external device, and a manipulation signal generating section to generate the manipulation signals based on the electric power transmission command signal received from the control section. The control section is configured to operate in order that noise sound generated due to switching operation of the vehicle-mounted power supply apparatus is within an audio frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Akihiro Imura, Hideki Kashiwagi
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Patent number: 8686673Abstract: A control device controls a power conversion circuit so as to adjust control values of a motor generator to optimum values. The power conversion circuit has switching elements for selectively connecting and disconnecting a battery and terminals of the motor generator. The control device sets a simulated voltage vector V(n+1) in one control-period forward to perform a prediction model control. On predicting a current, the control device uses a model in a rotary coordinate system, and sets the median value of the voltage vector V(n+1) in one control-period Tc to a value of the voltage vector V(n+1) in the rotary coordinate system. The control device sets, as the value of the voltage vector V(n+1) in the rotary coordinate system, the voltage vector V(n+1) when the half-time of the control-period Tc is elapsed from the time at the electric angle ?(n+1).Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yousuke Matsuki, Akihiro Imura
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Patent number: 8466642Abstract: The control apparatus for an electric rotating machine includes a prediction section to predict a controlled variable of the electric rotating machine applied with an output voltage of a power conversion circuit for each of prescribed operation states of the power conversion circuit, and a manipulation section to manipulate the power conversion circuit to operate in one of the respective operation states determined as an actual operation state based on the controlled variable predicted by the prediction section. The control apparatus further includes an average voltage direction calculating section to calculate a direction of an average output voltage vector of the power conversion circuit. The manipulation section includes a priority setting section to set priority for each of the operation states based on the direction of the average output voltage vector calculated by the average voltage direction calculating section in determining the actual operation state.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Akihiro Imura
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Patent number: 8441220Abstract: A control device has a predicting unit for predicting a first current flowing through a motor in a next control period, at a predicting time during a predetermined period after a change of switching state in an inverter by using a current detected before the change and for predicting a second current of a control period later than the next control period by one control period by using the predicted first current, a determining unit for determining a next operating state of the inverter by using the predicted second current and an instructed value so as to reduce a change of switching state in the change of the operating state, and a control unit for controlling the inverter to be set in the determined operating state in the next control period and controlling the current of the motor depending on the operating state of the inverter.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Akihiro Imura
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Patent number: 8427088Abstract: In an apparatus, a predicting unit uses, as an initial value of a controlled variable, at least one of a first measured value of the controlled variable and a second measured value of a physical variable expressed as a function of the controlled variable. The predicting unit predicts, based on the initial value of the controlled variable, a value of the controlled variable when a driving mode of a switching element of a power converter is set. A driving unit has an integral element and determines, based on an output of the integral element to which a deviation between the predicted value of the controlled variable and a command value of the controlled variable is inputted, an actual driving mode of the switching element to thereby drive the switching element in the determined driving mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mie UniversityInventors: Akihiro Imura, Masami Fujitsuna, Hideji Yoshida, Muneaki Ishida, Tadanao Zanma