Patents by Inventor Satoshi Aoyagi
Satoshi Aoyagi 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).
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Publication number: 20060021812Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell, a rotating load, a energy storage, a contactor, a DC-DC converter, and a control unit. When regeneration by the energy storage is performed, the DC-DC converter connected to the energy storage is placed in a direct connection mode for directly charging regeneration electrical energy from a motor of the rotating load to the energy storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi
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Publication number: 20060012340Abstract: A method of determining voltage conditions of a fuel cell vehicle which includes a motor as a driving force source of the vehicle, a motor control device for controlling operation of the motor, a fuel cell, to which a reaction gas is supplied, for generating electric power by an electrochemical reaction, and a battery device which is charged by the electric power generated by the fuel cell and sends and receives electrical energy to and from the motor by control of the motor control device. The method includes setting a voltage value, typically an average value, of an output voltage of the fuel cell within a range from a minimum value to a maximum value of an open circuit voltage of the battery device. Even when the fuel cell and the battery device are directly connected, overcharge or overdischarge can be prevented, thereby reducing frequency of voltage conversion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2005Publication date: January 19, 2006Inventors: Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi
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Patent number: 6978665Abstract: To reduce errors of measurement of fuel consumption resulting from air remaining in piping of a hydrogen supply apparatus, a hydrogen supply method for measuring fuel consumption of a hydrogen fuel vehicle comprises; a step (S02) of prior to supplying hydrogen from a measurement hydrogen tank to the hydrogen fuel vehicle, supplying hydrogen from a dummy hydrogen tank to hydrogen supply piping connecting the measurement hydrogen tank and the hydrogen fuel vehicle, to purge air in the hydrogen supply piping, and a step (S03) of after filling of the hydrogen supply piping with hydrogen from the dummy hydrogen tank, supplying hydrogen from the measurement hydrogen tank to the hydrogen fuel vehicle via the hydrogen supply piping.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Osamu Sukagawa, Takuya Shirasaka
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Patent number: 6973393Abstract: A control apparatus calculates the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU) that can be supplied to a capacitor depending on the detected value of the temperature of the capacitor, and calculates the output power (PFC) of the fuel cell, the real power of the motor (PMOT) that actually powers the drive motor, and the load power (PAC) that actually powers an electrical load, excluding the drive motor. The control apparatus calculates the motor power limiting value (PMOTU), which is the motor power that corresponds to the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU), based on the output power (PFC) of the fuel cell, the load power (PAC) that powers the electrical load, excluding the drive motor, and the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU). The control apparatus output to the output controller a control command that directs the real power of the motor (PMOT) to take the value of the motor power limiting value (PMOTU) in the case that the real power of the motor (PMOT) is larger than the motor power limiting value (PMOTU).Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinobu Hasuka, Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi, Shinji Kato
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Patent number: 6916563Abstract: A discharged fuel diluter includes: a retention region with a predetermined volume, into which a fuel discharged from a fuel cell is retained at the time of purging; a dilution region with a predetermined volume, through which air discharged from the fuel cell flows and at which the air is mixed with the fuel from the retention region to dilute the fuel; and a communicating portion, through which the fuel flows from the retention region to the dilution region.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Yamamoto, Satoshi Aoyagi, Masami Ogura, Yoshikazu Murakami, Kazunori Fukuma, Takatsugu Koyama
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Patent number: 6901147Abstract: A three-dimension active silencer includes a measuring unit for detecting a signal relating to a sound radiated from a target sound source which is located in a closed box. A plurality of additional sound sources are arranged around the target sound source. A microphone is arranged at a predetermined position for detecting a sound power at the position. A controller is adapted to control respective amplitudes of the additional sound sources which can be different from an amplitude of the target sound source and respective phases of the additional sound sources, based on the signal detected by the measuring unit, in such a manner that the microphone detects the lowest sound power. The additional sound sources are arranged in such a manner that a position xp of the target sound source, respective relative positions di (i=1, 2, . . .Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Akihiko Enamito, Takuro Hayashi, Kunio Matsukura, Satoshi Aoyagi, Tsutomu Shioyama
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Publication number: 20050084115Abstract: A three-dimension active silencer includes a measuring unit for detecting a signal relating to a sound radiated from a target sound source which is located in a closed box. A plurality of additional sound sources are arranged around the target sound source. A microphone is arranged at a predetermined position for detecting a sound power at the position. A controller is adapted to control respective amplitudes of the additional sound sources which can be different from an amplitude of the target sound source and respective phases of the additional sound sources, based on the signal detected by the measuring unit, in such a manner that the microphone detects the lowest sound power. The additional sound sources are arranged in such a manner that a position xp of the target sound source, respective relative positions di (i=1, 2, . . .Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akihiko Enamito, Takuro Hayashi, Kunio Matsukura, Satoshi Aoyagi, Tsutomu Shioyama
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Patent number: 6875531Abstract: A power supply management control unit 14 has a requested-amount-of-generated-electric-energy calculator 51 for calculating a requested amount of electric energy (Ifc_CAL) generated by a fuel cell stack 2 depending on a requested electric energy of an electric motor and an electric load other than the electric motor, an actual-amount-of-generated-electric-energy calculator 52 for calculating an actual amount of electric energy (Ifc_s) generated by the fuel cell stack 2 based on a current (Ifc) detected by a fuel cell sensor 30, and a target selector 53 for comparing the requested amount of electric energy (Ifc_CAL) and the actual amount of electric energy (Ifc_s) with each other, regarding the requested amount of electric energy (Ifc_CAL) as a target amount of generated electric energy (Ifc_REQ) for a fuel cell control unit 16 if the requested amount of electric energy (Ifc_CAL) is equal to or greater than the actual amount of electric energy (Ifc_s), and regarding the actual amount of electric energy (Ifc_s)Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Hibiki Saeki, Yusuke Hasegawa, Kazuo Kotaka
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Patent number: 6864003Abstract: A control device for a fuel cell including a transient state determination unit which determines whether changes in generated output of the fuel cell are within a predetermined range; a hydrogen purge detection unit which detects the presence/absence of a purge command to a hydrogen purge valve; a failure determination unit which determines, if the transient state determination unit determined that it is not a transient state, failure in the hydrogen purge valve based on an actual hydrogen pressure value at an inlet portion of the fuel cell and a target hydrogen pressure value, which is set in accordance with the presence/absence of the purge command detected by the hydrogen purge detection unit; and an alarm unit which generates an alarm when failure in the hydrogen purge valve is determined by the failure determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2002Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Yoshikazu Murakami, Masanori Hayashi, Satoshi Aoyagi
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Publication number: 20040221819Abstract: To reduce errors of measurement of fuel consumption resulting from air remaining in piping of a hydrogen supply apparatus, a hydrogen supply method for measuring fuel consumption of a hydrogen fuel vehicle comprises; a step (S02) of prior to supplying hydrogen from a measurement hydrogen tank to the hydrogen fuel vehicle, supplying hydrogen from a dummy hydrogen tank to hydrogen supply piping connecting the measurement hydrogen tank and the hydrogen fuel vehicle, to purge air in the hydrogen supply piping, and a step (S03) of after filling of the hydrogen supply piping with hydrogen from the dummy hydrogen tank, supplying hydrogen from the measurement hydrogen tank to the hydrogen fuel vehicle via the hydrogen supply piping.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Osamu Sukagawa, Takuya Shirasaka
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Patent number: 6815100Abstract: A control device for starting a fuel cell is provided which is capable of preventing an excessive reduction of the terminal voltage of the fuel cell. A primary precharge portion, provided with a high voltage switch and a current limiter, is disposed at the output portion of a power storage unit, and a secondary precharge portion, provided with a DC-DC chopper and a control portion, is disposed at the output side of a fuel cell. The primary precharge portion controls the output current to flow in a path via a resistor having a predetermined resistance. The secondary precharge portion controls an output current of the fuel cell based on a current command value IFCCMD for the fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Yoshinobu Hasuka, Hibiki Saeki
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Publication number: 20040204874Abstract: A control apparatus calculates the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU) that can be supplied to a capacitor depending on the detected value of the temperature of the capacitor, and calculates the output power (PFC) of the fuel cell, the real power of the motor (PMOT) that actually powers the drive motor, and the load power (PAC) that actually powers an electrical load, excluding the drive motor. The control apparatus calculates the motor power limiting value (PMOTU), which is the motor power that corresponds to the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU), based on the output power (PFC) of the fuel cell, the load power (PAC) that powers the electrical load, excluding the drive motor, and the capacitor maximum power (PCAPU). The control apparatus output to the output controller a control command that directs the real power of the motor (PMOT) to take the value of the motor power limiting value (PMOTU) in the case that the real power of the motor (PMOT) is larger than the motor power limiting value (PMOTU).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinobu Hasuka, Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi, Shinji Kato
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Publication number: 20040185317Abstract: A control device for starting a fuel cell is provided which is capable of preventing an excessive reduction of the terminal voltage of the fuel cell. A primary precharge portion, provided with a high voltage switch and a current limiter, is disposed at the output portion of a power storage unit, and a secondary precharge portion, provided with a DC-DC chopper and a control portion, is disposed at the output side of a fuel cell. The primary precharge portion controls the output current to flow in a path via a resistor having a predetermined resistance. The secondary precharge portion controls an output current of the fuel cell based on a current command value IFCCMD for the fuel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Yoshinobu Hasuka, Hibiki Saeki
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Publication number: 20040172206Abstract: A control apparatus 20 is provided in order to improve the energy efficiency of a vehicle during regeneration by a propulsion motor. At the time of regenerative operation of a propulsion motor 15, calculates the regenerative electric power which can be generated based on the speed of the vehicle or the like, and calculates the chargeable power which can be charged to a capacitor 13 based on the detected value of the terminal voltage of the capacitor 13 or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi, Yoshinobu Hasuka
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Publication number: 20040144579Abstract: A control device of a fuel cell, capable of reducing a period for starting the fuel cell vehicle while protecting the fuel cell. At the time of starting the vehicle, the control device execute an idle charging an output voltage (estimated output voltage) of a fuel cell 11 for immediately after the vehicle commences movement, in the condition where, while in the idle charging state at the time of starting the fuel cell vehicle, in other words, the state wherein generation of power by the fuel cell 11 continues, and the value of the output current extracted from the fuel cell 11 is being restricted to an appropriate value by a current and voltage controller 12, a capacitor 13 is being charged with the restricted current.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinobu Hasuka, Hibiki Saeki, Satoshi Aoyagi
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Patent number: 6691810Abstract: An upper limit amount of discharged electric energy calculator calculates an upper limit amount of discharged electric energy (Pcap_LMT), which represents a discharged electric energy of a capacitor when the amount of electric energy discharged by a fuel cell stack is equal to an upper limit amount of electric energy (Ifc_LMT) generated by the fuel cell stack. An output limit electric energy calculator calculates an output limit electric energy (PLD), which represents an upper limit amount of the electric energy that can be outputted to a motor. A torque command determining unit determines a torque command (TRQ_CMD) such that the electric energy consumed by the motor and a motor driver will not exceed the output limit electric energy (PLD).Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinobu Hasuka, Satoshi Aoyagi, Asao Uenodai, Hibiki Saeki
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Publication number: 20040013919Abstract: A hydrogen purge control apparatus includes a fuel cell stack from which hydrogen is purged as necessary, a purged hydrogen dilution device which is disposed downstream of the fuel cell stack, and which has a chamber formed therein, a first inlet for purged hydrogen, a second inlet for air, and an outlet for diluted hydrogen, a regulator which is disposed between the fuel cell stack and the first inlet, and which is provided for regulating an amount of the purged hydrogen flowing into the purged hydrogen dilution device, and a control unit having a hydrogen concentration estimating section that is configured to estimate the hydrogen concentration at the outlet of the purged hydrogen dilution device based on an operating state of the fuel cell stack. The regulator is operated by the control unit depending on the hydrogen concentration estimated by the hydrogen concentration estimating section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Masanori Hayashi, Akio Yamamoto, Yoshikazu Murakami, Satoshi Aoyagi
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Patent number: 6670063Abstract: In the fuel cell (FC) system comprising a FC and a rechargeable battery, a demand power of the FC is calculated by subtracting the charge power to the battery from a demand power signal which indicates the demand value of a load current and using the result. Accordingly, the charge current is never supplied to the battery which is charged to the maximum ratio, which prevents the utilization ratio of the fuel cell from decreasing and which prevents the battery from overcharge. On the other hand, the battery which is discharged to the minimum ratio does not output the discharge power but the charge power is supplied to the battery. Accordingly, it prevents the battery from over discharge.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2000Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Hiroyuki Abe, Hibiki Saeki, Yusuke Hasegawa
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Publication number: 20030077488Abstract: A discharged fuel diluter includes: a retention region with a predetermined volume, into which a fuel discharged from a fuel cell is retained at the time of purging; a dilution region with a predetermined volume, through which air discharged from the fuel cell flows and at which the air is mixed with the fuel from the retention region to dilute the fuel; and a communicating portion, through which the fuel flows from the retention region to the dilution region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Yamamoto, Satoshi Aoyagi, Masami Ogura, Yoshikazu Murakami, Kazunori Fukuma, Takatsugu Koyama
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Publication number: 20030012989Abstract: A control device for a fuel cell including a transient state determination unit which determines whether changes in generated output of the fuel cell are within a predetermined range; a hydrogen purge detection unit which detects the presence/absence of a purge command to a hydrogen purge valve; a failure determination unit which determines, if the transient state determination unit determined that it is not a transient state, failure in the hydrogen purge valve based on an actual hydrogen pressure value at an inlet portion of the fuel cell and a target hydrogen pressure value, which is set in accordance with the presence/absence of the purge command detected by the hydrogen purge detection unit; and an alarm unit which generates an alarm when failure in the hydrogen purge valve is determined by the failure determination unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2002Publication date: January 16, 2003Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenichiro Ueda, Yoshikazu Murakami, Masanori Hayashi, Satoshi Aoyagi