Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Sony Corporation

Motohiro Nakashima

Naoto Suzuki

Masaki Suenaga

An indicator apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a display region having a range that extends between first and second ends of the display region. The display region displays a first mark to indicate to the driver a first state amount that changes in accordance with the output demand from the driver, a first edge of the first mark moving across the range between the first and second ends of the display region as the first state amount changes. A second mark having a second edge is displayed so that the second edge extends across and overlaps the display region, the second edge indicating to the driver a threshold at which switching occurs between an EV traveling mode and an HV traveling mode.

Indicator apparatus for hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle, indicating method for hybrid vehicle

An indicator portion includes a first indicator portion and a second indicator portion. The first indicator portion indicates an accelerator pedal opening degree that changes in accordance with an operated amount of the accelerator pedal by the driver. The second indicator portion includes a division line and regions divided by the division line. The division line shows an accelerator pedal opening degree where traveling modes (EV mode and HV mode) are switched. The regions show the ranges of accelerator pedal opening degrees where traveling is performed in EV mode and HV mode, respectively.

A communication unit periodically transmits a request signal toward a prescribed range. When a transmitter exists in the range where the request signal can be received, it sends identification information in a responsive manner. A comparison ECU compares the identification information provided from the communication unit with a predetermined value, and if both of them match with each other, notifies a matching notification to a power source management ECU. On receipt of the matching notification from the comparison ECU, the power source management ECU notifies a lighting-up request for providing an instruction for lighting-up of a light-emitting unit to a body ECU. Upon receipt of the lighting-up request, the body ECU activates a lighting-up command LON. As a result, the light-emitting unit is lit up and notifies a user of the position of a charging port.

Vehicle capable of indicating a position of an electrical power-receiving unit

An indicator portion () includes a first indicator portion () and a second indicator portion (). The first indicator portion () indicates an accelerator pedal opening degree that changes in accordance with an operated amount of the accelerator pedal by the driver. The second indicator portion () includes a division line () and regions () divided by the division line (). The division line () shows an accelerator pedal opening degree where traveling modes (EV mode and HV mode) are switched. The regions () show the ranges of accelerator pedal opening degrees where traveling is performed in EV mode and HV mode, respectively.

A communication unit () periodically transmits a request signal toward a prescribed range. When a transmitter () exists in the range where the request signal can be received, it sends identification information in a responsive manner. A comparison ECU () compares the identification information provided from the communication unit () with a predetermined value, and if both of them match with each other, notifies a matching notification to a power source management ECU (). On receipt of the matching notification from the comparison ECU (), the power source management ECU () notifies a lighting-up request for providing an instruction for lighting-up of a light-emitting unit () to a body ECU (). Upon receipt of the lighting-up request, the body ECU () activates a lighting-up command LON. As a result, the light-emitting unit () is lit up and notifies a user of the position of a charging port.

Vehicle capable of indicating a position of an electric power-receiving unit

Light applied from an illumination unit illuminates a space formed of an accommodation unit, and facilitates a user's operation of coupling a charging connector to an electric power-receiving unit. When a lid unit is in a closed state, a part of the light applied from the illumination unit toward the accommodation unit transmits through a light transmission member provided at the lid unit and leaks toward a space outside a vehicle body. The leaked light enables a user to visually perceive the position of the charging port at a glance even if the lid unit is in the closed state.

Vehicle

An electronic apparatus includes an outer housing; a battery storage compartment provided in the outer housing and having a height and a width and depth larger than the height; a cover for opening and closing an opening of the battery storage compartment; and a battery ejecting spring disposed in a deep portion of the battery storage compartment and for urging a battery being stored in the battery storage compartment along a direction of ejection of the battery from the opening. The battery ejecting spring includes a pivot shaft, an anchor shaft, and an urging shaft. The pivot shaft extends along the width direction. The anchor shaft stops the rotation of the one end portion of the pivot shaft. The urging shaft includes a tip end engaging with an end face of the battery, thereby to perform a pivotal movement about the pivot shaft working as a fulcrum.

Growing community of inventors

Aichi-gun, Japan

Motohiro Nakashima