Patents by Inventor Shuji Tomura
Shuji Tomura 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: 20140265605Abstract: The power converter includes a first operation mode in which each of switching elements is controlled on or off independently so as to perform a power conversion between a load and both a first DC power source and a second DC power source and a second operation mode in which every two of the switching elements are controlled on or off concurrently so as to perform the power conversion between the load and the first DC power source or the second DC power source. A switching speed at which when each of the switching elements is turned on or turned off is controlled in accordance with the operation mode. Specifically, the switching speed in the second operation mode is higher than the switching speed in the first operation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2012Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Masaki Okamura, Daigo Nobe
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Patent number: 8836284Abstract: A rechargeable battery is used with a plurality of battery cells restrained by a restraint member. After the rechargeable battery has the restraint member removed therefrom and is thus disassembled when the rechargeable battery is subsequently re-restrained by the restraint member and thus reused an internal resistance measurement unit measures the rechargeable battery's internal resistance based on battery data detected after the rechargeable battery is re-restrained. At least for the internal voltage, from a value thereof as measured after the battery is re-restrained an evaluation unit evaluates a value of the rechargeable battery that is reused.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Nobuyasu Haga, Shuji Tomura
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Patent number: 8829713Abstract: A power conversion circuit system comprises a primary conversion circuit, a secondary conversion circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the primary and secondary conversion circuits. The primary conversion circuit comprises a primary full bridge circuit, which includes a bridge section composed of both a primary coil in a transformer and a primary magnetic coupling reactor in which two reactors are magnetically coupled, a first input/output port disposed between a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar of the primary full bridge circuit, and a second input/output port disposed between the negative bus bar of the primary full bridge circuit and a center tap of the primary coil in the transformer. The secondary conversion circuit has a configuration similar to that of the primary conversion circuit.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Kenji Kimura
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Publication number: 20140145694Abstract: A power source system (5) includes a direct current power source (10), a direct current power source (20), and a power converter (50) having a plurality of switching elements (S1-S4) and reactors (L1, L2). The power converter (50) performs a direct current voltage conversion between the direct current power sources (10, 20) and a power source line (PL) in parallel by controlling the switching elements (S1-S4). Each of the switching elements (S1-S4) is disposed to be included in both a power conversion path formed between the direct current power source (10) and the power source line (PL), and a power conversion path formed between the direct current power source (20) and the power source line (PL).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Inventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Shuji Tomura, Naoki Yanagizawa, Takaji Umeno, Masaki Okamura, Daigo Nobe
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Patent number: 8615372Abstract: A battery state estimating unit estimates an internal state of a secondary battery in accordance with a battery model equation in every arithmetic cycle, and estimates a charging rate and a battery current based on a result of the estimation. A parameter estimating unit obtains a battery current measured by a sensor as well as the charging rate and the battery current estimated by the battery state estimating unit. The parameter estimating unit estimates a capacity deterioration parameter such that a rate of change in difference (estimation error) between a summed value of an actual current and a summed value of an estimated current with respect to the charging rate is minimized. A result obtained by estimating the capacity deterioration parameter is reflected in the battery model by the battery state estimating unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Yasushi Amano, Yuji Nishi, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto
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Patent number: 8577529Abstract: A control apparatus (30) estimates a status of charge (SOC) by a first estimation method by temporarily changing the SOC of a battery (B) so that the SOC of the battery (B) falls within a first region in the case a period, during which the estimated value of the status of charge of the battery (B) falls within a second region, exceeds a prescribed period.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto, Tetsuya Sugimoto
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Patent number: 8515607Abstract: A power frequency distribution predicting unit predicts the power frequency distribution of a vehicle in a case where the vehicle travels a route with reference to the history of the vehicle power Pv when the vehicle traveled the route in the past. An operation condition setting unit sets the range of the required vehicle power Pv0 to operate the engine as an engine operation condition for controlling the energy balance between generated power and generated electric power of an electric rotating machine in a case where the vehicle travels the route to be at a preset value according to the power frequency distribution predicted by the power frequency distribution predicting unit. An operation control unit controls the operation of the engine according to the range of the required vehicle power Pv0 to operate the engine set by the operation condition setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasushi Amano, Takaji Umeno, Shuji Tomura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Naoya Kanada, Hiroshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 8513830Abstract: A controller causes a first power converter and a second power converter to cooperate, and achieve bidirectional transmission of electric power between a first power storage device and an electric load, bidirectional transmission of electric power between a second power storage device and the electric load, and bidirectional transmission of electric power between the first power storage device and the second power storage device. This can provide a vehicle power supply apparatus which is equipped with the power storage devices having different characteristics and offers improved performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Kimura, Shuji Tomura, Masanori Ishigaki, Takaji Umeno
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Patent number: 8498766Abstract: A hybrid vehicle (1) includes a battery (10-1), a motor-generator (32-2) operable to produce driving force using electric power of the battery (10-1), a charger (28) operable to charge the battery (10-1) by means of an external power supply, and an ECU (40). The ECU (40) stores a given parameter used in battery model expressions. The parameter varies according to the status of the battery (10-1). During running of the hybrid vehicle (1) and during charging of the battery (10-1) with the external power supply, the ECU (40) collects data related to the status of the battery (10-1), corrects the parameter based on the data, and calculates a value of charging rate (SOC) of the battery (10-1). The ECU (40) controls charge/discharge of the battery (10-1), based on the calculated SOC value.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto, Tetsuya Sugimoto
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Publication number: 20130134786Abstract: The power supply system includes a first DC power source, a second DC power source, and a power converter having a plurality of switching elements and reactors. The power converter is configured to be switchable, by the control of the plurality of switching elements, between a parallel connection mode in which DC voltage conversion is executed with the DC power sources connected in parallel with a power line and a series connection mode in which DC voltage conversion is executed with the DC power sources connected in series with the power line. Each of the switching elements is arranged to be included both in a power conversion path between the first DC power source and the power line PL and a power conversion path between the second DC power source and the power line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHOInventors: Masanori Ishigaki, Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Masaki Okamura, Daigo Nobe, Yoshiyuki Nakamura
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Publication number: 20130099794Abstract: A degradation determination device includes: a measuring unit measuring an open-circuit voltage characteristic indicating an open-circuit voltage variation with respect to a lithium ion secondary battery capacity variation; and a determining unit determining a degradation state due to wear and precipitation of lithium using a parameter for identifying the open-circuit voltage characteristic that substantially coincides with the measured open-circuit voltage characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto
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Publication number: 20130076363Abstract: An MPU performs a degradation diagnosis based on an open circuit voltage characteristic of a rechargeable lithium ion battery indicating how the battery varies in open circuit voltage as the battery varies in capacity to obtain a capacity ratio of a positive electrode, a capacity ratio of a negative electrode, and a deviated capacity of the battery. The MPU applies the capacity ratio of the positive electrode and the capacity ratio of the negative electrode to a predetermined map for degradation attributed to wear to estimate a deviated capacity resulting from degradation attributed to wear and separates the deviated capacity into the deviated capacity resulting from degradation attributed to wear and a deviated capacity resulting from deposition of lithium. The MPU uses at least the deviated capacity resulting from deposition of lithium to determine whether a rechargeable lithium ion battery subject to determination of degradation is reusable and/or recyclable.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Shuji Tomura, Nobuyasu Haga
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Publication number: 20130057291Abstract: A rechargeable battery is used with a plurality of battery cells restrained by a restraint member. After the rechargeable battery has the restraint member removed therefrom and is thus disassembled when the rechargeable battery is subsequently re-restrained by the restraint member and thus reused an internal resistance measurement unit measures the rechargeable battery's internal resistance based on battery data detected after the rechargeable battery is re-restrained. At least for the internal voltage, from a value thereof as measured after the battery is re-restrained an evaluation unit evaluates a value of the rechargeable battery that is reused.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Nobuyasu Haga, Shuji Tomura
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Publication number: 20130059191Abstract: A structure for effectively heating a battery. A battery is housed in a battery container. A condenser is formed such that a heating medium is in direct contact with a surface of the battery container, and condenses the heating medium to heat the battery via the battery container. The heating medium condensed by the condenser is supplied to an evaporator that heats and vaporizes the heating medium. The heating medium vaporized by the evaporator which is in vapor is circulated to the condenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHOInventors: Yasuki Hirota, Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Takashi Shimazu, Takashi Murata
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Publication number: 20130030739Abstract: A secondary battery is implemented as an assembly of a plurality of battery modules. An ECU calculates a deterioration indicator quantitatively indicating a degree of deterioration of a battery module for each of the plurality of battery modules, and detects as a module to be replaced, a battery module of which deterioration indicator has reached a prescribed replacement level. The ECU further extracts a module to additionally be replaced, which should be replaced simultaneously with the module to be replaced above, from battery modules of which deterioration indicator has not reached the replacement level, among the plurality of battery modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Nobuyasu Haga, Shuji Tomura
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Patent number: 8340849Abstract: A power frequency distribution predicting unit predicts the power frequency distribution of a vehicle in a case where the vehicle travels a route with reference to the history of the vehicle power Pv when the vehicle traveled the route in the past. An operation condition setting unit sets the range of the required vehicle power Pv0 to operate the engine as an engine operation condition for controlling the energy balance between generated power and generated electric power of an electric rotating machine in a case where the vehicle travels the route to be at a preset value according to the power frequency distribution predicted by the power frequency distribution predicting unit. An operation control unit controls the operation of the engine according to the range of the required vehicle power Pv0 to operate the engine set by the operation condition setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasushi Amano, Takaji Umeno, Shuji Tomura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Naoya Kanada, Hiroshi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20120109443Abstract: A hybrid vehicle (1) includes a battery (10-1), a motor-generator (32-2) operable to produce driving force using electric power of the battery (10-1), a charger (28) operable to charge the battery (10-1) by means of an external power supply, and an ECU (40). The ECU (40) stores a given parameter used in battery model expressions. The parameter varies according to the status of the battery (10-1). During running of the hybrid vehicle (1) and during charging of the battery (10-1) with the external power supply, the ECU (40) collects data related to the status of the battery (10-1), corrects the parameter based on the data, and calculates a value of charging rate (SOC) of the battery (10-1). The ECU (40) controls charge/discharge of the battery (10-1), based on the calculated SOC value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto, Tetsuya Sugimoto
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Publication number: 20120091930Abstract: When it is determined by a determining portion (54) that the SOC of a first auxiliary power storage device (BB1) has reached a first lower limit value (TL), a switching control portion (56) generates a switching signal (SW) to switch from the first auxiliary power storage device (BB1) to the second auxiliary power storage device (BB2). A SOC estimating portion (52) measures the OCV for the first auxiliary power storage device (BB1), for which it has been determined that the SOC has reached the first lower limit value (TL) and has thus been disconnected, and estimates the SOC of that first auxiliary power storage device (BB1), based on that measured OCV. If the estimated SOC is higher than the first lower limit value (TL), after the SOC of the second auxiliary power storage device (BB2) has reached the first lower limit value (TL), the switching control portion (56) generates a switching signal (SW) to switch from the second auxiliary power storage device (BB2) to the first auxiliary storage device (BB1).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto, Tetsuya Sugimoto
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Publication number: 20120065824Abstract: A control apparatus (30) estimates a status of charge (SOC) by a first estimation method by temporarily changing the SOC of a battery (B) so that the SOC of the battery (B) falls within a first region in the case a period, during which the estimated value of the status of charge of the battery (B) falls within a second region, exceeds a prescribed period.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuji Nishi, Shuji Tomura, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto, Tetsuya Sugimoto
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Patent number: 8108161Abstract: A battery state estimating unit estimates an internal state of a secondary battery according to a battery model equation in every arithmetic cycle, and calculates an SOC based on a result of the estimation. A parameter characteristic map stores a characteristic map based on a result of actual measurement performed in an initial state (in a new state) on a parameter diffusion coefficient and a DC resistance in the battery model equation. The parameter change rate estimating unit estimates a DC resistance change rate represented by a ratio of a present DC resistance with respect to a new-state parameter value by parameter identification based on the battery model equation, using battery data measured by sensors as well as the new-state parameter value of the DC resistance corresponding to the present battery state and read from the parameter characteristic map.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuji Tomura, Takaji Umeno, Yasushi Amano, Yuji Nishi, Takeshi Takemoto, Nobuyasu Haga, Tetsuya Fuchimoto