Patents by Inventor Kuniaki Niimi

Kuniaki Niimi 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).

  • Publication number: 20180118192
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, an inverter, an electric power storage device, a transmission, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform control such that the inverter regeneratively drives the motor, when the electrical system temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, set an amount of change of a gear ratio to a down-shift side based on an electrical system temperature and regenerative torque of the motor, and set target gear ratio such that the gear ratio changes to the down-shift side by the amount of change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaya SOMA, Kuniaki NIIMI
  • Patent number: 9724992
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a first rotating electrical machine, a second rotating electrical machine, a clutch, an electrical storage device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first rotating electrical machine, the second rotating electrical machine, the clutch, and the internal combustion engine, such that the hybrid vehicle runs while making a changeover among a plurality of running modes. The plurality of the running modes includes series hybrid running and parallel hybrid running. The electronic control unit is configured to set a range of state of charge of the electrical storage device such that the range of state of charge that is set during the parallel hybrid running includes a region of state of charge that is higher than the range of state of charge that is set during the series hybrid running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20170021714
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a first rotating electrical machine, a second rotating electrical machine, a clutch, an electrical storage device, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the first rotating electrical machine, the second rotating electrical machine, the clutch, and the internal combustion engine, such that the hybrid vehicle runs while making a changeover among a plurality of running modes. The plurality of the running modes includes series hybrid running and parallel hybrid running. The electronic control unit is configured to set a range of state of charge of the electrical storage device such that the range of state of charge that is set during the parallel hybrid running includes a region of state of charge that is higher than the range of state of charge that is set during the series hybrid running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki NIIMI
  • Patent number: 9242635
    Abstract: ECU executes a program including a step of driving a fan when a vehicle is in an EV running and an intake air temperature Tair is higher than a threshold value T (0), and a step of stopping driving of the fan when the vehicle is not in the EV running or intake air temperature Tair is lower than or equal to Tair (0).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9242577
    Abstract: A distance sensor detects a distance to an object in front of a vehicle. An ECU executes pre-crash control when the detected distance becomes equal to or smaller than a prescribed value. A regeneration level selector selects a regeneration level of a motor in accordance with driver's operation. A motor makes regenerative braking force at the time of turning off an accelerator larger when the selected regeneration level is high than when the selected regeneration level is low. The ECU makes the prescribed value larger when the selected regeneration level is low than when the selected regeneration level is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9108634
    Abstract: A vehicle drive control device in a vehicle has an engine and an electric motor for running, the vehicle running with at least one of the engine and the electric motor for running used as a drive power source for running, the vehicle drive control device rotating the engine remaining in a no-drive state if a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination vehicle speed during vehicle running with the engine in the no-drive state, the vehicle drive control device making the determination vehicle speed higher when a gradient of a running road surface on which the vehicle is running is larger, the gradient having a positive direction corresponding to descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9067597
    Abstract: A vehicle drive control device in a vehicle has an engine and an electric motor for running, the vehicle running with at least one of the engine and the electric motor for running used as a drive power source for running, the vehicle drive control device rotating the engine remaining in a no-drive state if a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination vehicle speed during vehicle running with the engine in the no-drive state, the vehicle drive control device making the determination vehicle speed higher when a gradient of a running road surface on which the vehicle is running is larger, the gradient having a positive direction corresponding to descent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20150066269
    Abstract: A distance sensor detects a distance to an object in front of a vehicle. An ECU executes pre-crash control when the detected distance becomes equal to or smaller than a prescribed value. A regeneration level selector selects a regeneration level of a motor in accordance with driver's operation. A motor makes regenerative braking force at the time of turning off an accelerator larger when the selected regeneration level is high than when the selected regeneration level is low. The ECU makes the prescribed value larger when the selected regeneration level is low than when the selected regeneration level is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Kuniaki NIIMI
  • Patent number: 8948952
    Abstract: A vehicle incorporates an engine to which an engine-related component is attached, a battery charged with electric power supplied from an external power supply, and an electric motor as a driving source to which electric power is supplied from the battery. An ECU causes at least one of the engine-related component and the battery to be heated, using the electric power supplied from outside while the electric power is being supplied from outside, in accordance with a distance over which the vehicle can run by driving the electric motor alone and a distance to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20140180519
    Abstract: A vehicle incorporates an engine to which an engine-related component is attached, a battery charged with electric power supplied from an external power supply, and an electric motor as a driving source to which electric power is supplied from the battery. An ECU causes at least one of the engine-related component and the battery to be heated, using the electric power supplied from outside while the electric power is being supplied from outside, in accordance with a distance over which the vehicle can run by driving the electric motor alone and a distance to a destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20140163799
    Abstract: A vehicle drive control device in a vehicle has an engine and an electric motor for running, the vehicle running with at least one of the engine and the electric motor for running used as a drive power source for running, the vehicle drive control device rotating the engine remaining in a no-drive state if a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination vehicle speed during vehicle running with the engine in the no-drive state, the vehicle drive control device making the determination vehicle speed higher when a gradient of a running road surface on which the vehicle is running is larger, the gradient having a positive direction corresponding to descent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 8589052
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electric power and that is able to supply an external device with electric power generated by the generator during a stop of the vehicle includes: a detecting unit that detects a coolant temperature of the internal combustion engine; and an efficiency control unit that controls the internal combustion engine so that, during a stop of the vehicle, an operating state of the internal combustion engine approaches an operating state where an efficiency of the internal combustion engine becomes a predetermined efficiency as a difference between the coolant temperature and a predetermined upper limit temperature increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Publication number: 20130041540
    Abstract: A control device functions as a vehicular control device to control electrically charging/discharging an electrical storage device. The control device includes a fuel calculation unit which calculates an amount of fuel consumed used to electrically charge the electrical storage device, a charge calculation unit which calculates electrical energy charged to the electrical storage device, and an evaluation unit which calculates a numerical evaluation from a result of a calculation done by the fuel calculation unit and that done by the charge calculation unit for an amount of fuel consumed corresponding to an amount of electric power charged in the electrical storage device availably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 8290652
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which outputs motive power to a drive shaft from an internal combustion engine and motor generators as motive power sources, including: a recirculating gas control portion that performs valve opening control on a recirculation valve so that an amount of recirculating exhaust reaches a control target valve, and that closes the recirculation valve completely when a deceleration request by a driver is detected; a throttle control portion that performs valve closing control on a throttle valve so that the amount of air circulating through an intake pipe decreases at a predetermined speed when the deceleration request issued by the driver is detected; and a braking control portion that controls regenerative braking forces of the motor generators so that at least one of the motor generators absorbs the motive power generated by the engine while valve closing control is executed on the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 8151555
    Abstract: Provided is a technology enabling a temperature of an exhaust gas purifying device to rise more surely by operating an electric heater for a catalyst attached with the electric heater more steadily without exerting an excessive load on a battery. Included are the battery and the electric heater operating upon being supplied with electric power from the battery and heating an occlusion-reduction type NOx catalyst, wherein it is predicted, from a point that a SOx occluded quantity into the occlusion-reduction type NOx catalyst is equal to or larger than S1, that a SOx poisoning recovery process will be executed in near future (S102), and a charging level of the battery is increased (S106) by raising a voltage of power generation of an alternator (S103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Takanori Ueda, Kenichi Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8087236
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes a first exhaust passage (22a) and a second exhaust passage (22b) into which an exhaust passage (21) of the internal combustion engine is bifurcated. NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b) and particulate filters (24a, 24b) are provided in each of the exhaust passages (22a, 22b). Fuel is supplied from a fuel valve (32) when NOx is to be released from the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b). At a timing when the supplied fuel attaches to the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b), one of exhaust control valves, for example, a first exhaust control valve (26a) is temporarily closed so as to keep the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas rich. When NOx is released from the NOx storage reduction catalysts (23a, 23b) next time, a second exhaust control valve (26b) is temporarily closed after the fuel is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Ueda, Tomihisa Oda, Kuniaki Niimi, Kenichi Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8028514
    Abstract: The problem is to regenerate the purification ability of an exhaust gas purification device more reliably or efficiently in an exhaust gas purification system that combines a plurality of branch passages branch off from an exhaust gas passage and exhaust gas purification devices. When the purification ability of an exhaust gas purification device is regenerated, in the branch passage where the exhaust gas purification device is provided whose purification ability is to be regenerated, the opening angle of an exhaust gas flow volume control valve is set to the minimum opening angle that can reliably transport a reducing agent that is added from a reducing agent addition section. While the opening angle is maintained, the reducing agent is added. After the addition of the reducing agent is complete, the opening angle of an exhaust gas flow volume control valve is closed completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Kenichi Tsujimoto, Tomihisa Oda, Shinya Hirota, Takanori Ueda
  • Patent number: 7963102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology enabling regeneration of the purification performance of an exhaust purification device more reliably and more efficiently in an exhaust purification system combining a plurality of branch passages bifurcating from an exhaust passage and an exhaust purification device provided in each branch passage. When regenerating the purification performance of a first exhaust purification device provided in a first branch passage, a second valve provided in a second branch passage is set at a predetermined first intermediate opening and a first valve provided in the first branch passage is fully closed. Fuel is then added from a first fuel addition valve provided in the first branch passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Takanori Ueda
  • Publication number: 20110139096
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the internal combustion engine to generate electric power and that is able to supply an external device with electric power generated by the generator during a stop of the vehicle includes: a detecting unit that detects a coolant temperature of the internal combustion engine; and an efficiency control unit that controls the internal combustion engine so that, during a stop of the vehicle, an operating state of the internal combustion engine approaches an operating state where an efficiency of the internal combustion engine becomes a predetermined efficiency as a difference between the coolant temperature and a predetermined upper limit temperature increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 7908844
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a first exhaust passage and second exhaust passage branched from an exhaust passage are provided. An NOx storing reduction catalyst and a particulate filter are arranged in each exhaust passage. For example, when NOx should be released from the NOx storing reduction catalyst in the first exhaust passage, fuel is added from a fuel addition valve in the state with exhaust gas allowed to flow into only the first exhaust passage, while when the added fuel sticks to the NOx storing reduction catalyst, the first exhaust control valve is temporarily closed and the exhaust gas is made a rich air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Kamoshita, Shigeru Itabashi, Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Shinya Hirota