Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Kato

Hirokazu Kato 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: 9802612
    Abstract: A vehicle engine activation control system includes a starter connected to a battery; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine and automatically reactivate the engine by the starter; an input unit configured to generate an operation request in response to input from a driver; an electric parking brake device including an electric motor connected to the battery, wherein the electric motor starts driving in response to the operation request; and a mediating unit configured to prohibit the reactivation of the engine by the idle stop control unit, when the electric motor is in a driving state in response to a predetermined operation request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ogata, Hirokazu Kato, Natsumi Oami, Julien Vaissaud, Kohnosuke Sobajima, Remi Delefosse
  • Patent number: 9789875
    Abstract: A brake/drive force controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine for applying drive forces to driving wheels of the vehicles, a control diff for distributing the drive forces to the left and right driving wheels independently, and an electronic control system brake device for applying brake forces to the left and right driving wheels independently. An ECU is configured so as to be able to control the engine, the control diff, and the electronic control system brake device according to an operating state of the vehicle. When the electronic control system brake device is operated, this ECU stops the operation of the control diff, thereby avoiding a sudden input of load on the drive force distribution mechanism, regardless of the running state of the vehicle. This makes the apparatus simpler and more lightweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoji Mizoguchi, Koji Taguchi, Hirokazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20170288053
    Abstract: A control electrode GE1 is formed in a lower portion of a trench TR1 formed in a semiconductor substrate SUB, and a gate electrode GE2 is formed in an upper portion inside the trench TR1. An insulating film G1 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and a side wall and a bottom surface of the trench TR1, an insulating film G2 is formed between the side wall of the trench TR1 and the gate electrode GE2, and an insulating film G3 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and the gate electrode GE2. A region adjacent to the trench TR1 includes an n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source, a p-type semiconductor region PR for a channel formation, and a semiconductor region for a drain. A wiring connected to the control electrode GE1 is not connected to a wiring connected to the gate electrode GE2, and is not connected to a wiring connected to the n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hideo Numabe, Nobuyuki Shirai, Hirokazu Kato, Tomoaki Uno, Kazuyuki Umezu
  • Patent number: 9714621
    Abstract: An automatic engine control apparatus installed in a vehicle causes an engine of the vehicle to stop automatically when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied, and after the automatic stop of the engine, causes the engine to restart automatically when a predetermined restarting condition is satisfied. The apparatus includes an electronic control unit configured to inhibit or permit, while the vehicle is stopped, a second automatic stop of the engine in response to the predetermined stop condition being satisfied, depending on whether the predetermined restarting condition satisfied most recently to have caused the engine to restart automatically was a first restarting condition or a second restarting condition different from the first restarting condition. The first restarting condition represents an intention of a driver of the vehicle to start moving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutaka Oda, Hirokazu Kato
  • Patent number: 9711637
    Abstract: A control electrode GE1 is formed in a lower portion of a trench TR1 formed in a semiconductor substrate SUB, and a gate electrode GE2 is formed in an upper portion inside the trench TR1. An insulating film G1 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and a side wall and a bottom surface of the trench TR1, an insulating film G2 is formed between the side wall of the trench TR1 and the gate electrode GE2, and an insulating film G3 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and the gate electrode GE2. A region adjacent to the trench TR1 includes an n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source, a p-type semiconductor region PR for a channel formation, and a semiconductor region for a drain. A wiring connected to the control electrode GE1 is not connected to a wiring connected to the gate electrode GE2, and is not connected to a wiring connected to the n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Numabe, Nobuyuki Shirai, Hirokazu Kato, Tomoaki Uno, Kazuyuki Umezu
  • Patent number: 9701310
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: an inter-vehicle distance control unit that performs inter-vehicle distance control with respect to a preceding vehicle; a stop-restart unit that stops an engine if the host vehicle is stopped and an engine stop condition is satisfied and that restarts the engine if a restart condition is satisfied; a braking force maintenance unit that maintains a braking force which stops the vehicle in idle state; and a braking force increase unit that increases the braking force maintained by the braking force maintenance unit if the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20170184969
    Abstract: A pattern forming method includes forming a spin on dielectric film on a substrate, washing the spin on dielectric film by using a washing liquid, drying a surface of the spin on dielectric film after the washing, forming a photosensitive film on the dried coating type insulation film, emitting energy rays to a predetermined position of the photosensitive film in order to form a latent image on the photosensitive film, developing the photosensitive film in order to form a photosensitive film pattern which corresponds to the latent image, and processing the spin on dielectric film with the photosensitive film pattern serving as a mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Tomoyuki TAKEISHI, Hirokazu KATO, Shinichi ITO
  • Patent number: 9665996
    Abstract: A negative pressure detection part detects a negative pressure from a signal of a negative pressure sensor detecting a negative pressure generated due to rotation of an internal combustion engine. The negative pressure is used to assist a vehicle driver's braking operation. An abnormality determination part determines, during continuation of the internal combustion engine stopped state, that the negative pressure sensor is in an abnormal condition if the detected negative pressure is out of a normal range near an atmospheric pressure to a vacuum pressure side when an operation of decreasing the negative pressure is performed on a brake pedal greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times or greater than or equal to a predetermined period of time or when a total operation amount of the decreasing operation is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumichika Shimose, Hirokazu Kato, Junpei Kakehi
  • Patent number: 9654031
    Abstract: A controlling apparatus includes a storage unit for storing, for each sampling period, a combination of a primary frequency of connected induction motors and the amplitude of a voltage command value, and a gradient detection unit for calculating a value corresponding to an increase in the amplitude of the voltage command value divided by an increase in the primary frequency, and for outputting a failure signal upon determining, when a result of the division is less than a predetermined reference value, that the plurality of induction motors include at least one induction motor having a phase sequence that includes incorrect wiring with respect to the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY, FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Sakanoue, Hirokazu Kato, Hiroki Shimoyama, Tomotaka Nishijima, Junichi Ishii, Yasushi Matsumoto, Toshie Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20170129362
    Abstract: The present invention of one aspect relates to a railway vehicle having a plurality of electrical circuits. The railway vehicle comprises: an external power supply connection portion; a contactor of a normally closed type that opens and closes a common line connecting the plurality of electrical circuits to a ground, the contractor opening the common line by receiving supply of electric power through the external power supply connection portion and closing the common line when no current is applied; and an operation prohibition determining unit that determines whether supply of electric power to the plurality of electrical circuits is stopped and that prohibits the contactor from opening the common line when the supply of electric power is not stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Kei SAKANOUE, Masashi FURUYA, Hirokazu KATO, Shigekazu OKADA
  • Patent number: 9638155
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes: a first gear connected to a crankshaft of an engine; a second gear capable of engaging the first gear; an actuator configure to move the second gear up to a position where the second gear engages the first gear; a motor configured to cause the second gear to rotate; and a controller configured to, when the engine is cranked by driving of the motor in response to elapsing of a predefined period after the actuator is actuated in response to a startup request signal of the engine, adjust a length of the predefined period on the basis of an operating state of a driver and a state of the vehicle at the time of reception of the startup request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kato, Junpei Kakehi
  • Patent number: 9630612
    Abstract: A vehicle engine activation control system includes a starter connected to a battery; an input unit configured to generate an operation request in response to input from a driver; an electric parking brake device including an electric motor connected to the battery, wherein the electric motor starts driving in response to the operation request; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine and automatically reactivate the engine by the starter; and a mediating unit configured to prohibit the driving of the electric motor in response to a predetermined operation request, in at least one of a case where the predetermined operation request is generated while the engine is automatically stopping or after the automatic stopping of the engine is completed, and a case where the predetermined operation request is generated during the reactivation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ogata, Hirokazu Kato, Natsumi Oami
  • Publication number: 20170089836
    Abstract: An analysis device is provided with a flow chip provided at least with a light transmissive first substrate and a second substrate having an inlet and outlet for a fluid, a holding member for holding the flow chip, a fixing member on which the holding member is placed and that comes into contact with the second substrate of the flow chip, a fluid feeding unit for feeding the fluid to the inlet and discharging the fluid from the outlet, an optical detection unit disposed on the first substrate side of the flow chip, and a drive unit for driving the holding member in the X and Y directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Hirokazu KATO, Tomohiro SHOJI, Hiroyuki HIGASHINO, Tatsuya YAMASHITA, Mitsuru HARIGAE
  • Patent number: 9601331
    Abstract: A pattern forming method includes forming a spin on dielectric film on a substrate, washing the spin on dielectric film by using a washing liquid, drying a surface of the spin on dielectric film after the washing, forming a photosensitive film on the dried coating type insulation film, emitting energy rays to a predetermined position of the photosensitive film in order to form a latent image on the photosensitive film, developing the photosensitive film in order to form a photosensitive film pattern which corresponds to the latent image, and processing the spin on dielectric film with the photosensitive film pattern serving as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takeishi, Hirokazu Kato, Shinichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9598059
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes: an engine controller that outputs a stop request to stop an engine when a stop condition is satisfied, and that outputs a start request to start the engine or resume the engine from a stop preparation state when a start condition is satisfied; a brake controller that, at least in a period between the outputs of the requests by the engine controlling part, automatically generates a braking force for keeping parking regardless of a driver's brake operation and that in a case where an accelerator operation amount is smaller than a predetermined ratio, when the start request has been output and the engine is being resumed from the stop preparation state to a normal rotation state, the brake controller reduces a brake pressure to a first predetermined pressure in a shorter time than when the engine is being started from a stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kato, Hiroaki Seguchi, Jumpei Kakehi
  • Publication number: 20160351702
    Abstract: A control electrode GE1 is formed in a lower portion of a trench TR1 formed in a semiconductor substrate SUB, and a gate electrode GE2 is formed in an upper portion inside the trench TR1. An insulating film G1 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and a side wall and a bottom surface of the trench TR1, an insulating film G2 is formed between the side wall of the trench TR1 and the gate electrode GE2, and an insulating film G3 is formed between the control electrode GE1 and the gate electrode GE2. A region adjacent to the trench TR1 includes an n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source, a p-type semiconductor region PR for a channel formation, and a semiconductor region for a drain. A wiring connected to the control electrode GE1 is not connected to a wiring connected to the gate electrode GE2, and is not connected to a wiring connected to the n+-type semiconductor region NR for a source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Hideo Numabe, Nobuyuki Shirai, Hirokazu Kato, Tomoaki Uno, Kazuyuki Umezu
  • Publication number: 20160339783
    Abstract: An electric vehicle control device includes: a plurality of motors capable of transmitting motive power to a wheel of an electric vehicle; an inverter that supplies electric power to drive the motors; and a controller that controls the inverter and compares, when the electric vehicle drives under a certain velocity condition, a q-axis voltage feedforward value VqFF and a q-axis voltage command value Vq* used for controlling driving of the motors, to detect an occurrence of miswire between the motors and the inverter when the following inequation is satisfied: VqFF?1.5·Vq*.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicants: Central Japan Railway Company, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hirokazu KATO, Hiroki SHIMOYAMA, Kei SAKANOUE, Toshiyuki UCHIDA, Tomoyuki MAKINO, Hiroaki OTANI, Manato MORI
  • Patent number: 9503670
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a data receiver, processing circuitry and an operation information receiver. The data receiver receives first data for displaying an image. The processing circuitry displays, using the first data, the image on a screen of a display. The operation information receiver receives operation information indicating that one of a plurality of buttons provided at a remote control is pressed. The processing circuitry displays, based on the operation information, an enlarged image of a first area of a plurality of divided areas of the image on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichi Taniuchi, Kazuhiko Kashiwagi, Akira Kumagai, Yuuichiro Aso, Hirokazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20160322901
    Abstract: A trench MOSFET is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate having a vertically oriented trench containing a gate. The trench MOSFET further includes a source, a drain, and a conductive element. The conductive element, like the gate is contained in the trench, and extends between the gate and a bottom of the trench. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the source, the gate, and the drain. When employed in a device such as a DC-DC converter, the trench MOSFET may reduce power losses and electrical and electromagnetic noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Tetsuo Sato, Tomoaki Uno, Hirokazu Kato, Nobuyoshi Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20160311436
    Abstract: A vehicle engine activation control system includes a starter connected to a battery; an idle stop control unit configured to automatically stop an engine and automatically reactivate the engine by the starter; an input unit configured to generate an operation request in response to input from a driver; an electric parking brake device including an electric motor connected to the battery, wherein the electric motor starts driving in response to the operation request; and a mediating unit configured to prohibit the reactivation of the engine by the idle stop control unit, when the electric motor is in a driving state in response to a predetermined operation request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA
    Inventors: Masatoshi OGATA, Hirokazu KATO, Natsumi OAMI, Julien VAISSAUD, Kohnosuke SOBAJIMA, Remi DELEFOSSE