Patents by Inventor Toshihiko Minamii

Toshihiko Minamii 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: 11926229
    Abstract: If sensed a connector as being connected to an inlet, an ECU performs pre-charging of a capacitor. When pre-charging of the capacitor is completed, the ECU closes a relay, and controls a U-phase boost chopper circuit to boost a voltage of the capacitor. The ECU closes relays if the voltage is boosted to a second target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20230302912
    Abstract: A vehicle configured such that an on-board battery is chargeable by receiving electric power from a power supply outside the vehicle includes an inlet, a voltage sensor that detects an input voltage that is a voltage input from the power supply to the inlet, and a control device configured to execute a detection process when connected to the inlet. The detection process includes a first process that suspends charging when a difference between the input voltage before a start of the charging and the input voltage after the start of the charging is equal to or larger than a threshold value, and a second process that stops the charging when a difference between the input voltage during suspension of the charging in the first process and the input voltage after resumption of the charging is equal to or larger than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yamato NIWA, Toshihiko MINAMII, Toru ANDO, Yu SHIMIZU, Toshiki MIYAZAKI
  • Patent number: 11289934
    Abstract: A charger includes: a relay provided between an input line and a conversion circuit; a voltage sensor that detects AC voltage input to the input line; and a controller that calculates effective value and frequency of the AC voltage based on a waveform of the AC voltage for a predetermined period. When the calculated effective value of the AC voltage is smaller than a voltage threshold during execution of external charging, the controller brings the relay into an open state. When the calculated effective value of the AC voltage is larger than the voltage threshold and the calculated frequency of the AC voltage is larger than a frequency threshold value after the external charging is halted, the controller brings the relay into a close state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20220072963
    Abstract: If sensed a connector as being connected to an inlet, an ECU performs pre-charging of a capacitor. When pre-charging of the capacitor is completed, the ECU closes a relay, and controls a U-phase boost chopper circuit to boost a voltage of the capacitor. The ECU closes relays if the voltage is boosted to a second target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventor: Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20200287402
    Abstract: A charger includes: a relay provided between an input line and a conversion circuit; a voltage sensor that detects AC voltage input to the input line; and a controller that calculates effective value and frequency of the AC voltage based on a waveform of the AC voltage for a predetermined period. When the calculated effective value of the AC voltage is smaller than a voltage threshold during execution of external charging, the controller brings the relay into an open state. When the calculated effective value of the AC voltage is larger than the voltage threshold and the calculated frequency of the AC voltage is larger than a frequency threshold value after the external charging is halted, the controller brings the relay into a close state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Minamii
  • Patent number: 10263472
    Abstract: A contactless power transfer system includes a power supply ECU configured to control an inverter to stop power transmission from a power transmission unit when a current generated in the power transmission unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value due to short-circuiting of a power reception coil. The power supply ECU estimates a coupling state between a power transmission coil and the power reception coil, and changes the predetermined threshold value in accordance with the estimated coupling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sugiyama, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Patent number: 10076965
    Abstract: A charging apparatus includes: a first conversion circuit that converts alternating-current power supplied from an external power supply into direct-current power; a second conversion circuit that converts an output voltage from the first conversion circuit into a voltage for a battery and supplies the voltage to the battery; and a controller configured to change charging power to be supplied to the battery by controlling the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit when the output voltage falls outside a predetermined reference range, and to determine whether the output voltage in the changed charging power falls within the reference range. When the output voltage falls outside the reference range, the controller controls the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit such that the charging power decreases stepwise until the output voltage falls within the reference range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko Minamii, Jun Maeda
  • Publication number: 20170087998
    Abstract: A charging apparatus includes: a first conversion circuit that converts alternating-current power supplied from an external power supply into direct-current power; a second conversion circuit that converts an output voltage from the first conversion circuit into a voltage for a battery and supplies the voltage to the battery; and a controller configured to change charging power to be supplied to the battery by controlling the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit when the output voltage falls outside a predetermined reference range, and to determine whether the output voltage in the changed charging power falls within the reference range. When the output voltage falls outside the reference range, the controller controls the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit such that the charging power decreases stepwise until the output voltage falls within the reference range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko MINAMII, Jun MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20170063161
    Abstract: A contactless power transfer system includes a power supply ECU configured to control an inverter to stop power transmission from a power transmission unit when a current generated in the power transmission unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value due to short-circuiting of a power reception coil. The power supply ECU estimates a coupling state between a power transmission coil and the power reception coil, and changes the predetermined threshold value in accordance with the estimated coupling state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu SUGIYAMA, Toshihiko MINAMII
  • Patent number: 8884627
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a voltage monitoring unit for monitoring input direct-current voltages of first and second converters whose output ends are connected in parallel to each other; and a judgment control unit for judging that an output diode of the first converter is short-circuited, when an input direct-current voltage monitored by the voltage monitoring unit with respect to the first converter rises up to a post-step-up voltage stepped up by the second converter during a step-up operation of the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Minamii, Takahiko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8828568
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a motor connected to the fuel cell, an FC boost converter which raises the output voltage of the fuel cell to output the voltage to the motor, an inverter, and a controller which controls the fuel cell, the FC boost converter and the inverter. When abnormality occurs in one of the FC boost converter and the inverter, an abnormality signal does not pass through a converter control unit or an inverter control unit but is transmitted to the other device, thereby enabling the stop of both the FC boost converter and the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Patent number: 8773874
    Abstract: Between a direct-current power source and a connection point where a resonance current flowing in an opposite direction from a main current joins the main current from the direct-current power source in a resonant converter, there is provided a current blocking circuit which blocks the resonance current toward the direct-current power source. In consequence, it is possible to prevent the reverse charging of the direct-current power source with the resonance current which realizes soft switching in the resonant converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Patent number: 8653802
    Abstract: A chopper circuit includes an input unit that inputs a main turn-on signal for turning on a main switching element and an auxiliary turn-on signal for turning on an auxiliary switching element; and a prohibiting unit that prohibits the main switching element from turning on unless the auxiliary turn-on signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20120326687
    Abstract: A chopper circuit includes an input unit that inputs a main turn-on signal for turning on a main switching element and an auxiliary turn-on signal for turning on an auxiliary switching element; and a prohibiting unit that prohibits the main switching element from turning on unless the auxiliary turn-on signal is input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Kota Manabe, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20120121941
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a motor connected to the fuel cell, an FC boost converter which raises the output voltage of the fuel cell to output the voltage to the motor, an inverter, and a controller which controls the fuel cell, the FC boost converter and the inverter. When abnormality occurs in one of the FC boost converter and the inverter, an abnormality signal does not pass through a converter control unit or an inverter control unit but is transmitted to the other device, thereby enabling the stop of both the FC boost converter and the inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20120074919
    Abstract: Between a direct-current power source and a connection point where a resonance current flowing in an opposite direction from a main current joins the main current from the direct-current power source in a resonant converter, there is provided a current blocking circuit which blocks the resonance current toward the direct-current power source. In consequence, it is possible to prevent the reverse charging of the direct-current power source with the resonance current which realizes soft switching in the resonant converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Hasegawa, Toshihiko Minamii
  • Publication number: 20120020124
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a voltage monitoring unit for monitoring input direct-current voltages of first and second converters whose output ends are connected in parallel to each other; and a judgment control unit for judging that an output diode of the first converter is short-circuited, when an input direct-current voltage monitored by the voltage monitoring unit with respect to the first converter rises up to a post-step-up voltage stepped up by the second converter during a step-up operation of the second converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiko Minamii, Takahiko Hasegawa