Patents by Inventor Hiroaki KODERA

Hiroaki KODERA 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: 12351038
    Abstract: The controller of the electric vehicle is configured to control the torque of the electric motor using the MT vehicle model based on the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal, and the shift position of the pseudo-shifter. The electric vehicle also includes a pedal reaction force generator that generates a pedal reaction force in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using by the operating of the reaction force actuator. The controller is configured to store the pedal reaction force characteristic simulating the characteristic of the pedal reaction force according to the operation of the clutch pedal. Then, the controller is configured to control the pedal reaction force output by the pedal reaction force generator in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using the stored pedal reaction force characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12337700
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12330506
    Abstract: A shifting device for an electric vehicle having a virtual manual transmission system, that is configured to realize a variety of shift patterns and torque characteristics. The shifting device comprises: an indicator that indicates a shift pattern; and an indication switcher that switches the shift pattern indicated in the indicator to another pattern. At least any one of the number of the shift positions and a virtual gear stage assigned to the shift position in the shift pattern switched by the indication switcher is different from that in the previous shift pattern indicated in the indicator before switched by the indication switcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro Isami, Hiroyuki Amano, Takayuki Oshima, Makoto Takano, Yuta Tsukada, Kiyosuke Hayamizu, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12296687
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12294209
    Abstract: A resin molded component includes a bus bar having conductivity, a conductive member including an insertion hole into which the bus bar is inserted along an axis line direction, a resin member covering the bus bar and insulating the bus bar and the conductive member, and a potting material charged into the insertion hole. The bus bar includes a bend terminal portion positioned at an end portion in the axis line direction, and bent along a terminal bend direction, and a bus bar crank portion positioned inside the insertion hole and extending along a crank direction intersecting with the axis line direction and the terminal bend direction. The resin member includes a resin crank portion positioned inside the insertion hole and covering and insulating the bus bar crank portion. The potting material covers a whole circumference of the resin crank portion when charged into the insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignees: YAZAKI CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Tsutagawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Hiroaki Kodera, Norihiro Ushida, Hiroyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 12263831
    Abstract: A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to accurately imitate a change in a drive force in a model vehicle. A drive torque simulator computes a virtual drive torque supposed to be delivered to drive wheels of the model vehicle in response to a manual operation to manipulate the vehicle, based on torque changing factors of a powertrain of the model vehicle. An actual torque calculator computes a target torque of a motor that is practically delivered to the drive wheels in the vehicle based on the virtual drive torque computed by the drive torque simulator, taking account of torque changing factors of the powertrain of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Publication number: 20250091449
    Abstract: The controller of the electric vehicle is configured to control the torque of the electric motor using the MT vehicle model based on the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal, and the shift position of the pseudo-shifter. The electric vehicle also includes a pedal reaction force generator that generates a pedal reaction force in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using by the operating of the reaction force actuator. The controller is configured to store the pedal reaction force characteristic simulating the characteristic of the pedal reaction force according to the operation of the clutch pedal. Then, the controller is configured to control the pedal reaction force output by the pedal reaction force generator in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using the stored pedal reaction force characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro ISAMI, Yoshio ITOU, Hiroyuki AMANO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hiroaki KODERA
  • Publication number: 20240399888
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12096158
    Abstract: In an information collecting system, an information collecting device managed by the designated institution sets information acquisition spaces where acquisition of personal information of residents in the region is allowed and information acquisition prohibited spaces where acquisition of personal information of residents is prohibited, the information collecting device transmits space information corresponding to spaces in which information acquisition terminals are located, for information acquisition terminals which are located in information acquisition spaces and information acquisition prohibited spaces and which allow acquisition of personal information of residents, and the information acquisition terminal determines that personal information acquired by an information acquisition terminal is not to be transmitted to an information collecting device when the information acquisition terminal is located in an information acquisition prohibited space, based on the received space information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kodera, Yoichiro Isami, Kotoru Sato, Takashi Hayashi, Naohiro Seo
  • Patent number: 12090861
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Publication number: 20240300475
    Abstract: A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to accurately imitate a change in a drive force in a model vehicle. A drive torque simulator computes a virtual drive torque supposed to be delivered to drive wheels of the model vehicle in response to a manual operation to manipulate the vehicle, based on torque changing factors of a powertrain of the model vehicle. An actual torque calculator computes a target torque of a motor that is practically delivered to the drive wheels in the vehicle based on the virtual drive torque computed by the drive torque simulator, taking account of torque changing factors of the powertrain of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Yoichiro ISAMI, Yoshio ITOU, Hiroyuki AMANO, Akiko NISHIMINE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hiroaki KODERA
  • Publication number: 20240278654
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro ISAMI, Yoshio ITOU, Hiroyuki AMANO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Akiko HISHIMINE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hiroaki KODERA
  • Publication number: 20240278655
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Publication number: 20240278656
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro ISAMI, Yoshio ITOU, Hiroyuki AMANO, Tatsuya IMAMURA, Akiko NISHIMINE, Hiroaki EBUCHI, Hiroaki KODERA
  • Publication number: 20240246425
    Abstract: The controller of the electric vehicle is configured to control the torque of the electric motor using the MT vehicle model based on the operation amount of the accelerator pedal, the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal, and the shift position of the pseudo-shifter. The electric vehicle also includes a pedal reaction force generator that generates a pedal reaction force in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using by the operating of the reaction force actuator. The controller is configured to store the pedal reaction force characteristic simulating the characteristic of the pedal reaction force according to the operation of the clutch pedal. Then, the controller is configured to control the pedal reaction force output by the pedal reaction force generator in response to the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal using the stored pedal reaction force characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro ISAMI, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Publication number: 20240181894
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko NISHIMINE, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 11999243
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a shift lever and a clutch pedal for simulating manual gear changes of a traditional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and manual transmission, and includes a controller for controlling the operation of the electric vehicle. The driver operates the shift lever in a similar fashion to that of a traditional manual transmission shift lever, however the associated gear positions do not correspond to physical gears in a transmission but rather virtual gear stage modes that correspond to mapped torque characteristics with respect to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The clutch pedal is operated by the driver when the shift lever is operated. The controller calculates the virtual engine speed of the virtual engine based on the virtual gear stage mode selected by the shift lever and the operation amount of the clutch pedal, and displays the virtual engine speed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 11993250
    Abstract: A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to accurately imitate a change in a drive force in a model vehicle. A drive torque simulator computes a virtual drive torque supposed to be delivered to drive wheels of the model vehicle in response to a manual operation to manipulate the vehicle, based on torque changing factors of a powertrain of the model vehicle. An actual torque calculator computes a target torque of a motor that is practically delivered to the drive wheels in the vehicle based on the virtual drive torque computed by the drive torque simulator, taking account of torque changing factors of the powertrain of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Publication number: 20240113510
    Abstract: A resin molded component includes a bus bar having conductivity, a conductive member including an insertion hole into which the bus bar is inserted along an axis line direction, a resin member covering the bus bar and insulating the bus bar and the conductive member, and a potting material charged into the insertion hole. The bus bar includes a bend terminal portion positioned at an end portion in the axis line direction, and bent along a terminal bend direction, and a bus bar crank portion positioned inside the insertion hole and extending along a crank direction intersecting with the axis line direction and the terminal bend direction. The resin member includes a resin crank portion positioned inside the insertion hole and covering and insulating the bus bar crank portion. The potting material covers a whole circumference of the resin crank portion when charged into the insertion hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Yusuke Tsutagawa, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Hiroaki Kodera, Norihiro Ushida, Hiroyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 11932118
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera