Patents by Inventor Makoto Higashi

Makoto Higashi 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: 20240140266
    Abstract: A management method for a power storage device includes: when a discharging request for energy management is received, determining (S172) whether or not a degree of deterioration of a power storage device is larger than a first reference value with regard to a battery lease vehicle (vehicle including a power storage device having been lent); and based on a result of the determination, instructing (S18) the battery lease vehicle in which the degree of deterioration of the power storage device is smaller than the first reference value, to perform discharging to outside of the vehicle in accordance with the discharging request, and not instructing the battery lease vehicle in which the degree of deterioration of the power storage device is larger than the first reference value, to perform discharging in accordance with the discharging request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko TERASAWA, Makoto Kakuchi, Toshiaki Karasawa, Takeshi Higashi, Yoshihiko Endo
  • Publication number: 20240127327
    Abstract: A method of leasing a power storage includes obtaining, for a vehicle including a power storage, a value of the power storage based on a capacity retention rate of the power storage, determining an insurance fee for a user of the vehicle to receive an insurance service relating to replacement of the power storage based on an accident risk of the vehicle, and determining a lease fee of the power storage based on the value of the power storage and the insurance fee.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko TERASAWA, Makoto KAKUCHI, Toshiaki KARASAWA, Takeshi HIGASHI, Yoshihiko ENDO
  • Publication number: 20240116394
    Abstract: A server (management apparatus) includes: a communication unit (first acquisition unit) that acquires a request regarding adjustment of electric power supply-and-demand in a power grid; and a processor (controller) that performs, based on the request, control to notify, a user of an electrically powered vehicle, of a replacement cost required for battery replacement at a battery station (battery replacement apparatus). When charging with electric power of the power grid is requested and a battery (first battery) of the electrically powered vehicle has an SOC lower than the SOC of a battery (second battery) having a maximum SOC to be used for charging, among a plurality of batteries (second batteries), the processor performs control to notify the user of the replacement cost lower than a normal replacement cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko TERASAWA, Makoto KAKUCHI, Toshiaki KARASAWA, Takeshi HIGASHI, Yoshihiko ENDO
  • Publication number: 20240116477
    Abstract: A server includes a communication unit (first communication unit) (second communication unit) that receives information about a request for adjustment of power supply-and-demand in a power grid. The server includes a processor (controller) that predicts a schedule of replacement of a battery (first battery) at a battery station (battery replacement apparatus). The processor specifies, based on the schedule, a battery (second battery) available for charging or discharging for the request for adjustment, and determines, based on the specified battery, whether or not it is possible to respond to the request for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko TERASAWA, Makoto KAKUCHI, Toshiaki KARASAWA, Takeshi HIGASHI, Yoshihiko ENDO
  • Patent number: 11933369
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a pressure plate movable toward or away from a clutch center and rotatable with respect to the clutch center. The pressure plate includes a flange extending radially outward from an outer circumferential edge of a body, pressure-side fitting teeth projecting in a first direction from a front surface of the flange, holding input-side rotating plates and output-side rotating plates, and circumferentially arranged, and a flange-side recessed portion recessed in the first direction from a back surface of the flange. As seen in an axial direction of an output shaft, the flange-side recessed portion at least partially overlaps one of the pressure-side fitting teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Jun Komukai, Satoshi Ota, Yasunori Higashi, Makoto Kambara
  • Publication number: 20240084859
    Abstract: A clutch device includes a pressure plate movable toward or away from a clutch center and rotatable with respect to the clutch center. The pressure plate includes a flange extending radially outward from an outer circumferential edge of a body, pressure-side fitting teeth projecting in a first direction from a front surface of the flange, holding input-side rotating plates and output-side rotating plates, and circumferentially arranged, and a flange-side recessed portion recessed in the first direction from a back surface of the flange. As seen in an axial direction of an output shaft, the flange-side recessed portion at least partially overlaps one of the pressure-side fitting teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Jun KOMUKAI, Satoshi OTA, Yasunori HIGASHI, Makoto KAMBARA
  • Publication number: 20210313984
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a first wiring to which a power supply potential is supplied; a second wiring to which a ground potential is supplied; a logical circuit block including a power supply node, a ground node connected to the second wiring, and a plurality of logical circuits; and a switch circuit provided between the first wiring and the power supply node. The switch circuit includes a plurality of first P-channel type MOS transistors whose source-drain paths are connected between the first wiring and the power supply node. The plurality of first P-channel type MOS transistors are brought into an OFF state, a diode-connected state, or an ON state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Makoto HIGASHI
  • Patent number: 11005471
    Abstract: A cycle setting unit of a signal generating circuit varies a set cycle value. A first determining unit determines a first ON time on the basis of: a first duty ratio obtained by correcting, with a correction value, a ratio between a target ON time and a reference cycle; and a set cycle value. A second determining unit determines, as a second ON time, a setting candidate value that is close to the first ON time. A generating unit generates a PWM signal reflecting the set cycle value and the second ON time. A third determining unit determines the correction value that is to be used next time by the first determining unit, on the basis of the target ON time, the reference cycle, the correction value of the previous time, the set cycle value, and the second ON time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Takenori Abe
  • Publication number: 20200127654
    Abstract: A cycle setting unit of a signal generating circuit varies a set cycle value. A first determining unit determines a first ON time on the basis of: a first duty ratio obtained by correcting, with a correction value, a ratio between a target ON time and a reference cycle; and a set cycle value. A second determining unit determines, as a second ON time, a setting candidate value that is close to the first ON time. A generating unit generates a PWM signal reflecting the set cycle value and the second ON time. A third determining unit determines the correction value that is to be used next time by the first determining unit, on the basis of the target ON time, the reference cycle, the correction value of the previous time, the set cycle value, and the second ON time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Takenori Abe
  • Patent number: 10355576
    Abstract: A CPU determines an ON-time setting value with which the generating unit generates a PWM signal having an ON time that is closest to the ON time corresponding to a product of a reference period and a target duty cycle, and sets the determined setting value in the generating unit. The CPU divides the ON time of the PWM signal based on the determined ON-time setting value, multiplies, by N, the period that corresponds to a result of the division, and specifies a period settable value with which a PWM signal having a period that is closest to a result of the multiplication is generated. The CPU determines period setting values for N periods based on a quotient and a remainder obtained by dividing the specified settable value by N, and sets the determined setting values in the generating unit for each period of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Seiji Takahashi, Takenori Abe
  • Patent number: 10284070
    Abstract: A voltage conversion device and a voltage conversion method are provided in which, even immediately after switching a switching frequency, it is possible to suppress fluctuation of output voltage and possible to output a constant voltage in a stable manner. When switching the switching frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency, a duty ratio is changed in a first cycle of a PWM signal immediately after switching so as to be smaller than the duty ratio before switching. The amount of change in this case is set such that a lower limit value of inductor current immediately after switching the switching frequency matches the lower limit value in a steady state. With this sort of change, an increase in the inductor current immediately after switching is suppressed, fluctuation of the output voltage is suppressed, and a stable constant voltage is outputted to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Higashi
  • Publication number: 20190074821
    Abstract: A voltage conversion device that includes a switching element; an inductor; a drive circuit, wherein, by turning the switching element on/off with the drive circuit with a PWM signal, an inductor current is generated to transform an input voltage and output a transformed voltage to a load; and a controller that is configured to: switch a switching frequency with the drive circuit according to a size of a current output to the load; and change a waveform of the PWM signal when the switching frequency is switched, wherein the controller is configured to change an on-time of the PWM signal, and to turn the switching element on/off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto HIGASHI, Takenori ABE
  • Patent number: 10164526
    Abstract: A signal generation circuit, a voltage conversion device, and a computer program are provided wherein the minimum increment of a value to be set for a generating portion, can be made substantially smaller than an actual increment with a relatively small processing load. A CPU specifies a set value Y (closest to a target value X) and a second closest set value Z in every N periods of a first signal, determines N set values for the first signal by combining Y and Z based on the result of comparison between the values of Y and Z and the value of X, sets one set value for a generating portion for each period of the first signal, calculates a value for setting off-time of the second signal in a first period in N periods as an additional value, and sets the calculated value for the generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Takenori Abe
  • Publication number: 20180309365
    Abstract: A signal generation circuit, a voltage conversion device, and a computer program are provided wherein the minimum increment of a value to be set for a generating portion, can be made substantially smaller than an actual increment with a relatively small processing load. A CPU specifies a set value Y (closest to a target value X) and a second closest set value Z in every N periods of a first signal, determines N set values for the first signal by combining Y and Z based on the result of comparison between the values of Y and Z and the value of X, sets one set value for a generating portion for each period of the first signal, calculates a value for setting off-time of the second signal in a first period in N periods as an additional value, and sets the calculated value for the generating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Takenori Abe
  • Publication number: 20180248465
    Abstract: A CPU determines an ON-time setting value with which the generating unit generates a PWM signal having an ON time that is closest to the ON time corresponding to a product of a reference period and a target duty cycle, and sets the determined setting value in the generating unit. The CPU divides the ON time of the PWM signal based on the determined ON-time setting value, multiplies, by N, the period that corresponds to a result of the division, and specifies a period settable value with which a PWM signal having a period that is closest to a result of the multiplication is generated. The CPU determines period setting values for N periods based on a quotient and a remainder obtained by dividing the specified settable value by N, and sets the determined setting values in the generating unit for each period of the PWM signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Makoto Higashi, Seiji Takahashi, Takenori Abe
  • Publication number: 20180019654
    Abstract: A voltage conversion device and a voltage conversion method are provided in which, even immediately after switching a switching frequency, it is possible to suppress fluctuation of output voltage and possible to output a constant voltage in a stable manner. When switching the switching frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency, a duty ratio is changed in a first cycle of a PWM signal immediately after switching so as to be smaller than the duty ratio before switching. The amount of change in this case is set such that a lower limit value of inductor current immediately after switching the switching frequency matches the lower limit value in a steady state. With this sort of change, an increase in the inductor current immediately after switching is suppressed, fluctuation of the output voltage is suppressed, and a stable constant voltage is outputted to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Makoto Higashi
  • Patent number: 9690269
    Abstract: A controller and processing method includes executing, using an execution unit, a plurality of processes for controlling an operation of a device, monitoring an execution sequence of the processes executed by the execution unit, storing execution sequence information regarding multiple series based on identification information assigned to the processes, outputting the identification information assigned to the processes to be executed by the execution unit, specifying, for each series, the identification information of the processes to be executed by the execution unit, based on the execution sequence information regarding the multiple series stored, determining whether or not the identification information output in the output step matches the identification information specified for each series in the specifying step, and giving notification to an error handling unit if it is determined in the determination step that there is no match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Higashi
  • Publication number: 20150134083
    Abstract: A controller and processing method includes executing, using an execution unit, a plurality of processes for controlling an operation of a device, monitoring an execution sequence of the processes executed by the execution unit, storing execution sequence information regarding multiple series based on identification information assigned to the processes, outputting the identification information assigned to the processes to be executed by the execution unit, specifying, for each series, the identification information of the processes to be executed by the execution unit, based on the execution sequence information regarding the multiple series stored, determining whether or not the identification information output in the output step matches the identification information specified for each series in the specifying step, and giving notification to an error handling unit if it is determined in the determination step that there is no match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto Higashi
  • Patent number: 8836999
    Abstract: An image correction apparatus includes a read image acquiring unit that acquires read image data generated by an imaging device that moves in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a reading medium irradiated with an environmental light to read the reading medium; a selecting unit that selects a correction filter for correcting a pixel of interest in the acquired read image data based on brightness or luminance component of a pixel in a determination filter including the pixel of interest; and a correction unit that corrects tone data of the pixel of interest based on the correction filter selected by the selecting unit. The determination filter includes a plurality of determination filters in which a number of pixels to be used in the sub-scanning direction differs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Makoto Higashi