Patents by Inventor Tsutomu Matsuki

Tsutomu Matsuki 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: 8779719
    Abstract: A charging control apparatus mounted on a vehicle connected to an external charging device through a charging connector, for performing control related to charging, includes a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging connector, and a control device for estimating, based on variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging connector is connected to the vehicle, variation in voltage applied to the charging connector after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, and determining that a failure has occurred in the external charging device if a degree of separation between the variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor after the lapse of the predetermined period of time and the estimated variation in voltage is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20120091954
    Abstract: A charging control apparatus mounted on a vehicle connected to an external charging device through a charging connector, for performing control related to charging, includes a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging connector, and a control device for estimating, based on variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging connected to the vehicle, variation in voltage applied to the charging connector after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, and determining that a failure has occurred in the external charging device if a degree of separation between the variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor after the lapse of the predetermined period of time and the estimated variation in voltage is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6657833
    Abstract: Frequency of judgment of welding of relays is increased to increase likelihood of early detection of welding. It is determined that a battery 22 is not being recharged or discharged when a vehicle speed V of an electric vehicle is approximately 0 and a brake pedal 54 is pressed, and a switching element of an inverter 24 is controlled to be switched to discharge electric charges which are stored in a capacitor 44. After discharging, relays 30, 32 are turned off, and voltages RV1, RV2 between the terminals of the relays 30, 32 are detected by voltmeters 40, 42 to judge whether either of the voltages RV1, RV2 has a threshold value RVref (approximate value 0) or less. When it is so determined, it is judged that the relays 30, 32 are welded, and an LED 70 is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuki, Toshihiro Katsuda
  • Publication number: 20020070608
    Abstract: Frequency of judgment of welding of relays is increased to increase likelihood of early detection of welding. It is determined that a battery 22 is not being recharged or discharged when a vehicle speed V of an electric vehicle is approximately 0 and a brake pedal 54 is pressed, and a switching element of an inverter 24 is controlled to be switched to discharge electric charges which are stored in a capacitor 44. After discharging, relays 30, 32 are turned off, and voltages RV1, RV2 between the terminals of the relays 30, 32 are detected by voltmeters 40, 42 to judge whether either of the voltages RV1, RV2 has a threshold value RVref (approximate value 0) or less. When it is so determined, it is judged that the relays 30, 32 are welded, and an LED 70 is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOYA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuki, Toshihiro Katsuda
  • Publication number: 20020053420
    Abstract: A cooling liquid 28 with a boiling temperature lower than the maximum allowed temperature for the operating atmosphere of switching elements 42 and which is highly insulative is used to liquid seal the switching elements 42. This cooling liquid 28 is cooled by a liquid cooler 50. The cooling liquid 28 vaporizes and removes the heat generated by the switching elements 42 to cool the switching elements 42. Vaporized cooling liquid 28 is cooled by the liquid cooler 50 and is liquefied. The switching elements 42 can be efficiently cooled and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuki, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Tetsurou Ogushi, Shigekazu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5730237
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery heating device for an electric vehicle, which includes: a combustion heater for heating an interior of the electric vehicle; batteries which are a driving source of the electric vehicle, the batteries being disposed about the combustion heater; and a transfer device for transferring exhaust heat from the combustion heater, which is in operation, to the batteries. When the combustion heater is actuated, the battery temperature is raised by the exhaust heat from the combustion heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuki, Takayoshi Matsuno
  • Patent number: 5624003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery heating device for an electric vehicle, which includes: a combustion heater for heating an interior of the electric vehicle; batteries which are a driving source of the electric vehicle, the batteries being disposed about the combustion heater; and a transfer device for transferring exhaust heat from the combustion heater, which is in operation, to the batteries. When the combustion heater is actuated, the battery temperature is raised by the exhaust heat from the combustion heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuki, Takayoshi Matsuno