Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Minezawa

Yukihiro Minezawa 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).

  • Publication number: 20160164289
    Abstract: An electric-power supply system includes a plurality of vehicles each configured to supply AC electric power to an electric load external to the vehicles, and a switching apparatus provided between the electric load and the plurality of vehicles and that electrically connects one of the vehicles to the electric load. Each of the vehicles includes an internal combustion engine, an electric-power generation device that generates the AC electric power to be supplied to the electric load using output of the internal combustion engine, and a controller controlling the electric-power generation device, when power supply to the electric load is switched by the switching apparatus from one of the vehicles to the vehicle having the controller, to generate the AC electric power in synchronization with a phase of AC voltage which has been output from the one of the vehicles that previously supplied the AC electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai OYOBE, Tetsuhiro ISHIKAWA, Yukihiro MINEZAWA, Hitoshi SATO
  • Patent number: 9151221
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a second drive motor that is coupled to drive wheels to rotationally drive the drive wheels; a compressor that activates an air conditioner; a first drive motor that can drive the compressor; a planetary gear device that includes a first rotary element to which the second drive motor is coupled, a second rotary element to which the compressor is coupled, and a third rotary element to which the first drive motor is coupled; and a brake that selectively couples the compressor to a non-rotary member when the brake is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Publication number: 20140330468
    Abstract: A vehicle is capable of supplying electric power to an electric load external to the vehicle. The vehicle includes an electric-power generation device generating the electric power, a first connection terminal for electrically connecting the vehicle to another first vehicle to output the electric power generated by the electric-power generation device via the other first vehicle to the electric load, a second connection terminal for connecting another second vehicle to the vehicle to electrically connect the other second vehicle with the vehicle in parallel with respect to the electric load, and a system controller operating the electric-power generation device based on an electric power command received from the other first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Hichirosai OYOBE, Tetsuhiro ISHIKAWA, Yukihiro MINEZAWA, Hitoshi SATO
  • Patent number: 8760111
    Abstract: An output power controller in a system having two or more secondary batteries connected in parallel. A battery ECU transfers all the stored electric charge from one secondary battery to another secondary battery when battery temperature and state of charge (SOC) are so low that an output power requirement cannot be satisfied. The SOC of the secondary battery increases by the transfer of the stored electric charge and output power sufficient for the output power requirement can be obtained. Further, the secondary batteries are heated by thermal energy generated by the transfer of the stored electric charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Publication number: 20130038270
    Abstract: An output power controller in a system having two or more secondary batteries connected in parallel. A battery ECU transfers all the stored electric charge from one secondary battery to another secondary battery when battery temperature and state of charge (SOC) are so low that an output power requirement cannot be satisfied. The SOC of the secondary battery increases by the transfer of the stored electric charge and output power sufficient for the output power requirement can be obtained. Further, the secondary batteries are heated by thermal energy generated by the transfer of the stored electric charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Publication number: 20130006460
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a second drive motor that is coupled to drive wheels to rotationally drive the drive wheels; a compressor that activates an air conditioner; a first drive motor that can drive the compressor; a planetary gear device that includes a first rotary element to which the second drive motor is coupled, a second rotary element to which the compressor is coupled, and a third rotary element to which the first drive motor is coupled; and a brake that selectively couples the compressor to a non-rotary member when the brake is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 8143861
    Abstract: At the time of charging a power storage device from a commercial power supply, electric power from the commercial power supply is applied to a neutral point of each of first and second motor generators. A rotation preventing control unit (222) determines one phase to be subjected to switching control in the first inverter, based on a rotation angle (?1) of the first motor generator. Further, rotation preventing control unit (222) calculates torque generated in the first motor generator, generates a torque control value for canceling out the torque, and outputs the value to a phase voltage operating unit (214) for motor control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Makoto Nakamura, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 8054025
    Abstract: Commercial AC voltage applied to an input terminal (90) from a commercial power supply external to the vehicle is boosted by a transformer (86) to a voltage level higher than the voltage (VB) of an electricity storage device (B) to be applied to neutral points (N1, N2). In a charging mode of the electricity storage device (B) from a commercial power supply, all npn transistors of an inverter (20, 30) are turned off. The AC voltage applied to the neutral points (N1, N2) is rectified by an anti-parallel diode of the inverter (20, 30) to be supplied onto a power supply line (PL2). A boost converter (10) controls the charging current from the power supply line (PL2) towards the electricity storage device (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Makoto Nakamura, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7819213
    Abstract: A power output apparatus generates a commercial AC voltage across neutral points of first and second motor generators. The power output apparatus includes a leakage detecting device, and upon detection of leakage by the leakage detecting device, causes an AC output cutoff circuit to operate and also shuts down one or both of the first and second motor generators according to the operational states at the time. Further, the leakage detecting device performs checking of the leakage detecting function in response to a test signal from a control device, before outputting the commercial AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7764051
    Abstract: A power output apparatus includes first and second motor generators, first and second inverters and a relay circuit. The first and second motor generators include first and second 3-phase coils, respectively. The first inverter alters periodically the potential at a first neutral point of the 3-phase coil. The second inverter alters periodically the potential of the second neutral point of the second 3-phase coil at phase corresponding to a phase-inverted version of the potential change of the first neutral point. The relay circuit responds to a control signal from the control device to electrically connect first and second AC lines to a connector, and provides an alternating voltage generated across the first and second neutral points to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hichirosai Oyobe, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7688604
    Abstract: A first inverter control unit includes a harmonic generation unit. The harmonic generation unit generates a harmonic voltage instruction having a phase opposite to a harmonic generated at a neutral point of a motor-generator when the motor-generator revolves, based on motor revolution number of the motor-generator. A PWM signal generation unit generates a signal based on a voltage instruction obtained by superimposing an AC voltage instruction from an AC output control unit and the harmonic voltage instruction from the harmonic generation unit onto each voltage instruction of U-phase, V-phase and W-phase from a conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Publication number: 20100019734
    Abstract: Commercial AC voltage applied to an input terminal (90) from a commercial power supply external to the vehicle is boosted by a transformer (86) to a voltage level higher than the voltage (VB) of an electricity storage device (B) to be applied to neutral points (N1, N2). In a charging mode of the electricity storage device (B) from a commercial power supply, all npn transistors of an inverter (20, 30) are turned off. The AC voltage applied to the neutral points (N1, N2) is rectified by an anti-parallel diode of the inverter (20, 30) to be supplied onto a power supply line (PL2). A boost converter (10) controls the charging current from the power supply line (PL2) towards the electricity storage device (B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Makoto Nakamura, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Publication number: 20090224720
    Abstract: A first inverter control unit includes a harmonic generation unit. The harmonic generation unit generates a harmonic voltage instruction having a phase opposite to a harmonic generated at a neutral point of a motor-generator when the motor-generator revolves, based on motor revolution number of the motor-generator. A PWM signal generation unit generates a signal based on a voltage instruction obtained by superimposing an AC voltage instruction from an AC output control unit and the harmonic voltage instruction from the harmonic generation unit onto each voltage instruction of U-phase, V-phase and W-phase from a conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Patent number: 7582979
    Abstract: Vehicles are connected to respective receptacles of houses and are capable of generating commercial AC power to supply the generated electric power to a power transmission line. The vehicles communicate with a management server via the houses and the power transmission line. The vehicles output to the management server such information items concerning the vehicles as vehicle ID, amount of generated electric power and remaining amount of fuel. When electric power shortage occurs, the management server generates a start command and a power generation command for the vehicles based on the information concerning the vehicles to output the generated commands to the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7561389
    Abstract: Inverters, based on signals from a control device, generate a commercial AC voltage across neutral points of 3-phase coils. A Y-capacitor for removing noise is connected to a load outside the vehicle receiving the supply of the commercial AC voltage. A relay connected in series with a leakage detecting device is provided inside the vehicle. The relay is turned off when a plug of the load outside the vehicle is connected to a connector, and prevents a leakage current from flowing via a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hichirosai Oyobe, Yukihiro Minezawa, Shigenori Togashi
  • Patent number: 7550861
    Abstract: Upon power failure of a commercial power source, an automatic switching device switches to power supply from a hybrid vehicle. An ECU of the vehicle, when receiving a request for generation of a commercial AC voltage, sets an upper-limit power generation amount based on a remaining amount of fuel. The ECU transmits the upper-limit power generation amount via an antenna to an on-premises ECU, while controlling a power generation amount based on the upper-limit power generation amount. The on-premises, when receiving the upper-limit power generation amount, controls the load state such that commercial AC power is supplied firstly to a first load of priority level 1, according to proprieties registered in advance, and such that the amount of the power supplied to the electric loads does not exceed the upper-limit power generation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa, Hitoshi Sato
  • Publication number: 20090146612
    Abstract: At the time of charging a power storage device from a commercial power supply, electric power from the commercial power supply is applied to a neutral point of each of first and second motor generators. A rotation preventing control unit (222) determines one phase to be subjected to switching control in the first inverter, based on a rotation angle (?1) of the first motor generator. Further, rotation preventing control unit (222) calculates torque generated in the first motor generator, generates a torque control value for canceling out the torque, and outputs the value to a phase voltage operating unit (214) for motor control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Makoto Nakamura, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7511447
    Abstract: When a torque command value from an external ECU is within a predetermined variation width, a control unit generates a signal and outputs the signal to a voltage command calculation unit so that electrostatic energy stored in a capacitor is kept at a predetermined threshold value or larger. Based on the signal, the voltage command calculation unit determines a target voltage of a voltage step-up converter that corresponds to a terminal-to-terminal voltage of the capacitor. In contrast, when the torque command value is out of the predetermined variation width, the control unit determines electric power to be supplied from a DC power supply to an inverter for allowing electric power to be supplied predominantly from the capacitor rather than from the DC power supply and outputs a signal. Based on this signal, the voltage command calculation unit determines the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Publication number: 20090058097
    Abstract: Vehicles are connected to respective receptacles of houses and are capable of generating commercial AC power to supply the generated electric power to a power transmission line. The vehicles communicate with a management server via the houses and the power transmission line. The vehicles output to the management server such information items concerning the vehicles as vehicle ID, amount of generated electric power and remaining amount of fuel. When electric power shortage occurs, the management server generates a start command and a power generation command for the vehicles based on the information concerning the vehicles to output the generated commands to the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa
  • Patent number: 7486035
    Abstract: A first motor generator is linked to an engine and generates torque to start the engine. At time t1-t2 and time t3-t4, when current conducted to the first motor generator will exceed the upper limit value and the lower limit value due to the increase of the absolute value of a current component required to conduct alternating current across neutral points of first and second motor generators, a control device corrects a torque control value of the first motor generator such that the torque current component of the first motor generator directed to starting the engine is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Yukihiro Minezawa