Patents by Inventor Koichi Kato

Koichi 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: 10054301
    Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light source; a drive circuit that drives the light source to emit a light, and includes a circuit element and a circuit board, on which the circuit element and the light source are arranged; and a case that covers the drive circuit. The circuit board includes a radiation member, disposed in a region where the light source is arranged, for radiating heat generated from the light source. The case is connected with the circuit element, and radiates heat generated from the circuit element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Kato
  • Patent number: 10017040
    Abstract: A drive unit for a hybrid-vehicle to realize a variety of drive modes for covering various running conditions. A first planetary gear unit is included of a first carrier, a first sun gear, and a first ring gear. A second planetary gear unit is included of a second carrier, a second sun gear, and a second ring gear. A first clutch connects the engine selectively with the first carrier. A first motor is connected with the first sun gear, the second motor is connected with the second sun gear, and the first ring gear and the second ring gear are individually connected with an output member. The drive unit is with a second clutch for connecting the first carrier selectively with the second sun gear. In the drive unit, a reverse stage fixing-mode to propel the vehicle backwardly while changes the output member speed in accordance with the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20180181087
    Abstract: While a production apparatus is operating, a computation unit of an analysis device performs main predictive computation on an acceptability in real time by using one or more operating predictors selected from among a plurality of predictors. When the main predictive computation is not performed, the computation unit performs subsidiary predictive computation on the acceptability by using one or more subsidiary predictors that are not selected from among the plurality of predictors. The computation unit performs processing of interchanging the operating predictors and the subsidiary predictors based on prediction accuracies of the operating predictors and prediction accuracies of the subsidiary predictors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayato Komatsu, Koichi Kato
  • Patent number: 9984832
    Abstract: A touch sensor includes a hollow tubular member that is elastic and insulative; and a first electrode wire and a second electrode wire held in the tubular member while being separated from each other. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire contact with each other by elastic deformation when receiving an external pressure to the tubular member. The first electrode wire and the second electrode wire extend parallel to a central axis of the tubular member. A shape of a gap between the first electrode wire and the second electrode wire in a cross section orthogonal to the central axis of the tubular member is non-linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Takaba, Kenji Hirose, Koichi Kato, Takashi Fujieda, Keisuke Sugita, Kazuhide Oda, Toshihiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9956954
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicle for extending a possible travelling distance of the vehicle in the event of clutch failure is provided. The control system is configured to select a first drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by an engine in case an estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is larger than a first threshold value, and to select a second drive mode in which the vehicle is powered by a motor in case the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in trouble is smaller than the first threshold value. The control system is further configured to reduce an engine torque to be smaller than the estimated torque transmitting capacity of the clutch in case the first drive mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9944279
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly shift a drive mode. In the single-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by a second motor while bringing an engagement device into disengagement and stopping the engine. In the dual-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by both a first motor and the second motor while bringing the engagement device into engagement and stopping a rotation of the output shaft of the engine by a stopper device. When shifting the drive mode from the single-motor mode to the dual-motor mode, the control system controls the first motor in a manner such that a speed difference between an input speed and an output speed of the engagement device is reduced while increasing a torque transmitting capacity of the engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20180100541
    Abstract: A concave portion provided in at least one of the first assembled surface, and other assembled surfaces for fastening the driving force source, in the region corresponding to the outer race of the tapered roller bearing, the other assembled surfaces provided to one of the fixed component and the driving force source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi KATO, Shinichi BABA, Shinichiro SUENAGA, Iori MATSUDA, Mitsutaka TSUCHIDA, Akiko NISHIMINE
  • Patent number: 9917313
    Abstract: An apparatus using fuel gas is provided, ensuring charge amount of a battery. The apparatus includes battery, fuel gas reservoir unit, fuel lid, open/close detection unit for detecting open/close state of fuel lid, fuel gas condition detection unit for detecting pressure and/or temperature being condition of fuel gas reserved in the fuel gas reservoir unit, communication unit for communication with fuel gas supply device, and control unit for, upon reception of signal notifying that fuel lid is in open state from open/close detection unit, performing dispensing communication to notify the fuel gas supply device, via communication unit, of condition of fuel gas having been input from fuel gas condition detection unit. The control unit stops dispensing communication when control unit has determined, according to signal received from open/close detection unit that predetermined time has elapsed with the fuel lid remaining in open state after starting dispensing communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Kato, Koichi Takaku, Taneaki Miura, Hiroyasu Ozaki, Saneto Asano
  • Publication number: 20180065617
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a rotation detector and electronic control unit. The rotation detector is configured to detect a rotational state of the third rotational element of the hybrid vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to control a first motor generator of the hybrid vehicle such that output torque of the first motor generator becomes zero when the electronic control unit determines, based on the rotational state of the third rotational element, that the third rotational element has a rotational fluctuation while the hybrid vehicle is travelling in a dual drive motor travelling mode. The dual drive motor travelling mode is a mode in which the hybrid vehicle travels while both the first motor generator and a second motor generator serve as driving force sources for travelling in a state where a first rotational element is fixed by a lock mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michitaka TSUCHIDA, Michinobu SUZUKI, Yosuke SUZUKI, Shinichi BABA, Koichi KATO, Shinichiro SUENAGA
  • Publication number: 20180015917
    Abstract: In a drive control system for a vehicle configured to cause the vehicle to travel in a limp-home mode when a malfunction occurs in a selectable one-way clutch, when it is determined that a malfunction occurs in the SOWC, the cause of the malfunction is specified as one of a plate-open failure of a selector plate that is unintentionally placed in an open state, and a sensor failure. In the case of the plate-open failure, a first limp-home traveling mode is carried out in which the vehicle travels in the limp-home mode while keeping the SOWC in a negative rotational speed range. In the case of the sensor failure, a second limp-home traveling mode is carried out in which the vehicle travels in the limp-home mode while the SOWC is placed in the non-engaged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji ITAGAKI, Naofumi Magarida, Koichi Kato
  • Patent number: 9864322
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a charging member to charge the surface of the image bearer; an irradiating member to irradiate the surface of the image bearer to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image bearer; an developing member to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a visible toner image on the surface of the image bearer; and a transferring member to transfer the toner image onto a transfer material. The image bearer includes a charge generation layer including an asymmetrical disazo pigment and a metal-free phthalocyanine pigment, and a charge transport layer. The irradiating member forms the electrostatic latent image at an irradiation energy greater than a half decay exposure of the image bearer and not greater than 2.5 times of the half decay exposure. The image bearer is not discharged every image forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Yoshihara, Koichi Kato
  • Publication number: 20180001884
    Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a power split mechanism, and a selectable one-way clutch. The hybrid vehicle is configured to increase and transmit a rotation speed of the engine to an output shaft to drive the output shaft in an overdrive state when the selectable one-way clutch is in the engaged state. The controller includes an electronic control unit configured to control the first electric motor such that an engine brake equivalent torque with a magnitude sufficient to maintain the locked state of the selectable one-way clutch is output in a direction opposite to a direction of a negative torque which is generated in the engine when the hybrid vehicle travels in a state in which supply of fuel to the engine is stopped in the overdrive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji ITAGAKI, Naofumi MAGARIDA, Koichi KATO
  • Patent number: 9845878
    Abstract: A sealing structure enables easy fitting of an endless backup ring and includes: tank main body having filling chamber body with filling chamber and mouthpiece portion formed in cylindrical shape integrally with filling chamber body; valve body having insertion portion inserted in mouthpiece portion; O-ring provided between mouthpiece portion and insertion portion; and first backup ring endless and disposed on one side of O-ring to restrict movement of O-ring, wherein annular housing groove is formed on inner circumferential surface of mouthpiece portion such as to be recessed outward with respect to radial direction in order to house O-ring and first backup ring, wherein mouthpiece portion is provided with first cylindrical portion integral with filling chamber body and second cylindrical portion attachable/detachable along axial direction to/from first cylindrical portion, and wherein housing groove is divided along axial direction to face outward when second cylindrical portion detaches from first cylindri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taneaki Miura, Koichi Takaku, Koichi Kato, Saneto Asano, Hiroyasu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9834203
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for preventing malfunction of the clutch for selectively connecting the engine with the power train. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having an engine, a motor disposed on a power train, and a clutch interposed therebetween. In order to prevent a malfunction of the clutch, the vehicle control system is configured to engage the clutch while causing a slip but without starting the engine if the engine has not yet been started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9825318
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel cell system includes detecting a pressure in a fuel supply path located downstream of a pressure reducing valve using a pressure sensor. Whether or not the pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure is determined. The pressure in the fuel supply path located downstream of the pressure reducing is reduced when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Kato, Koichi Takaku
  • Patent number: 9815400
    Abstract: A headlight control device provided in a vehicle to perform headlight control and to control a distribution of light irradiated from a light source is provided. The headlight control device includes: a determination unit that determines a presence and an absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle and determines a position of the obstacle; a setting unit that sets up an area covering the obstacle as an intensified illumination area when the determination unit determines the presence of the obstacle, wherein the intensified illumination area is an area to which the light from the light source is irradiated in a manner different than a peripheral area of the intensified illumination area; and a controller that controls the distribution of the light irradiated from the light source so that the intensified illumination area set up by the setting unit has an illuminated zone and a non-illuminated zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Nishii, Naohito Kato, Koichi Kato, Kazuya Asaoka, Sho Masuda
  • Patent number: 9783191
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a differential mechanism, and a clutch. The control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (a) set an EV mode in which a vehicle travels at least by drive power of the second motor among the first motor and the second motor in a state that the engine stops, (b) prohibit setting of the EV mode in a state that the clutch is fully engaged when a vehicle speed is at least equal to a predetermined first vehicle speed threshold value, and (c) prohibit setting of the EV mode in a state that the clutch is disengaged when the vehicle speed of the vehicle that travels in the EV mode is at most equal to a predetermined second vehicle speed threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9783097
    Abstract: A headlight control device provided in a vehicle to perform headlight control and to control a distribution of light irradiated from a light source is provided. The headlight control device includes: a determination unit that determines a presence and an absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle and determines a position of the obstacle; a setting unit that sets up an area covering the obstacle as an intensified illumination area when the determination unit determines the presence of the obstacle, wherein the intensified illumination area is an area to which the light from the light source is irradiated in a manner different than a peripheral area of the intensified illumination area; and a controller that controls the distribution of the light irradiated from the light source so that the intensified illumination area set up by the setting unit has an illuminated zone and a non-illuminated zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Nishii, Naohito Kato, Koichi Kato, Kazuya Asaoka, Sho Masuda
  • Patent number: 9758161
    Abstract: At the time of changing from an EV mode, in which a hybrid vehicle travels with the use of a second motor provided on an output side of a differential mechanism while torque that acts on any one of rotating elements of the differential mechanism is interrupted by a clutch, to an HV mode, in which the hybrid vehicle travels while transmitting output torque of an engine to a drive wheel, when the engine is started in a state where the clutch is slipped and torque is transmitted from the engine so as to increase the rotation speed of the first rotating element while the clutch is slipped, torque starts being output from a first motor such that torque input from the first rotating element to the differential mechanism to increase the rotation speed of the drive wheel is output from the third rotating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Publication number: 20170248274
    Abstract: A valve mechanism includes a first plunger, a second plunger, a seal member, and a valve element. The first plunger has a thread engaging with a threaded portion provided on an inner wall of the flow passage. The first plunger is movable along the axis by rotating around the axis. The second plunger has a first end and a second end. The first end engages with the first plunger such that the first plunger is relatively rotatable with respect to the second plunger. The second plunger is movable along the axis by rotating the first plunger. The seal member is provided to surround the second plunger. The valve element has a back end engaging with the second end such that the valve element is movable along the axis according to movement of the second plunger so as to be seated on and separated from a valve seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu OZAKI, Koichi TAKAKU, Koichi KATO