Patents by Inventor Akira Murakami
Akira Murakami 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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Patent number: 10562402Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle that can reduce a power loss resulting from shifting an operating mode from motor mode to hybrid mode is provided. A transmission that is adapted to distribute torque applied to an input element to a reaction element and an output element, and to change a ratio between a first torque delivered to the reaction element and a second torque delivered to the output element. A controller is configured to start an engine in a high mode in which a torque ratio of the output element to the input element is small if the vehicle speed is higher than a threshold value, and to start the engine in a low mode in which the torque ratio is greater if the vehicle speed is lower than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahito Endo, Hidekazu Nagai, Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami
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Publication number: 20200028676Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing method includes a monitoring step and a key provision step. The monitoring step includes monitoring an operation state of an information processing device including a key generating unit that generates key information shared among a plurality of devices using a quantum key distribution technique. The key provision step includes providing the generated key information when the operation state satisfies a predetermined condition and stopping the provision of the generated key information when the operation state does not satisfy the condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: Akira MURAKAMI
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Patent number: 10525471Abstract: The present invention provides a novel target analysis chip and analysis method for directly detecting a target such as a microRNA without performing PCR.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignees: ARKRAY, Inc., National University Corporation Kyoto Institute of TechnologyInventors: Akira Murakami, Akio Kobori, Asako Yamayoshi, Yuichiro Noda, Masayuki Kondo
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Patent number: 10525814Abstract: A drive system is configured to split driving force produced by an engine to a first motor side and an output gear side, and add driving force produced by a second motor that is driven with electric power generated by the first motor, to the driving force delivered from the output gear. A first planetary gear mechanism performs differential operation, using a first input element that receives the driving force produced by the engine, a first reaction-force element coupled to the first motor, and a first output element. A second planetary gear mechanism performs differential operation, using a second input element coupled to the first output element, a second output element coupled to the output gear, and a second reaction-force element. A first clutch mechanism selectively couples the first input element with the second reaction-force element. A first brake mechanism selectively inhibits rotation of the second reaction-force element.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahito Endo, Hidekazu Nagai, Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Akira Murakami
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Patent number: 10518766Abstract: When an engine is started by causing a first motor coupled to first drive wheels to motor the engine while a hybrid vehicle is turning with the engine stopped, an electronic control unit controls output torque of a second motor, in such a direction as to curb change of a steering characteristic of the hybrid vehicle due to change of drive torque of the first drive wheels induced by motoring of the engine by the first motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hidekazu Nagai, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
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Patent number: 10457266Abstract: A series hybrid drive unit that is downsized while improving power transmission efficiency. In the series hybrid drive unit, a generator is driven by an engine, and a motor is operated by electricity generated by the generator. Torque generated by the generator is delivered to drive wheels through a final reduction unit. An input member that is rotated by a torque of the engine, and that is arranged parallel to a rotational center axis Og of the generator. The generator and the motor are arranged parallel to each other while keeping a predetermined clearance, and the final reduction unit is arranged parallel to the motor. The input member and the generator are connected through a first wrapping transmission mechanism, and torque of the motor is transmitted to a final reduction unit through a second wrapping transmission mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Kodama, Akira Murakami, Hideki Kubonoya
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Patent number: 10407054Abstract: When an engine is started by causing a first motor coupled to first drive wheels to motor the engine while a hybrid vehicle is turning with the engine stopped, an electronic control unit controls output torque of a second motor, in such a direction as to curb change of a steering characteristic of the hybrid vehicle due to change of drive torque of the first drive wheels induced by motoring of the engine by the first motor.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hidekazu Nagai, Takahito Endo, Yuji Iwase
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Patent number: 10343675Abstract: A vehicle control system to operate a vehicle autonomously with improved energy efficiency and ride quality is provided. A controller is configured to set a limit value of an operating point of an engine to reduce noises and vibrations. The operating point of the engine is restricted by the limit value within an acceptable region where an engine speed is higher than the limit value but an engine torque is lower than the limit value. The limit value is set to a first limit value when the vehicle is operated autonomously while carrying the passenger, and to a second limit value to expand the acceptable region when the vehicle is operated autonomously without carrying the passenger.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Takahito Endo, Yasuyuki Kato, Yushi Seki, Katsuya Iwazaki, Akira Murakami
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Patent number: 10348492Abstract: According to an embodiment, a quantum key distribution device includes first and second operation units. The first operation unit is configured to perform a first operation as a key distillation operation. The first operation unit includes a hardware circuit for performing a part of the first operation. The key distillation operation includes a sifting operation for a photon bit string generated through quantum key distribution with another quantum key distribution device via a quantum communication channel. The second operation unit is configured to perform a second operation as a key distillation operation other than the first operation. The second operation unit includes a circuit for a part of the second operation. The first operation unit stores intermediate data generated by the first operation. The second operation unit generates, by the second operation, a cryptographic key being the same as for the another quantum key distribution device from the intermediate data.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshimichi Tanizawa, Hideaki Sato, Kazuaki Doi, Ririka Takahashi, Akira Murakami
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Publication number: 20190118639Abstract: A drive device for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a power split device, a second motor, a first speed reduction unit, a second speed reduction unit, and a differential gear. The first motor generates electric power. The power split device splits drive power output from the engine to the first motor side and a drive wheel side. The second motor increases or decreases torque output from the power split device and to be transmitted to the differential gear. The second motor is coupled to a sun gear. The first speed reduction unit is coupled to the sun gear. The second speed reduction unit is provided between the first speed reduction unit and the differential gear. The differential gear transmits torque to the drive wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei HATA, Hideaki KOMADA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Akira MURAKAMI
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Patent number: 10202113Abstract: An engine starting control system for hybrid vehicles is provided to prevent a temporal drop in drive force when starting an engine. The control system maintains an operating mode of a switching mechanism when starting the engine by the first motor, in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the forward direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in a second mode, or in a case that the vehicle is propelled in the reverse direction by the first motor and that the switching mechanism is in the first mode. Thereafter, the control system increases a rotational speed of the engine to a self-sustaining speed, switches the operating mode of the switching mechanism, and increases torque of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hidekazu Nagai, Takahito Endo
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Publication number: 20190017102Abstract: A target analysis method and target analyzing chip are provided to directly detect a target, such as microRNA, without performing PCR. The target analysis method of the present embodiment includes: a process in which a target in a sample, a labeled probe that binds to the target, and a carrier-binding probe that binds to the target and to a carrier, contact each other, and the target, the labeled probe, and the carrier-binding probe react to bind to each other to form a first bound body; a process in which the first bound body and the carrier contact each other, and the first bound body and the carrier react to bind to each other to form a second bound body; a process to concentrate the carrier; and a process in which the target in the sample is analyzed by detecting a label of the labeled probe bound to the concentrated carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicants: ARKRAY, Inc., National University Corporation Kyoto Institute of TechnologyInventors: Akira Murakami, Akio Kobori, Asako Yamayoshi, Yuichiro Noda
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Publication number: 20190009770Abstract: A series hybrid drive unit that is downsized while improving power transmission efficiency. In the series hybrid drive unit, a generator is driven by an engine, and a motor is operated by electricity generated by the generator. Torque generated by the generator is delivered to drive wheels through a final reduction unit. An input member that is rotated by a torque of the engine, and that is arranged parallel to a rotational center axis Og of the generator. The generator and the motor are arranged parallel to each other while keeping a predetermined clearance, and the final reduction unit is arranged parallel to the motor. The input member and the generator are connected through a first wrapping transmission mechanism, and torque of the motor is transmitted to a final reduction unit through a second wrapping transmission mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya KODAMA, Akira MURAKAMI, Hideki KUBONOYA
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Patent number: 10103818Abstract: A transmitting device according to an embodiment include a transmission unit, a storage unit, a cache unit, a reception unit, and a sifting processing unit. The transmission unit transmits a transmission photon to a receiving device. The storage unit stores transmission photon information including transmission timing at which the transmission photon is transmitted, a transmission bit indicated by the transmission photon, and a transmission base of the transmission photon. The cache unit stores, one or more pieces of transmission information including the transmission timing after an elapse of a no-use period of the transmission photon. The reception unit receives, from the receiving device, the reception timing and a reception base of the reception photon. The sifting processing unit performs sifting processing on the transmission bit by making a correlation between the transmission base and the reception base on the basis of the reception timing and the transmission timing.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akira Murakami, Yoshimichi Tanizawa, Alex Dixon
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Publication number: 20180269989Abstract: According to an embodiment, a transmission device is for a second quantum communication system sharing a quantum communication channel with a first quantum communication system, and includes a generator, a modulator, a controller, and a changer. The generator is configured to generate a photon. The modulator is configured to transmit a quantum signal generated by modulating the photon to a reception device. The controller is configured to control the generator and the modulator. The changer is configured to input, to the controller, control signals for changing an operation timing of the generator and an operation timing of the modulator when an error rate of the quantum signal of the first quantum communication system and an error rate of the quantum signal of the second quantum communication system are equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akira MURAKAMI, Yoshimichi Tanizawa
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Patent number: 10057058Abstract: According to an embodiment, a quantum-key distribution apparatus includes a quantum-key sharer, a shifter, a corrector, a privacy amplifier, and an estimator. The quantum-key sharer performs photon sharing processing and acquires a photon bit string. The shifter generates a shared bit string by performing shifting processing. The corrector generates a corrected bit string by correcting errors in the shared bit string by performing error correction processing. The privacy amplifier generates an encryption key by performing privacy amplification processing that compresses the corrected bit string. The estimator estimates an encryption-key generation rate based on an output value and a given value at execution phases of respective pieces of processing of the photon sharing processing, the shifting processing, the error correction processing, and the privacy amplification processing.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akira Murakami, Yoshimichi Tanizawa
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Publication number: 20180208177Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicles to eliminate the shortage of drive force within the low-to-mid speed range in the hybrid mode. In a differential mechanism, a first rotary element is connected to an engine, a second rotary element is connected to a first motor, a third rotary element is connected to a second motor, and a fourth rotary element is connected to an output unit. A third motor is connected to the output unit. When the controller determines that the hybrid vehicle is propelled by the torque of the engine, the first motor and the second motor generate torques in a same direction as an engine torque to propel the vehicle in a forward direction, and the third motor generates a torque in the forward direction to propel the vehicle together with the engine torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kensei Hata, Akira Murakami, Hideaki Komada, Tatsuya Imamura, Takahito Endo
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Patent number: 10020893Abstract: According to an embodiment, a communication device is connected to another communication device through a quantum communication channel and a classical communication channel to share an encryption key. The device includes a photon detector, a measurer, a difference generator, and a transmitter. The photon detector is configured to detect photons transmitted from the other communication device through the quantum communication channel. The measurer is configured to measure time when each photon is detected by the photon detector as time stamp information. The difference generator is configured to generate difference time stamp information as a difference between time obtained by adding particular information to the time indicated by the time stamp information previously measured by the measurer and time indicated by the time stamp information subsequently measured by the measurer.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yoshimichi Tanizawa, Akira Murakami, Alex Dixon
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Patent number: 9994212Abstract: A drive control system for preventing damage from a power distribution device under a motor mode and for improving fuel efficiency. A time duration from termination of the first operating mode where a torque of the first motor is applied to the power distribution device while halting a carrier (at step S4), and a temperature of the power distribution device is estimated based on the calculated time duration (at step S13). The first operating mode is enabled if the estimated temperature is lower than a predetermined allowable temperature (at step S15), and inhibited if the estimated temperature is higher than the allowable temperature (at step S10).Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Akira Murakami, Akiko Nishimine, Sohei Murata
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Publication number: 20180156316Abstract: A control system for an engagement device that engage the engagement device promptly to reduce a power loss is provided. The control system has a controller configured to start controlling a first motor in such a manner as to synchronize a rotational speed of a first engagement element to a rotational speed of a second engagement element, simultaneously with a commencement of engagement of the first engagement element with the second engagement element, or after the commencement of the engagement of the first engagement element with the second engagement element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Hidekazu NAGAI, Kensei HATA, Takahito ENDO, Akira MURAKAMI, Yoshihiro MIZUNO, Eiji TSUCHIYA, Norio YONEZAWA