Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Motozono
Yoshikazu Motozono 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).
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Patent number: 10406936Abstract: In a motor vehicle, an accelerator operation amount is changed among a first region, a second region, and a third region. The motor vehicle is configured to perform a first control that applies a braking force to the vehicle when the accelerator operation amount is at least in the first region or in the second region or to perform a second control that applies a smaller braking force to the vehicle than the braking force applied by the first control when the accelerator operation amount is in the first region or in the second region. The motor vehicle is also configured to continue execution of the first control without changing over control to the second control, when an execution request for the second control is given during execution of the first control in the second region of the accelerator operation amount.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Yoshikazu Motozono, Tomoya Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 10124676Abstract: When a vehicle is in an accelerator off state and satisfies a free-run condition, a regeneration control unit performs free-run control on the vehicle so that the amount of regenerative electric power is decreased. The regeneration control unit sets a free-run prohibited zone between a starting point of a regeneration enhancement zone and a position that is located in front of and separated by a determination distance from the starting point.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhiro Tajima, Kunihiko Jinno, Haruki Oguri, Yoshikazu Motozono, Kiyomi Nagamiya
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Publication number: 20180001787Abstract: In a motor vehicle, an accelerator operation amount is changed among a first region, a second region, and a third region. The motor vehicle is configured to perform a first control that applies a braking force to the vehicle when the accelerator operation amount is at least in the first region or in the second region or to perform a second control that applies a smaller braking force to the vehicle than the braking force applied by the first control when the accelerator operation amount is in the first region or in the second region. The motor vehicle is also configured to continue execution of the first control without changing over control to the second control, when an execution request for the second control is given during execution of the first control in the second region of the accelerator operation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshimitsu TAKAHASHI, Yoshikazu MOTOZONO, Tomoya YAMAGUCHI
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Patent number: 9605614Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control system for executing a fuel saving based on a learned value of fuel consumption obtained from an actual running of the vehicle. The control system makes an assessment of a fuel saving control by learning fuel consumption within a predetermined learning zone including a zone where the fuel saving control is executed and determines whether or not to execute the fuel saving control based on a result of the assessment.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsuhiro Miura, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Publication number: 20160297322Abstract: When a vehicle is in an accelerator off state and satisfies a free-run condition, a regeneration control unit performs free-run control on the vehicle so that the amount of regenerative electric power is decreased. The regeneration control unit sets a free-run prohibited zone between a starting point of a regeneration enhancement zone and a position that is located in front of and separated by a determination distance from the starting point.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yasuhiro TAJIMA, Kunihiko JINNO, Haruki OGURI, Yoshikazu MOTOZONO, Kiyomi NAGAMIYA
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Patent number: 9242649Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having a clutch device to selectively connect and disconnect a power transmission route between a prime mover and drive wheels, and configured to disconnect the power transmission route during running to allow the vehicle to coast.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jonggap Kim, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Patent number: 9073549Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control apparatus that can improve a gasoline mileage without imparting the sense of discomfort to a driver. When an ECU determines that the brake is turned ON during an N inertia travel control (“YES” in step S11), the ECU stores a current position and a current vehicle speed in a learning DB (Step 12). Next, the ECU matches a data of the current position and the vehicle speed similar to the data of the current position and the vehicle speed stored this time, with reference to the information associated with a section inclusive of the current position (Step S13). Thereafter, when the ECU determines that there are equal to or more than a predetermined number of similar cases (“YES” in step S14), the ECU sets the section referenced in the step S13 as an N inertia travel prohibition section.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshikazu Motozono, Shoichi Shono, Akihiro Ueda, JongGap Kim
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Publication number: 20150166064Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having a clutch device to selectively connect and disconnect a power transmission route between a prime mover and drive wheels, and configured to disconnect the power transmission route during running to allow the vehicle to coast.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Publication number: 20150151760Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided. The vehicle control system is applied to a vehicle having a clutch device to selectively connect and disconnect a power transmission route between a prime mover and drive wheels, and configured to disconnect the power transmission route during running to allow the vehicle to coast.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: June 4, 2015Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jonggap Kim, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Publication number: 20150006045Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control apparatus that can improve a gasoline mileage without imparting the sense of discomfort to a driver. When an ECU determines that the brake is turned ON during an N inertia travel control (“YES” in step S11), the ECU stores a current position and a current vehicle speed in a learning DB (Step 12). Next, the ECU matches a data of the current position and the vehicle speed similar to the data of the current position and the vehicle speed stored this time, with reference to the information associated with a section inclusive of the current position (Step S13). Thereafter, when the ECU determines that there are equal to or more than a predetermined number of similar cases (“YES” in step S14), the ECU sets the section referenced in the step S13 as an N inertia travel prohibition section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshikazu Motozono, Shoichi Shono, Akihiro Ueda, JongGap Kim
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Patent number: 8825339Abstract: A vehicular drive control apparatus provided with pulse-driving and gliding means for setting upper limit Vhi and lower limit Vlo of running speed V of a vehicle according to an upper and lower vehicle speed limit maps, and on the basis of target running speed Vt which is the running speed V at a time when control initiating conditions have been satisfied, and running the vehicle in P & G running mode by alternately repeating pulse-driving run (accelerating run) and gliding run (decelerating run) of the vehicle at the running speed V varying between the set upper and lower limits Vhi and Vlo, the control initiating conditions including a condition that the vehicle is in a steady running state.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono, Masafumi Uchihara, Akihiro Ueda, JongGap Kim, Norimi Asahara
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Publication number: 20140159886Abstract: A vehicle operator assisting apparatus is configured to assist an operator of an own vehicle by displaying an image of a virtual preceding vehicle visually recognizable by the operator as if the virtual preceding vehicle was running in front of said own vehicle in a running state. The assisting apparatus comprises: a history data base storing a driving history of said operator; a virtual preceding vehicle control portion determining a running state of said virtual proceeding vehicle based on said driving history generating portion generating a relationship between a distance between said own vehicle and an actual preceding vehicle, and a running speed of said own vehicle, and storing the relationship in said history database. Said virtual preceding vehicle control portion includes a driving characteristics extracting portion determining a distance between said own vehicle and said virtual preceding vehicle based on said relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 4, 2011Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Naoto Hasegawa, Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono, Masao Omura, Akihiro Ueda, Yasuhiro Tajima, Tomohiro Usami, Mitsuhiro Miura
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Publication number: 20130211686Abstract: A vehicular drive control apparatus provided with pulse-driving and gliding means 118 for setting upper limit Vhi and lower limit Vlo of running speed V of a vehicle according to an upper and lower vehicle speed limit maps, and on the basis of target running speed Vt which is the running speed V at a time when control initiating conditions have been satisfied, and running the vehicle in P & G running mode by alternately repeating pulse-driving run (accelerating run) and gliding run (decelerating run) of the vehicle at the running speed V varying between the set upper and lower limits Vhi and Vlo, the control initiating conditions including a condition that the vehicle is in a steady running state. Accordingly, the pulse-driving and gliding means 118 permits the vehicle to be run in the P & G running mode, independently of an automatic cruising control, making it possible to improve fuel economy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2010Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shoichi Shono, Yoshikazu Motozono, Masafumi Uchihara, Akihiro Ueda, JongGap Kim, Norimi Asahara
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Publication number: 20110307152Abstract: There is provided a vehicle travel control device capable of controlling acceleration and deceleration without causing a driver to feel uncomfortable. The vehicle travel control device includes: a vehicle deceleration control section which operates at least two of a throttle control section, a downshifting control section, and a brake control section on the basis of target deceleration; a target deceleration setting section which sets the target deceleration; and changing means for changing the operation order of the throttle control section, the downshifting control section, and the brake control section according to the target deceleration set by the target deceleration setting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shoichi Shono, Tomohiro Usami, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Patent number: 8050820Abstract: When a vehicle turns, a body and a left and a right wheel are inclined inward of a turning circle. Consequently forces are exerted to an operator in an up-down direction, which leads to reducing discomfort felt by the operator. In addition, since a gravity center of the vehicle is moved inward of the turning circle, a turning stability of the vehicle is improved.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Yanaka, Yoshikazu Motozono, Yasukazu Honda
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Patent number: 7640086Abstract: A running object includes a body, at least two drive wheels disposed on a first axle, and at least one driven wheel disposed on a second axle. The running object is capable of switching between a standing posture in which the driven wheel is suspended in the air and a stable posture in which the driven wheel is placed on the ground. The running object includes a storing device that stores a target incline pattern that chronologically describes the target incline angle of the body during a transition from the standing posture to the stable posture; a detecting device that detects the incline angle and/or the incline angular velocity of the body; a torque calculating device that calculates torque based on a deviation between the target incline pattern stored in the storing device and a detection value detected by the detecting device; and an actuator for applying the torque calculated by the calculating device to the drive wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2006Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Issei Nakashima, Toshio Fuwa, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Publication number: 20080290618Abstract: When a vehicle turns, a body and a left and a right wheel are inclined inward of a turning circle. Consequently forces are exerted to an operator in an up-down direction, which leads to reducing discomfort felt by the operator. In addition, since a gravity center of the vehicle is moved inward of the turning circle, a turning stability of the vehicle is improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2006Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Yanaka, Yoshikazu Motozono, Yasukazu Honda
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Publication number: 20070073425Abstract: A running object includes a body, at least two drive wheels disposed on a first axel, and at least one driven wheel disposed on a second axel. The running object is capable of switching between a standing posture in which the driven wheel is suspended in the air and a stable posture in which the driven wheel is placed on the ground. The running object includes a storing device that stores a target incline pattern that chronologically describes the target incline angle of the body during a transition from the standing posture to the stable posture; a detecting device that detects the incline angle and/or the incline angular velocity of the body; a torque calculating device that calculates torque based on a deviation between the target incline pattern stored in the storing device and a detection value detected by the detecting device; and an actuator for applying the torque calculated by the calculating device to the drive wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventors: Issei Nakashima, Toshio Fuwa, Yoshikazu Motozono
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Patent number: 6638652Abstract: A fuel cell control apparatus for controlling the supply amount of oxidizing gas to a fuel cell for producing electric energy by reaction between fuel gas and oxidizing gas includes a smoother for smoothing the output related quantity of the fuel cell, and an oxidizing gas feed determining device for determining the supply amount of the oxidizing gas on the basis of the output related quantity smoothed by the smoother, and therefore when controlling the amounts of the fuel gas and oxidizing gas depending on the output demand of the fuel cell, the substantial power generation efficiency is enhanced and the output is stabilized at the same time.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Motozono, Masashi Yamashita, Masaaki Yamaoka, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Iwao Maeda
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Patent number: 6630109Abstract: A control apparatus for a reformer and a method of controlling the reformer are provided. The reformer gasifies a reformate fuel by a reforming reaction, supplies the obtained reformate gas to an energy converter to convert the reformate gas into energy of another form, and heats the reformate fuel by burning emission containing unreacted flammable gas produced in the energy converter. The control apparatus comprises a reforming amount assessing device for assessing the amount of the reformate fuel to be gasified, and an emission amount assessing device for assessing the amount of emission to be supplied into the reformer on the basis of the assessed amount of reformate fuel. When using the unreacted hydrogen gas generated in a fuel cell for heating the reformate fuel, the unreacted hydrogen gas and combustion aid gas can be controlled so that the reformate fuel is heated properly.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yamaoka, Masashi Yamashita, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Yoshikazu Motozono, Iwao Maeda, Masayoshi Taki