Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Takehito Yokoo

Giorgio L Zoia

Sheldon Z Brown

Luke Alan Rippelmeyer

Laura E Bower

Jared Michael Farnsworth

Daniel Charles Folick

Wen Li

Mohammad Effendi Dufford

Andrew G Sata

Scott A Friedman

Christopher M Bulpitt

Daniel K Lim

Arlo C Eitzer

Jonathan J Sander

Jacquelyn Birdsall

Stephen Hodges

Hiro Yamaguchi

A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The one or more user interface elements can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the plurality of regenerative braking settings can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to one or more wheels of the vehicle. The regenerative braking control system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface elements. The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition can be the usage of the plurality of regenerative braking settings by an operator of the vehicle. Responsive to detecting the condition, the processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for one or more of the plurality of regenerative braking settings to be adjusted based on the condition.

Regenerative braking control system

A dual-battery fuel cell system is provided, including two supplemental batteries, each battery supporting/supplementing operation of a fuel cell stack in the system. Driving conditions associated with a fuel cell vehicle can be obtained. Based on the driving conditions, power sources of the fuel cell vehicle to provide power to fuel cell vehicle system can be determined, the power sources comprising the fuel cell stack and the two supplemental batteries. Operating conditions of each of the power sources can be assessed, and one or more of the power sources can be controlled to deliver power to the fuel cell vehicle system based on the operating conditions of each of the power sources.

Dual battery fuel cell system

Systems and methods are provided for modularizing a system. Parallel power systems having electronically isolated high voltage systems facilitate modulization. A control system is provided that optimizes the distribution of a power demand and/or a torque request so as to keep the efficiency, durability, drivability and/or safety of the system within an optimum range. In some cases, the distribution of power is uneven, so as to extend the battery life, while in other cases, the power draw on battery systems are kept equal and constant so as to properly manage the state of charge of the parallel power systems. In still other cases, the chosen power distribution keeps the power demand and/or torque request between minimum and maximum levels/capacity, and the power distribution avoids on/off of an individual power system.

Modular fuel cell system architecture and a control system for distributing power to the modules

A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for a continuously adaptable braking pedal system. The braking system includes an electric motor that is configured to generate regenerative energy and provide a regenerative braking torque. The braking system includes an electronic control unit coupled to the electric motor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied based on an adaptable pedal map and an amount of braking force. The electronic control unit is configured to control an amount of the regenerative braking torque to be applied.

Continuously adaptable braking pedal map system

Methods and systems may provide for technology to detect an unbalanced degradation among a plurality of fuel cells in an automotive system and apply an unbalanced control across the plurality of fuel cells based on the unbalanced degradation. In one example, the unbalanced control balances the degradation among the plurality of fuel cells.

Fuel cell power unbalancing to control degradation and improve performance

A vehicle, a vehicle fuel reactant leak detection system, a computer program product, and a computer implemented method of detecting leakage of a fuel reactant from a vehicle. The vehicle includes one or more fuel cell modules, a fuel supply source to supply a fuel reactant to the one or more fuel cell modules via a high-pressure fuel supply line, a fuel supply valve configured to open and close fuel reactant flow through the high-pressure fuel supply line, and a computing device, operatively connected to the fuel supply source. The computing device includes one or more processors caused to conduct, in response to a detection as sensor data of pressure in the high-pressure fuel supply line when the vehicle engine is in a non-operating state, fuel pressure analysis of the sensor data, and detect, based on the fuel pressure analysis, leakage of the fuel reactant at the fuel supply valve.

Fuel reactant leak detection system and method of detecting fuel reactant leaks

A system for managing storage of electrical energy can include an electromagnetic machine and a controller. The electromagnetic machine can have a rotor and a stator. The rotor can be configured to be connected to a shaft. One of the rotor or the stator can have first windings and second windings. The controller can be configured to control first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow from a first energy storage device to the first windings to cause the shaft to rotate. The second circuitry can be configured to cause energy to flow selectively: (1) from a second energy storage device to the second windings to cause the shaft to rotate or (2) from the second windings to the second energy storage device to cause the second energy storage device to be charged.

Managing storage of electrical energy

A powertrain for an electric vehicle has a driveshaft connected to two or more motors where each motor is connected to a battery pack associated with that motor. A controller is used to select one or more motors to be energized for propulsion or used for regenerative braking to recharge the battery pack to which it is coupled. The controller can optimize the state of charge (SOC) difference of the battery packs and provide for a smooth and efficient powering of the vehicle for acceleration and climbing and optimize the range of the vehicle by management of the relative SOC of the battery packs. The electric vehicle can include two or more fuel cells that individually coupled to a motor.

System for adjusting regenerative torque according to state of charge of multiple batteries

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a fuel dispenser. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a fuel dispenser includes broadcasting a pairing signal to a vehicle, receiving, from the vehicle, a confirmation signal confirming completion of a pairing process between the fuel dispenser and the vehicle, transmitting, subsequent to the confirmation signal, a disable signal to the vehicle in response to data from one or more proximity sensors indicating that the vehicle is within a threshold range and a determination that the vehicle is refueling, and transmitting an enable signal to the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle is no longer refueling. The disable signal disables a moving capability of the vehicle, and the enable signal restores the moving capability of the vehicle.

Systems and methods for managing refueling interactions

A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple motors. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel, and is mechanically connected to the motors. The vehicle additionally includes multiple control modules communicatively connected to the motors. The control modules include a power control module per motor. Each power control module is assigned a motor, communicatively connected to the assigned motor, and configured to operate the assigned motor. In response to a traction event, the control modules are configured to switch from a drive mode to a traction control mode. In the drive mode, the power control modules are configured to operate the respective assigned motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle. In the traction control mode, one of the control modules is configured to operate the motors to contributorily satisfy at least one propulsion demand global to the vehicle.

Operating electrified vehicles during traction events

A method of operating a vehicle includes, using a master power control module, and in response to a propulsion demand global to the vehicle, operating a master-assigned motor to which a wheeled drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a share of the propulsion demand. The method additionally includes, using a slave power control module, and in response to the propulsion demand, operating a slave-assigned motor to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected to satisfy a remaining share of the propulsion demand.

Fuel cell vehicle with power modules

A vehicle includes a drivetrain and multiple power modules. The drivetrain includes at least one wheel. Each power module includes an energy system, and a propulsion system to which the drivetrain is mechanically connected. The energy system is operable to generate electrical energy using fuel. The propulsion system is electrically connected to the energy system, and operable to contributorily power the at least one wheel using electrical energy from the energy system.

Navigation systems and vehicles for predicting routes are provided. A navigation system includes one or more processors, a satellite antenna, one or more memory modules, which stores one or more previous location, a segment list, and machine readable instructions. The satellite antenna receives a first signal from one or more global positioning system satellites. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the navigation system to transform the first signal into a first location of the navigation system, access the one or more previous locations stored in the one or more memory modules, automatically determine that a turn has occurred based on the first location and the one or more previous locations, store a segment in the segment list after it is determined that the turn has occurred, and predict a route based on the segment list.

Growing community of inventors

Aliso Viejo, CA, United States of America

Takehito Yokoo