Patents by Inventor Tomoharu Maeda

Tomoharu Maeda 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: 11827099
    Abstract: An automobile includes: a traveling road information storage device that stores traveling road information; a traveling position detection device that detects a traveling position of a vehicle; a display device that displays an image in front of a driver; and a control device that controls the display device such that the display device displays an image of a traveling line in front of the driver, based on the traveling position and the traveling road information. The control device controls the display device such that the display device displays the image of the traveling line by switching among traveling lines corresponding to a plurality of traveling patterns. It is possible to display the image of a traveling line depending on a traveling road or driver's need, by switching to a traveling pattern based on the traveling road or driver's need.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Maeda, Takeshi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11752877
    Abstract: A control device includes: a deceleration control unit that performs a free running deceleration control that controls free running deceleration when transition occurs from an operation state to a non-operation state; an index deriving unit that derives a transition phase perceptual risk index; and a relationship adjusting unit that adjusts a relationship between a perceptual risk index and a deceleration. The deceleration control unit derives the deceleration corresponding to the transition phase perceptual risk index based on the relationship and sets the derived deceleration as the free running deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Gokyu, Tomoharu Maeda
  • Patent number: 11740292
    Abstract: A battery type identifying device is capable of identifying the type of a vehicle-mounted lead storage battery. The battery type identifying device includes: a charge processing unit which, on the condition that the state of a lead storage battery has reached a prescribed state as a result of a reduction in the amount of electricity stored therein from a fully charged state, carries out a determination charging process of charging the lead storage battery for a prescribed time; an accepted amount acquiring unit which acquires an amount accepted by the lead storage battery in the period during which the determination charging process is being carried out; and a determining unit which determines whether the lead storage battery is a liquid-type lead storage battery on the basis of the accepted amount acquired by the accepted amount acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shinohara, Kazuhiko Sakakibara, Tomoharu Maeda
  • Publication number: 20220306074
    Abstract: A driving control device that is mounted on a vehicle including an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as power sources includes a processor. The processor is configured to: acquire a destination of the vehicle; acquire a past driving history from a point of departure to the destination; acquire a desired state of charge that is a state of charge of a battery desired when the vehicle arrives at the destination; estimate a predicted amount of regenerative energy based on the driving history; set a first section and a second section based on the predicted amount of regenerative energy and the desired state of charge; and control driving of the vehicle based on the first section and the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsumi KONO, Tomoharu MAEDA, Takaaki TOKURA, Takeshi YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20220234443
    Abstract: An automobile includes: a traveling road information storage device that stores traveling road information; a traveling position detection device that detects a traveling position of a vehicle; a display device that displays an image in front of a driver; and a control device that controls the display device such that the display device displays an image of a traveling line in front of the driver, based on the traveling position and the traveling road information. The control device controls the display device such that the display device displays the image of the traveling line by switching among traveling lines corresponding to a plurality of traveling patterns. It is possible to display the image of a traveling line depending on a traveling road or driver's need, by switching to a traveling pattern based on the traveling road or driver's need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoharu MAEDA, Takeshi YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20210362605
    Abstract: A control device includes: a deceleration control unit that performs a free running deceleration control that controls free running deceleration when transition occurs from an operation state to a non-operation state; an index deriving unit that derives a transition phase perceptual risk index; and a relationship adjusting unit that adjusts a relationship between a perceptual risk index and a deceleration. The deceleration control unit derives the deceleration corresponding to the transition phase perceptual risk index based on the relationship and sets the derived deceleration as the free running deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji GOKYU, Tomoharu MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20200350639
    Abstract: A battery type identifying device is capable of identifying the type of a vehicle-mounted lead storage battery. The battery type identifying device includes: a charge processing unit which, on the condition that the state of a lead storage battery has reached a prescribed state as a result of a reduction in the amount of electricity stored therein from a fully charged state, carries out a determination charging process of charging the lead storage battery for a prescribed time; an accepted amount acquiring unit which acquires an amount accepted by the lead storage battery in the period during which the determination charging process is being carried out; and a determining unit which determines whether the lead storage battery is a liquid-type lead storage battery on the basis of the accepted amount acquired by the accepted amount acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori SHINOHARA, Kazuhiko SAKAKIBARA, Tomoharu MAEDA
  • Patent number: 10437242
    Abstract: A vehicle remote operation system includes a controller correcting a map, which indicates a relationship between an operation amount of a reference vehicle and an operation amount of a vehicle to be operated, based on vehicle characteristic data of the vehicle to be operated, characteristic of the operation device being determined based on characteristic of an operation device of the reference vehicle, correcting an operation amount, which is indicated by the operation signal, in accordance with a characteristic of the vehicle to be operated by using the corrected map, and outputting a control signal indicating the corrected operation amount to the vehicle to be operated so that the vehicle to be operated can be operated in accordance with the corrected operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Naoya Ishizaki, Tomoharu Maeda, Yushi Seki, Hiroshi Majima, Katsuya Terahata
  • Patent number: 10401850
    Abstract: A vehicle remote operation system includes a controller correcting a map, which indicates a relationship between an operation amount of a reference vehicle and an operation amount of a vehicle to be operated, based on vehicle characteristic data of the vehicle to be operated, characteristic of the operation device being determined based on characteristic of an operation device of the reference vehicle, correcting an operation amount, which is indicated by the operation signal, in accordance with a characteristic of the vehicle to be operated by using the corrected map, and outputting a control signal indicating the corrected operation amount to the vehicle to be operated so that the vehicle to be operated can be operated in accordance with the corrected operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Naoya Ishizaki, Tomoharu Maeda, Yushi Seki, Hiroshi Majima, Katsuya Terahata
  • Publication number: 20190179302
    Abstract: A vehicle remote operation system includes a controller correcting a map, which indicates a relationship between an operation amount of a reference vehicle and an operation amount of a vehicle to be operated, based on vehicle characteristic data of the vehicle to be operated, characteristic of the operation device being determined based on characteristic of an operation device of the reference vehicle, correcting an operation amount, which is indicated by the operation signal, in accordance with a characteristic of the vehicle to be operated by using the corrected map, and outputting a control signal indicating the corrected operation amount to the vehicle to be operated so that the vehicle to be operated can be operated in accordance with the corrected operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki TOKURA, Naoya ISHIZAKI, Tomoharu MAEDA, Yushi SEKI, Hiroshi MAJIMA, Katsuya TERAHATA
  • Patent number: 9586588
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus is provided with: a first calculating device configured to calculate a vehicle stop time rate on the basis of a travel history of the vehicle; a second calculating device configured to calculate a stoppable time rate on the basis of the travel history, and an estimating device configured to estimate an electric power amount associated with the idling stop control, on the basis of the calculated stoppable time rate if the idling stop control is allowed when the vehicle decelerates, and to estimate the electric power amount, on the basis of the calculated vehicle stop time rate if the idling stop control is not allowed when the vehicle decelerates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shinohara, Kohei Tochigi, Tomoharu Maeda
  • Patent number: 9567967
    Abstract: An auxiliary current amount that is used in an auxiliary that is mounted in a vehicle is calculated. A stop time ratio of the vehicle is calculated based on a running history of the vehicle, and an estimated stop time of the vehicle that is estimated based on the stop time ratio is calculated. An SOC threshold is set based on an estimated consumption current amount that is obtained from the estimated stop time and the auxiliary current amount. A generator that is mounted in the vehicle is operated such that a value of a storage state of the battery recovers to become larger than the SOC threshold when the value of the storage state of the battery is smaller than the SOC threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michihiro Miyashita, Tomoharu Maeda, Kohei Tochigi, Tomomi Katsumata
  • Patent number: 9534574
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises: a storage battery configured to store electric power; an internal combustion engine configured to be started with electric power supplied from the storage battery; an electric auxiliary configured to operate with the electric power supplied from the storage battery; and a stop start controller configured to perform a stop control of stopping the internal combustion engine according to a driving condition of the vehicle and a restart control of restarting the internal combustion engine that has been stopped by the stop control. The stop start controller includes: an auxiliary voltage acquirer configured to obtain a measured auxiliary voltage value that denotes a voltage of the electric auxiliary measured on occasion of start of the internal combustion engine; and a feasibility determiner configured to determine whether the stop control is feasible, based on the measured auxiliary voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoharu Maeda
  • Publication number: 20160332630
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus is provided with: a first calculating device configured to calculate a vehicle stop time rate on the basis of a travel history of the vehicle; a second calculating device configured to calculate a stoppable time rate on the basis of the travel history, and an estimating device configured to estimate an electric power amount associated with the idling stop control, on the basis of the calculated stoppable time rate if the idling stop control is allowed when the vehicle decelerates, and to estimate the electric power amount, on the basis of the calculated vehicle stop time rate if the idling stop control is not allowed when the vehicle decelerates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori SHINOHARA, Kohei TOCHIGI, Tomoharu MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20150333564
    Abstract: An auxiliary current amount that is used in an auxiliary that is mounted in a vehicle is calculated. A stop time ratio of the vehicle is calculated based on a running history of the vehicle, and an estimated stop time of the vehicle that is estimated based on the stop time ratio is calculated. An SOC threshold is set based on an estimated consumption current amount that is obtained from the estimated stop time and the auxiliary current amount. A generator that is mounted in the vehicle is operated such that a value of a storage state of the battery recovers to become larger than the SOC threshold when the value of the storage state of the battery is smaller than the SOC threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michihiro MIYASHITA, Tomoharu MAEDA, Kohei TOCHIGI, Tomomi KATSUMATA
  • Publication number: 20150292464
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises: a storage battery configured to store electric power; an internal combustion engine configured to be started with electric power supplied from the storage battery; an electric auxiliary configured to operate with the electric power supplied from the storage battery; and a stop start controller configured to perform a stop control of stopping the internal combustion engine according to a driving condition of the vehicle and a restart control of restarting the internal combustion engine that has been stopped by the stop control. The stop start controller includes: an auxiliary voltage acquirer configured to obtain a measured auxiliary voltage value that denotes a voltage of the electric auxiliary measured on occasion of start of the internal combustion engine; and a feasibility determiner configured to determine whether the stop control is feasible, based on the measured auxiliary voltage value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoharu Maeda
  • Patent number: 6561829
    Abstract: A connector that absorbs alignment error to be connected to a pin-shaped conducting member of the counterpart. This connector includes a base housing to be arranged on a printed circuit board, a slide housing being slidably supported in relation to the base housing in a plane crossing the longitudinal direction of the conducting member of the counterpart, and at least one contact spanning both the housings and being fixed to both the housings and being to be soldered on the printed circuit board. Said slide housing having at least one inlet hole of which one end faces to and opens to the contact and the other end expands toward the end and opens to the conducting member of the counterpart. This connector can effectively absorb alignment error and prevent occurrence of connection failure and defective connection to increase the reliability and enhance the workability of assembly of printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Solderless Terminal Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Maeda, Norihiro Ninomiya, Junichi Itoh
  • Publication number: 20020111075
    Abstract: A connector that absorbs alignment error to be connected to a pin-shaped conducting member of the counterpart. This connector comprises a base housing to be arranged on a printed circuit board, a slide housing being slidably supported in relation to the base housing in a plane crossing the longitudinal direction of the conducting member of the counterpart, and at least one contact spanning both the housings and being fixed to both the housings and being to be soldered on the printed circuit board. Said slide housing having at least one inlet hole of which one end faces to and opens to the contact and the other end expands toward the end and opens to the conducting member of the counterpart. This connector can effectively absorb alignment error and prevent occurrence of connection failure and defective connection to increase the reliability and enhance the workability of assembly of printed circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: TOMOHARU MAEDA, NORIHIRO NINOMIYA, JUNICHI ITOH
  • Patent number: 6087734
    Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Maeda, Yoshihide Nii, Shoichi Sasaki, Takeshi Kotani, Eiji Yamada, Yasutomo Kawabata
  • Patent number: RE38790
    Abstract: A power output apparatus 20 includes a clutch motor, an assist motor, and a controller. The clutch motor and the assist motor are controlled by the controller to enable the power output from an engine to a crankshaft 56, and expressed as the product of its revolving speed and torque, to be converted to the power expressed as the product of a revolving speed and a torque of a drive shaft and to be output to the drive shaft. The engine can be driven at an arbitrary driving point defined by a revolving speed and a torque, as long as the energy or power output to the crankshaft is identical. A desired driving point that attains the highest possible efficiency with respect to each amount of output energy is determined in advance. In order to allow the engine to be driven at the desired driving point, the controller controls the clutch motor and the assist motor as well as the fuel injection and the throttle valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Maeda, Yoshihide Nii, Shoichi Sasaki, Takeshi Kotani, Eiji Yamada, Yasutomo Kawabata