Patents by Inventor Yoshitoshi Watanabe

Yoshitoshi Watanabe 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: 9539903
    Abstract: External power supply system includes an electrical storage device, motor, inverter that drives the motor by using electric power of the electrical storage device, and a control device controls the inverter. The inverter includes a first and second switching elements connected in series with each other between a positive and negative electrode power supply lines. A connection-node of the first and second switching elements is connected to one corresponding stator coil. The control device inputs signals to the inverter to drive the inverter such that voltage at the neutral point becomes a predetermined value. The control device compensates for signals in dead time period, the period in which off-state signals are supplied to the first and second switching elements, on the basis of current that is input from the connection-node to one corresponding stator coil or output from one corresponding stator coil to the connection-node while an engine is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Kinomura, Shingo Ueda, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Takaji Umeno
  • Publication number: 20160068066
    Abstract: External power supply system includes an electrical storage device, motor, inverter that drives the motor by using electric power of the electrical storage device, and a control device controls the inverter. The inverter includes a first and second switching elements connected in series with each other between a positive and negative electrode power supply lines. A connection-node of the first and second switching elements is connected to one corresponding stator coil. The control device inputs signals to the inverter to drive the inverter such that voltage at the neutral point becomes a predetermined value. The control device compensates for signals in dead time period, the period in which off-state signals are supplied to the first and second switching elements, on the basis of current that is input from the connection-node to one corresponding stator coil or output from one corresponding stator coil to the connection-node while an engine is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki KINOMURA, Shingo UEDA, Yoshitoshi WATANABE, Takaji UMENO
  • Publication number: 20150256149
    Abstract: A noise filter disclosed herein is configured to suppress a common mode voltage that is generated in cables connected to an electric power converter. The noise filter includes: detecting capacitors connected to the cables, respectively, and configured to detect the common mode voltage; an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal via which the common mode voltage detected by the detecting capacitors is inputted; an emitter follower circuit having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and having an output terminal connected to a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a transformer configured to apply a compensating voltage to each of the cables by applying a voltage at the output terminal of the emitter follower circuit to each of the cables in opposite phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yoshiaki ISHIHARA, Kazuji YAMAZAKI, Naoto KIKUCHI, Yoshitoshi WATANABE
  • Patent number: 9130542
    Abstract: A noise filter disclosed herein is configured to suppress a common mode voltage that is generated in cables connected to an electric power converter. The noise filter includes: detecting capacitors connected to the cables, respectively, and configured to detect the common mode voltage; an operational amplifier having a positive input terminal via which the common mode voltage detected by the detecting capacitors is inputted; an emitter follower circuit having an input terminal connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and having an output terminal connected to a negative input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a transformer configured to apply a compensating voltage to each of the cables by applying a voltage at the output terminal of the emitter follower circuit to each of the cables in opposite phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ishihara, Kazuji Yamazaki, Naoto Kikuchi, Yoshitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7891451
    Abstract: An ECU detects an effective value and phase of a voltage from a commercial power supply, based on a voltage from a voltage sensor. Further, ECU generates a command current, which is a command value of current caused to flow through power lines and in-phase with the voltage of the commercial power supply, based on the detected effective value and the phase and on a charge/discharge power command value for a power storage device. Then, ECU controls zero-phase voltage of inverters based on the generated command current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Katsuhiro Asano
  • Publication number: 20090067205
    Abstract: An ECU detects an effective value and phase of a voltage from a commercial power supply, based on a voltage from a voltage sensor. Further, ECU generates a command current, which is a command value of current caused to flow through power lines and in-phase with the voltage of the commercial power supply, based on the detected effective value and the phase and on a charge/discharge power command value for a power storage device. Then, ECU controls zero-phase voltage of inverters based on the generated command current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Katsuhiro Asano
  • Patent number: 7495399
    Abstract: A coordination control device of a power output apparatus includes a coordination control unit. The coordination control unit calculates an intermediate value between the maximum value and minimum value among voltage controls for a first motor generator, and voltage control from an AC voltage control generation unit to generate an AC voltage across neutral points of first and second motor generators, and outputs a value that is each phase voltage control for the first and second motor generators minus the calculated intermediate value to a signal generation unit as the final voltage control for the first and second motor generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Katsuhiro Asano, Yoshitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7248958
    Abstract: A tire-generated sound detection sensor detects a tire-generated sound that is generated from a tire while the vehicle is running. A wheel rotation sensor detects a wheel rotation speed. A preprocessor calculates feature quantities corresponding to a road surface state and tire-generated sound sources. A feature vector generator generates a feature vector having, as components, the feature quantities calculated by the preprocessor and the detected wheel rotation speed. A judgment processor estimates a state of a road surface on which the vehicle is running on the basis of the feature vector generated by the feature vector generator and feature vectors that are stored in a judgment map memory so as to be correlated with a plurality of road surface states, respectively, and each of which corresponds to a road surface state and tire-generated sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Katsuhiro Asano, Takaji Umeno, Shu Asami, Masaru Sugai
  • Publication number: 20070158948
    Abstract: A coordination control device of a power output apparatus includes a coordination control unit. The coordination control unit calculates an intermediate value between the maximum value and minimum value among voltage controls for a first motor generator, and voltage control from an AC voltage control generation unit to generate an AC voltage across neutral points of first and second motor generators, and outputs a value that is each phase voltage control for the first and second motor generators minus the calculated intermediate value to a signal generation unit as the final voltage control for the first and second motor generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2005
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Katsuhiro Asano, Yoshitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7010990
    Abstract: In a detecting apparatus, a resolver generates signals whose magnitudes vary periodically in accordance with a positional change of a fixed element side rotating shaft, which is a base for rotation of a rotator and whose position is offset when force of a component parallel to a rotation plane is applied thereto, and in accordance with a rotational state of the tire. An R/D converter generates pulses whose periods correspond to a rotational angle of the rotator and to positional offset of the rotating shaft. From the pulses, a computer detects a characteristic amount which varies in accordance with the positional offset of the shaft. On the basis of the detected amount and a relationship which is determined in advance on the basis of stiffness of the shaft and the amount, the computer detects a moment applied to the shaft, and computes a force generated at the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Takaji Umeno, Katsuhiro Asano, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Masaru Sugai, Shu Asami
  • Patent number: 6802226
    Abstract: A physical amount estimating apparatus including first outputting means for outputting a first physical amount that does not include a hysteresis characteristic, second outputting means for outputting a second physical amount that has a predetermined physical relationship to the first physical amount and includes a hysteresis characteristic, hysteresis removing means for calculating a corrected value with the hysteresis characteristic removed therefrom based on the second physical amount, and estimating means for estimating a third physical amount based on a physical relationship between the first physical amount and the corrected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Eiichi Ono, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Masanori Miyashita, Yuji Muragishi, Katsuhiro Asano
  • Publication number: 20040144173
    Abstract: In a detecting apparatus, a resolver generates signals whose magnitudes vary periodically in accordance with a positional change of a fixed element side rotating shaft, which is a base for rotation of a rotator and whose position is offset when force of a component parallel to a rotation plane is applied thereto, and in accordance with a rotational state of the tire. An R/D converter generates pulses whose periods correspond to a rotational angle of the rotator and to positional offset of the rotating shaft. From the pulses, a computer detects a characteristic amount which varies in accordance with the positional offset of the shaft. On the basis of the detected amount and a relationship which is determined in advance on the basis of stiffness of the shaft and the amount, the computer detects a moment applied to the shaft, and computes a force generated at the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Takaji Umeno, Katsuhiro Asano, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Masaru Sugai, Shu Asami
  • Publication number: 20040138831
    Abstract: A tire-generated sound detection sensor detects a tire-generated sound that is generated from a tire while the vehicle is running. A wheel rotation sensor detects a wheel rotation speed. A preprocessor calculates feature quantities corresponding to a road surface state and tire-generated sound sources. A feature vector generator generates a feature vector having, as components, the feature quantities calculated by the preprocessor and the detected wheel rotation speed. A judgment processor estimates a state of a road surface on which the vehicle is running on the basis of the feature vector generated by the feature vector generator and feature vectors that are stored in a judgment map memory so as to be correlated with a plurality of road surface states, respectively, and each of which corresponds to a road surface state and tire-generated sound sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Katsuhiro Asano, Takaji Umeno, Shu Asami, Masaru Sugai
  • Patent number: 6704636
    Abstract: A tire parameter estimation device that is economical and can accurately estimate tire parameters while taking into consideration both states of a vehicle and states of a road environment. A &mgr; gradient detecting circuit detects a &mgr; gradient on the basis of a wheel speed detected by a wheel speed detecting circuit. A gradient value comparing circuit determines a &mgr; gradient section value &mgr;r, which is a mean value of the &mgr; gradients from the &mgr; gradient detecting circuit, and calculates a rate (=&mgr;r/&mgr;I) of the &mgr; gradient mean value &mgr;r with respect to a &mgr; gradient initial value &mgr;. A tire temperature estimating circuit stores a table representing the relation between the rate and a tire temperature, and estimates a tire temperature corresponding to the rate calculated by the gradient value comparing circuit as the present tire temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Amano, Masanori Miyashita, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Akira Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Mamoru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20030051560
    Abstract: A physical amount estimating apparatus including first outputting means for outputting a first physical amount that does not include a hysteresis characteristic, second outputting means for outputting a second physical amount that has a predetermined physical relationship to the first physical amount and includes a hysteresis characteristic, hysteresis removing means for calculating a corrected value with the hysteresis characteristic removed therefrom based on the second physical amount, and estimating means for estimating a third physical amount based on a physical relationship between the first physical amount and the corrected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Eiichi Ono, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Masanori Miyashita, Yuji Muragishi, Katsuhiro Asano
  • Publication number: 20020010537
    Abstract: A tire parameter estimation device that is economical and can accurately estimate tire parameters while taking into consideration both states of a vehicle and states of a road environment. A &mgr; gradient detecting circuit detects a &mgr; gradient on the basis of a wheel speed detected by a wheel speed detecting circuit. A gradient value comparing circuit determines a &mgr; gradient section value &mgr;r, which is a mean value of the &mgr; gradients from the &mgr; gradient detecting circuit, and calculates a rate (=&mgr;r/&mgr;I) of the &mgr; gradient mean value &mgr;r with respect to a &mgr; gradient initial value &mgr;. A tire temperature estimating circuit stores a table representing the relation between the rate and a tire temperature, and estimates a tire temperature corresponding to the rate calculated by the gradient value comparing circuit as the present tire temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Yasushi Amano, Katsuhiro Asano, Noboru Sugiura, Masanori Miyashita, Yoshitoshi Watanabe, Akira Tanaka, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Mamoru Sawada