Showing papers by "Toyota published in 2010"

Object Detection with Discriminatively Trained Part-Based Models

Abstract: We describe an object detection system based on mixtures of multiscale deformable part models. Our system is able to represent highly variable object classes and achieves state-of-the-art results in the PASCAL object detection challenges. While deformable part models have become quite popular, their value had not been demonstrated on difficult benchmarks such as the PASCAL data sets. Our system relies on new methods for discriminative training with partially labeled data. We combine a margin-sensitive approach for data-mining hard negative examples with a formalism we call latent SVM. A latent SVM is a reformulation of MI--SVM in terms of latent variables. A latent SVM is semiconvex, and the training problem becomes convex once latent information is specified for the positive examples. This leads to an iterative training algorithm that alternates between fixing latent values for positive examples and optimizing the latent SVM objective function.

Path Planning for Autonomous Vehicles in Unknown Semi-structured Environments

Abstract: We describe a practical path-planning algorithm for an autonomous vehicle operating in an unknown semi-structured (or unstructured) environment, where obstacles are detected online by the robot’s sensors. This work was motivated by and experimentally validated in the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, where robotic vehicles had to autonomously navigate parking lots. The core of our approach to path planning consists of two phases. The first phase uses a variant of A* search (applied to the 3D kinematic state space of the vehicle) to obtain a kinematically feasible trajectory. The second phase then improves the quality of the solution via numeric non-linear optimization, leading to a local (and frequently global) optimum. Further, we extend our algorithm to use prior topological knowledge of the environment to guide path planning, leading to faster search and final trajectories better suited to the structure of the environment. We present experimental results from the DARPA Urban Challenge, where our robot demonstrated near-flawless performance in complex general path-planning tasks such as navigating parking lots and executing U-turns on blocked roads. We also present results on autonomous navigation of real parking lots. In those latter tasks, which are significantly more complex than the ones in the DARPA Urban Challenge, the time of a full replanning cycle of our planner is in the range of 50—300 ms.

Core-protected platinum monolayer shell high-stability electrocatalysts for fuel-cell cathodes.

Abstract: More than skin deep: Platinum monolayers can act as shells for palladium nanoparticles to lead to electrocatalysts with high activities and an ultralow platinum content, but high platinum utilization. The stability derives from the core protecting the shell from dissolution. In fuel-cell tests, no loss of platinum was observed in 200?000 potential cycles, whereas loss of palladium was significant.

Rechargeable Li-Air Batteries with Carbonate-Based Liquid Electrolytes

Abstract: Rechargeable Li-air battery is a candidate for post Li-ion battery with high energy density. In this paper, the rechargeability of Li-air battery over 100 cycles was confirmed and its capacity retention over 60% was achieved. Nevertheless, a large voltage gap between the discharge-charge profiles was observed. Here, a discharged product formed on a cathode was investigated by TEM observation and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was found that the main product formed in discharge was not an ideal compound, Li2O2, but was carbonate species issued from the decomposition of carbonate-based electrolyte solvent.

Defect formation and phase stability of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 photovoltaic material

Abstract: First-principles studies of the phase stability of and defect formation in ${\text{Cu}}_{2}{\text{ZnSnS}}_{4}$ (CZTS) are performed. We show that CZTS is the thermodynamically stable phase for a rather small confined domain of chemical potentials. Even slight deviations from the optimal growth conditions will therefore result in the formation of other sulfidic precipitates, including ZnS, ${\text{Cu}}_{2}{\text{SnS}}_{3}$, SnS, ${\text{SnS}}_{2}$, and CuS. In particular, under the prevalent experimental Cu-poor and Zn-rich growth conditions ZnS is the main competing phase. Furthermore, the calculations unambiguously predict that Cu at the Zn site is the most stable defect in the entire stability range of CZTS. This correlates with the experimental observation that CZTS is an intrinsic $p$-type semiconductor.

Non-contact power transmission apparatus

Abstract: A non-contact power transmission apparatus having an AC power source and a resonance system is disclosed. The resonance system has a primary coil connected to the AC power source, a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a secondary coil, and a load connected to the secondary coil. The primary side resonance coil is separated from the primary coil in an axial direction by a first distance, and the secondary coil is separated from the secondary side resonance coil in the axial direction by a second distance. At least one of the first distance and the second distance is adjusted to be a distance that is determined in advance in accordance with the impedance of the load so that the power transmission efficiency is maintained at a proper value.

Enhanced electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction based on patterning of platinum surfaces with cyanide.

Abstract: The slow rate of the oxygen reduction reaction in the phosphoric acid fuel cell is the main factor limiting its wide application. Here, we present an approach that can be used for the rational design of cathode catalysts with potential use in phosphoric acid fuel cells, or in any environments containing strongly adsorbing tetrahedral anions. This approach is based on molecular patterning of platinum surfaces with cyanide adsorbates that can efficiently block the sites for adsorption of spectator anions while the oxygen reduction reaction proceeds unhindered. We also demonstrate that, depending on the supporting electrolyte anions and cations, on the same CN-covered Pt(111) surface, the oxygen reduction reaction activities can range from a 25-fold increase to a 50-fold decrease. This behaviour is discussed in the light of the role of covalent and non-covalent interactions in controlling the ensemble of platinum active sites required for high turn over rates of the oxygen reduction reaction.

Resonance type non-contact charging apparatus

Abstract: A resonance type non-contact charging system is disclosed that includes a resonance system. The resonance system has a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a power converting section having a DC/DC converter, and a battery. The charging system has a controlling section that controls the DC/DC converter. The controlling section controls the duty cycle of the DC/DC converter such that the input impedance of the resonance system at the resonant frequency and the output impedance of a high-frequency power source match each other.

DMND: Collecting data from mobiles using Named Data

Abstract: Technology advances in both computations and wireless communications have made it economically feasible for manufacturers to collect data from all the cars in order to monitor their operations and detect any potential problems. However to make this a reality requires a new architecture that can effectively handle vehicle mobility, intermittent connectivity, and data security, as well as scale to large number of vehicles. In this paper we address these design challenges by exploring the direction of Named Date Networking (NDN) (aka CCN1). We evaluated our design, dubbed DMND, through simulations in Qualnet. Our results show that, when data publishers (vehicles) are stationary, more than 99% of collection requests can successfully pull data packets back; even when vehicles move at a high speed of 40–50 meters per second (89.48–111.8 miles/hour), DMND can still retain its high efficiency of 97% of data replies. In contrast, under the same simulation experimental setting, the request-reply ratio of MobileIP drops from 97.9% for static publishers to 9.6% when publishers are moving at a speed of 10–20 meters/second (22.37–44.74 miles/hour).

Energy transfer systems and methods for mobile vehicles

Abstract: An energy transfer system comprises a transmitter array, an energy transfer controller, a receiver array, a charging module. The transmitter array is embedded in a roadway and the energy transfer controller is coupled to the transmitter array. The receiver array and the charging module are part of a mobile vehicle. The transmitter array and the receiver array each include a plurality of coils. The energy transfer controller estimates a likely trajectory of the mobile vehicle and energizes individual coils of the transmitter array using this position estimate. The energy transfer controller varies the resonant circuit component values of the transmitter during the transfer cycle such as resonant coupling capacitance values. The charging module also varies the resonant circuit component values of the coils in the receiver array to match the transfer array for transfer of energy from the transmitter array to the receiver array. The present invention also includes a method for energy transfer.

Hot carrier solar cells: Principles, materials and design

Abstract: The concept of hot carrier solar cells is discussed in terms of carrier cooling, conditions of energy- and carrier-selectivity for the energy selective contacts and macroscopic device behaviour. From the findings for hot carrier absorbers, we carried out high accuracy density functional calculations of hydrogen-terminated diatomic molecules, with results used in an infinite diatomic chain model for estimating phononic properties of material candidates. We evaluate phonon confinement as a function of structure size and intentional material mismatch, relating the accompanying constraints in electronic properties to the requirements of hot carrier absorbers. The evaluation of material candidates for hot carrier absorbers and energy selective contacts regarding their phononic, electronic, optical and structural properties provides us with a more detailed description of a practicable hot carrier solar cell.

A comparative study of “standard”, “fast” and “NO2” SCR reactions over Fe/zeolite catalyst

Abstract: In order to elucidate the contributions of standard (NO2/NOx = 0%), fast (=50%) and NO2 (=100%) SCR reactions under conditions where they occur simultaneously, the NOx conversion rate and N2O production rate over Fe/zeolite were investigated while varying both NO2/NOx ratio and temperature, in small increments. The NOx conversion rate decreased in the following order: fast SCR > NO2 SCR > standard SCR, although after excluding the contribution of N2O production, the order was changed to fast SCR > standard SCR > NO2 SCR. When the fast SCR conversion was subtracted from the total NOx conversion, the remaining “apparent” conversion of standard SCR (NO2/NOx 50%), was independent of NO2/NOx ratio. This indicates that standard or NO2 SCR progressed once fast SCR was completed. N2O production reached a maximum at ca. 250 °C and was determined responsible for NO2 SCR. At temperatures below 200 °C, the NOx conversion behaviors of fast and NO2 SCR changed drastically; the fast SCR conversion dropped suddenly with decreasing temperature, and the NO2 SCR conversion went through a minimum and then began to increase with no N2O production.

Innovation by In-Wheel Motor Drive Unit

Abstract: The in-wheel-motor (IWM) will be the most important key technology in the near future to be used by electric vehicles (including fuel cell vehicles). In the past 100 years of the internal combustion engine, several kinds of vehicle packages have been developed, for example, front-engine front-wheel drive, front-engine rear-wheel drive, mid-engine rear-wheel drive, and rear-engine rear-wheel drive. However, a conclusive solution for the best package has not been found. Combining electric drive and IWM enables both good vehicle dynamics and a roomy interior. In addition, the responsiveness of IWM raises the performance of the dynamic control to an even higher level.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell that stores data by presence or absence of electrons accumulated in a floating gate, a read reference current generator that generates a read reference current for reading data from the memory cell based on a constant current from a constant current generator included therein, and a read voltage generator that generates a read voltage to be applied to a control gate of the memory cell during data reading. The read reference current generator generates a monitor voltage that varies according to variation of the read reference current and a threshold voltage of the memory cell. The read voltage generator generates the read voltage based on the monitor voltage.

Power transmitting apparatus

Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus includes a clutch that operates based on pressure of a fed fluid to adjust a mode of power transmission of an engine or/and a motor/generator on a power transmission route, a first driving pump that feeds the fluid to the clutch by being driven in accordance with rotation of the motor/generator, and a second driving pump that feeds the fluid to the clutch by being driven in accordance with electric power, wherein a first engagement unit and a second engagement unit can be caused to engage rapidly or slowly by selecting one of the first driving pump and the second driving pump as a source of the fluid, and when a drive request of the clutch is present and a rotation speed of the motor/generator is lower than a predetermined rotation speed, the first engagement unit and the second engagement unit are caused to engage rapidly by feeding the fluid from the second driving pump.

Dynamic links between theta executive functions and alpha storage buffers in auditory and visual working memory.

Abstract: Working memory (WM) tasks require not only distinct functions such as a storage buffer and central executive functions, but also coordination among these functions. Neuroimaging studies have revealed the contributions of different brain regions to different functional roles in WM tasks; however, little is known about the neural mechanism governing their coordination. Electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms, especially theta and alpha, are known to appear over distributed brain regions during WM tasks, but the rhythms associated with task-relevant regional coupling have not been obtained thus far. In this study, we conducted time-frequency analyses for EEG data in WM tasks that include manipulation periods and memory storage buffer periods. We used both auditory WM tasks and visual WM tasks. The results successfully demonstrated function-specific EEG activities. The frontal theta amplitudes increased during the manipulation periods of both tasks. The alpha amplitudes increased during not only the manipulation but also the maintenance periods in the temporal area for the auditory WM and the parietal area for the visual WM. The phase synchronization analyses indicated that, under the relevant task conditions, the temporal and parietal regions show enhanced phase synchronization in the theta bands with the frontal region, whereas phase synchronization between theta and alpha is significantly enhanced only within the individual areas. Our results suggest that WM task-relevant brain regions are coordinated by distant theta synchronization for central executive functions, by local alpha synchronization for the memory storage buffer, and by theta-alpha coupling for inter-functional integration.

Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged in an engine exhaust passage. A first NO X removal method which injects hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15) within a predetermined range of period so that the reducing intermediate generated thereby reduces the NO X contained in the exhaust gas and a second NO X removal method which makes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) a first target rich air-fuel ratio by a period which is longer than this predetermined range are used. When the NO X removal method is switched from the second NO X removal method to the first NO X removal method, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made a second target air-fuel ratio which is smaller than the first target rich air-fuel ratio.

Enhanced photocatalysis of rhenium(I) complex by light-harvesting periodic mesoporous organosilica.

Abstract: This paper describes a new conceptual design for enhancement of photocatalytic CO2 reduction of a rhenium(I) complex by light harvesting of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO). Mesoporous biphenyl-silica (Bp-PMO) anchoring fac-[ReI(bpy)(CO)3(PPh3)]+(OTf)− (bpy =2,2′-bipyridine; OTf = CF3SO3) in the mesochannels was synthesized by co-condensation of two organosilane precursors, 4,4′-bis(triethoxysilyl)biphenyl and 4-[4-{3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylsulfanyl}butyl]-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine in the presence of a template surfactant, followed by coordination of a rhenium precursor, [ReI(CO)5(PPh3)]+(OTf)− to the bipyridine ligand in the mesochannels. The 280 nm light was effectively absorbed by the biphenyl groups in Bp-PMO, and the excited energy was funneled into the Re complex by resonance energy transfer, which enhanced photocatalytic CO evolution from CO2 by a factor of 4.4 compared with direct excitation of the Re complex. Bp-PMO had an additional merit to protect the Re complex against a decomposition b...

The Communication Complexity of Correlation

Abstract: Let X and Y be finite nonempty sets and (X,Y) a pair of random variables taking values in X?Y. We consider communication protocols between two parties, Alice and Bob, for generating X and Y. Alice is provided an x ? X generated according to the distribution of X , and is required to send a message to Bob in order to enable him to generate y ? Y, whose distribution is the same as that of Y|X=x. Both parties have access to a shared random string generated in advance. Let T[X:Y] be the minimum (over all protocols) of the expected number of bits Alice needs to transmit to achieve this. We show that I[X:Y] ? T[X:Y] ? I [X:Y] + 2 log2 (I[X:Y]+ O(1). We also consider the worst case communication required for this problem, where we seek to minimize the average number of bits Alice must transmit for the worst case x ? X. We show that the communication required in this case is related to the capacity C(E) of the channel E, derived from (X,Y) , that maps x ? X to the distribution of Y|X=x. We also show that the required communication T(E) satisfies C(E) ? T(E) ? C (E) + 2 log2 (C(E)+1) + O(1). Using the first result, we derive a direct-sum theorem in communication complexity that substantially improves the previous such result shown by Jain, Radhakrishnan, and Sen [In Proc. 30th International Colloquium of Automata, Languages and Programming (ICALP), ser. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 2719. 2003, pp. 300-315]. These results are obtained by employing a rejection sampling procedure that relates the relative entropy between two distributions to the communication complexity of generating one distribution from the other.

Garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide and all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery containing the same

Abstract: An all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery containing a novel garnet-type oxide serving as a solid electrolyte. The garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide is one represented by the formula Li5+XLa3(ZrX, A2-X)O12, wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn and X satisfies the inequality 1.4≦X<2, or is one obtained by substituting an element having an ionic radius different from that of Zr for Zr sites in an garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide represented by the formula Li7La3Zr2O12, wherein the normalized intensity of an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a diffraction peak, as normalized on the basis of the intensity of a diffraction peak, is 9.2 or more.

Driving support device

Abstract: An ECU of a driving support device predicts the risk of contact between a host vehicle and obstacles around the host vehicle when the host vehicle travels by a driving action related to at least one normative action candidate, which is a normative driving action candidate of the host vehicle for the surrounding conditions of the host vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to provide the normative action candidates considering the risk of contact between the host vehicle and the obstacles around the host vehicle.