Patents by Inventor Akio UOTANI

Akio UOTANI 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: 11858366
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input power of the secondary battery to control the input power of the secondary battery. The converter is configured to perform a conversion of the current upper limit value into the power upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11833926
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device, a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input power of the secondary battery to control the input power of the secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11817562
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output power of the secondary battery to control the output power of the secondary battery. The converter is configured to perform conversion of the current upper limit value into the power upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Publication number: 20230302910
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor configured to detect a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; and a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, wherein: the first control device is configured to set a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of a battery power of the secondary battery by using a detection value of the battery sensor; and the second control device is configured to set a guard value of the upper limit value of the battery power by using a temperature of the secondary battery and set the power upper limit value such that the power upper limit value does not exceed the guard value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Patent number: 11724619
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes a battery pack including a battery ECU, a gate ECU provided separately from the battery pack, and an HVECU provided separately from the battery pack and the gate ECU and configured to control any one of battery power and battery current of the battery as a control target. The gate ECU is installed at a position outside the battery pack and relays communication between the battery ECU and the HVECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11707986
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor configured to detect a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; and a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, wherein: the first control device is configured to set a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of a battery power of the secondary battery by using a detection value of the battery sensor; and the second control device is configured to set a guard value of the upper limit value of the battery power by using a temperature of the secondary battery and set the power upper limit value such that the power upper limit value does not exceed the guard value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11702061
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a battery; a power converter; a relay; a first controller; and a second controller. The second controller is configured to control the engine and the power converter according to allowable charging power and allowable discharging power received from the first controller. The second controller has, as control modes, a normal mode in which the relay is closed and the battery and the power converter are electrically connected and a batteryless drive mode in which the relay is opened to cause the hybrid vehicle to move with the battery electrically disconnected from the power converter. The second controller is configured to select the batteryless drive mode when at least one of the magnitude of the allowable charging power and the magnitude of the allowable discharging power become smaller than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11618341
    Abstract: A power control system, configured to exchange electric power with a battery pack, comprising: a power conversion device; and a controller, wherein the battery pack is configured to output a variation of a state-of-charge value among cells to the controller, the variation being determined based on at least one of a detection result from a voltage sensor or a detection result from a current sensor, and the controller is configured to control the power conversion device such that a maximum state-of-charge value among a plurality of the state-of-charge values of the cells is lower than an upper limit of a predetermined state-of-charge range and a minimum state-of-charge value among the state-of-charge values of the cells is higher than a lower limit of the predetermined state-of-charge range, the maximum state-of-charge value and the minimum state-of-charge value being values based on the variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11505079
    Abstract: An ECU performs a process including: when a vehicle establishes a Ready-On state, selecting a CD mode; when discharging power is uncompleted and a scheduled time to return the vehicle is a time within a discharging period, setting a second target SOC as a mode switching value; and when the vehicle's power storage device has an SOC reaching the mode switching value and a surcharge imposed on a rental fee is unaccepted, switching the current control mode from the CD mode to a CS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tamaki Ozawa, Masaaki Kiyohara, Toshiyuki Nagase, Hajime Kushima, Yuki Shimizu, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11198375
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack including a secondary battery and a first control device, a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, and a converter. The converter is configured to select a conversion formula from options depending on a situation and use the selected conversion formula to convert at least one of a first current upper limit value and a second current upper limit value into at least one of a first power upper limit value and a second power upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Publication number: 20210197792
    Abstract: A travel control system for a vehicle and the vehicle includes a battery pack. The battery pack includes a battery, a current sensor configured to detect a current that is charged and discharged to and from the battery, and a first control device that monitors a state of the battery. The travel control system includes a rotary electric machine configured to consume electric power to generate a driving force and configured to generate electric power, a power conversion device electrically connected between the battery and the rotary electric machine and a second control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188121
    Abstract: A power control system, configured to exchange electric power with a battery pack, comprising: a power conversion device; and a controller, wherein the battery pack is configured to output a variation of a state-of-charge value among cells to the controller, the variation being determined based on at least one of a detection result from a voltage sensor or a detection result from a current sensor, and the controller is configured to control the power conversion device such that a maximum state-of-charge value among a plurality of the state-of-charge values of the cells is lower than an upper limit of a predetermined state-of-charge range and a minimum state-of-charge value among the state-of-charge values of the cells is higher than a lower limit of the predetermined state-of-charge range, the maximum state-of-charge value and the minimum state-of-charge value being values based on the variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188108
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input power of the secondary battery to control the input power of the secondary battery. The converter is configured to perform conversion of the current upper limit value into the power upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188117
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes a battery pack including a battery ECU, a gate ECU provided separately from the battery pack, and an HVECU provided separately from the battery pack and the gate ECU and configured to control any one of battery power and battery current of the secondary battery as a control target. The gate ECU relays communication between the battery ECU and the HVECU, and stores, in a ring buffer, history information on information exchanged between the battery ECU and the HVECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210194066
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output power of the secondary battery to control the output power of the secondary battery. The converter is configured to perform conversion of the current upper limit value into the power upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188118
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack including a secondary battery and a first control device, a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, and a converter. The converter is configured to select a conversion formula from options depending on a situation and use the selected conversion formula to convert at least one of a first current upper limit value and a second current upper limit value into at least one of a first power upper limit value and a second power upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188094
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor configured to detect a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; and a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, wherein: the first control device is configured to set a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of a battery power of the secondary battery by using a detection value of the battery sensor; and the second control device is configured to set a guard value of the upper limit value of the battery power by using a temperature of the secondary battery and set the power upper limit value such that the power upper limit value does not exceed the guard value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188119
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output power of the secondary battery to control the output power of the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188123
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device, a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an input power of the secondary battery to control the input power of the secondary battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI
  • Publication number: 20210188241
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a battery; a power converter; a relay; a first controller; and a second controller. The second controller is configured to control the engine and the power converter according to allowable charging power and allowable discharging power received from the first controller. The second controller has, as control modes, a normal mode in which the relay is closed and the battery and the power converter are electrically connected and a batteryless drive mode in which the relay is opened to cause the hybrid vehicle to move with the battery electrically disconnected from the power converter. The second controller is configured to select the batteryless drive mode when at least one of the magnitude of the allowable charging power and the magnitude of the allowable discharging power become smaller than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki KIKUCHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Akio UOTANI