Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Hirabayashi

Hidekazu Hirabayashi 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).

  • Publication number: 20240125873
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a substrate including a top surface; an insulating layer disposed on the substrate, the insulating layer including first and second inclined surfaces each inclined with respect to the top surface of the substrate; and an MR element. The MR element is disposed on the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface. The MR element includes a first side surface including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion having different angles with respect to the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu KOJIMA, Kenzo Makino, Hiraku Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20240116496
    Abstract: A cooling ECU for a vehicle including a high-temperature-side coolant circuit that circulates high-temperature-side coolant by a high-temperature-side water pump, and an airbag ECU that detects collision stops the high-temperature-side water pump when the collision is detected by the airbag ECU and the high-temperature-side coolant is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature determined based on the boiling point of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki SHIMAUCHI, Hidekazu HIRABAYASHI, Atsushi ONO
  • Patent number: 11932083
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor. The rotational frequency of the compressor is variably controlled, and the compressor is prevented from being operated within a resonating rotational frequency range of the compressor in which the vibration frequency of the compressor and the natural frequency of a steering device resonate with each other. When the vehicle performs automated driving, the compressor is also allowed to operate within the resonating rotational frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Higashiura, Takayuki Shimauchi, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11820302
    Abstract: A vehicle and method for vehicle noise reduction for vehicle occupants are provided. The method comprises detecting a position of a window of the vehicle; and controlling the duty of an operational component of the vehicle based on the position of the window of the vehicle and at least one of: a speed of the vehicle, and a presence of a sound-reflecting structure proximate to the vehicle; wherein the operational component is external to a cabin of the vehicle; and wherein noise generated by the operational component increases with a duty of the operational component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Abhishek Srivastava, David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Akiyoshi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20230027333
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor. The rotational frequency of the compressor is variably controlled, and the compressor is prevented from being operated within a resonating rotational frequency range of the compressor in which the vibration frequency of the compressor and the natural frequency of a steering device resonate with each other. When the vehicle performs automated driving, the compressor is also allowed to operate within the resonating rotational frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Higashiura, Takayuki Shimauchi, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11542881
    Abstract: A control device is installed in the vehicle that is able to execute a fuel cut that stops fuel supply to an engine in a state in which the engine is rotating. In a case where there is a request for the fuel cut while there is a heating request in which heating of a vehicle cabin is performed using heat of an engine coolant, when a blowout port mode of air conditioning air is set to a defroster mode or a bi-level mode, the control device prohibits the fuel cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimauchi, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20220364523
    Abstract: A control device is installed in the vehicle that is able to execute a fuel cut that stops fuel supply to an engine in a state in which the engine is rotating. In a case where there is a request for the fuel cut while there is a heating request in which heating of a vehicle cabin is performed using heat of an engine coolant, when a blowout port mode of air conditioning air is set to a defroster mode or a bi-level mode, the control device prohibits the fuel cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimauchi, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11498390
    Abstract: In a situation where a temperature in a motor compartment is higher than a temperature of outside air, an inside air introduction rate increasing control is performed in which an inside air introduction rate is changed to be increased on a condition that there is no request for warming an inside of the vehicle cabin, the air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in an outside air introduction mode, and on the other hand, the inside air introduction rate increasing control is prohibited on a condition that there is a request for warming the inside of the vehicle cabin, the vehicular air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in the outside air introduction mode. In this way, heating efficiency can be improved by effectively utilizing the heat in the motor compartment to contribute to warming the inside of the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rino Oshikiri, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20220281290
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning controller includes a battery temperature sensor configured to detect a battery temperature of a battery, a cooling-air temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of cooling air that has passed an evaporator, and an air-conditioning ECU configured to determine a target ejection temperature of air to be ejected into a vehicle interior from an air conditioner. The air-conditioning ECU is configured to control a cooling device to cool the battery, during air conditioning of the vehicle interior through remote operation external of the vehicle, when the battery temperature is at a predetermined temperature or higher and a state wherein the difference between the target ejection temperature and the cooling-air temperature has been at or below a predetermined value for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Takayuki Shimauchi
  • Publication number: 20220234422
    Abstract: In the case where the temperature of a battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the battery is cooled with priority. In the case where the temperature of coolant to cool a PCU is equal to or higher than another predetermined temperature, the PCU is cooled with priority. In the case where the temperature of the battery is less than the predetermined temperature and the temperature of the coolant to cool the PCU is less than the other predetermined temperature, the air inside the vehicle cabin is cooled with priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuki Masumura, Masao Yorifuji, Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Rino Oshikiri
  • Patent number: 11041474
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing auto start of a vehicle during an auto-stop condition may include determining an operational status of a vehicle climate control system; receiving a target air outlet temperature from the vehicle climate control system; receiving data indicating a state of a heated seat of the vehicle; and inhibiting a start-vehicle command to restart the vehicle because of a cabin heating requirement when the data indicates that the heated seat of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Abhishek Srivastava, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11015563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing auto start of a vehicle during an auto-stop condition may include: determining an operational status of a vehicle climate control system; receiving a target air outlet temperature from the vehicle climate control system; receiving data indicating a state of a cooled seat of the vehicle; and inhibiting a start-engine command to restart an internal combustion engine of the vehicle because of a cabin cooling requirement when the data indicates that the cooled seat of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Abhishek Srivastava, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11014437
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicle battery charge reduction. A hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine; an electric motor; a battery electrically coupled to the electric motor; a battery charger electrically coupled to the battery and mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine; one or more sensors, wherein each sensor provides a respective sensor signal, wherein each sensor signal represents a respective current operating condition of the hybrid electric vehicle; and a computing component configured to: perform a first comparison of a state-of-charge of the battery to a charge threshold, perform a second comparison of one or more of the current vehicle operating conditions to respective nominal vehicle operating conditions, wherein none of the vehicle operating conditions describe a condition of the battery, and reduce charging of the battery based on the first comparison and the second comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Luis Carlos Quinteros Torres, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20210146745
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for a vehicle is provided in which air cleaning control can be executed to reduce a concentration of floating particulate substances in a vehicle cabin by increasing an air volume passing through a filter by further increasing an air volume blowing out from a blower outlet into the vehicle cabin from an air volume which is necessary for cabin temperature control or an air volume which is set by a passenger of the vehicle, and in which, under an air conditioning condition in which an increase of the cabin temperature is strongly demanded, when a fluid temperature of a fluid which is a heat source of indoor heating is lower than a predetermined fluid temperature, an upper limit value permitted as an amount of increase of an air volume by the air cleaning control is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Rino Oshikiri, Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Takayuki Shimauchi
  • Patent number: 10974570
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that limits the speed of the compressor to allow for the adoption or use of an internal heat exchanger. The HVAC system includes a compressor configured to drive refrigerant flow and an inverter configured to control a speed of the compressor. The HVAC system includes a first sensor configured to measure a temperature of the inverter and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to obtain, from the first sensor, the temperature of the inverter. The electronic control unit is configured to determine a range of speeds for the compressor based on the obtained temperature of the inverter. The electronic control unit is configured to operate the compressor within the determined range of speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Netsanet S. Chevers, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20210061065
    Abstract: In a situation where a temperature in a motor compartment is higher than a temperature of outside air, an inside air introduction rate increasing control is performed in which an inside air introduction rate is changed to be increased on a condition that there is no request for warming an inside of the vehicle cabin, the air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in an outside air introduction mode, and on the other hand, the inside air introduction rate increasing control is prohibited on a condition that there is a request for warming the inside of the vehicle cabin, the vehicular air conditioner is off, and air is being blown in the outside air introduction mode. In this way, heating efficiency can be improved by effectively utilizing the heat in the motor compartment to contribute to warming the inside of the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rino Oshikiri, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10889162
    Abstract: A system for vehicle component cooling includes a main body defining a passenger compartment to support passengers of the vehicle. The system also includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to output conditioned air into the passenger compartment. The system also includes a vehicle component to generate heat and having a component temperature. The system also includes a cooling channel having an inlet located in the passenger compartment and an outlet to output the conditioned air from the passenger compartment towards the vehicle component. The system also includes at least one sensor to detect data corresponding to the component temperature of the vehicle component. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) to control the HVAC unit to increase or decrease a cabin temperature to adjust the component temperature based on the detected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10882379
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy, and providing optimized operating conditions associated with a vehicle's air-conditioning system when the vehicle is carrying a load, e.g., towing a trailer. Operating conditions including, for example, air-mix setting, coolant temperature, ambient temperature, vehicle speed, and whether or not the vehicle is carrying the aforementioned load, may be considered when determining whether or not to activate or deactivate a vehicle heating element, such as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, steering wheel heater, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Abhishek Srivastava, David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Akiyoshi B. Maeda
  • Patent number: 10875386
    Abstract: A vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system having a variable compressor can reduce a load applied to a vehicle powertrain during certain conditions. Systems and methods can determine if a power state of an HVAC system is activated, and whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold. Responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold, a recirculation mode air source can be selected for the HVAC system. Responsive to the recirculation mode air source being selected, determining if at least one measured vehicle condition meets predetermined criteria. Responsive to determining that the at least one measured vehicle condition meets the predetermined criteria, the variable compressor can be operated according to a reduced duty map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Stefan Young, Daniel B. Gidcumb
  • Publication number: 20200378352
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing auto start of a vehicle during an auto-stop condition may include: determining an operational status of a vehicle climate control system; receiving a target air outlet temperature from the vehicle climate control system; receiving data indicating a state of a cooled seat of the vehicle; and inhibiting a start-engine command to restart an internal combustion engine of the vehicle because of a cabin cooling requirement when the data indicates that the cooled seat of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Abhishek Srivastava, Hidekazu Hirabayashi