Patents by Inventor Kunihiko Jinno

Kunihiko Jinno 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: 11731608
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes: a prediction unit that acquires position information on a parking place where parking time is predicted to exceed a prescribed threshold value in a travel route of the hybrid vehicle; and a target setting unit that sets a target state of charge of the battery and to change setting of the target state of charge from a first state of charge to a second state of charge that is lower than the first state of charge when the hybrid vehicle satisfies an approach condition to the parking place. A charge and discharge amount of the battery when the state of charge of the battery becomes equal to or less than the second state of charge is controlled to be smaller than the charge and discharge amount of the battery when the state of charge of the battery is larger than the second state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sasaki, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 11613232
    Abstract: A defrosting control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry calculates a frost formation rate, indicating a frost formation amount of a windowpane on which frost is formed at an estimated departure time of a vehicle, based on frost formation information and the estimated departure time. The processing circuitry calculates an operation period of a defroster needed to remove frost from the windowpane based on the frost formation rate. The processing circuitry determines that an activation time of the defroster is a time earlier than the estimated departure time by the operation period. The processing circuitry transmits an operation request signal for starting operation of the defroster at the activation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Hoshino, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 11560038
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes an ambient temperature obtainment unit, a departure time estimation unit configured to estimate a departure time of a vehicle, an air conditioning condition calculator configured to calculate an operation period and an operation output that allow a passenger compartment temperature of the vehicle to reach a preset target temperature, an air conditioning start time determination unit configured to determine an activation time of an air conditioner, and an air conditioning controller. The air conditioning start time determination unit is configured to determine that the activation time is a time earlier than the departure time by the operation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Hoshino, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 11498389
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes an ambient temperature obtainment unit, a departure time estimation unit configured to estimate a departure time of a vehicle, an air conditioning condition calculator configured to calculate an operation period and an operation output that allow a passenger compartment temperature of the vehicle to reach a preset target temperature, an air conditioning start time determination unit configured to determine an activation time of an air conditioner, and an air conditioning controller. The air conditioning start time determination unit is configured to determine that the activation time is a time earlier than the departure time by the operation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Hoshino, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Publication number: 20220219668
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a prediction unit that acquires position information of a parking point where parking time of the hybrid vehicle on a travel route is predicted to exceed a threshold value; and a target setting unit that sets a target charge rate of the battery and changes the target chare rate to a second charge rate that is lower than a first charge rate in a normal state when the hybrid vehicle satisfies an approach condition of approaching the parking point. A charge and discharge amount is controlled such that a charge and discharge amount of the battery corresponding to the second charge rate when the target setting unit sets the target charge rate to the second charge rate is larger to a discharge side than a charge and discharge amount of the battery corresponding to the second charge rate in the normal state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Hirotaka SASAKI, Kunihiko JINNO
  • Publication number: 20220219672
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes: a prediction unit that acquires position information on a parking place where parking time is predicted to exceed a prescribed threshold value in a travel route of the hybrid vehicle; and a target setting unit that sets a target state of charge of the battery and to change setting of the target state of charge from a first state of charge to a second state of charge that is lower than the first state of charge when the hybrid vehicle satisfies an approach condition to the parking place. A charge and discharge amount of the battery when the state of charge of the battery becomes equal to or less than the second state of charge is controlled to be smaller than the charge and discharge amount of the battery when the state of charge of the battery is larger than the second state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Hirotaka SASAKI, Kunihiko JINNO
  • Patent number: 11292363
    Abstract: A charging system is installed outside an electric vehicle to charge an in-vehicle battery mounted in the electric vehicle. The charging system includes a charger that supplies electricity to the in-vehicle battery, an external cooling device that cools the in-vehicle battery, and an off-vehicle controller that controls driving of the charger and the external cooling device. The external cooling device has an external channel which is provided inside the charging system and through which an external refrigerant flows, cooling mechanisms that include at least a compressor and cool the external refrigerant, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the cooled external refrigerant and an internal refrigerant that flows inside the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery or outside air that is sent to the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimauchi, Makoto Mimoto, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 10974571
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes an in-vehicle air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circulation circuit including a compressor and an evaporator; a weather information acquiring section configured to acquire weather information at a current location of a vehicle; an evaporator drying determining section configured to estimate a water retention amount of the evaporator based on the weather information acquired by the weather information acquiring section and an operation state of the in-vehicle air conditioner, and to determine whether the evaporator is in a dry state; and a compressor stop permitting section configured to output a permission signal for permitting stop of the compressor on a condition that the evaporator drying determining section determines that the evaporator is in the dry state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rino Oshikiri, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 10814694
    Abstract: When an A/C switch is ON and a predetermined dehumidification condition is met, an ECU determines whether or not HV travel is selected. When the HV travel is selected, the ECU controls an air conditioning facility so that a heat pump cycle performs a cooling operation (dehumidification) and hot-water heating is used for the heating capability. When the EV travel is selected, the ECU controls the air conditioning facility so that the heat pump cycle performs dehumidification heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Kunihiko Jinno, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20200223398
    Abstract: A defrosting control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry calculates a frost formation rate, indicating a frost formation amount of a windowpane on which frost is formed at an estimated departure time of a vehicle, based on frost formation information and the estimated departure time. The processing circuitry calculates an operation period of a defroster needed to remove frost from the windowpane based on the frost formation rate. The processing circuitry determines that an activation time of the defroster is a time earlier than the estimated departure time by the operation period. The processing circuitry transmits an operation request signal for starting operation of the defroster at the activation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu HOSHINO, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Publication number: 20200223284
    Abstract: An air conditioning control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes an ambient temperature obtainment unit, a departure time estimation unit configured to estimate a departure time of a vehicle, an air conditioning condition calculator configured to calculate an operation period and an operation output that allow a passenger compartment temperature of the vehicle to reach a preset target temperature, an air conditioning start time determination unit configured to determine an activation time of an air conditioner, and an air conditioning controller. The air conditioning start time determination unit is configured to determine that the activation time is a time earlier than the departure time by the operation period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu HOSHINO, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Publication number: 20200223285
    Abstract: A ventilation control system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes a meteorological information obtainment unit configured to obtain meteorological information, a ventilation determination unit configured to determine whether a vehicle needs to be ventilated based on the meteorological information, a ventilation controller configured to output an operation request signal for requesting operation of a ventilation device, and a notification unit configured to output a notification inquiring whether to permit or reject ventilation when the ventilation determination unit determines that the vehicle needs to be ventilated. The ventilation controller is configured to output the operation request signal when a reply to the notification indicates that the ventilation is permitted. The ventilation controller is configured not to output the operation request signal when a reply to the notification indicates that the ventilation is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu Hoshino, Kunihiko Jinno
  • Patent number: 10703167
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control system includes: an air-conditioning device; and a control device configured to: acquire weather information; detect a boarding event; determine whether an amount of moisture brought in due to an external environment of a vehicle, which is an amount of moisture brought into the vehicle by the occupant at the time of the boarding event, is greater than a predetermined level on the basis of the weather information when a boarding event is detected by the boarding event detecting unit; and change the control information to a second state when it is determined that the amount of moisture brought in while the control information indicates a first state is greater than the predetermined level; control the air-conditioning device; and set a ventilation capacity of the air-conditioning device to be higher when the control information indicates the second state than when the control information indicates the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Maya Inui, Kunihiko Jinno, Kan Saitou
  • Publication number: 20190381865
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes an in-vehicle air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circulation circuit including a compressor and an evaporator; a weather information acquiring section configured to acquire weather information at a current location of a vehicle; an evaporator drying determining section configured to estimate a water retention amount of the evaporator based on the weather information acquired by the weather information acquiring section and an operation state of the in-vehicle air conditioner, and to determine whether the evaporator is in a dry state; and a compressor stop permitting section configured to output a permission signal for permitting stop of the compressor on a condition that the evaporator drying determining section determines that the evaporator is in the dry state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rino OSHIKIRI, Kunihiko JINNO
  • Patent number: 10421335
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an air conditioning apparatus configured to be capable of executing ventilation operation to supply air outside the vehicle into a passenger compartment, and cooling operation to supply cool air into the passenger compartment; and a control unit that causes the air conditioning apparatus to execute remote air conditioning in which air conditioning is performed while a user is not in the vehicle, and operated air conditioning in which air conditioning is performed by the user's operation while the user is in the vehicle. The control unit controls the air conditioning apparatus such that a condition in which the ventilation operation is executed in the remote air conditioning is more relaxed than a condition in which the ventilation operation is executed in the operated air conditioning. In this way, power consumption by pre-air conditioning can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Kunihiko Jinno, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20190241093
    Abstract: A charging system is installed outside an electric vehicle to charge an in-vehicle battery mounted in the electric vehicle. The charging system includes a charger that supplies electricity to the in-vehicle battery, an external cooling device that cools the in-vehicle battery, and an off-vehicle controller that controls driving of the charger and the external cooling device. The external cooling device has an external channel which is provided inside the charging system and through which an external refrigerant flows, cooling mechanisms that include at least a compressor and cool the external refrigerant, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the cooled external refrigerant and an internal refrigerant that flows inside the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery or outside air that is sent to the electric vehicle to cool the in-vehicle battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki SHIMAUCHI, Makoto MIMOTO, Kunihiko JINNO
  • Patent number: 10232844
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a generator that generates electric power by using an output of the internal combustion engine; an electric storage device that stores the electric power generated by the generator; an electric motor that generates a driving force for the hybrid vehicle by receiving at least one of the electric power that is generated by the generator and the electric power that is stored in the electric storage device; a heating apparatus that heats a vehicle cabin, the heating apparatus including an electric heater that heats the vehicle cabin by using the electric power that is stored in the electric storage device; and an electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Kunihiko Jinno, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10124676
    Abstract: When a vehicle is in an accelerator off state and satisfies a free-run condition, a regeneration control unit performs free-run control on the vehicle so that the amount of regenerative electric power is decreased. The regeneration control unit sets a free-run prohibited zone between a starting point of a regeneration enhancement zone and a position that is located in front of and separated by a determination distance from the starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tajima, Kunihiko Jinno, Haruki Oguri, Yoshikazu Motozono, Kiyomi Nagamiya
  • Patent number: 10071613
    Abstract: A controller controls an air-conditioning device so that air of the air-conditioning device is supplied to a cabin based on a warm-up state of air of the air-conditioning device. When remote air conditioning is performed, the controller controls the air-conditioning device so that air of the air-conditioning device is supplied to the cabin even in a state where the warm-up state is lower than in a case where air of the air-conditioning device is supplied to the cabin of the vehicle in the operation air conditioning. In a manner described above, a vehicle capable of suppressing power loss and lengthening of charging time in heating during the remote air conditioning and the preliminary air conditioning is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Kunihiko Jinno, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9885319
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel cooling device includes a return passage and a fuel cooling unit arranged on the return passage. A non-injected surplus fuel of a fuel supplied to a fuel injection valve is returned to a fuel tank through the return passage as a return fuel. When a part of the cooling medium of a vehicle air conditioning system is circulated to the fuel cooling unit, the cooling medium flowing through the fuel cooling unit cools the return fuel through heat exchange. In the vehicle fuel cooling device, when a part of the cooling medium is circulated to the fuel cooling unit to cool the return fuel, an amount of return fuel to be returned to the fuel tank is increased compared to when the return fuel is not cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsumoto, Kunihiko Jinno, Hidekazu Hirabayashi