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: 10518652
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10442297
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339594
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo, Stephen Hodges
  • Publication number: 20180339604
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20180339705
    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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Sheldon Z. Brown, Giorgio L. Zoia, Takehito Yokoo
  • Patent number: 10088316
    Abstract: Navigation systems and vehicles for predicting routes are provided. A navigation system includes one or more processors, a satellite antenna, one or more memory modules, which stores one or more previous location, a segment list, and machine readable instructions. The satellite antenna receives a first signal from one or more global positioning system satellites. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the navigation system to transform the first signal into a first location of the navigation system, access the one or more previous locations stored in the one or more memory modules, automatically determine that a turn has occurred based on the first location and the one or more previous locations, store a segment in the segment list after it is determined that the turn has occurred, and predict a route based on the segment list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Effendi Dufford, Hiro Yamaguchi, Takehito Yokoo
  • Publication number: 20140148970
    Abstract: Navigation systems and vehicles for predicting routes are provided. A navigation system includes one or more processors, a satellite antenna, one or more memory modules, which stores one or more previous location, a segment list, and machine readable instructions. The satellite antenna receives a first signal from one or more global positioning system satellites. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the navigation system to transform the first signal into a first location of the navigation system, access the one or more previous locations stored in the one or more memory modules, automatically determine that a turn has occurred based on the first location and the one or more previous locations, store a segment in the segment list after it is determined that the turn has occurred, and predict a route based on the segment list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad Effendi Dufford, Hiro Yamaguchi, Takehito Yokoo