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).
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Publication number: 20240190284Abstract: A management apparatus manages charging of electrified vehicles with at least one charger. The management apparatus includes a processor programmed to adjust allocation between a booking time slot to book charging with the at least one charger and a free time slot to allow charging with the at least one charger without a booking.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2023Publication date: June 13, 2024Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Osamu YUMITA, Kuniaki NIIMI, Keisuke KOMORI, Masayoshi SUHAMA, Atsushi INOUE
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Publication number: 20180118192Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takaya SOMA, Kuniaki NIIMI
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Patent number: 9724992Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Publication number: 20170021714Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2015Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki NIIMI
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Patent number: 9242635Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 9242577Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 9108634Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 9067597Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Publication number: 20150066269Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Kuniaki NIIMI
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Patent number: 8948952Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Publication number: 20140180519Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2011Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Publication number: 20140163799Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2011Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 8589052Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Publication number: 20130041540Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2010Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 8290652Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kuniaki Niimi
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Patent number: 8151555Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Takanori Ueda, Kenichi Tsujimoto
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Patent number: 8087236Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanori Ueda, Tomihisa Oda, Kuniaki Niimi, Kenichi Tsujimoto
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Patent number: 8028514Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Kenichi Tsujimoto, Tomihisa Oda, Shinya Hirota, Takanori Ueda
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Patent number: 7963102Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 9, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kuniaki Niimi, Tomihisa Oda, Takanori Ueda
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Publication number: 20110139096Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kuniaki Niimi