Patents by Inventor Akihiro Sato

Akihiro Sato 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).

  • Patent number: 9102322
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus configured to selectively establish one of a first drive state in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator operated with an electric energy supplied from an electric-energy storage device while an engine is placed in a rest state, and a second drive state in which a first motor/generator is operated with a drive force of the engine, to generate an electric energy and in which the vehicle drive force is generated primarily by the second motor/generator operated with at least the electric energy generated by the first motor/generator. The vehicle control apparatus is further configured such that the vehicle drive force generated in the second drive state at a given value of an accelerator pedal operation amount ?acc is larger than that generated in the first drive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryoki Il, Akihiro Sato, Norihiro Yamamura, Akiko Nishimine, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Takeshi Miyagawa, Tomoaki Furukawa, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Koji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20150203095
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus configured to selectively establish one of a first drive state in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator operated with an electric energy supplied from an electric-energy storage device while an engine is placed in a rest state, and a second drive state in which a first motor/generator is operated with a drive force of the engine, to generate an electric energy and in which the vehicle drive force is generated primarily by the second motor/generator operated with at least the electric energy generated by the first motor/generator. The vehicle control apparatus is further configured such that the vehicle drive force generated in the second drive state at a given value of an accelerator pedal operation amount ?acc is larger than that generated in the first drive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoki II, Akihiro SATO, Norihiro YAMAMURA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Tomoyuki MARUYAMA, Takeshi MIYAGAWA, Tomoaki FURUKAWA, Takeshi KANAYAMA, Tetsuo HORI, Koji HAYASHI
  • Patent number: 9084298
    Abstract: There are provided a substrate processing apparatus capable of suppressing leakage of magnetic field during processing of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yukitomo Hirochi, Akinori Tanaka, Akihiro Sato, Takeshi Itoh, Daisuke Hara, Kenji Shirako, Kazuhiro Morimitsu, Masanao Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9074077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modified cellulose nanofibers obtained by neutralizing cationic groups of cationic cellulose nanofibers with an anionic additives. Moreover, the present invention relates to a resin composition containing the aforementioned modified cellulose nanofibers and a molding resin, and to a molded body obtained by molding the resin composition. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a production method of modified cellulose nanofibers comprising neutralizing cationic groups of cationic cellulose nanofibers with an anionic additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: DIC Corporation, Seiko PMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Harada, Satoshi Katano, Akihiro Sato, Kazuya Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9074284
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus that can form films having a uniform thickness on a plurality of substrates. The heat treatment apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to grow silicon carbide (SiC) films on wafers, a boat configured to hold a plurality of wafers in a state where the wafers are vertically arranged and approximately horizontally oriented so as to hold the wafers in the process chamber, a heating unit installed in the process chamber, and a gas supply nozzle configured to supply a reaction gas. The heating unit comprises a susceptor configured to cover at least a part of the boat, and a susceptor wall disposed between the boat and the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC, INC.
    Inventors: Masanao Fukuda, Kenji Shirako, Akihiro Sato, Kazuhiro Morimitsu, Sadao Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20150188116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a joint structure, a joining method, a secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing a secondary battery, capable of improving routing performance and reducing electric resistance. The joint structure includes: a foil assembly 3 including a plurality of foils stacked one on top of the other; a connecting member 4 that fixes the foil assembly 3; and a holding member 5 disposed such that gaps in the foil assembly 3 in the stacking direction are brought into tight contact with each other between the connecting member 4 and the holding member 5. An upper surface 32 of the foil assembly 3, the connecting member 4, and the holding member 5 are joined integrally with each other to form a joint 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sato, Satoshi Hirano, Kenichi Okamoto, Tsunenori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9067502
    Abstract: A vehicle has a motor serving as a driving source for running the vehicle, a high-power assembled battery and a high-capacity assembled battery each capable of supplying an electric power to the motor, and a temperature adjusting mechanism adjusting the temperature of each of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery. The temperature adjusting mechanism supplies a heat exchange medium for use in the temperature adjustment of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery to each of the assembled batteries. The high-power assembled battery is capable of charge and discharge with a current relatively larger than that in the high-capacity assembled battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takurou Nakayama, Akihiro Sato, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Kenji Kimura, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9061679
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes: engine starting means for starting an engine when a need for switching to a 4-wheel drive mode has been forecasted, the hybrid vehicle having a series HV drive mode in which the hybrid vehicle is run with a second electric motor, in the released state of a connecting/disconnecting device, while a first electric motor is operated with a drive force of said engine to generate an electric energy, the control apparatus further including, as said engine starting means, series HV drive controlling means for starting said engine and enlarging a series HV drive mode region for running the hybrid vehicle in said series HV drive mode, so as to cover a portion or an entirety of an original EV drive mode region for running the hybrid vehicle in said EV drive mode, when the need for switching to said 4-wheel drive mode has been forecasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Maruyama, Norihiro Yamamura, Akiko Nishimine, Ryoki Il, Tomoaki Furukawa, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Koji Hayashi, Takeshi Miyagawa, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20150166066
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20150166065
    Abstract: In consideration of an amplification effect of a braking force at the time of brake operation, there is provided a difference between upper-limits (?, ?) of a brake operation force (Brk) with which the execution of free-run coasting and neutral coasting is started, on the basis of whether or not a brake booster (42) can be filled with a negative pressure. Therefore, while the braking force at the time of brake operation is secured, the range of the brake operation force (Brk) with which coasting is executed can be enlarged, and an improvement in fuel economy can be made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20150167231
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cationically modified cellulose nanofiber. More specifically, the present invention provides a cellulose nanofiber that is cationically modified with a cationic polymer compound comprising repeating units derived from diallylamine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Semba, Akihiro Ito, Takahiro Uesaka, Kazuo Kitagawa, Hiroyuki Yano, Akihiro Sato, Tomoaki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9056969
    Abstract: This invention provides a polyolefin-based molded article containing microfibrillated plant fibers having high strength and high elastic modulus. Specifically, the present invention provides a composition comprising (1) a polymeric compound having a primary amino group, (2) a polymeric compound modified with maleic anhydride, (3) microfibrillated plant fibers, and (4) a polyolefin; and a molded article obtained by subjecting the composition to heat treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignees: NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., DIC Corporation, Seiko PMC Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano, Katsuhito Suzuki, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20150158491
    Abstract: An upper limit value of an upward gradient of a road surface for starting neutral coasting is set to be larger than an upper limit of the upward gradient of the road surface for starting free-run coasting, so, when the upward gradient is relatively large and a coasting distance is short, the vehicle is caused to travel in the neutral coasting, and stop and restart of the engine are not carried out. Therefore, a decrease in drivability of the vehicle is suppressed. When the upward gradient is relatively small and the coasting distance is long, the vehicle is caused to travel in the free-run coasting, and supply of fuel to the engine is stopped, so fuel economy of the vehicle is obtained. Thus, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability of the vehicle during coasting on an upward gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9053592
    Abstract: A key management box includes a card reader configured to read ID for personal authentication, a data writing unit to write information on at least the ID read by the card reader in an electronic key, a data erasing unit configured to communication with the electronic key and disable the electronic key when the electronic key is determined to be a key on-lending, and a control substrate configured to determine that a lending mode is established when the card reader reads the ID and cause an electronic lock to permit opening/closing of a door and then activate the data writing unit, or configured to cause the electronic lock to permit opening/closing of the door when the data erasing unit determines that the electronic key is a key on-lending through communication with the electronic key while the card reader does not read ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TOKAI RIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sato, Masami Umemura, Nobuhiko Segi
  • Publication number: 20150151761
    Abstract: A drive control device for a vehicle including an engine and a clutch device provided in a power transmission path between the engine and a drive wheel includes: a normal traveling unit causing the vehicle to travel while the engine is connected to the drive wheel; a free-run coasting unit disconnecting the engine from the drive wheel during traveling and causing the vehicle to coast while the engine is stopped; a neutral coasting unit disconnecting the engine from the drive wheel during traveling and causing the vehicle to coast while the engine is autonomously operated; and a coasting switching control unit setting an upper limit value of an upward gradient of a road surface, at which the neutral coasting is stopped, such that the upper limit value is larger than an upper limit value of the upward gradient of the road surface, at which the free-run coasting is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20150149009
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, and a first clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and the electric motor, and a second clutch configured to achieve a mechanically directly-coupled state of a power transmission path between the engine/the electric motor and drive wheels, the control device of a vehicle increasing a torque of the electric motor and causing the second clutch to slip-engage when the engine is started by controlling the first clutch toward engagement during motor running using only the electric motor as a drive force source for running with the first clutch released and the second clutch engaged, when the torque of the electric motor increased at the start of the engine relative to the torque of the electric motor during the motor running is larger, a slip amount of the second clutch being made larger as compared to when the torque is smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Michikoshi, Shingo Eto, Yuji Inoue, Yukihiko Ideshio, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9026291
    Abstract: A vehicle hybrid drive device having an EV running mode enabling a vehicle to run only with a second rotating machine used as a drive power source while an engine is disconnected from a drive power transmission path, a series HEV running mode enabling the vehicle to run only with the second rotating machine used as the drive power source while a first rotating machine is rotationally driven to generate electricity by the engine disconnected from the drive power transmission path, and a parallel HEV running mode enabling the vehicle to run with the engine and at least one of the first and second rotating machines used as the drive power sources while the engine is connected to the drive power transmission path. If a driver desires power-performance-oriented running or fuel-efficiency-oriented running, the range for selecting the series HEV running mode is made narrower or wider, respectively, than usual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Ryoki Ii, Tomoaki Furukawa, Akiko Nishimine, Takeshi Miyagawa, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Norihiro Yamamura, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20150105499
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a resin composition, which, by means of simple steps, can uniformly disperse microfibrillated plant fiber in a highly hydrophobic resin and can impart enhanced mechanical strength to a molding material obtained by molding the resin composition. The present invention further provides a resin composition having excellent heat resistance and low linear thermal expansion. The present invention relates to a method for producing a resin composition, the method including a step of mixing a thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin (A), and modified plant fiber (b) or modified microfibrillated plant fiber (B), in the presence of an organic liquid (C), the modified plant fiber (b) or modified microfibrillated plant fiber (B) being obtained by modification with an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride in a liquid capable of swelling microfibrillated plant fiber (B?) or plant fiber (b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano, Akihiro Sato, Tomoaki Yoshimura, Yuko Igarashi, Daisuke Kabusaki, Fumiaki Nakatsubo, Hiroaki Okumura, Takeshi Semba, Kazuo Kitagawa, Hiromasa Kataoka, Kazuhiro Shintani
  • Publication number: 20150097425
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor serving as a driving source configured to run the vehicle, and a high-power and high-capacity assembled batteries, each of the assembled batteries being formed to include secondary batteries configured to supply an electric power to the motor, the secondary batteries of the assembled batteries being housed in different cases. The high-power and high-capacity assembled batteries are arranged around a luggage space located in a rearward portion of the vehicle. The high-power assembled battery is chargeable and dischargeable with a current larger than a current in the high-capacity assembled battery. The high-capacity assembled battery has an energy capacity larger than an energy capacity of the high-power assembled battery. The high-capacity assembled battery is arranged above or below the high-power assembled battery in the vehicle, and at least a portion of the high-capacity assembled battery protrudes from the high-power assembled battery rearward in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8991564
    Abstract: A disk brake includes a caliper body having a cylinder portion (25) with a cylindrical shape. The cylinder portion (25) has a bore (30) with a bottom (34) formed by integrally joining together an opening peripheral edge (98) at the bottom side of the cylinder portion (25) and a bottom cover member (92) to be fitted to the opening peripheral edge (98) through friction stir welding. The bottom cover member (92) has a disk shape and is friction-stir-welded along the outer periphery thereof. The terminating point of the friction stir welding is within the boundaries of the bottom cover member (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Suzuki, Takahiro Tokunaga, Yuichi Kobayashi, Yasuhisa Omata, Jun Watanabe, Seunghwan Park, Akihiro Sato, Satoshi Hirano, Kazutaka Okamoto