Patents by Inventor Takashi Amano

Takashi Amano 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: 20160221417
    Abstract: A vehicular heat management system is described and includes: a heater configured to carry out heating of a heat medium and stop the heating, and a heat exchanger configured to carry out heat exchange between lubricant oil for lubricating a speed change apparatus and the heat medium. A heat medium circulator is provided that is configured to switch the heat medium circulation state between a first circulation state where the heat medium circulates through the heater and the heat exchanger, and a second circulation state where the heat medium circulates through the heater and a heater core. An electronic control unit is also provided. When a pre-operation warm-up request to warm up the speed change apparatus and a pre-operation heating request to heat a vehicle cabin are both issued, the electronic control unit causes the heat medium circulator to switch the circulation state such that a warm-up of the speed change apparatus is carried out before heating of a vehicle cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru ITO, Takashi AMANO, Hidefumi AIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160195002
    Abstract: A cooling water control apparatus is configured to control a cooling apparatus, wherein the cooling apparatus includes: a first pipe in which the cooling water passes through an engine; a second pipe in which the cooling water does not pass through the engine; a valve; and an exhaust heat recovery equipment, the cooling water control apparatus includes: a determining device for performing a determination operation to determine whether or not the valve has failure on the basis of difference between first water temperature and second water temperature; and a controlling device for controlling the cooling apparatus such that transferred heat amount in the exhaust heat recovery equipment decreases with increase of load of the engine or the transferred heat amount is maintained regardless of largeness of the load of the engine, when the determining device performs the determination operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru ITO, Takashi AMANO
  • Patent number: 9376032
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a motor generator generating driving power for traveling of the vehicle; an ECU for controlling the motor generator; and an inclination detecting unit for detecting an inclination of a road surface. The ECU executes a driving power change operation that causes the vehicle to travel while switching between a first state (high output state) of the motor generator where first-level driving power is generated and a second state (low output state) of the motor generator where driving power smaller than that in the first state is generated. When it is recognized that the vehicle is traveling on a downhill, based on the inclination detected by the inclination detecting unit, the ECU sets the driving power in the first state to be smaller than that when the vehicle travels on a flat road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20160121878
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus controls a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a power generation unit that converts at least one of an engine output of the internal combustion engine and a kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric power, and a power storage unit that stores the electric power. The vehicle control apparatus includes: a first control unit configured to control the vehicle to alternate repeatedly between acceleration travel, in which the vehicle accelerates using the engine output, and coasting travel, in which the vehicle coasts without using the engine output, such that a vehicle speed is maintained within a predetermined speed region; and a second control unit configured to control the power generation unit to convert at least one of the engine output and the kinetic energy into electric power during a coasting period in which the vehicle performs the coasting travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi AMANO, Hidehumi AIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160107527
    Abstract: A vehicle control device operates an electric generator by an internal combustion engine and can intermittently drive an electric motor. The vehicle control device includes an electric storage unit and a control unit. The electric storage unit supplies electric power to the electric motor and can be charged by regenerative electric power from the electric generator. The control unit stops the intermittent driving mode provided that the vehicle speed is equal to or smaller than a predetermined speed and a status amount corresponding to an electric storage state of the electric storage unit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi AMANO
  • Publication number: 20160102601
    Abstract: A cooling water control apparatus is a cooling water control apparatus for controlling a cooling apparatus having a first pipe which circulates cooling water through an engine; a second pipe which circulates the cooling water not through the engine; and a switching valve whose state is changed between opened and closed states, and has: a detecting device which detects first temperature of the cooling water in a pipe portion of the first pipe between the engine and the switching valve; and a determining device which determines that there is failure of the switching valve whose state is the closed state, if required period from the output of the command for changing the state of the switching valve from the opened state to the closed state until the first temperature reaches predetermined temperature is larger than predetermined target period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei HOSOKAWA, Takashi AMANO, Satoru ITO, Kojiro HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9302597
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a driving source generating driving power for running the vehicle, and a control device for controlling the driving source. The control device performs driving power variation operation on the driving source in which the driving source is switched between a first state where the driving source generates driving power and a second state where the driving source generates driving power of a level lower than the level of the driving power in the first state to run the vehicle. The control device performs the driving power variation operation during steady running when variation in driving power requested by a user falls within a prescribed range, and also performs the driving power variation operation during an acceleration request or during a deceleration request when the variation in the requested driving power increases or decreases beyond the prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20160061091
    Abstract: A cooling water control apparatus controls a cooling apparatus having first pipe which circulates cooling water through an engine; second pipe which circulates cooling water not through the engine; a switching valve whose state is changed between opened and closed states; and a supplying mechanism which supplies cooling water, and has a determining device which determines whether there is failure of the switching valve based on difference between first temperature of cooling water in first pipe and second temperature of cooling water in second pipe after the command for changing the state of the switching valve from closed state to opened state is outputted; and a controlling device which controls the supplying mechanism to supply cooling water even after the engine stops, when the engine stops while the determining device determines whether there is failure of the switching valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei HOSOKAWA, Takashi AMANO, Satoru ITO, Kojiro HAYAKAWA
  • Patent number: 9248827
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is mounted with a traction motor, a power storage device for storing electric power input to and output from the traction motor, an engine, and a power generation mechanism to generate charging electric power for the power storage device by an output from the engine. An ECU sets charging/discharging electric power of the power storage device to control SOC of the power storage device to be within a predetermined range centered about a SOC control target in a running mode with the engine operating. The output from the engine is set to ensure the charging/discharging electric power. The ECU sets the charging/discharging electric power such that the power storage device is discharged to an extent corresponding to a predetermined SOC higher than the lower limit SOC according to requirement power required for vehicle running, even when the SOC is lower than the SOC control target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kamatani, Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20150367731
    Abstract: A display device includes: first setting means for setting a first operation amount to be performed by an occupant so as to increase an output in a state in which a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold; second setting means for setting a second operation amount to be performed by the occupant such that an operation state of the vehicle can be shifted to a desired state in which optimal instantaneous fuel consumption is realized, by decreasing the output in a state in which the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and display means for displaying, on a display unit, at least one of the first operation amount and the second operation amount, and a present operation amount which is an operation amount performed at present by the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi AMANO, Kaoru KUBO, Taishi HISANO, Yasushi OZAWA
  • Patent number: 9219433
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator generating driving power for running, and an ECU. The ECU performs driving power variation operation on the motor generator in which the motor generator is switched between a first state (acceleration running) and a second state (inertial running) when power requested by a user varies within a prescribed range to run the vehicle. In the first state, the motor generator generates driving power. In the second state, the motor generator generates driving power smaller than the driving power in the first state. The ECU controls the motor generator in such a manner that the driving power during the acceleration running has a non-rectangular shape. As a result, gradual variation in driving power can be provided at the time of switching between the acceleration running and the inertial running, to improve drivability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9199542
    Abstract: A vehicle (100) includes a motor generator (130) generating driving power for running the vehicle (100), and an ECU (300) for controlling the motor generator (130). The ECU (300) causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator (130) in which the motor generator is switched between a first state (low output state) in which the motor generator generates driving power of a prescribed level and a second state (high output state) in which the motor generator generates driving power larger than the driving power in the first state to run the vehicle (100). As a result, energy efficiency of the vehicle (100) is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9193278
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator and an engine generating driving power for running, and an ECU for controlling the motor generator and the engine. If user request power and a vehicle speed are substantially constant when inertial running control is selected by a user, the ECU causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator and the engine in which the motor generator and the engine are switched between a low output state and a high output state. The vehicle runs with inertial force of the vehicle in the low output state. As a result, energy efficiency during vehicle running can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9168915
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a motor generator for generating driving power for traveling thereof; an ECU for controlling the motor generator; and an inclination detecting unit for detecting inclination of a road surface. The ECU performs power changing driving in which the vehicle is traveled while switching the motor generator between a first state (high output state) and a second state (low output state). In the first state (high output state), driving power of a first level is generated. In the second state (low output state), the driving power is made smaller than that in the first state. When it is recognized that the vehicle is traveling on an uphill road based on the inclination detected by the inclination detecting unit, ECU sets the driving power in the first state to be larger than that set when the vehicle is traveling on a flat road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 9162670
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a motor generator generating driving power for running, and an ECU for controlling the engine and the motor generator. If user requested power and a vehicle speed are substantially constant when inertial running control is selected by a user, the ECU causes continuous driving power operation to be performed on the engine in which the engine is driven to continuously generate constant driving power, and causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator in which the motor generator is alternately switched between a low output state and a high output state in terms of driving power, thereby running the vehicle. As a result, energy efficiency during vehicle running can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20150291161
    Abstract: A cruise control apparatus is provided with: a controlling device configured to start a determination period, which is a period for determining whether or not to continue the intermittent operation mode, on condition that a change amount of the accelerator opening degree exceeds a predetermined change amount, during implementation of the intermittent operation mode, and configured to set an accelerator following period, which is a period for allowing the driver's accelerator operation to follow torque of the vehicle, after an end of the determination period, if it is determined that the intermittent operation mode is to be continued according to a change width of the accelerator opening degree obtained in the determination period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi AMANO
  • Patent number: 9156373
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator and an engine generating driving power for running, and an ECU for controlling the motor generator and the engine. If user request power and a vehicle speed are substantially constant when inertial running control is selected by a user, the ECU causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator and the engine in which the motor generator and the engine are switched between a low output state and a high output state. The vehicle runs with inertial force of the vehicle in the low output state. As a result, energy efficiency during vehicle running can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20150275741
    Abstract: A cooling water control apparatus has a setting device which sets a target heat amount line such that a condition where a transferred heat amount which is transferred to a heater core is equal to a required heat amount which is required by the heater core is satisfied at a desired time point at which the transferred heat amount starts to be actually used, the target heat amount line representing a successive target value of the transferred heat amount during a period until the desired time point; and a first controlling device which makes a cooling water circulate in a first pipe, stops the circulation of the cooling water in a second pipe and adjusts an output of an engine such that the transferred heat amount follows the target heat amount line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20150267602
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus comprises a first cooling conduit branching off from a downstream side connection conduit to cool the cylinder head, a second cooling conduit branching off from the downstream side connection conduit, is provided in parallel with the first cooling conduit, an intermediate cooling conduit being connected to the first and second cooling conduits, is provided with an EGR cooler, a third cooling conduit running from a connection point of the intermediate cooling conduit and the first cooling conduit to an upstream side connection conduit, a fourth cooling conduit running from a connection point of the intermediate cooling conduit and the second cooling conduit to the upstream side connection conduit, and a changeover valve for adjusting the flow resistance of the second cooling conduit. And the direction of coolant flow in the intermediate cooling conduit is changed over by operating the changeover valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi AMANO, Hidefumi AIKAWA, Kojiro HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150240701
    Abstract: A coolant control device includes: first control means for, at warm-up of an internal combustion engine, circulating coolant in a first passage bypassing the engine and stopping coolant circulation in the second passage passing through the engine; second control means 0 for, at engine warm-up and when the quantity of heat required by a heater core is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, circulating coolant in the first passage while adjusting the flow rate of coolant circulating in the first passage and stopping coolant circulation in the second passage; and third control means for, at engine warm-up and when the required quantity of heat exceeds the predetermined threshold, circulating coolant in the first passage without decreasing the flow rate of coolant circulating in the first passage and circulating coolant in the second passage while adjusting the flow rate of coolant circulating in the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Amano, Kojiro Hayakawa