Patents by Inventor Masaki WASEKURA

Masaki WASEKURA 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: 20190080264
    Abstract: A vehicle allocation system includes: an autonomous vehicle; a mobile terminal; and a control center configured to communicate with the autonomous vehicle and the mobile terminal via a network, wherein the control center includes a vehicle allocation control unit configured to receive a vehicle allocation request from the mobile terminal and to allocate the autonomous vehicle to a position which is designated in the vehicle allocation request, and a vehicle reallocation control unit configured to allocate another autonomous vehicle when a vehicle replacement request has been received from the mobile terminal after the allocation has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Publication number: 20190054926
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle, which provides a driverless transportation service, includes: an authentication device that performs authentication of a user in the autonomous driving vehicle; an intention receiving device that receives information indicating intention of the user in the autonomous driving vehicle; and a control device that controls the autonomous driving vehicle. When maneuvering the autonomous driving vehicle to depart to a destination, the control device performs departure condition confirmation processing that prohibits the autonomous driving vehicle from departing until a departure condition is satisfied and permits the autonomous driving vehicle to depart when the departure condition is satisfied. The departure condition includes: a first condition that the authentication of the user by the authentication device is completed; and a second condition that the intention receiving device receives departure intention information indicating departure intention of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Patent number: 9628073
    Abstract: A current control circuit includes a first drive switching device, a gate power source, a control switching device, a first resistor, an operational amplifier, and a switching circuit. The operational amplifier includes: an output terminal connected to the control switching device; a non-inverting input terminal; and an inverting input terminal configured to receive a reference potential. The switching circuit is configured to: input a value based on a potential difference between both ends of the first resistor to the non-inverting input terminal when a current flowing through the first drive switching device is equal to or smaller than a threshold level; and input a value based on a potential on a current pathway between the control switching device and the first drive switching device to the non-inverting input terminal when the current flowing through the first drive switching device is greater than the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Wasekura, Yosuke Osanai, Ayuki Koishi
  • Patent number: 9608609
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, a diode, a sense transistor, a sense diode, a resistor, and a clamp circuit. The diode is connected in inverse parallel to the transistor. The resistor is connected at one end of the resister to an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and is connected at the other end of the resister to an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode. The clamp circuit is configured to clamp a voltage that is generated in the resistor when a sense diode current flows. A ratio of a sense diode current to a current flowing to the diode is larger than a ratio of a sense current to a current flowing to the transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Patent number: 9571088
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor; a diode configured to be connected in reverse-parallel with the transistor; a sense transistor configured to generate a sense current depending on a current flowing in the transistor; a sense diode configured to generate a sense diode current depending on a current flowing in the diode; a resistor part configured to have one terminal connected with an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and another terminal connected with an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode, and to have the sense current or the sense diode current flow in the resistor part; and a resistance value control unit configured to differentiate a resistance value of the resistor part for a case where the sense current flows in the resistor part, and for a case where the sense diode current flows in the resistor part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Patent number: 9568505
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor; a diode configured to be connected in reverse-parallel with the transistor; a sense transistor configured to have a current flow in the sense transistor, depending on a current flowing in the transistor; a sense diode configured to have a current flow in the sense diode, depending on a current flowing in the diode; a resistor configured to have one terminal connected with an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and another terminal connected with an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode; and a current mirror configured to be connected in parallel with the resistor, and to output a current depending on a current flowing in a same direction as a forward direction of the sense diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Patent number: 9503076
    Abstract: A gate potential control circuit includes a driving switching element, a first gate potential supply part, a first switching element, a first resistor, and a first operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier includes an output portion connected to a gate of the first switching element, an inverting input into which a first reference potential is input, and a non-inverting input into which a closer one of a first value and a second value to a potential of the first gate potential supply part is input. The first value is based on a potential difference obtained by subtracting a potential of a terminal of the first resistor on a driving switching element side from a potential of a terminal of the first resistor on a first gate potential supply part side. The second value is based on a potential of a terminal of the first switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Publication number: 20160269007
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor, a diode, a sense transistor, a sense diode, a resistor, and a clamp circuit. The diode is connected in inverse parallel to the transistor. The resistor is connected at one end of the resister to an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and is connected at the other end of the resister to an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode. The clamp circuit is configured to clamp a voltage that is generated in the resistor when a sense diode current flows. A ratio of a sense diode current to a current flowing to the diode is larger than a ratio of a sense current to a current flowing to the transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Publication number: 20160231358
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor; a diode configured to be connected in reverse-parallel with the transistor; a sense transistor configured to have a current flow in the sense transistor, depending on a current flowing in the transistor; a sense diode configured to have a current flow in the sense diode, depending on a current flowing in the diode; a resistor configured to have one terminal connected with an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and another terminal connected with an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode; and a current mirror configured to be connected in parallel with the resistor, and to output a current depending on a current flowing in a same direction as a forward direction of the sense diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Publication number: 20160233858
    Abstract: A switching circuit includes a wiring having a parallel circuit of a first IGBT and a second IGBT. If a current of the wiring is relatively large, both of the first and second IGBTs are turned on at a turn-on timing and turned off at a turn-off timing. If the current is relatively small, one of the first and second IGBTs is turned on at the turn-on timing and turned off at the turn-off timing, and the other is maintained in an off state from a timing preceding the turn-off timing until the turn-off timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki WASEKURA, Masaru SENOO, Ken TOSHIYUKI
  • Publication number: 20160233856
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transistor; a diode configured to be connected in reverse-parallel with the transistor; a sense transistor configured to generate a sense current depending on a current flowing in the transistor; a sense diode configured to generate a sense diode current depending on a current flowing in the diode; a resistor part configured to have one terminal connected with an emitter of the sense transistor and an anode of the sense diode, and another terminal connected with an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the diode, and to have the sense current or the sense diode current flow in the resistor part; and a resistance value control unit configured to differentiate a resistance value of the resistor part for a case where the sense current flows in the resistor part, and for a case where the sense diode current flows in the resistor part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Patent number: 9330835
    Abstract: A signal transmitting apparatus using a plane coil for a sending coil and a receiving coil respectively, so that the outer diameters of the sending coil and the receiving coil can be decreased, and a signal can be stably transmitted from a sending side to a receiving side. The signal transmitting apparatus is provided with: a sending coil driven by an inputted signal; a receiving coil configured to output a received signal in response to the sending coil being driven; a pre-processing circuit to which the received signal outputted by the receiving coil is inputted; and a detecting circuit configured to detect the inputted signal from a signal outputted by the pre-processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Morishita, Masaki Wasekura
  • Publication number: 20160079974
    Abstract: A current control circuit includes a first drive switching device, a gate power source, a control switching device, a first resistor, an operational amplifier, and a switching circuit. The operational amplifier includes: an output terminal connected to the control switching device; a non-inverting input terminal; and an inverting input terminal configured to receive a reference potential. The switching circuit is configured to: input a value based on a potential difference between both ends of the first resistor to the non-inverting input terminal when a current flowing through the first drive switching device is equal to or smaller than a threshold level; and input a value based on a potential on a current pathway between the control switching device and the first drive switching device to the non-inverting input terminal when the current flowing through the first drive switching device is greater than the threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki WASEKURA, Yosuke OSANAI, Ayuki KOISHI
  • Patent number: 9214861
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC, converter that can reduce a loss of the converter is provided. The DC-to-DC converter includes an inductor, a switching transistor connected to the inductor, and a controller that drives the transistor. The controller acquires a next step reference value for the DC-to-DC converter in a sampling time Ta. The next step reference value is expressed by an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter or a flux linkage of the inductor. The controller determines interpolating points between a current state value that corresponds to the current reference value and the next step reference value in a sampling time Ts that is shorter than the sampling time Ta based on a loss of the DC-to-DC converter while changing from the current state value to the next step reference value. The controller supplies to the switching transistor the PWM signals with a duty that corresponds to each of the interpolating points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Wang, Masaki Wasekura, Robert D. Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20150358019
    Abstract: A gate potential control circuit includes a driving switching element, a first gate potential supply part, a first switching element, a first resistor, and a first operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier includes an output portion connected to a gate of the first switching element, an inverting input into which a first reference potential is input, and a non-inverting input into which a closer one of a first value and a second value to a potential of the first gate potential supply part is input. The first value is based on a potential difference obtained by subtracting a potential of a terminal of the first resistor on a driving switching element side from a potential of a terminal of the first resistor on a first gate potential supply part side. The second value is based on a potential of a terminal of the first switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventor: Masaki WASEKURA
  • Publication number: 20150002121
    Abstract: A DC-to-DC, converter that can reduce a loss of the converter is provided. The DC-to-DC converter includes an inductor, a switching transistor connected to the inductor, and a controller that drives the transistor. The controller acquires a next step reference value for the DC-to-DC converter in a sampling time Ta. The next step reference value is expressed by an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter or a flux linkage of the inductor. The controller determines interpolating points between a current state value that corresponds to the current reference value and the next step reference value in a sampling time Ts that is shorter than the sampling time Ta based on a loss of the DC-to-DC converter while changing from the current state value to the next step reference value. The controller supplies to the switching transistor the PWM signals with a duty that corresponds to each of the interpolating points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicants: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chi-Ming WANG, Masaki WASEKURA, Robert D. LORENZ
  • Patent number: 8866515
    Abstract: A drive unit comprises a switching circuit and an abnormal signal generating circuit. The switching circuit is configured to be connected to an external time generating circuit, and is configured to switch a driving condition relating to a driving voltage of a voltage-driven element in a transitional period between a driving state and a non-driving state of the voltage-driven element based on a measurement time which is measured by using of the time generating circuit. The abnormal signal generating circuit is configured to generate an abnormal signal when an accurate measurement of the time using the time generating circuit is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Patent number: 8717068
    Abstract: A controller of a drive unit is configured so as to control a voltage supplied to a gate resistor of a voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of a feedback connector when an electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is ensured. Further, the controller of the drive unit is configured so as to control the voltage supplied to the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of an output connector when the electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is not ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Publication number: 20140062541
    Abstract: A controller of a drive unit is configured so as to control a voltage supplied to a gate resistor of a voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of a feedback connector when an electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is ensured. Further, the controller of the drive unit is configured so as to control the voltage supplied to the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element by using of a voltage of an output connector when the electrical connection between the feedback connector and the gate resistor of the voltage-driven element is not ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Wasekura
  • Patent number: 8638158
    Abstract: A signal transmitting apparatus that may suppress generation of a noise voltage attributable to a common mode voltage is provided. A transistor P1 is connected between a first terminal of a sending coil and a power supply voltage. A transistor N1 is connected between the first terminal and a ground voltage. A transistor P2 is connected between a second terminal of the sending coil and the power supply voltage. A transistor N2 is connected between the second terminal and the ground voltage. In a period-PE1 a coil current flowing in a positive direction is generated by turning on the transistors P1 and N2 and turning off the transistors P2 and N1, and then the transistor N1 is turned on in response to turning off the transistor P1. In a period PE2, a coil current flowing in a negative direction is generated by turning off the transistors P1 and N2 and turning on the transistors P2 and N1, and then the transistor N2 is turned on in response to turning off the transistor P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Morishita, Masaki Wasekura