Patents by Inventor Tadafumi Yoshida

Tadafumi Yoshida 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: 7932624
    Abstract: A bus bar constitutes a power line and another bus bar constitutes an earth line. The bus bars are layered in the normal direction of an insulating substrate via an insulating member. Here, the bus bar positioned at the upper side is formed by a metal member and the bus bar positioned at the lower side is formed by a wiring layer formed on the insulating substrate. Since one of the bus bars is the wiring layer fixed to the insulating substrate, it is possible to assure heat radiation of the bus bar. Thus, it is possible to make the bus bar a wiring layer having a comparatively small cross sectional area and reduce the semiconductor module size in the normal direction. By mounting the semiconductor module on the drive device for a hybrid vehicle, it is possible to reduce the vertical-direction size when mounted on the vehicle and lower the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to improve the running stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100319876
    Abstract: A semiconductor element cooling structure includes a semiconductor element, a heat sink on which the semiconductor element is mounted, and a heat storage member attached to the semiconductor element in a manner to be located opposite to the heat sink with respect to the semiconductor element and having a case and a latent heat storage material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Osada, Yutaka Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7851954
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device includes a motor generator (MG2), a power control unit controlling the motor generator (MG2), and a case housing the motor generator (MG2) and the power control unit. The power control unit includes a first inverter driving the motor generator (MG2) and a voltage converter boosting a power supply voltage to apply the voltage to the first inverter. A reactor L1 which is a component of the voltage converter is disposed such that at least a portion of a core comes into contact with the case for heat exchange. Consequently, the heat is dissipated to the case having a large heat capacity for integral housing, to thereby allow the heat dissipation performance of the reactor (L1) arranged in the limited space to be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Ryoji Mizutani, Kazutaka Tatematsu, Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100237507
    Abstract: A power module includes a pair of power devices that are stacked with a plate-shaped output electrode arranged therebetween, and an N-electrode and a P-electrode that are stacked with the pair of power devices arranged therebetween. The output electrode is anisotropic such that the thermal conductivity in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction is greater than the thermal conductivity in the stacking direction. Also, the output electrode extends in the orthogonal direction from a stacked area where the pair of power devices are stacked. The N-electrode and the P-electrode extend in the orthogonal direction while maintaining an opposing positional relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasushi YAMADA, Hiroshi OSADA, Gentaro YAMANAKA, Norifumi FURUTA, Akio KITAMI, Tadafumi YOSHIDA, Hiromichi KUNO
  • Patent number: 7800260
    Abstract: A driving gear of a vehicle comprising a motor generator (MG2), a power control unit (21) for controlling the motor generator (MG2), and a case for containing the motor generator (MG2) and the power control unit (21). The power control unit (21) comprises a first inverter for driving the motor generator (MG2), and a voltage converter for applying power supply voltage to the first inverter after stepping it up. The voltage converter includes a reactor (L1). Heat of the reactor (L1) is dissipated using lubricant touching the reactor (L1) and the case as heat transfer agent. A circulation path of lubricant is formed in the case and the reactor is arranged on the circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Komatsu, Yasuhiro Endo, Kazutaka Tatematsu, Takeshi Yamazaki, Hiromichi Kuno, Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100182747
    Abstract: A semiconductor element cooling structure includes a plurality of semiconductor elements, and electrode structure, which has cooling medium channels therein and is electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor elements. The electrode structure includes an alternating current electrode having the semiconductor elements on each of opposite surfaces, and a plurality of direct current electrodes holding therebetween the alternating current electrode and the semiconductor elements respectively mounted on the opposite surfaces of the alternating current electrode. Each of the alternating current electrode and the direct current electrodes has the cooling medium channels therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUISHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Osada, Yutaka Yokoi, Yasushi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100175933
    Abstract: In a drive apparatus having an integrated structure where a rotating electric machine and an inverter and a voltage converter for driving the rotating electric machine are integrally stored in a case, lubricant oil carried up by the rotation of the motor-generator flows into a storage chamber for a reactor from an opening. The lubricant oil flown from the opening is stored inside the storage chamber with the use of a dividing wall provided between a portion where the motor-generator is stored and the storage chamber, whereby at least part of reactor is immersed in the lubricant oil. Thus, the performance of cooling the reactor is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100172104
    Abstract: A radiator having a radiator fin sandwiched between and joined to a top plate and a bottom plate is provided on an insulating substrate, which has a semiconductor element arranged on one face side thereof, on the other face side thereof. The radiator fin is a corrugated fin that includes a first region that includes a joint peak portion joined to the bottom plate and has a height in an amplitude direction which is substantially equal to a distance between the top plate and the bottom plate, and a second region that includes a non-joint peak portion separated from the bottom plate by a predetermined gap and has a height in the amplitude direction which is smaller than the distance between the top plate and the bottom plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroki Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100170221
    Abstract: A turbo fan engine is equipped with a main body portion that has a high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine, an output portion that is provided separately from the main body portion, a gas flow channel that communicates with a space between the high-pressure turbine and the low-pressure turbine and is connected to the output portion, and a flow rate adjustment portion that is provided in the gas flow channel to adjust a flow rate of a gas flowing through the gas flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroki Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100155027
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a case including a mount surface having a power transistor mounted thereon, a coolant accommodating chamber formed in the case located above the mount surface, for accommodating a coolant capable of evaporating by heat from the power transistor, a cooling pipe provided in the case and being capable of cooling the coolant in a gaseous state, and a defining member provided in the coolant accommodating chamber and being capable of defining in the coolant accommodating chamber a first region capable of guiding the coolant in a gaseous state evaporated by the heat from the power transistor toward the cooling pipe, and a second region located downstream in a flow direction of the coolant with respect to the first region and being capable of guiding the coolant cooled by the cooling pipe toward a bottom of the coolant accommodating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JODOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Yutaka Yokoi, Hiroshi Osada
  • Publication number: 20100127586
    Abstract: A driving device (100) is provided with first and second rotating electrical machines (MG1, MG2); an inverter (30); a first storing case (23) having a first rotating electrical machine storing section (21) for storing the first rotating electrical machine (MG2), and an inverter storing section (300) for storing the inverter (30); and a second storing case (13) which can store the second rotating electrical machine (MG1) and can be attached to the first storing case (23); a first terminal section (121) connected to the inverter; and a second terminal section (15) which is arranged on the second storing case (13) and is connected to the second rotating electrical machine (MG1). The first terminal section (121) and the second terminal section (15) are arranged so that one protrudes toward the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AUSIN AW CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Masaki Yoshino, Yutaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20100127583
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes: a rotating electrical machine; an inverter capable of supplying electric power to the rotating electrical machine; an electrical device connected to the inverter; a containing case capable of containing the rotating electrical machine, the inverter, and the electrical device; and a cooling coolant circulation circuit, distributing cooling coolant capable of cooling the inverter and the electrical device, which allows the inverter to be cooled at an upstream side relative to the electrical device in a direction in which the cooling coolant is distributed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Masaki Yoshino, Yutaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20100101878
    Abstract: A Peltier element is provided so that an electrically conductive plate forming a heat absorbing portion is in close proximity to an insulating layer and an electrically conductive plate forming a heat radiating portion is provided in close proximity to an insulating layer. The Peltier element has one end connected to a branch line branched from a power line, and has the other end electrically connected to an electrode plate. Further, the Peltier element receives from the branch line a portion of electric power supplied to a power transistor, and outputs it to the electrode plate. In other words, the Peltier element uses the portion of the electric power supplied to the power transistor, to absorb heat generated by the power transistor and radiate it toward a heat radiating plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Osada, Yutaka Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100090336
    Abstract: A semiconductor element cooling structure includes first and second semiconductor elements; a heat sink having a mounting surface on which the semiconductor elements are mounted and a cooling medium channel formed inside, through which a cooling medium for cooling the semiconductor elements flows; and a protruded portion provided at a position opposite to the mounting surface of the heat sink, extending in a direction intersecting flow direction of the cooling medium (direction of arrow DR1) and protruding from a bottom surface of the cooling medium channel to the inside of cooling medium channel. The semiconductor elements are arranged side by side in the direction of arrow DR1, such that the first semiconductor element is positioned upstream side than the second semiconductor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Osada, Yutaka Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20100084206
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system includes a battery, motor generators driving the vehicle using electric power from the battery or driven by the vehicle, a PCU integrated with the motor generators, having inverters and controlling the motor generator, cooling water cooling inverters, and oil cooling motor generators. The PCU includes a smoothing capacitor and a filter capacitor provided electrically closer to the battery than the smoothing capacitor. Here, the smoothing capacitor is cooled by the cooing water, while the filter capacitor is cooled by the oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Asin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Masaki Yoshino, Yutaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20100072865
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device includes a motor generator (MG2), a power control unit controlling the motor generator (MG2), and a case housing the motor generator (MG2) and the power control unit. The power control unit includes a first inverter driving the motor generator (MG2) and a voltage converter boosting a power supply voltage to apply the voltage to the first inverter. A reactor L1 which is a component of the voltage converter is disposed such that at least a portion of a core comes into contact with the case for heat exchange. Consequently, the heat is dissipated to the case having a large heat capacity for integral housing, to thereby allow the heat dissipation performance of the reactor (L1) arranged in the limited space to be ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Ryoji Mizutani, Kazutaka Tatematsu, Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20100013331
    Abstract: Inside a housing, there are provided a motor generator (MG), an IPM, and a smoothing capacitor. Between the MG and the IPM, there is provided a cooler through which a coolant liquid flows, provided in an inclined manner to form contact with the top face of the IPM. Between the MG and the smoothing capacitor, there are provided a first communication channel through which an LLC flows from a region outside the housing into the cooler, brought into contact with a lateral face of the smoothing capacitor, and a second communication channel through which the LLC flows from the interior of the cooler to the region outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Masaki Yoshino, Yutaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20090289583
    Abstract: A control device converts a torque instruction value of an AC motor into a current instruction of AC motor, and employs current control in which feedback is performed by PI control to match an actual current value with the current instruction. Further, the control device sets a target flow rate of cooling water flowing through a coolant passage based on the converted current instruction, produces a signal for driving a water pump to circulate the cooling water at the target flow rate thus set and provides the signal to the water pump. A revolution speed of the water pump is restricted according to a signal of the control device such that the cooling water circulates through the coolant passage at the flow rate matching with the target flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadafumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20090279276
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic component which comprises an insulating member on which an electronic element is mounted, and a thermal diffusion member on which the insulating member is mounted, wherein a thermal expansion coefficient of the insulating member is lower than a thermal expansion coefficient of the thermal diffusion member, and the insulating member is mounted in an embedded manner in a recess formed on a surface of the thermal diffusion member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Osada, Yuji Yagi
  • Publication number: 20090278526
    Abstract: A current detecting device is provided having a plurality of Hall elements, a board on which the Hall elements are surface-mounted, and a core which surrounds a pass-through section through which a bus bar, through which a current to be detected flows, is passed and which has, at a part of the core, an opening in which the Hall element is placed, wherein the plurality of Hall elements are placed in series along a direction of a magnetic field line formed in the opening when a current flows through the bus bar. With such a structure, a core size of the current detecting device which uses the Hall element is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadafumi Yoshida