Patents by Inventor Noritake Mitsutani

Noritake Mitsutani 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: 20100244558
    Abstract: When such a failure as the output from a voltage sensor becomes unavailable is detected, a controller controls a connecting section to disconnected state and controls a voltage converter to voltage unconverted state so that the voltage of a positive pole bus is outputted to the terminal of the voltage converter on the connecting section side, and performs voltage control of the positive pole bus based on the output from a voltage sensor in place of the output from the voltage sensor. Consequently, a power supply unit for a vehicle which can perform escape running while maintaining the traveling performance as much as possible even upon occurrence of failure in the sensor is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, AISIN AW CO., LTD
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Toshihiro Katsuda, Masahiro Nishiu
  • Publication number: 20100204860
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle has a battery, a DC/DC converter, an auxiliary battery, an auxiliary device, and an ECU. Provided between the battery and the DC/DC converter is an SMR, which serves as a relay to switch between a state in which the battery and each of the DC/DC converter, the auxiliary battery, the auxiliary device, and the ECU are connected to each other and a state in which they are disconnected from each other. When suspending charging of the battery, the ECU executes a program including a step of maintaining the SMR in the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100152940
    Abstract: Upon the occurrence of the abnormality that the inverter for driving the motor is in the one-phase short circuited state, this inverter is stopped in the three-phase short circuited state and sets the execution torque by subtracting the counter electromotive force application torque that is applied the driveshaft due to the counter electromotive force generated by rotation of the motor and the steering angle application torque corresponding to the steering angle from the torque demand according to the step-on amount of the accelerator pedal. The engine and the inverter for driving the motor is controlled so that the vehicle is driven with the set execution torque. This enables the driving force output to the driveshaft from the engine and the motor to be in accordance with the torque demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Wataru Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20100127665
    Abstract: A charger is operable in a normal mode such that output power matches a provided electric power command value CHPW, and limits the output power to a limit value PS in a saving mode if the electric power command value CHPW exceeds the limit value PS. A charging ECU performs feedback-control for compensating for the electric power command value CHPW such that a charging power monitor value PM sensed by a charging power sensing unit matches a target value PR, and in addition, limits an increase in the electric power command value CHPW such that the electric power command value CHPW does not significantly deviate from the target value PR. As a result, in a vehicle charging system on which an add-on charger having a power saving function is mounted, stabilization of the behavior when the add-on charger returns from a saving operation to a normal operation is allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100120581
    Abstract: Upon determination of the connection between the vehicle side connector 54 and the external power supply side connector 94 when the power switch 80 is switched on in the state of the vehicle system shut down, starting up the vehicle system is prohibited and the information that represents the vehicle driving is not possible due to the vehicle side connector 54 being connected to the external power supply 90 or the information that represents requiring disconnection of the vehicle side connector 54 from the external power supply 90 is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Masahiro Nishiu
  • Publication number: 20100107608
    Abstract: Upon a system startup, a hybrid vehicle 20 determines whether a catalyst warm up operation of an engine 22 is to be executed or not based on a catalyst bed temperature Tcat of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst 141 and a state of charge SOC of a battery 50 (S110, S140) and determines whether a forced charging of the battery 50 with an idling of the engine 22 is to be executed or not based on the catalyst bed temperature Tcat, the state of charge SOC and an estimated intake air amount GAidl upon the idling of the engine 22 when the catalyst warm up operation is not to be executed, then controls the engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 in accordance with determination results (S130, S210).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100072953
    Abstract: An electrically-driven vehicle 10 comprises a chargeable and dischargeable battery 20, a charger 16 that charges the battery 20 using a supply of electric power from an external power supply 100, an accessory unit 19 that is driven by a supply of electric power from at least one of the battery 20 and the charger 16; and a PM-ECU 18 that controls drive of the charger 16 so that the charged amount of the battery does not exceed a predetermined charging upper limit. The PM-ECU 18 sets the charging upper limit used when the accessory unit 19 is being driven, lower than the charging upper limit used when the accessory unit 19 is not being driven in order to avoid overcharging when excessive electric power is supplied from the accessory unit 19 to the battery 20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100045103
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a load device mounted on a vehicle is provided with: a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of an inverter; a voltage sensor detecting an applied voltage of the inverter; and a control unit operating the inverter in a case where the applied voltage is a predetermined upper limit value or lower whereas stopping the inverter in a case where the applied voltage is higher than the upper limit value based on a voltage detection result by the voltage sensor. The control unit sets the upper limit value based on temperature dependency of a withstand voltage of an IGBT element included in the inverter and a temperature detection result by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100030412
    Abstract: A shift position of an electric powered vehicle is selected by operating a shift lever and a P position switch. A power source position is selected by operating a power switch. When any of switching elements forming an inverter device is short-circuited, selection of the shift position and the power source position is controlled such that simultaneous selection of a power source position at which inverter control is turned off and a shift position at which a parking lock mechanism is inactivated can be avoided. Therefore, inverter control for reducing short-circuit current caused by back electromotive force derived from rotation of a motor generator after occurrence of short-circuit failure can reliably be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20100026311
    Abstract: A boosting converter and a boosting control unit are mounted on a vehicle. A failure diagnosis unit makes a failure diagnosis of an atmospheric pressure sensor based on a detection result of the atmospheric pressure sensor and on a detection result of an intake pressure sensor detecting engine intake pressure that changes in accordance with a change in the atmospheric pressure. Boosting control unit controls an output voltage of the boosting converter based on the detection result of atmospheric pressure sensor and the detection result of intake pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20090030592
    Abstract: A determining section integrates amount of oxygen that is stored in or released from a exhaust gas purifying catalyst from when a signal from an oxygen sensor is changed until when the signal is changed subsequently, thereby calculating an oxygen storage capacity. The determining section uses the calculated oxygen storage capacity to determine a deterioration state of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst. A limiting section sets, as an allowable change amount, a change amount of the air-fuel ratio that corresponds to an allowable maximum fluctuation amount of a torque of a output shaft of the engine. The limiting section limits a change of the target air-fuel ratio such that a change amount of the target air-fuel ratio due to a change of the signal does not exceed the allowable change amount. Therefore, a deterioration of a drivability while ensuring opportunities of detecting a deterioration of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 7270119
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, implementing integral correction of the air-fuel ratio by an integral term edfii obtained by multiplying an integrated difference between a target air fuel ratio and the actual air-fuel ratio by an integral gain, wherein the upper and lower limit values of the integral term are set based on the actual intake air amount and the actual air-fuel ratio. This limits the range of the integral term edfii to prevent it from being set at an excessively high or low level removed from the realities of the intake air amount and the air-fuel ratio, and thereby to prevent erroneous air-fuel ratio correction by the integral term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 7096663
    Abstract: In an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, an air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of a three-way catalyst. An oxygen sensor is located downstream of the catalyst. An ECU performs feedback control of the amount of fuel based on output of the air-fuel ratio sensor such that the engine air-fuel ratio seeks a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The ECU also performs sub-feedback control for correcting the amount of fuel in the feed back control based on output of the oxygen sensor. The ECU learns a learning value for compensating for a stationary difference between the engine air-fuel ratio and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio based on a sub-feedback correction value. When learning of the learning value is performed after the learning value is cleared, a slip control by a lockup clutch is inhibited until the learning is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20060185655
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, implementing integral correction of the air-fuel ratio by an integral term edfii obtained by multiplying an integrated difference between a target air fuel ratio and the actual air-fuel ratio by an integral gain, wherein the upper and lower limit values of the integral term are set based on the actual intake air amount and the actual air-fuel ratio. This limits the range of the integral term edfii to prevent it from being set at an excessively high or low level removed from the realities of the intake air amount and the air-fuel ratio, and thereby to prevent erroneous air-fuel ratio correction by the integral term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 6973383
    Abstract: An engine is automatically stopped when a predetermined amount of time has passed with a predetermined stopping condition being fulfilled, even if learning is not yet complete, when an automatic stopping condition of the engine and a learning execution condition of a control amount of the engine during idling have been fulfilled. However, the engine is prohibited from automatically stopping until the learning is complete when the learning history of the control amount has been cleared by battery disconnection or the like and is not stored. Accordingly, it is possible to both simultaneously control an idling stop when the engine is idling and learn the control amount, as well as minimize a strange sensation felt by the driver that arises from an idling stop not being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Tomoyuki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6875154
    Abstract: The electronic control unit sets an initial value of an inertia torque equivalent flow rate Qmg as an air flow equivalent to an inertia torque that acts on rotational elements related to a crankshaft 26, and a diminishing rate thereof, based on a shift position SP and coolant temperature Tw after the engine is cranked by a motor generator and the engine speed reaches an idle speed. The electronic control unit controls an the engine speed using an idle speed maintaining flow rate Qisc which is obtained by subtracting the inertia torque equivalent flow rate Qmg from a target idle speed maintaining flow rate Qisc*.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noritake Mitsutani, Tomoyuki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20040209734
    Abstract: In an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, an air-fuel ratio sensor is located upstream of a three-way catalyst. An oxygen sensor is located downstream of the catalyst. An ECU performs feedback control of the amount of fuel based on output of the air-fuel ratio sensor such that the engine air-fuel ratio seeks a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. The ECU also performs sub-feedback control for correcting the amount of fuel in the feed back control based on output of the oxygen sensor. The ECU learns a learning value for compensating for a stationary difference between the engine air-fuel ratio and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio based on a sub-feedback correction value. When learning of the learning value is performed after the learning value is cleared, a slip control by a lockup clutch is inhibited until the learning is stabilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 6779512
    Abstract: Gas containing fuel vapor is purged as purge gas from a canister to an intake passage of an engine through a purge line. An ECU renews a vapor concentration value representing the concentration of fuel vapor contained in the purge gas by a predetermined renew amount at a time in response to a deviation of a detected air-fuel ratio relative to a target air-fuel ratio. The ECU sets the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine according to the renewed vapor concentration value such that the detected air-fuel ratio seeks the target air-fuel ratio. The ECU computes the ratio of air flowing through the intake passage to a predetermined maximum air flow rate, and sets the computed ratio as an engine load ratio. The ECU sets a smaller value of the renew amount for a greater value of the engine load ratio. As a result, the learning of the vapor concentration is reliably performed, and the accuracy of the air-fuel ratio control is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20040129259
    Abstract: Gas containing fuel vapor is purged as purge gas from a canister to an intake passage of an engine through a purge line. An ECU renews a vapor concentration value representing the concentration of fuel vapor contained in the purge gas by a predetermined renew amount at a time in response to a deviation of a detected air-fuel ratio relative to a target air-fuel ratio. The ECU sets the amount of fuel supplied to the combustion chamber of the engine according to the renewed vapor concentration value such that the detected air-fuel ratio seeks the target air-fuel ratio. The ECU computes the ratio of air flowing through the intake passage to a predetermined maximum air flow rate, and sets the computed ratio as an engine load ratio. The ECU sets a smaller value of the renew amount for a greater value of the engine load ratio. As a result, the learning of the vapor concentration is reliably performed, and the accuracy of the air-fuel ratio control is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani
  • Patent number: 6732719
    Abstract: A controller for purging an optimal amount of vaporized fuel in accordance with the operating conditions of an engine. The controller presumes the flow rate of the purged gas to be that when a purge valve is fully opened and uses the presumed value to calculate a target flow rate ratio. The controller than uses the target flow rate ratio and the actual intake pressure to calculate a duty ratio. This achieves a purged gas flow rate which compensates for a deviation that results from a characteristic of the purge valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritake Mitsutani