Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Sugimoto

Kazuhiro Sugimoto 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: 11904722
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire a starting time representing a time when a user starts to use a moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery; estimate a charging completion time by which a required amount of power is charged to the moving object; determine whether or not charging of the moving object is completed by the starting time based on the starting time and the charging completion time; and switch a charging mode of charging the moving object performed by a charging device from a usual charging mode to a rapid charging mode in a case where the charging of the moving object is not completed by the starting time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Kotoru Sato, Kumiko Katsumata, Shun Ota, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11898863
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to acquire a user's destination, estimate a user's staying time at the destination based on the destination, determine whether to move a moving body used by the user based on the staying time, and control driving of the moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Kotoru Sato, Kumiko Katsumata, Shun Ota, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230327562
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes a transformer including a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding, a first switching circuit connected between an external power supply and the first winding, a second switching circuit connected between a main battery and the second winding, and a third switching circuit connected between an auxiliary battery and the third winding. The first switching circuit includes a power factor correction circuit, a smoothing capacitor configured to smooth a voltage of direct-current power output from the power factor correction circuit, and a relay provided in a power line between the smoothing capacitor and the first winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi ICHIDA, Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Manabu HANDA
  • Patent number: 11459922
    Abstract: The electric dust collecting apparatus comprises a plurality of discharge electrodes that are disposed in an exhaust flow passage, a ground electrode that constitutes at least a part of an inner wall surface of the exhaust flow passage, and a voltage applying device that is configured to apply voltage selectively from a common power supply to each of the plurality of discharge electrodes. The plurality of discharge regions, each of which includes at least one discharge electrode, are provided in the exhaust flow passage and an electrode-to-electrode distance between the discharge electrode and the ground electrode is different in each of the plurality of discharge regions. The voltage applying device applies voltage to the discharge electrode for each discharge region, and changes the discharge region where voltage is applied to the discharge electrode in accordance with exhaust gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11453303
    Abstract: A power supply circuit of an electrified vehicle according to the present disclosure is mounted on the electrified vehicle including: a battery configured to receive an electric power from an external DC power supply; an accessory configured to operate at a system voltage of the battery; and a DC inlet to which a voltage higher than the system voltage is applied from the external DC power supply. The power supply circuit includes a first power line, a step-down converter and a second power line. The first power line is configured to connect the DC inlet and the battery. The step-down converter is disposed on the first power line and configured to lower a voltage supplied to the battery from the DC inlet. The second power line has one end connected to the first power line between the step-down converter and the battery, and another end connected to the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11425792
    Abstract: A vehicle warm-up control apparatus includes: a motor; an inverter; an electric storage device; a boost converter connected to a low-voltage-side power line and a high-voltage-side power liner; and a control unit for controlling the inverter and the boost converter, the boost converter including a first switching device as an upper arm, a second switching device as a lower arm, and a reactor. Further, the second switching device is composed of a semiconductor device variable in resistance value, and when warm-up is requested, the control unit executes warm-up control to set the resistance value of the second switching device higher than the resistance value during operation when the warm-up is not requested, and supply heat generated in the second switching device by passing current through the second switching device to a device for which the warm-up is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20220169120
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire a starting position where a user starts to use a moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery, and a destination of the user; estimate a power amount for the moving object to move from the starting position to the destination; determine whether or not power of the secondary battery is consumed at the destination; increase the power amount when the power of the secondary battery is consumed at the destination; and charge the moving object to the power amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220169143
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire a starting time representing a time when a user starts to use a moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery; estimate a charging completion time by which a required amount of power is charged to the moving object; determine whether or not charging of the moving object is completed by the starting time based on the starting time and the charging completion time; and switch a charging mode of charging the moving object performed by a charging device from a usual charging mode to a rapid charging mode in a case where the charging of the moving object is not completed by the starting time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220161679
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire user schedule information indicating an action schedule of a user and other person schedule information indicating an action schedule of another person associated with the user; estimate, based on the user schedule information, a power amount for a moving object that the user is allowed to use, the moving object including a rechargeable secondary battery; and control a charging device to charge the moving object based on the power amount and the other person schedule information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220164775
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to: acquire schedule information on each of a plurality of users; set a charging priority at a time of charging each of a plurality of moving objects based on the schedule information on each of the plurality of users, each of the plurality of moving objects being preliminarily associated with each of the plurality of users, and including a rechargeable secondary battery; and charge each of the plurality of moving objects based on the charging priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220120576
    Abstract: A server includes a processor to acquire a current position of a moving body used by a user, a remaining battery level of a rechargeable battery of the moving body used by the user, and a first destination of the user, and in a case where a new second destination different from the first destination is input, set, for the moving body, a charging travelling route passing a charging path capable of charging the battery on a way from the current position to the second destination based on the remaining battery level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220120577
    Abstract: A server includes a processor configured to acquire a user's destination, estimate a user's staying time at the destination based on the destination, determine whether to move a moving body used by the user based on the staying time, and control driving of the moving body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220111739
    Abstract: A server 40 includes a control unit 47, and the control unit 47 acquires respective planned use positions of plural users, respective destinations of the plural users, and remaining battery levels of rechargeable batteries of moving bodies which the plural users are scheduled to use, estimates, for each of the moving bodies, a required power amount of the battery based on the planned use position and the destination, determines, for each of the moving bodies, whether the remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the required power amount, and dispatches the moving body whose remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the required power amount to the planned use position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Kotoru SATO, Kumiko KATSUMATA, Shun OTA, Takahiro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11015567
    Abstract: AMP (2-Amino-2-Methyl-1, 3-Propanediol) does not release the absorbed heat during temperature drop but releases it during temperature rise. Also, AMP keeps a solid state upon the heat release. The heat storage material which is the aggregate of AMP is arranged to exchange heat with the subject for warm-up. In the warm-up acceleration control, it is judged whether or not there is a request for warm-up to the subject for warm-up (step S10). If it is judged that there is the request for warm-up, it is judged whether or not the radiation condition of the heat storage material is satisfied (step S12). If it is judged that the radiation condition is satisfied, the heater is started to operate (step S14). By operating the heater, the heat storage material is directly or indirectly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20210101498
    Abstract: A power supply circuit of an electrified vehicle according to the present disclosure is mounted on the electrified vehicle including: a battery configured to receive an electric power from an external DC power supply; an accessory configured to operate at a system voltage of the battery; and a DC inlet to which a voltage higher than the system voltage is applied from the external DC power supply. The power supply circuit includes a first power line, a step-down converter and a second power line. The first power line is configured to connect the DC inlet and the battery. The step-down converter is disposed on the first power line and configured to lower a voltage supplied to the battery from the DC inlet. The second power line has one end connected to the first power line between the step-down converter and the battery, and another end connected to the accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200214088
    Abstract: A vehicle warm-up control apparatus includes: a motor; an inverter; an electric storage device; a boost converter connected to a low-voltage-side power line and a high-voltage-side power liner; and a control unit for controlling the inverter and the boost converter, the boost converter including a first switching device as an upper arm, a second switching device as a lower arm, and a reactor. Further, the second switching device is composed of a semiconductor device variable in resistance value, and when warm-up is requested, the control unit executes warm-up control to set the resistance value of the second switching device higher than the resistance value during operation when the warm-up is not requested, and supply heat generated in the second switching device by passing current through the second switching device to a device for which the warm-up is requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200161527
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type semiconductor, an n-type semiconductor, and a depletion layer located at a pn junction interface of the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor. At least one of the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor is a degenerate semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO, Shinji Munetoh, Osamu Furukimi
  • Patent number: 10648388
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust system component having excellent properties to be located in an exhaust flow path from an internal combustion engine, particularly, an exhaust system component having an extended use-life. The exhaust system component of the present invention for an internal combustion engine has a self-healing ceramic material and an electric heater for heating the self-healing ceramic material. In particular, the exhaust system component of the present invention is an oxygen sensor having a detection element and an electric heater, wherein the detection element has a solid electrolyte layer, a reference-side electrode layer, an exhaust-side electrode layer, and a diffusion layer and/or a trap layer each composed of a self-healing ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Takeuchi, Noriaki Kumagai, Go Hayashita, Masakazu Tabata, Hirokazu Ito, Kazuhiro Sugimoto, Hiroki Murata
  • Publication number: 20190331081
    Abstract: AMP (2-Amino-2-Methyl-1, 3-Propanediol) does not release the absorbed heat during temperature drop but releases it during temperature rise. Also, AMP keeps a solid state upon the heat release. The heat storage material which is the aggregate of AMP is arranged to exchange heat with the subject for warm-up. In the warm-up acceleration control, it is judged whether or not there is a request for warm-up to the subject for warm-up (step S10). If it is judged that there is the request for warm-up, it is judged whether or not the radiation condition of the heat storage material is satisfied (step S12). If it is judged that the radiation condition is satisfied, the heater is started to operate (step S14). By operating the heater, the heat storage material is directly or indirectly heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro SUGIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10454011
    Abstract: A malfunction detection device is provided for a power generator that includes a thermoelectric transducer module including, as a plurality of thermoelectric transducers, a plurality of semiconductor single crystals in which the band gap energy of an intrinsic semiconductor part is lower than the band gap energies of an n-type semiconductor part and a p-type semiconductor part. The malfunction detection device performs a malfunction detection of the power generator on a transducer-to-transducer basis. According to this malfunction detection process, the temperatures at three points of the thermoelectric transducer are detected or estimated. An estimated electromotive voltage is calculated on the basis of the temperatures at three points that are defected or estimated. A malfunction of the power generator is detected when the absolute value of the difference between the estimated electromotive voltage and an actual electromotive voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sugimoto