Patents by Inventor Masaya Amano
Masaya Amano 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: 11380919Abstract: When starting of a fuel gas consuming device configured to consume a fuel gas is instructed, an electric power is supplied to a fuel gas sensor that has a predetermined unstable period until an accuracy of fuel gas detection reaches a predetermined level after having been supplied with electric power, supply of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device to the fuel gas consuming device is started by opening an electric valve that is electrically opened and shut off. When a signal from the fuel gas sensor exhibits behavior of approaching a predetermined determination threshold value before the unstable period has elapsed, the electric valve is shut off. When the signal from the fuel gas sensor is less than a predetermined determination value in a predetermined period after the electric valve has been shut off, the electric valve is opened.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaya Amano
-
Publication number: 20200243877Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a fuel gas supply unit, a leakage sensor, a speed detector, and a control device. The control device is configured to, in a case where the speed of the vehicle is greater than the threshold speed, stop supply of the fuel gas to the fuel cell when the leakage of the fuel gas is continuously sensed during a predetermined first sensing time, and in a case where the speed of the vehicle is equal to or less than the threshold speed, stop the supply of the fuel gas to the fuel cell when the leakage of the fuel gas is continuously sensed during a predetermined second sensing time that is shorter than the first sensing time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventor: Masaya AMANO
-
Publication number: 20200067116Abstract: When starting of a fuel gas consuming device configured to consume a fuel gas is instructed, an electric power is supplied to a fuel gas sensor that has a predetermined unstable period until an accuracy of fuel gas detection reaches a predetermined level after having been supplied with electric power, supply of the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply device to the fuel gas consuming device is started by opening an electric valve that is electrically opened and shut off. When a signal from the fuel gas sensor exhibits behavior of approaching a predetermined determination threshold value before the unstable period has elapsed, the electric valve is shut off. When the signal from the fuel gas sensor is less than a predetermined determination value in a predetermined period after the electric valve has been shut off, the electric valve is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaya AMANO
-
Patent number: 10377370Abstract: A hybrid vehicle may include an engine, a first rotating electric machine, an output shaft, a planetary gear mechanism, a second rotating electric machine, a battery, an inverter and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit may be programmed to perform inverterless traveling control. The inverterless traveling control may be control for causing the hybrid vehicle to travel by placing the inverter in a gate cut-off state, and driving the engine. The electronic control unit also may be programmed to interrupt current flowing between the first rotating electric machine and the battery when a shift range other than a forward range is selected, during the inverterless traveling control.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yu Shimizu, Takashi Ando, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano
-
Patent number: 10214198Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an MG (motor generator) 1, an MG2, a planetary gear device mechanically coupled to the engine and MG1 and MG2, a battery, a converter configured to boost a voltage from the battery, an inverter configured to perform a power conversion between the converter and MG1 or between the converter and MG2, and a controller. MG1 generates a counter-electromotive voltage when rotated by the engine, and a braking torque is generated as the counter-electromotive voltage becomes greater than the output voltage of the converter. During an inverter-less running control where the inverter is put into a gate shut-off state and the engine is driven to cause MG1 to generate the counter-electromotive torque, the controller decreases a voltage difference between the counter-electromotive voltage and the output voltage of the converter when a chargeable power of the battery is lower than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoyuki Shibata, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu
-
Patent number: 10131343Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an MG (motor generator) an MG2, a planetary gear device mechanically coupled to the engine and MG1 and MG2, a battery, an inverter configured to perform a power conversion between the battery and MG1 and between the battery and MG2, and a controller. MG1 generates a counter-electromotive torque when rotated by the engine. During an inverter-less running control where the inverter is put into a gate shut-off state and the engine is driven to cause MG1 to generate the counter-electromotive torque, the controller decreases a engine target rotation speed Netag when an integrated value of battery charging current (deterioration evaluation value D) is greater than a predetermined value (threshold value D1) smaller than the engine target rotation speed Netag when the deterioration evaluation value D is equal to or smaller than the threshold value D1.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu, Yuki Hayakawa
-
Patent number: 10093307Abstract: When there is an abnormality in communications between a motor ECU and an HVECU in an automobile, the motor ECU controls a motor such that creep torque or a given torque larger than the creep torque is delivered from the motor. Thus, when there is an abnormality in communications between the HVECU and the motor ECU, the automobile is able to run in a limp home mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki Hayakawa, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando
-
Patent number: 10011265Abstract: Inverterless running control is control in which an inverter is set to a gate cut-off state, an engine is driven to mechanically rotate a motor-generator and to generate in the motor-generator, counter-electromotive torque in accordance with a difference between a counter-electromotive voltage of the motor-generator and a system voltage, and a vehicle runs with drive torque applied to an output shaft as reaction force of the counter-electromotive torque. An ECU controls drive torque to produce driving force determined by an accelerator position by raising or lowering the system voltage during inverterless running control.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu, Wataru Nagashima
-
Patent number: 10005454Abstract: When at least one of motor generators is not under normal control and where the MG1 temperature is less than an upper limit value, an ECU is configured to perform an inverter-less running control. In the inverter-less running control, an inverter is brought into a gate shutoff state and an engine is driven to cause the motor generator to generate a counter-electromotive voltage which consequently produces a counter-electromotive torque. During the inverter-less running control, the ECU makes a voltage difference between the counter-electromotive voltage and the voltage of a power line connecting a converter and an inverter when the MG1 temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined value smaller than the voltage difference when the MG1 temperature is less than the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Matsumura, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu
-
Patent number: 9975418Abstract: An ECU performs control processing including setting an inverter to a gate blocking state when an abnormal condition of the inverter occurs, activating a converter, driving an engine, carrying out first suppression control when an abnormal condition of a resolver occurs and when an MG2 rotation speed immediately before occurrence of the abnormal condition is equal to or smaller than a first speed threshold value, and carrying out second suppression control when the MG2 rotation speed immediately before occurrence of the abnormal condition is greater than the first speed threshold value and when there is no record of stop.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano
-
Publication number: 20180009434Abstract: When there is an abnormality in communications between a motor ECU and an HVECU in an automobile, the motor ECU controls a motor such that creep torque or a given torque larger than the creep torque is delivered from the motor. Thus, when there is an abnormality in communications between the HVECU and the motor ECU, the automobile is able to run in a limp home mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2015Publication date: January 11, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuki HAYAKAWA, Masaya AMANO, Takashi ANDO
-
Patent number: 9707957Abstract: When a malfunction occurs in communication between an HV-ECU and an MG-ECU, inverterless running is performed to ensure that a driving torque of a vehicle is applied, by setting inverters in a gate shutoff state and using a braking torque generated in a motor generator rotated by an engine. When the inverterless running resulting from the malfunction in communication is performed, the MG-ECU uses a converter to control a system voltage VH to a predetermined voltage. During the inverterless running resulting from the malfunction in communication, the HV-ECU sets an assumed power range of a battery based on a detected value regarding a vehicle running state and the predetermined voltage. When an actual electric power determined from the voltage and current of the battery is out of the assumed power range, the HV-ECU performs a process for stopping the vehicle from running.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yu Shimizu, Takashi Ando, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano
-
Patent number: 9682693Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a first motor; a planetary gear having three rotary elements that are connected respectively to a rotary shaft of the first motor, an output shaft of the engine, and a drive shaft coupled to an axle such that on a collinear diagram, the rotary shaft, the output shaft, and the drive shaft are arranged in that order; a second motor; a first inverter configured to drive the first motor; a second inverter configured to drive the second motor; a battery capable of exchanging power with the first and second motors via the first and second inverters; and an electronic control unit configured to control the engine such that a rotation speed of the engine increases at a predetermined time when the engine is operative, respective gates of the first and second inverters are both blocked, and an accelerator is ON.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Amano, Shinichiro Minegishi, Takashi Ando, Takeshi Kishimoto
-
Publication number: 20170120891Abstract: Inverterless running control is control in which an inverter is set to a gate cut-off state, an engine is driven to mechanically rotate a motor-generator and to generate in the motor-generator, counter-electromotive torque in accordance with a difference between a counter-electromotive voltage of the motor-generator and a system voltage, and a vehicle runs with drive torque applied to an output shaft as reaction force of the counter-electromotive torque. An ECU controls drive torque to produce driving force determined by an accelerator position by raising or lowering the system voltage during inverterless running control.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2016Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takeshi KISHIMOTO, Masaya AMANO, Takashi ANDO, Yu SHIMIZU, Wataru NAGASHIMA
-
Publication number: 20170113680Abstract: A hybrid vehicle may include an engine, a first rotating electric machine, an output shaft, a planetary gear mechanism, a second rotating electric machine, a battery, an inverter and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit may be programmed to perform inverterless traveling control. The inverterless traveling control may be control for causing the hybrid vehicle to travel by placing the inverter in a gate cut-off state, and driving the engine. The electronic control unit also may be programmed to interrupt current flowing between the first rotating electric machine and the battery when a shift range other than a forward range is selected, during the inverterless traveling control.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: April 27, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yu SHIMIZU, Takashi ANDO, Takeshi KISHIMOTO, Masaya AMANO
-
Publication number: 20170106852Abstract: An ECU performs control processing including setting an inverter to a gate blocking state when an abnormal condition of the inverter occurs, activating a converter, driving an engine, carrying out first suppression control when an abnormal condition of a resolver occurs and when an MG2 rotation speed immediately before occurrence of the abnormal condition is equal to or smaller than a first speed threshold value, and carrying out second suppression control when the MG2 rotation speed immediately before occurrence of the abnormal condition is greater than the first speed threshold value and when there is no record of stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano
-
Publication number: 20170096135Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an MG (motor generator) an MG2, a planetary gear device mechanically coupled to the engine and MG1 and MG2, a battery, an inverter configured to perform a power conversion between the battery and MG1 and between the battery and MG2, and a controller. MG1 generates a counter-electromotive torque when rotated by the engine. During an inverter-less running control where the inverter is put into a gate shut-off state and the engine is driven to cause MG1 to generate the counter-electromotive torque, the controller decreases a engine target rotation speed Netag when an integrated value of battery charging current (deterioration evaluation value D) is greater than a predetermined value (threshold value D1) smaller than the engine target rotation speed Netag when the deterioration evaluation value D is equal to or smaller than the threshold value D1.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi KISHIMOTO, Masaya AMANO, Takashi ANDO, Yu SHIMIZU, Yuki HAYAKAWA
-
Patent number: 9611795Abstract: A PM-ECU configured to control a drive torque of a vehicle is configured to be stopped in response to a driver's operation of a start switch and then activated in response to a driver's re-operation of the start switch. The PM-ECU is configured to be activated and place a restriction on the drive torque of the vehicle, in response to a re-operation of the start switch after the PM-ECU is stopped in response to an operation of the start switch. The PM-ECU is configured to remove the restriction on the drive torque in response to a reduction of an operation amount by which an accelerator pedal is operated.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaya Amano, Kenji Uchida, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Yuki Hayakawa, Go Hayasaka
-
Publication number: 20170088125Abstract: When a malfunction occurs in communication between an HV-ECU and an MG-ECU, inverterless running is performed to ensure that a driving torque of a vehicle is applied, by setting inverters in a gate shutoff state and using a braking torque generated in a motor generator rotated by an engine. When the inverterless running resulting from the malfunction in communication is performed, the MG-ECU uses a converter to control a system voltage VH to a predetermined voltage. During the inverterless running resulting from the malfunction in communication, the HV-ECU sets an assumed power range of a battery based on a detected value regarding a vehicle running state and the predetermined voltage. When an actual electric power determined from the voltage and current of the battery is out of the assumed power range, the HV-ECU performs a process for stopping the vehicle from running.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Yu Shimizu, Takashi Ando, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano
-
Publication number: 20170088127Abstract: When at least one of motor generators is not under normal control and where the MG1 temperature is less than an upper limit value, an ECU is configured to perform an inverter-less running control. In the inverter-less running control, an inverter is brought into a gate shutoff state and an engine is driven to cause the motor generator to generate a counter-electromotive voltage which consequently produces a counter-electromotive torque. During the inverter-less running control, the ECU makes a voltage difference between the counter-electromotive voltage and the voltage of a power line connecting a converter and an inverter when the MG1 temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined value smaller than the voltage difference when the MG1 temperature is less than the predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Mitsuhiro Matsumura, Takeshi Kishimoto, Masaya Amano, Takashi Ando, Yu Shimizu