Patents by Inventor Takehito Yokoo

Takehito Yokoo 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: 11958383
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11951873
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a continuously adaptable braking pedal system. The braking system includes an electric motor that is configured to generate regenerative energy and provide a regenerative braking torque. The braking system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the electric motor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied based on an adaptable pedal map and an amount of braking force. The electronic control unit is configured to control an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11876262
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for technology to detect an unbalanced degradation among a plurality of fuel cells in an automotive system and apply an unbalanced control across the plurality of fuel cells based on the unbalanced degradation. In one example, the unbalanced control balances the degradation among the plurality of fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11814027
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgio L Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11742683
    Abstract: A system for managing storage of electrical energy can include an electromagnetic machine and a controller. The electromagnetic machine can have a rotor and a stator. The rotor can be configured to be connected to a shaft. One of the rotor or the stator can have first windings and second windings. The controller can be configured to control first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow from a first energy storage device to the first windings to cause the shaft to rotate. The second circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow selectively: (1) from a second energy storage device to the second windings to cause the shaft to rotate or (2) from the second windings to the second energy storage device to cause the second energy storage device to be charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Bower, Luke A. Rippelmeyer, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20230249672
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc
    Inventors: Giorgio L Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20230170508
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modularizing a system. Parallel power systems having electronically isolated high voltage systems facilitate modulization. A control system is provided that optimizes the distribution of a power demand and/or a torque request so as to keep the efficiency, durability, drivability and/or safety of the system within an optimum range. In some cases, the distribution of power is uneven, so as to extend the battery life, while in other cases, the power draw on battery systems are kept equal and constant so as to properly manage the state of charge of the parallel power systems. In still other cases, the chosen power distribution keeps the power demand and/or torque request between minimum and maximum levels/capacity, and the power distribution avoids on/off of an individual power system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER M. BULPITT, DANIEL CHARLES FOLICK, JARED FARNSWORTH, ANDREW SATA, ARLO C. EITZER, LAURA E. BOWER, DANIEL K. LIM, JONATHAN J. SANDER, LUKE A. RIPPELMEYER, SCOTT A. FRIEDMAN, TAKEHITO YOKOO
  • Patent number: 11577612
    Abstract: A powertrain for an electric vehicle has a driveshaft connected to two or more motors where each motor is connected to a battery pack associated with that motor. A controller is used to select one or more motors to be energized for propulsion or used for regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack to which it is coupled. The controller can optimize the state of charge (SOC) difference of the battery packs and provide for a smooth and efficient powering of the vehicle for acceleration and climbing and optimize the range of the vehicle by management of the relative SOC of the battery packs. The electric vehicle can include two or more fuel cells that individually coupled to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220348087
    Abstract: Braking of a vehicle and a trailer can be balanced when regenerative braking of the vehicle is activated. The activation of regenerative braking of the vehicle can be detected. Responsive to detecting that regenerative braking of the vehicle is activated, one or more brakes of the trailer can be caused to be activated. Thus, the braking effectiveness of the vehicle and the braking effectiveness of the trailer can be substantially balanced. As a result, a possible push force from a trailer to the vehicle towing the trailer can be reduced, which, in turn, can help to avoid unwanted movements of the trailer (e.g., swaying or jackknifing).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220340048
    Abstract: A dual-battery fuel cell system is provided, including two supplemental batteries, each battery supporting/supplementing operation of a fuel cell stack in the system. Driving conditions associated with a fuel cell vehicle can be obtained. Based on the driving conditions, power sources of the fuel cell vehicle to provide power to fuel cell vehicle system can be determined, the power sources comprising the fuel cell stack and the two supplemental batteries. Operating conditions of each of the power sources can be assessed, and one or more of the power sources can be controlled to deliver power to the fuel cell vehicle system based on the operating conditions of each of the power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: TAKEHITO YOKOO, Wen Li
  • Publication number: 20220337076
    Abstract: A system for managing storage of electrical energy can include an electromagnetic machine and a controller. The electromagnetic machine can have a rotor and a stator. The rotor can be configured to be connected to a shaft. One of the rotor or the stator can have first windings and second windings. The controller can be configured to control first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow from a first energy storage device to the first windings to cause the shaft to rotate. The second circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow selectively: (1) from a second energy storage device to the second windings to cause the shaft to rotate or (2) from the second windings to the second energy storage device to cause the second energy storage device to be charged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Laura Bower, Luke A. Rippelmeyer, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220314809
    Abstract: A powertrain for an electric vehicle has a driveshaft connected to two or more motors where each motor is connected to a battery pack associated with that motor. A controller is used to select one or more motors to be energized for propulsion or used for regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack to which it is coupled. The controller can optimize the state of charge (SOC) difference of the battery packs and provide for a smooth and efficient powering of the vehicle for acceleration and climbing and optimize the range of the vehicle by management of the relative SOC of the battery packs. The electric vehicle can include two or more fuel cells that individually coupled to a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220314810
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a continuously adaptable braking pedal system. The braking system includes an electric motor that is configured to generate regenerative energy and provide a regenerative braking torque. The braking system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the electric motor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied based on an adaptable pedal map and an amount of braking force. The electronic control unit is configured to control an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 11459225
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a fuel dispenser. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a fuel dispenser includes broadcasting a pairing signal to a vehicle, receiving, from the vehicle, a confirmation signal confirming completion of a pairing process between the fuel dispenser and the vehicle, transmitting, subsequent to the confirmation signal, a disable signal to the vehicle in response to data from one or more proximity sensors indicating that the vehicle is within a threshold range and a determination that the vehicle is refueling, and transmitting an enable signal to the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle is no longer refueling. The disable signal disables a moving capability of the vehicle, and the enable signal restores the moving capability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacquelyn Birdsall, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220289038
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220289037
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The one or more user interface elements can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the plurality of regenerative braking settings can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to one or more wheels of the vehicle. The regenerative braking control system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface elements. The processor can be configured to detect a condition. The condition can one or more driving environment conditions. Responsive to detecting the condition, the processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for one or more of the plurality of regenerative braking settings to be adjusted based on the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220289036
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The one or more user interface elements can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the plurality of regenerative braking settings can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to one or more wheels of the vehicle. The regenerative braking control system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface elements. The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition can be the usage of the plurality of regenerative braking settings by an operator of the vehicle. Responsive to detecting the condition, the processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for one or more of the plurality of regenerative braking settings to be adjusted based on the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20220285706
    Abstract: Methods and systems may provide for technology to detect an unbalanced degradation among a plurality of fuel cells in an automotive system and apply an unbalanced control across the plurality of fuel cells based on the unbalanced degradation. In one example, the unbalanced control balances the degradation among the plurality of fuel cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20210171334
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a fuel dispenser. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a fuel dispenser includes broadcasting a pairing signal to a vehicle, receiving, from the vehicle, a confirmation signal confirming completion of a pairing process between the fuel dispenser and the vehicle, transmitting, subsequent to the confirmation signal, a disable signal to the vehicle in response to data from one or more proximity sensors indicating that the vehicle is within a threshold range and a determination that the vehicle is refueling, and transmitting an enable signal to the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle is no longer refueling. The disable signal disables a moving capability of the vehicle, and the enable signal restores the moving capability of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Jacquelyn Birdsall, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10793157
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo