Patents by Inventor Yuji Minoda

Yuji Minoda 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: 9809186
    Abstract: A vehicle including a housing supported on a framework member of the vehicle via a supporting member, a liquid medium supply unit fixed to the housing and driven by a motor to supply a liquid medium to a cooled or lubricated portion, and a first atmosphere communicating mechanism that establishes a communication between an inside of a motor portion of the liquid medium supply unit and atmosphere, the first atmosphere communicating mechanism including a volumetric member that is disposed apart from the liquid medium supply unit in a position higher than the liquid medium supply unit, that has a predetermined volumetric space, and that is fixed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hoshinoya, Shigeru Nakayama, Hirotomi Nemoto, Masahiko Akiyama, Yuji Minoda
  • Publication number: 20160297385
    Abstract: A vehicle including a housing supported on a framework member of the vehicle via a supporting member, a liquid medium supply unit fixed to the housing and driven by a motor to supply a liquid medium to a cooled or lubricated portion, and a first atmosphere communicating mechanism that establishes a communication between an inside of a motor portion of the liquid medium supply unit and atmosphere, the first atmosphere communicating mechanism including a volumetric member that is disposed apart from the liquid medium supply unit in a position higher than the liquid medium supply unit, that has a predetermined volumetric space, and that is fixed to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi HOSHINOYA, Shigeru NAKAYAMA, Hirotomi NEMOTO, Masahiko AKIYAMA, Yuji MINODA
  • Patent number: 8994317
    Abstract: An output control apparatus for an electric motor includes a phase-current instruction-value setting device, a draw-current allowable-value storage device, a phase-current allowable-value setting device, and a phase-current instruction-value limiting device. The draw-current allowable-value storage device is configured to store a draw current allowable value of an electric storage device corresponding to an allowable current value of a system disconnecting-connecting device provided in a power system from the electric storage device to the electric motor. The phase-current allowable-value setting device is configured to set a phase current allowable value based on the draw current allowable value and an ON time of a switching element in a power converter. The phase-current instruction-value limiting device is configured to compare the phase current instruction value with the phase current allowable value to limit the phase current instruction value so as not to exceed the phase current allowable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Akiyama, Yuji Minoda
  • Publication number: 20130257319
    Abstract: An output control apparatus for an electric motor includes a phase-current instruction-value setting device, a draw-current allowable-value storage device, a phase-current allowable-value setting device, and a phase-current instruction-value limiting device. The draw-current allowable-value storage device is configured to store a draw current allowable value of an electric storage device corresponding to an allowable current value of a system disconnecting-connecting device provided in a power system from the electric storage device to the electric motor. The phase-current allowable-value setting device is configured to set a phase current allowable value based on the draw current allowable value and an ON time of a switching element in a power converter. The phase-current instruction-value limiting device is configured to compare the phase current instruction value with the phase current allowable value to limit the phase current instruction value so as not to exceed the phase current allowable value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko AKIYAMA, Yuji MINODA
  • Patent number: 8419471
    Abstract: A connector includes: a housing having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of terminal fittings that are inserted into the cavities individually and respectively, wherein a lance is formed in each of the cavities, the lance having a lock portion to be locked in a corresponding one of the terminal fittings, wherein the cavities are disposed to be aligned in a bending direction of the lances, and wherein an escape portion is provided in the terminal fitting which is inserted into the cavity disposed to be opposed to the back surface, the escape portion being formed to dent an outer surface of the terminal fitting opposed to the back surface of the lance so that at least a part of a back face portion of the lance is allowed to enter the escape portion when the lance bends elastically toward the back face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Hirotomi Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8388388
    Abstract: A connector includes: a terminal fitting having a body portion; and a housing having a cavity that receives the terminal fitting, wherein the body portion has a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion and an interference avoiding portion, wherein the first protrusion and the interference avoiding portion are disposed to be opposed to each other substantially in a diagonal line on a virtual projection plane, and wherein the cavity is formed with, in an inner surface thereof, a first groove into which the first protrusion is allowed to enter only when the terminal fitting has a proper insertion posture relative to the cavity and an interference portion that is formed to swell from the inner surface of the cavity to narrow a gap with the interference avoiding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Yohei Kugumiya, Kazuyuki Iwashita
  • Patent number: 8274292
    Abstract: In a cell voltage detecting system detecting cell voltages of a fuel cell connected in series, a voltage detector detects cell voltages. An auxiliary power supply generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage for driving the voltage detector at positive and negative terminals thereof. First and second diodes are connected to a positive drive terminal of the voltage detector to supply the power to the drive terminal of the voltage detector from a high voltage side between the fuel cell or the auxiliary power supply. A negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for the voltage detector is also disclosed in which the drive voltage for the voltage detector is supplied from the high voltage side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Minoda, Toshiaki Ariyoshi
  • Publication number: 20110212646
    Abstract: A connector includes: a housing having a plurality of cavities; and a plurality of terminal fittings that are inserted into the cavities individually and respectively, wherein a lance is formed in each of the cavities, the lance having a lock portion to be locked in a corresponding one of the terminal fittings, wherein the cavities are disposed to be aligned in a bending direction of the lances, and wherein an escape portion is provided in the terminal fitting which is inserted into the cavity disposed to be opposed to the back surface, the escape portion being formed to dent an outer surface of the terminal fitting opposed to the back surface of the lance so that at least a part of a back face portion of the lance is allowed to enter the escape portion when the lance bends elastically toward the back face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Hirotomi Nemoto, Shigeki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110212654
    Abstract: A connector includes: a terminal fitting having a body portion; and a housing having a cavity that receives the terminal fitting, wherein the body portion has a first protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion and an interference avoiding portion, wherein the first protrusion and the interference avoiding portion are disposed to be opposed to each other substantially in a diagonal line on a virtual projection plane, and wherein the cavity is formed with, in an inner surface thereof, a first groove into which the first protrusion is allowed to enter only when the terminal fitting has a proper insertion posture relative to the cavity and an interference portion that is formed to swell from the inner surface of the cavity to narrow a gap with the interference avoiding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Suzuki, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yuji Minoda, Yohei Kugumiya, Kazuyuki Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20100188093
    Abstract: In a cell voltage detecting system detecting cell voltages of a fuel cell connected in series, a voltage detector detects cell voltages. An auxiliary power supply generates a voltage equal to or greater than a minimum voltage for driving the voltage detector at positive and negative terminals thereof. First and second diodes are connected to a positive drive terminal of the voltage detector to supply the power to the drive terminal of the voltage detector from a high voltage side between the fuel cell or the auxiliary power supply. A negative terminal of the fuel cell, the negative drive terminal, and the negative terminal of the auxiliary power supply are connected to have a same potential. A method of maintaining a drive voltage for the voltage detector is also disclosed in which the drive voltage for the voltage detector is supplied from the high voltage side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Minoda, Toshiaki Ariyoshi
  • Patent number: 7719284
    Abstract: An apparatus measures a voltage of a cell while scanning a group of cells in a cell stack, in which a plurality of cells is electrically connected in series. The apparatus has a first switching device and a voltage detecting device. The first switching device is connected in series with a signal line carrying a voltage of a cell. The voltage detecting device detects the voltage of the cell, which is electrically connected with signal lines carrying voltages of cells belonging to a group. When the first switching device is electrically connected with a connecting point between two successive groups of cells, the first switching device is shared by the two groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ohta, Masanori Kawamoto, Yuji Minoda, Toshiaki Ariyoshi, Yoshikazu Nomoto
  • Publication number: 20060132139
    Abstract: An apparatus measures a voltage of a cell while scanning a group of cells in a cell stack, in which a plurality of cells is electrically connected in series. The apparatus has a first switching device and a voltage detecting device. The first switching device is connected in series with a signal line carrying a voltage of a cell. The voltage detecting device detects the voltage of the cell, which is electrically connected with signal lines carrying voltages of cells belonging to a group. When the first switching device is electrically connected with a connecting point between two successive groups of cells, the first switching device is shared by the two groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicants: KEIHIN CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ohta, Masanori Kawamoto, Yuji Minoda, Toshiaki Ariyoshi, Yoshikazu Nomoto