Patents by Inventor Takeaki Suzuki

Takeaki Suzuki 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: 11459993
    Abstract: In performing double drive startup for starting up an engine while cranking the engine by both a first motor and a second motor, the cranking of the engine by one of the first motor and the second motor is finished earlier than the cranking of the engine by the other of the first motor and the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko Asano, Kazuhiko Sakakibara, Takeaki Suzuki, Masanori Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11441528
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power reception unit that is configured to receive electric power that is required to activate a system of the vehicle, from a portable device that is portable, the portable device including an electrical storage device provided therein, and the portable device being configured to carry out at least one of authentication of a user of the vehicle and issuance of a command to activate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Ando, Takeaki Suzuki, Shinsuke Iwasaki, Miki Sugita
  • Publication number: 20220065211
    Abstract: In performing double drive startup for starting up an engine while cranking the engine by both a first motor and a second motor, the cranking of the engine by one of the first motor and the second motor is finished earlier than the cranking of the engine by the other of the first motor and the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuko Asano, Kazuhiko Sakakibara, Takeaki Suzuki, Masanori Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11208000
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle comprising a power storage device; a connecting portion configured to be connectable with an external power source; a converter configured to be connected with the connecting portion and with the power storage device; and a control device configured to control the converter. When the external power source is connected with the connecting portion, the control device performs charging control to control the converter, such that electric power from the external power source is subjected to voltage conversion and is then supplied to the power storage device. On completion of charging of the power storage device, the control device starts a system by using electric power from the power storage device after disconnection of the converter from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya Ando, Takeaki Suzuki, Shinsuke Iwasaki, Miki Sugita, Yuko Asano
  • Patent number: 11053907
    Abstract: After the vehicle is parked, when the SOC of the auxiliary battery becomes equal to or less than a threshold A, the ECU turns off the switch; when it is predicted that the engine will be started for the first time, the ECU turns on the switch; when the capacitor temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold B, the ECU turns on the heater and starts to charge the capacitor; when the engine is startable and when an engine start operation is performed by the user, the ECU supplies the electric power in the capacitor to the engine starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10864903
    Abstract: A vehicle controller for use with a vehicle is configured to control the vehicle. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric generator, an auxiliary machine, an electricity storage device, and a DC-DC converter. The controller is configured to execute an automatic stop process of stopping combustion control of the internal combustion engine in response to an automatic stop request of the internal combustion engine, and an increase process of operating, when the automatic stop process is executed, the DC-DC converter to increase an amount of electricity supplied to the electricity storage device, thereby increasing an electricity generation amount of the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200180462
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle comprising a power storage device; a connecting portion configured to be connectable with an external power source; a converter configured to be connected with the connecting portion and with the power storage device; and a control device configured to control the converter. When the external power source is connected with the connecting portion, the control device performs charging control to control the converter, such that electric power from the external power source is subjected to voltage conversion and is then supplied to the power storage device. On completion of charging of the power storage device, the control device starts a system by using electric power from the power storage device after disconnection of the converter from the external power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya ANDO, Takeaki SUZUKI, Shinsuke IWASAKI, Miki SUGITA, Yuko ASANO
  • Publication number: 20200130695
    Abstract: At a cold start of an engine, a hybrid vehicle is configured to perform first cranking control that controls a starter and an electric power transmission device, such that the engine is cranked by the starter using electric power from a first power storage device and a second power storage device, or to perform second cranking control that controls a motor generator and the electric power transmission device, such that the engine is cranked by the motor generator using the electric power from the first power storage device and the second power storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya ANDO, Takeaki SUZUKI, Shinsuke IWASAKI, Miki SUGITA
  • Publication number: 20200132034
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power reception unit that is configured to receive electric power that is required to activate a system of the vehicle, from a portable device that is portable, the portable device including an electrical storage device provided therein, and the portable device being configured to carry out at least one of authentication of a user of the vehicle and issuance of a command to activate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuya ANDO, Takeaki SUZUKI, Shinsuke IWASAKI, Miki SUGITA
  • Publication number: 20200136406
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a first power storage device; a second power storage device configured to have a lower rated voltage than a rated voltage of the first power storage device; a DC-DC converter configured to step down a voltage of electric power of a high voltage-side power line which the first power storage device is connected with and to supply the electric power of the stepped-down voltage to a low voltage-side power line which the second power storage device is connected with; a first auxiliary machine connected with the low voltage-side power line and configured such as to be required to operate in a system off-state; a second auxiliary machine connected with the low voltage-side power line and configured such as not to be required to operate in the system off-state; and a switch configured to disconnect the second auxiliary machine from the low voltage-side power line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeaki SUZUKI, Yuya Ando, Shinsuke Iwasaki, Miki Sugita
  • Patent number: 10632860
    Abstract: A vehicle for a controller includes an electronic control unit which includes an alternator that can generate electric power using rotation of an engine and a first battery and a second battery that can be charged by the alternator. The first battery is connected in parallel to the alternator and the second battery is connected in parallel to the alternator and the first battery via a second switch. The electronic control unit is configured not to charge the second battery with regenerative power generated by the alternator by switching the second switch to an OFF state when the temperature of the alternator is higher than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Hiroshi Majima
  • Publication number: 20200109690
    Abstract: After the vehicle is parked, when the SOC of the auxiliary battery becomes equal to or less than a threshold A, the ECU turns off the switch; when it is predicted that the engine will be started for the first time, the ECU turns on the switch; when the capacitor temperature is equal to or lower than a threshold B, the ECU turns on the heater and starts to charge the capacitor; when the engine is startable and when an engine start operation is performed by the user, the ECU supplies the electric power in the capacitor to the engine starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190152466
    Abstract: A vehicle controller for use with a vehicle is configured to control the vehicle. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric generator, an auxiliary machine, an electricity storage device, and a DC-DC converter. The controller is configured to execute an automatic stop process of stopping combustion control of the internal combustion engine in response to an automatic stop request of the internal combustion engine, and an increase process of operating, when the automatic stop process is executed, the DC-DC converter to increase an amount of electricity supplied to the electricity storage device, thereby increasing an electricity generation amount of the electric generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeaki SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10155491
    Abstract: An electric power supply device includes first and second batteries respectively supplying electric power to a plurality of load instruments mounted on a vehicle, an electric power generator capable of charging the first battery and the second battery by regenerative electric power generation, and control means for controlling the electric power generator so that a charging electric power amount of at least one of the first battery and the second battery based on the regenerative electric power generation is suppressed in a case where at least one of a high-load instrument and a backup target instrument is present among the plurality of load instruments and the electric power generator is performing the regenerative electric power generation during the deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Michihiro Miyashita, Kazuhito Eshima, Hiroshi Nate, Sunao Horitake
  • Publication number: 20180229614
    Abstract: A vehicle for a controller includes an electronic control unit which includes an alternator that can generate electric power using rotation of an engine and a first battery and a second battery that can be charged by the alternator. The first battery is connected in parallel to the alternator and the second battery is connected in parallel to the alternator and the first battery via a second switch. The electronic control unit is configured not to charge the second battery with regenerative power generated by the alternator by switching the second switch to an OFF state when the temperature of the alternator is higher than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki SUZUKI, Hiroshi MAJIMA
  • Patent number: 9896103
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with cylinders, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, and a variable mechanism to vary an intake air amount sucked into the cylinders. The running control device performs a normal running mode by transmitting engine drive force to the wheels, a neutral inertia running mode by disconnecting the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode by resting at least a part of the cylinders while the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels is connected. The running control device makes the intake air amount sucked into the cylinders larger at the time of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to the case of return from the cylinder resting inertia running mode to the normal running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9815376
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a first battery, a second battery, and an ECU configured to determine whether the following conditions i), ii), and iii) are satisfied: i) a degree of deterioration of the second battery is lower than a first threshold; ii) a state-of-charge of the second battery is lower than a second threshold; and iii) the state-of-charge is equal to or higher than a third threshold. The second threshold is higher by a prescribed value than a lowest allowable value of the state-of-charge at which the second battery can function as a backup power supply. The third threshold corresponds to the lowest allowable value. When determining that the conditions i), ii) and iii) are all satisfied, the ECU executes single-battery-using control in which regeneration control using the regenerative electric power is executed with use of the first battery and the second battery is not used for regeneration control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sunao Horitake, Yasuharu Terada, Hiroshi Nate, Takeaki Suzuki, Michihiro Miyashita, Kazuhito Eshima
  • Patent number: 9789874
    Abstract: A running control device has an engine coupling running mode enabling an engine brake running mode performed by coupling an engine and wheels with an engine brake applied by driven rotation of the engine, and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device includes a steering wheel steering angle as a condition of terminating the inertia running mode. The running control device performs a first inertia running mode with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode with the engine rotating. The first inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined first determination value. The second inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined second determination value larger than the first determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9780577
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power supply control device for an electric power supply apparatus including a plurality of storage batteries and an electric power generator performing charging of the plurality of storage batteries, the electric power supply control device controlling a parallel connection between the plurality of storage batteries. Voltage adjustment by one of a) charging processing by electric power feeding from the electric power generator to the storage battery having the lowest output voltage among the plurality of storage batteries and b) discharging processing by electric power feeding from the storage battery having the highest output voltage among the plurality of storage batteries to a load circuit connected to the storage battery having the highest output voltage is performed. Parallel connection is performed in a case where output voltage difference between the plurality of storage batteries becomes equal to or less than a previously-determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Kazuhito Eshima
  • Patent number: 9694821
    Abstract: An upper limit value of an upward gradient of a road surface for starting neutral coasting is set to be larger than an upper limit of the upward gradient of the road surface for starting free-run coasting, so, when the upward gradient is relatively large and a coasting distance is short, the vehicle is caused to travel in the neutral coasting, and stop and restart of the engine are not carried out. Therefore, a decrease in drivability of the vehicle is suppressed. When the upward gradient is relatively small and the coasting distance is long, the vehicle is caused to travel in the free-run coasting, and supply of fuel to the engine is stopped, so fuel economy of the vehicle is obtained. Thus, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability of the vehicle during coasting on an upward gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita