Patents by Inventor Daniel Todd Smith

Daniel Todd Smith 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: 9128510
    Abstract: The departure time scheduling control system includes an electric vehicle having an electric power storage device and an interior climate control device operable to vary an interior temperature. A user interface includes a display and an input portion which allows a user to schedule a departure time having a temperature setting and a charge mode setting having an immediate mode and a delayed mode. A charger unit controls the charging of the electric power storage device to the preset charge level accordingly to the charge mode setting by the departure time. A controller activates the interior climate control device to bring the interior temperature to the temperature setting by the departure time. The controller also activates the charger unit to charge the electric power storage device according to the charge mode setting to the preset charge level by said departure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Federico, Yasushi Kondo, Daniel Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 9114722
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating and displaying average auxiliary power use in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an auxiliary battery for powering auxiliary electrical devices, an auxiliary battery controller, a display for displaying both instantaneous and average auxiliary power consumption, and an electric motor. A main battery powers the electric motor. The auxiliary battery is connected to the main battery via a DC/DC converter. A sensor detects instantaneous auxiliary power usage from each of the auxiliary loads. The vehicle includes a combination meter configured to calculate an average auxiliary power usage amount based on the plurality of instantaneous auxiliary usage amounts. A display operable to display the average auxiliary power usage amount over the predetermined period of time and display each instantaneous auxiliary power usage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Scott Sitarski, Daniel Todd Smith
  • Patent number: 8768561
    Abstract: A notification system for an electrically charged vehicle having a charging system and a climate control system comprising a vehicle charging system, a display screen in communication with the vehicle charging system wherein the display screen is operable to provide a status update of the vehicle charging system wherein the status update provides information to the user regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions. The status update is operable to provide a predetermined message to the user on the display screen regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions within the electrically charged vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Todd Smith, Nicholas Scott Sitarski
  • Publication number: 20130274968
    Abstract: An interior comfort control system that allows a driver and/or passenger of an electric vehicle to balance between driving range for the vehicle and interior comfort and thereby obtain an optimum driving range-interior comfort combination. The interior comfort control system can include an electric vehicle having an interior and an interior comfort control module (ICCM). The ICCM can have an Off-Mode, a Normal-Mode, and an Eco-Mode with the Normal-Mode operable to reach a desired vehicle interior temperature using a first air temperature change rate and the Eco-Mode operable to reach the same desired vehicle interior temperature using a second air temperature change rate, the second air temperature change rate being less than the first air temperature change rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Federico, Nicholas Scott Sitarski, Daniel Todd Smith, Yasushi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20130271074
    Abstract: The departure time scheduling control system includes an electric vehicle having an electric power storage device and an interior climate control device operable to vary an interior temperature. A user interface includes a display and an input portion which allows a user to schedule a departure time having a temperature setting and a charge mode setting having an immediate mode and a delayed mode. A charger unit controls the charging of the electric power storage device to the preset charge level accordingly to the charge mode setting by the departure time. A controller activates the interior climate control device to bring the interior temperature to the temperature setting by the departure time. The controller also activates the charger unit to charge the electric power storage device according to the charge mode setting to the preset charge level by said departure time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Federico, Yasushi Kondo, Daniel Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20130127475
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating and displaying average auxiliary power use in a vehicle is herein provided. The vehicle includes one or more batteries for powering auxiliary electrical devices, an auxiliary battery controller, a display for displaying both instantaneous and average auxiliary power consumption, and an electric motor. A main battery powers the drive motor and supplies power to the auxiliary loads. An auxiliary battery is connected to the main battery via a DC/DC converter and also supplies power to the auxiliary loads. A sensor detects instantaneous auxiliary power usage from each of the auxiliary loads. The instantaneous auxiliary power data from the sensor is averaged to calculate and display the average auxiliary power usage from each of the auxiliary loads. The vehicle operator is able to identify and manage how auxiliary load power consumption affects overall power consumption of both batteries during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
    Inventors: Nicholas Scott Sitarski, Daniel Todd Smith
  • Publication number: 20130131911
    Abstract: A notification system for an electrically charged vehicle having a charging system and a climate control system comprising a vehicle charging system, a display screen in communication with the vehicle charging system wherein the display screen is operable to provide a status update of the vehicle charging system wherein the status update provides information to the user regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions. The status update is operable to provide a predetermined message to the user on the display screen regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions within the electrically charged vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Todd Smith, Nicholas Scott Sitarski