Patents by Inventor Koji Katano
Koji Katano 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).
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Patent number: 9742015Abstract: To provide a technique to suppress an excessive rise of pressure between two pressure reducing valves if the amount of fuel gas consumed by a fuel cell stack decreases. A fuel gas supply apparatus comprises: a gas passage in which fuel gas to be supplied to a fuel cell stack flows; a first pressure reducing valve provided to the gas passage; a second pressure reducing valve provided to the gas passage and disposed at a downstream side of the first pressure reducing valve; a setting module that sets a value of target pressure at a downstream side of the second pressure reducing valve, to a value depending on a consumed amount of fuel gas consumed by the fuel cell stack; and a modifying module that, if the consumed amount decreases by a prescribed amount or more, modifies the value of target pressure of the second pressure reducing valve to a value greater than a corresponding value that corresponds to the consumed amount subsequent to the decrease.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2006Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Katano
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Publication number: 20170222442Abstract: A voltage converter system comprises a plurality of voltage conversion circuits, each of the voltage conversion circuits includes a reactor and a switching element, a controller, and a single current sensor connected with the reactors of two voltage conversion circuits and configured to be used in common by the two voltage conversion circuits in order to measure the reactor current. When only one voltage conversion circuit out of the two voltage conversion circuits is driven as an object circuit, the controller repeatedly performs a correction amount learning process. When the measured current value approaches the target value to be within a predetermined range or when the correction amount learning process has been performed a predetermined number of times, the controller changes the object circuit from the one voltage conversion circuit to the other voltage conversion circuit, and repeatedly performs the correction amount learning process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji KATANO
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Publication number: 20170214071Abstract: A fuel cell unit includes a fuel cell and a converter. A fuel cell has single cells laminated in a given direction. A converter has a plurality of combinations of a reactor electrically connected with the fuel cell and a power module electrically connected with the reactor. At least either a direction in which first reactors among the reactors are arrayed or a direction in which first power modules among the power modules are arrayed is parallel with a laminating direction of the single cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji KATANO, Hiroyuki SEKINE
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Publication number: 20170207634Abstract: A controller of a fuel cell system performs a starting operation that switches on a first precharge circuit so as to reduce a voltage difference between a first smoothing capacitor and a second smoothing capacitor and subsequently turns on a first relay, when a start switch is turned on in a system off state that the first relay is off. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition including at least one of a condition that a difference between the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor and the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor is equal to or greater than a first reference value and a condition that the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor is equal to or higher than a second reference value, the controller uses a second converter to charge the second smoothing capacitor so as to bring the voltage of the second smoothing capacitor closer to the voltage of the first smoothing capacitor, and subsequently switches the first precharge circuit from off to on.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji KATANO, Masahiro IMANISHI
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Patent number: 9711812Abstract: A piping unit includes a cathode gas supply passage arranged to supply a cathode gas, and a cathode gas discharge passage arranged to discharge a cathode off-gas. The cathode gas supply passage includes a cathode supply valve, upstream cathode gas piping and downstream cathode gas piping. The cathode gas discharge passage includes a cathode exhaust valve, upstream cathode off-gas piping and downstream cathode off-gas piping. The cathode gas supply passage and the cathode gas discharge passage are connected with each other by cathode bypass piping and are integrated with each other by joining the cathode supply valve with the upstream cathode off-gas piping.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Katano, Naritsune Miyanaga, Takashi Mishima
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Patent number: 9676352Abstract: A power distribution device is electrically connected to a battery, a power control unit that controls electric power in a vehicle, and high-voltage driven devices driven at a specified voltage or higher. The power distribution device distributes electric power supplied from the battery to the high-voltage driven devices, the power distribution device is installed in a front portion of the vehicle, and a high-voltage power line is disposed behind a position at which the power distribution device is installed. The power distribution device includes a projected portion provided on a surface of a case of the power distribution device, the projected portion having a height corresponding to a vehicle component disposed behind the power distribution device in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Katano
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Publication number: 20160231391Abstract: A cell monitor connector is provided that can prevent detachment of the cell monitor connector from a fuel cell device with a simple configuration. A connector 4 for measuring voltage has a housing 41 with a plurality of slits 45 formed therein and an end of a separator 21 of a plurality of fuel cells 2 can be inserted into the slits 45. The housing 41 has a rib 46R at at least one end in the stacking direction of the fuel cells 2 such that the rib 46R projects in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji KATANO, Tsutomu SHIRAKAWA, Hiroyuki IMANISHI
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Publication number: 20160137098Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle, which is capable of preventing direct input of an impact to an external power feeding device that stores a high-voltage component, and is capable of protecting the external power feeding device. A vehicle 100 includes: an external power feeding device 70 that stores a high-voltage component for performing external power feeding; and a secondary battery 60 that stores a part of electric power, both of which are provided in a rear in a travel direction of the vehicle 100. The external power feeding device 70 is disposed in front of a rear end 61 of the secondary battery 60, and is disposed below a lower end 62 of the secondary battery 60 in a vertical direction when viewed from a side.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji KATANO, Akiyoshi FURUZAWA
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Publication number: 20160134046Abstract: Provided is a connector cover structure that can fasten a connector cover without support for the connector cover with a finger and showing a high degree of assembly of a cover member in fabrication. The connector cover structure covers connects 61 and 62 for passage of high-voltage current provided in a casing 51 housing a high-voltage component in a vehicle 10. The connector cover structure includes connector covers 71 and 72 each having a flat surface along a vertical direction, first anchoring parts 91 and second anchoring parts 74 provided in the connector covers 71 and 72, fastening holes 92 formed in the connector covers 71 and 72 and configured to fasten the connector covers 71 and 72 to the casing 51, and float preventing mechanisms 95 for pressing the surfaces of the connector covers 71 and 72.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akiyoshi FURUZAWA, Koji KATANO
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Patent number: 9327613Abstract: An arrangement structure of an inverter in a fuel cell vehicle, capable of protecting the inverter from an impact during a vehicle collision with a simple configuration, is provided. The inverter is arranged on a frame in an inclined posture so that an outer side surface faces the power control unit and so that a hydrogen side output connector is directed downward of the power control unit, and the hydrogen side output connector and a hydrogen side wire are connected through below the power control unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Katano, Tsutomu Shirakawa
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Patent number: 9325109Abstract: An electrical connector is provided and includes a housing and plurality of contacts. The a housing includes a partition wall. The plurality of contacts are alternatively arranged along a plurality of rows in the housing such that adjacent rows of the plurality of rows are separated by the partition wall and offset with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.Inventors: Fumito Nagashima, Tsutomu Shirakawa, Koji Katano
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Patent number: 9209466Abstract: A fuel cell system equipped with a fuel cell, a pressure control unit, and an exhaust. The pressure control unit is provided on the fuel gas flow path in which the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell flows, and it is able to control the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell. The exhaust valve is provided on the fuel exhaust gas flow path in which the fuel exhaust gas exhausted from the fuel cell flows, and when the valve is opened, at least a portion of the fuel exhaust gas can be exhausted to outside the fuel exhaust gas flow path. The pressure control unit is controlled, so that before opening the exhaust valve, the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is decreased beyond what it was up to that point. Then, when the pressure of the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell is the decreased first pressure, the exhaust valve is opened.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2010Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Katano
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Patent number: 9199550Abstract: This fuel cell vehicle comprises a DC-DC converter constituted of a power input portion, reactors, and switching circuit sections. Connecting portions of the power input portion to the reactors and connecting portions of the reactors to the switching circuit sections in the DC-DC converter are all arranged side by side along a forward-backward direction of the vehicle, and arranged in this state on the side of one side surface of the DC-DC converter on one of the right side and left side of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine, Ikuhiro Nakamura
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Patent number: 9166235Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell stack in which end plates are respectively disposed at two ends of a unit-cell stack of unit cells in the stacking direction, and in which a fuel gas channel for conveying a fuel gas along surfaces of one of the end plates in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the one end plate is formed within the one end plate; an injector that is integrally provided in one of the surfaces of the one end plate and that injects the fuel gas into the fuel gas channel; and a relief valve that is integrally provided in the other of the surfaces of the one end plate and that prevents overpressure in the fuel gas channel. The relief valve is disposed at a position offset from an injection axis of the injector.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Katano
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Publication number: 20150246621Abstract: An arrangement structure of an inverter in a fuel cell vehicle, capable of protecting the inverter from an impact during a vehicle collision with a simple configuration, is provided. The inverter is arranged on a frame in an inclined posture so that an outer side surface faces the power control unit and so that a hydrogen side output connector is directed downward of the power control unit, and the hydrogen side output connector and a hydrogen side wire are connected through below the power control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: September 3, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Katano, Tsutomu Shirakawa
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Publication number: 20150197165Abstract: A protection bar is arranged between a fuel cell casing and a DC-DC converter in the left-right direction of a fuel cell vehicle. Two fastening surfaces, each being a part of the fuel cell casing, and an FDC flange, which is a part of the DC-DC converter, are fastened and fixed to each other, with one being vertically superimposed on the other, in a space above or below the protection bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Katano, Hiroyuki Sekine, Ikuhiro Nakamura
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Patent number: 9034537Abstract: Provided is fuel cell system capable of eliminating any failure caused by freezing of a discharge valve during a low temperature while preventing an increase in size of the system. A fuel cell system is provided, the system including: a fuel cell; a diluter that dilutes a fuel-off gas discharged from the fuel cell with an oxidant-off gas discharged from the fuel cell to discharge the resulting gas to the outside; a fuel-off gas flow path that connects the fuel cell and the diluter; and a discharge valve that is provided to the fuel-off gas flow path to discharge a fuel-off gas flowing through the fuel-off gas flow path to the outside during a valve opening operation. In the fuel cell system, the discharge valve is integrally attached to the diluter.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji Katano
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Patent number: 9029035Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cell stack body formed by stacking fuel cells on top of each other, end plates arranged at ends in the cell stacking direction of the cell stack body, and a fluid regulation device mounted in a flow path connected to the cell stack body and regulating conditions of fluid flowing in the flow path. The fluid regulation device is fixed to an end plate only at either of a fluid entrance portion and a fluid exit portion of the fluid regulation device.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Katano, Toshiyuki Inagaki, Nobutaka Teshima
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Publication number: 20150097424Abstract: A power distribution device is electrically connected to a battery, a power control unit that controls electric power in a vehicle, and high-voltage driven devices driven at a specified voltage or higher. The power distribution device distributes electric power supplied from the battery to the high-voltage driven devices, the power distribution device is installed in a front portion of the vehicle, and a high-voltage power line is disposed behind a position at which the power distribution device is installed. The power distribution device includes a projected portion provided on a surface of a case of the power distribution device, the projected portion having a height corresponding to a vehicle component disposed behind the power distribution device in the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Koji KATANO
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Patent number: 8986901Abstract: A fuel cell system includes an air supply flow path configured to supply the air to a fuel cell, a reed valve provided in the air supply flow path, an air exhaust flow path configured to allow the air discharged from the fuel cell to flow therethrough, a pressure regulating valve provided in the air exhaust flow path and configured to adjust back pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass flow path configured to connect an upstream section of the air supply flow path upstream of the reed valve with the air exhaust flow path, and a bypass valve provided in the bypass flow path and configured to open and close the bypass flow path. The fuel cell system reduces the opening of the pressure regulating valve with supplying the air to the fuel cell in the closed position of the bypass valve, so as to increase the pressure of the air upstream of the pressure regulating valve, and subsequently opens the bypass valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Katano