Patents by Inventor Takuya Hirai

Takuya Hirai 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: 9667080
    Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to stabilize the output of a charging device by removing noise components back to the output side of the charging device. The charging device (100) charges a secondary battery (30) by using power supplied from an external power supply (20). A charging unit (102) has a primary coil (150) and a secondary coil (151), converts the power supplied from the external power supply (20) into a charging power, and supplies the charging power to the secondary battery (30). A noise removing unit (103) removes noise components included in the charging power that is supplied to the secondary battery (30) by the charging unit (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Toshiki Ishii, Takuya Hirai
  • Patent number: 9656676
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device of a vehicle being configured to execute a normal running mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device of a vehicle setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a high vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9657684
    Abstract: A short waste-heat reuse container disposed adjacent to a 40-f container that contains a radiator 23, an engine 21, and a power generator 22 disposed in a longitudinal direction of the container, the waste-heat reuse container collecting waste heat of the engine and generating steam or hot water, the waste-heat reuse container containing a muffler 2 that muffles exhaust gas of the engine, a boiler 4 that transfers heat of the exhaust gas to water and generates steam, and a heat exchanger 3 that transfers heat of cooling water heated by the engine to water and generates hot water, wherein the muffler is disposed upright opposite to the boiler in the longitudinal direction of the waste-heat reuse container, an exhaust gas inlet 2a of the muffler being disposed on an upper wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yamanaka, Takuya Hirai, Shuichi Shimodaira, Hirokazu Narita, Takeshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9656670
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device being configured to execute a normal running-mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running-mode that is performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running-mode that is a performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a low vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode as compared to the case of return from the neutral inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9650046
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a clutch separating the engine and wheels, and a torque converter with a lockup clutch transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device of a vehicle is configured to execute a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed while the engine and the wheels are separated and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by stopping operation in at least some of cylinders of the engine while the engine and the wheels are coupled, the lockup clutch has a weak engagement force while the neutral inertia running mode is performed as compared to while the cylinder resting inertia running mode is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jonggap Kim, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9623870
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine and a brake booster amplifying a brake force by forming a negative pressure in a negative pressure tank by rotation of the engine. The running control device is configured to execute an engine brake running mode performed with the engine coupled to wheels such that an engine brake is applied by driven rotation of the engine and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force made lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device executes a first inertia running mode performed with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode performed with the engine kept rotating as the inertia running mode in accordance with predefined respective execution conditions. The running control device comprises a prediction portion configured to predict a necessity of the negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    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: 9598084
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle executes a normal running mode with an engine coupled to drive wheels, a first inertia running mode with the engine stopped during running and an engine brake force reduced as compared to the normal running mode, and a second inertia running mode with the engine rotating during running and the engine brake force reduced as compared to the normal running mode. A determining portion determines a necessity of a brake negative pressure during the first or second inertia running mode. The necessity of the brake negative pressure is a condition for returning from the first inertia running mode and the second inertia running mode to the normal running mode. An upper limit value of the necessity of the brake negative pressure for returning from the first inertia running mode is smaller than that for returning from the second inertia running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    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: 9598082
    Abstract: In consideration of an amplification effect of a braking force at the time of brake operation, upper-limits (?, ?) of a brake operation force (Brk) with which the execution of free-run coasting and neutral coasting is started may be different, on the basis of whether or not a brake booster can be filled with a negative pressure. Therefore, while the braking force at the time of brake operation is secured, the range of the brake operation force (Brk) with which coasting is executed can be enlarged, and an improvement in fuel economy can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    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: 9598083
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 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: 9561799
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 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: 9530597
    Abstract: A relay switch has a coil such that a predetermined voltage is imposed on one end thereof and the other end is grounded with a resistor therebetween, and when the voltage of the coil is at least a predetermined value, the relay switch is turned on and a power source is supplied to an electronic apparatus. A transistor causes the voltage of the coil to be at least the predetermined value by means of drawing in the current flowing through the coil and causing the current to flow to the ground without passing through the resistor when starting the supply of the power source, and after the start of supply of the power source, gradually decreases the amount drawn in of the current flowing through the coil, causing a decrease in a manner so that the voltage of the coil does not fall below the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Toshiki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20160318519
    Abstract: A belt tension control device is mounted on a hybrid vehicle that is provided with an engine, a motor, a belt transmitting power between the engine and the motor, and tension changing means capable of changing tension applied to the belt. The belt tension control device is provided with control means for estimating a combustion torque relating to ignition start-up or a motor torque relating to the motor which is required to start the engine before the engine start-up and controlling the tension changing means to change the tension applied to the belt, based on the estimated motor torque before the engine is started, according to the estimated combustion torque so that torque to be transmitted to the engine from the motor is transmitted via the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya HIRAI, Yuichi SHIMASAKI, Rentaro KUROKI
  • Patent number: 9446767
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with a plurality of cylinders, and a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, the running control device of a vehicle performing during an inertia running mode a neutral inertia running mode performed with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels disconnected while the engine is kept operated, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by resting at least a part of the cylinders of the engine while the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels is connected, the running control device of a vehicle increasing an operation region of performing the neutral inertia running mode in an operation region of performing the inertia running mode when idle learning performed in an idle operation state of the engine is incomplete, as compared to after completion of the idle learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Rentaro Kuroki, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9440653
    Abstract: A drive control device for a vehicle including an engine and a clutch device provided in a power transmission path between the engine and a drive wheel includes: a normal traveling unit causing the vehicle to travel while the engine is connected to the drive wheel; a free-run coasting unit disconnecting the engine from the drive wheel during traveling and causing the vehicle to coast while the engine is stopped; a neutral coasting unit disconnecting the engine from the drive wheel during traveling and causing the vehicle to coast while the engine is autonomously operated; and a coasting switching control unit setting an upper limit value of an upward gradient of a road surface, at which the neutral coasting is stopped, such that the upper limit value is larger than an upper limit value of the upward gradient of the road surface, at which the free-run coasting is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    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: 9421977
    Abstract: A running control device is configured to execute an engine coupling running mode performed with an engine and wheels connected by a connecting/disconnecting device, a neutral inertia running mode performed with the engine separated from the wheels by the connecting/disconnecting device while the engine is supplied with fuel and allowed to perform self-sustaining rotation, and a free-run inertia running mode performed with the engine separated from the wheels by the connecting/disconnecting device while fuel supply to the engine is stopped to stop rotation. The neutral inertia running mode is terminated when an operation amount of the accelerator pedal becomes equal to or greater than a predefined first determination value. The free-run inertia running mode is terminated when an operation amount of the accelerator pedal 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: August 23, 2016
    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: 9409576
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a brake operation member, and a brake booster, is configured to execute an engine brake running mode performed with the engine coupled to wheels and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force made lower than that in the engine brake running mode. The running control device executes first and second inertia running modes. The first inertia running mode is terminated when a brake request amount becomes equal to or greater than a predefined first determination value while the first inertia running mode is performed. The second inertia running mode is terminated and a return to the engine brake running mode is made when the brake request amount becomes equal to or greater than a predefined second determination value larger than the first determination value while the second inertia running mode is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita, Yasunari Kido
  • Patent number: 9267448
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with a plurality of cylinders, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, a fuel pump transferring fuel toward an injector, and a fuel pressure control device controlling a fuel pressure in a transfer path of the fuel. The running control device of a vehicle performs a neutral inertia running mode performed with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels disconnected, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by resting at least a part of the cylinders of the engine with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels connected, the fuel pressure during the neutral inertia running mode being made higher than the fuel pressure during the cylinder resting inertia running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    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: 9212597
    Abstract: This invention provides a coolant composition for an internal combustion engine that can improve the energy efficiency of an internal combustion engine and a method for operating an internal combustion engine using such coolant composition. The coolant composition for an internal combustion engine of the invention has kinematic viscosity of 8.5 to 3,000 mm2/sec at 25° C. and 0.3 to 1.3 mm2/sec at 100° C. The method for operating an internal combustion engine of the invention is carried out with the use of such composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yuichi Shimasaki, Rentaro Kuroki, Syou Tomita, Minoru Yamashita, Kazuhiro Miyajima, Keiji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20150307102
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device being configured to execute a normal running-mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running-mode that is performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running-mode that is a performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a low vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode as compared to the case of return from the neutral inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki MITSUYASU, Jonggap KIM, Rentaro KUROKI, Takuya HIRAI, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Yasunari KIDO, Takeaki SUZUKI, Takayuki KOGURE, Yukari OKAMURA, Akihiro SATO, Yusuke KINOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20150307103
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine and a brake booster amplifying a brake force by forming a negative pressure in a negative pressure tank by rotation of the engine. The running control device is configured to execute an engine brake running mode performed with the engine coupled to wheels such that an engine brake is applied by driven rotation of the engine and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force made lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device executes a first inertia running mode performed with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode performed with the engine kept rotating as the inertia running mode in accordance with predefined respective execution conditions. The running control device comprises a prediction portion configured to predict a necessity of the negative pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rentaro KUROKI, Takuya HIRAI, Masaki MITSUYASU, Jonggap KIM, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Yasunar i KIDO, Takeaki SUZUKI, Takayuki KOGURE, Yukari OKAMURA, Akihiro SATO, Yusuke KINOSHITA