Patents by Inventor Takahiko Hirasawa
Takahiko Hirasawa 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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Patent number: 9676384Abstract: An ECU determines in an HV mode that a fuel sender gauge is in malfunction when a first condition is met, and determines in an EV mode that the fuel sender gauge is in malfunction when a second condition differing from the first condition is met. The first condition is met when the difference between an estimated value of the fuel consumption amount and an amount of change in the detection value by the fuel sender gauge is greater than a predetermined value Z. The second condition is met when the detection value changes exceeding a predetermined range X.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiji Kaita, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20170125995Abstract: An electricity storage system includes an electricity storage device, a positive electrode line, a negative electrode line, a capacitor, at least two diodes, and a first intermediate line. The electricity storage device is able to supply power to a load. The electricity storage device includes at least two electricity storage groups connected in series. The electricity storage group includes at least two electricity storage elements connected in series. Each electricity storage element includes a current breaker. The capacitor is connected to the positive and negative electrode lines. At least two diodes are connected in series between the positive electrode line and the negative electrode line and are respectively connected in parallel to the electricity storage groups. The first intermediate line is connected between a first connection point at which the electricity storage groups are connected together and a second connection point at which the diodes are connected together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Nishi, Yukinari Tanabe, Hiromasa Tanaka, Hiroyuki Kaiya, Takahiko Hirasawa, Junta Izumi
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Patent number: 9623868Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an one-way clutch configured to prevent the reverse rotation of an engine, a power split device, a display unit configured to notify a driver of a warning message, and an ECU configured to control the engine, the display unit and a motor generator. The ECU controls the display unit to notify the driver of a warning message that the vehicle is not allowed to make reverse moving when a malfunction occurs. In the case where a malfunction occurs, the output shaft cannot rotate reversely if the reverse rotation of the engine is prevented by the one-way clutch.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiko Hirasawa
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Patent number: 9555705Abstract: An ECU includes a collision determination unit, a condition determination unit, and an output suppression unit. The collision determination unit monitors an acceleration detected by a collision sensor, and determines that a vehicle collision has occurred when the acceleration is greater than a predetermined value. The condition determination unit determines whether or not a vehicular speed absolute value is smaller than a threshold vehicular speed in a determination period lasting from the determination of collision for a predetermined time. The output suppression unit suppresses an output of a vehicle driving force when the vehicular speed absolute value is smaller than the threshold vehicular speed in the determination period.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Takeshi Hoshiba, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Patent number: 9531312Abstract: A vehicle includes a feeding system supplying an electric power to an external device disposed outside the vehicle, a controller controlling the operation of the feeding system, and an information output unit outputting predetermined information. The controller performs the processing of determining whether or not feeding can be performed from the feeding system to the external device. When the feeding from the feeding system to the external device is prohibited, the controller causes the information output unit to output prohibition information about the prohibition of the feeding including the contents of a determination processing.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Masashi Yoshimi
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Publication number: 20160272195Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided with an one-way clutch configured to prevent the reverse rotation of an engine, a power split device, a display unit configured to notify a driver of a warning message, and an ECU configured to control the engine, the display unit and a motor generator. The ECU controls the display unit to notify the driver of a warning message that the vehicle is not allowed to make reverse moving when a malfunction occurs. In the case where a malfunction occurs, the output shaft cannot rotate reversely if the reverse rotation of the engine is prevented by the one-way clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventor: Takahiko Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20160152230Abstract: An ECU determines in an HV mode that a fuel sender gauge is in malfunction when a first condition is met, and determines in an EV mode that the fuel sender gauge is in malfunction when a second condition differing from the first condition is met. The first condition is met when the difference between an estimated value of the fuel consumption amount and an amount of change in the detection value by the fuel sender gauge is greater than a predetermined value Z. The second condition is met when the detection value changes exceeding a predetermined range X.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Patent number: 9242644Abstract: A hybrid vehicle illustrated as a representative example of an electrically-powered vehicle includes a chargeable/dischargeable power storage device, a motor configured to generate a vehicle drive force by receiving supply of power from the power storage device, an internal combustion engine as a drive force source, and a generator configured to generate charging power for the power storage device by power generation using an output of the internal combustion engine. If the generator cannot be operated normally, the control unit causes the electrically-powered vehicle to perform limp-home mode traveling by traveling using only the motor. During the limp-home mode traveling, the control device calculates a remaining travelable distance in the limp-home mode traveling, based on at least a remaining capacity of the power storage device and a vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Keiji Kaita
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Patent number: 9086142Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern changes into a normal pattern of a drive range is satisfied, and whether or not a second condition that a vehicle is running (a driver has an intention to cause the vehicle to run) is satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When the above-mentioned first condition and second condition are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern and recovers the driving force.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Masaya Amano, Koji Hokoi, Masashi Yoshimi, Takeshi Hoshiba, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Patent number: 9086949Abstract: During the deactivation of a driving system of a vehicle, an ECU determines whether or not a P range abnormality occurs which exhibits that a shift signal transmitted from a shift position sensor includes a P signal and an MJ signal corresponding to the P range as well as a different-type signal other than the P signal and the MJ signal. When the P range abnormality occurs, the ECU determines whether or not the vehicle-stopped state can be assured based on whether or not a brake-ON state (a hydraulic braking force or a parking braking force are beyond the range capable of maintaining vehicle-stopped state) is present. In a case where a P range abnormality occurs, when ECU determines that the vehicle-stopped state can be assured, the ECU allows the activation of the driving system.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Masaya Amano, Takeshi Hoshiba, Koji Hokoi, Takahiko Hirasawa, Masashi Yoshimi
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Patent number: 8972130Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern has changed into a normal pattern of a drive range, a second condition that a brake is ON and a vehicle is in a stop state is satisfied, and a third condition that an accelerator is OFF are satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When ECU determines that the above-mentioned first to third conditions are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiji Kaita, Masaya Amano, Takeshi Hoshiba, Koji Hokoi, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20140291994Abstract: A vehicle includes a feeding system supplying an electric power to an external device disposed outside the vehicle, a controller controlling the operation of the feeding system, and an information output unit outputting predetermined information. The controller performs the processing of determining whether or not feeding can be performed from the feeding system to the external device. When the feeding from the feeding system to the external device is prohibited, the controller causes the information output unit to output prohibition information about the prohibition of the feeding including the contents of a determination processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Masashi Yoshimi
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Publication number: 20140288757Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one of embodiments of the present invention generates a driving torque using an internal combustion engine, an motor generator, and the like when a shift position is a driving position, the driving torque being determined based on a selected driving mode (e.g., a power mode to give priority to the power, and a normal mode to give priority to fuel consumption) and an accelerator operation amount. On the other hand, when the shift position is a neutral position, the vehicle maintains a rotational speed of the engine at a constant speed (including zero when the engine is stopped) regardless of the accelerator operation amount. When the accelerator operation amount becomes equal to or larger than an accelerator operation amount threshold while the neutral position is selected, the vehicle supplies information indicating that the neutral position is selected to a driver. The accelerator operation amount threshold is determined based on the driving mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2011Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Noritake Mitsutani
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Publication number: 20140232179Abstract: A vehicle includes a feeding system supplying an electric power to an external device disposed outside the vehicle, a controller controlling the operation of the feeding system, and a shift sensor detecting the position of a shift lever and outputting the detection result to the controller. The controller prohibits feeding from the feeding system to the external device when the position of the shift lever is changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Masashi Yoshimi
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Publication number: 20140217812Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a storage device configured to store power used for traveling; an auxiliary battery configured to store power supplied to an auxiliary load; a converter configured to charge the auxiliary battery by using power supplied from the storage device; and a shut-off device configured to switch between a supply condition in which power is supplied to the auxiliary load from the auxiliary battery and a shut-off condition in which power is not supplied to the auxiliary load from the auxiliary battery. During control of the electric vehicle, the converter is controlled such that an output voltage of the converter is higher when the shut-off device is in the shut-off condition than when the shut-off device is in the supply condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA, Keiji KAITA, Takahiko HIRASAWA, Yasuomi TAKEUCHI
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Publication number: 20140114523Abstract: A hybrid vehicle illustrated as a representative example of an electrically-powered vehicle includes a chargeable/dischargeable power storage device, a motor configured to generate a vehicle drive force by receiving supply of power from the power storage device, an internal combustion engine as a drive force source, and a generator configured to generate charging power for the power storage device by power generation using an output of the internal combustion engine. If the generator cannot be operated normally, the control unit causes the electrically-powered vehicle to perform limp-home mode traveling by traveling using only the motor. During the limp-home mode traveling, the control device calculates a remaining travelable distance in the limp-home mode traveling, based on at least a remaining capacity of the power storage device and a vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Keiji Kaita
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Publication number: 20140074372Abstract: An ECU includes a collision determination unit, a condition determination unit, and an output suppression unit. The collision determination unit monitors an acceleration detected by a collision sensor, and determines that a vehicle collision has occurred when the acceleration is greater than a predetermined value. The condition determination unit determines whether or not a vehicular speed absolute value is smaller than a threshold vehicular speed in a determination period lasting from the determination of collision for a predetermined time. The output suppression unit suppresses an output of a vehicle driving force when the vehicular speed absolute value is smaller than the threshold vehicular speed in the determination period.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2011Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Takeshi Hoshiba, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20140032029Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes an electric motor for generating a vehicle driving force in accordance with an accelerator operation amount by a driver, and a notification unit for notifying the driver of information about accelerator operation by the driver in a mode which makes the driver sense the accelerator operation amount more easily in the case where a wheel is in contact with an obstacle than in the case where the wheel is not in contact with the obstacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Keiji Kaita
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Publication number: 20130325275Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern has changed into a normal pattern of a drive range, a second condition that a brake is ON and a vehicle is in a stop state is satisfied, and a third condition that an accelerator is OFF satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When ECU determines that the above-mentioned first to third conditions are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Masaya Amano, Takeshi Hoshiba, Koji Hokoi, Takahiko Hirasawa
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Publication number: 20130317715Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern changes into a normal pattern of a drive range is satisfied, and whether or not a second condition that a vehicle is running (a driver has an intention to cause the vehicle to run) is satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When the above-mentioned first condition and second condition are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern and recovers the driving force.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji Kaita, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Masaya Amano, Koji Hokoi, Masashi Yoshimi, Takeshi Hoshiba, Takahiko Hirasawa