Patents by Inventor Akihiro Otomo

Akihiro Otomo 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: 8007056
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus has first and second wheel cylinders; a master cylinder unit; first and second systems; a separation valve; a pressure control mechanism that controls the working fluid pressure transferred to at least one of the first and second wheel cylinders independently of the brake operation, and a brake ECU. The brake ECU generates a differential pressure across the separation valve by operating the pressure control mechanism when there is no brake operation while a running drive source of a vehicle is stopped to determine whether the separation valve has a leakage abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Ohkubo, Akihiro Otomo, Tsukasa Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7837280
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake unit applies braking force to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle according to the operation of a brake pedal. A pressure increase linear control valve supplies hydraulic fluid from an accumulator to wheel cylinders of disc brake units of the respective wheels. Pressure-sustaining valves are placed in passages that extend from a first passage to the rear wheel cylinders. A pressure-increase response-delay reduction section closes the pressure-sustaining valves for a predetermined period of time after starting the hydraulic pressure control to temporarily limit the inflow of hydraulic fluid into the wheel cylinders that communicate with the first passage. Thus, the amount of the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the second passage is increased, and it is possible to reduce the hydraulic pressure response delay in the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Okano, Akihiro Otomo, Tsukasa Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7673948
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus for use in a vehicle having wheels and a brake operating member manually operable by a driver, the apparatus including a manual pressure source including (a) a hydraulic booster which boosts an operating source applied by the driver to the brake operating member and produces a first hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force, and (b) a master cylinder which produces a second hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force as an output of the hydraulic booster; a power pressure source which produces, by utilizing a power, a third hydraulic pressure irrespective of whether the brake operating member is operated; hydraulic brakes which are provided in association with the wheels, respectively, and include respective brake cylinders, and each of which, upon supplying of a hydraulic pressure to a corresponding one of the brake cylinders, applies a hydraulic braking force to a corresponding one of the wheels; a hub portion which is connected to each o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Otomo
  • Patent number: 7500725
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control unit including three or more hydraulic pressure control components, and a holder structure which holds those hydraulic pressure control components, wherein the three or more hydraulic pressure control components are selected from electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves capable of controlling a pressure of a working fluid in a brake cylinder in a braking system, and pressure detecting devices, to detect respective pressures of the fluid used to control the electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves. The three or more hydraulic pressure control components include three hydraulic pressure control components which are attached to the holder structure such that one of the three hydraulic pressure control components is spaced from the other two hydraulic pressure control components by substantially the same distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Otomo, Kiyoharu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20070252428
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake unit applies braking force to a plurality of wheels of a vehicle according to the operation of a brake pedal. A pressure increase linear control valve supplies hydraulic fluid from an accumulator to wheel cylinders of disc brake units of the respective wheels. Pressure-sustaining valves are placed in passages that extend from a first passage to the rear wheel cylinders. A pressure-increase response-delay reduction section closes the pressure-sustaining valves for a predetermined period of time after starting the hydraulic pressure control to temporarily limit the inflow of hydraulic fluid into the wheel cylinders that communicate with the first passage. Thus, the amount of the hydraulic fluid that is supplied to the second passage is increased, and it is possible to reduce the hydraulic pressure response delay in the second passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Okano, Akihiro Otomo, Tsukasa Fukasawa
  • Publication number: 20070159002
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control unit including three or more hydraulic pressure control components, and a holder structure which holds those hydraulic pressure control components, wherein the three or more hydraulic pressure control components are selected from electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves capable of controlling a pressure of a working fluid in a brake cylinder in a braking system, and pressure detecting devices, to detect respective pressures of the fluid used to control the electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves. The three or more hydraulic pressure control components include three hydraulic pressure control components which are attached to the holder structure such that one of the three hydraulic pressure control components is spaced from the other two hydraulic pressure control components by substantially the same distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Otomo, Kiyoharu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7229138
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device controls brake fluid pressures through control of fluid pressure control valves operated in accordance with control signals from, for example, a computer. Signal lines for supplying control signals to control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for some wheels (e.g., front-left and rear-right wheels) are connected to a brake ECU by a connector, and signal lines for supplying control signals to the control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for other wheels (e.g., front-right and rear-left wheels) are connected to the brake ECU by a different connector. Thus, even if one of the connectors starts operating abnormally, it is possible to supply control signals via the signal lines connected by the other connector and control linear valve devices for some of the wheels (e.g., a pair of diagonally located wheels).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Masanori Hirose
  • Publication number: 20070108837
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus has first and second wheel cylinders; a master cylinder unit; first and second systems; a separation valve; a pressure control mechanism that controls the working fluid pressure transferred to at least one of the first and second wheel cylinders independently of the brake operation, and a brake ECU. The brake ECU generates a differential pressure across the separation valve by operating the pressure control mechanism when there is no brake operation while a running drive source of a vehicle is stopped to determine whether the separation valve has a leakage abnormality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayasu Ohkubo, Akihiro Otomo, Tsukasa Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7204566
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control unit including three or more hydraulic pressure control components, and a holder structure which holds those hydraulic pressure control components, wherein the three or more hydraulic pressure control components are selected from electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves capable of controlling a pressure of a working fluid in a brake cylinder in a braking system, and pressure detecting devices, to detect respective pressures of the fluid used to control the electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves. The three or more hydraulic pressure control components include three hydraulic pressure control components which are attached to the holder structure such that one of the three hydraulic pressure control components is spaced from the other two hydraulic pressure control components by substantially the same distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Otomo, Kiyoharu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20060066146
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus for use in a vehicle having wheels and a brake operating member manually operable by a driver, the apparatus including a manual pressure source including (a) a hydraulic booster which boosts an operating source applied by the driver to the brake operating member and produces a first hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force, and (b) a master cylinder which produces a second hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force as an output of the hydraulic booster; a power pressure source which produces, by utilizing a power, a third hydraulic pressure irrespective of whether the brake operating member is operated hydraulic brakes which are provided in association with the wheels, respectively, and include respective brake cylinders, and each of which, upon supplying of a hydraulic pressure to a corresponding one of the brake cylinders, applies a hydraulic braking force to a corresponding one of the wheels; a hub portion which is connected to each of
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Otomo
  • Patent number: 6957870
    Abstract: A braking pressure control apparatus including a first pressure source including a power-operated pressurizing device, a second pressure source operable by a manually operable brake operating member to pressurize a fluid to a pressure higher than a level corresponding to the operating force of the brake operating member, a switching device for selectively placing the braking system in a first state in which a brake cylinder is operated with the fluid pressurized by the first pressure source and a second state in which the brake cylinder is operated with the fluid pressurized by the second pressure source, and a change restricting device operable upon a switching between the first and second states, to restrict a change of the operating state of the brake operating member and a change of the brake cylinder pressure, which change take place due to the switching, or a switching control device for controlling the switching device on the basis of the running condition of a vehicle whose wheel is braked by the brak
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Kagawa, Kimihiro Matsuki, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Fumiaki Kawahata, Akihiro Otomo, Eiji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20050225168
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device controls brake fluid pressures through control of fluid pressure control valves operated in accordance with control signals from, for example, a computer. Signal lines for supplying control signals to control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for some wheels (e.g., front-left and rear-right wheels) are connected to a brake ECU by a connector, and signal lines for supplying control signals to the control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for other wheels (e.g., front-right and rear-left wheels) are connected to the brake ECU by a different connector. Thus, even if one of the connectors starts operating abnormally, it is possible to supply control signals via the signal lines connected by the other connector and control linear valve devices for some of the wheels (e.g., a pair of diagonally located wheels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Masanori Hirose
  • Publication number: 20040217646
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device controls brake fluid pressures through control of fluid pressure control valves operated in accordance with control signals from, for example, a computer. Signal lines for supplying control signals to control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for some wheels (e.g., front-left and rear-right wheels) are connected to a brake ECU by a connector, and signal lines for supplying control signals to the control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for other wheels (e.g., front-right and rear-left wheels) are connected to the brake ECU by a different connector. Thus, even if one of the connectors starts operating abnormally, it is possible to supply control signals via the signal lines connected by the other connector and control linear valve devices for some of the wheels (e.g., a pair of diagonally located wheels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Masanori Hirose
  • Patent number: 6761418
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device controls brake fluid pressures through control of fluid pressure control valves operated in accordance with control signals from, for example, a computer. Signal lines for supplying control signals to control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for some wheels (e.g., front-left and rear-right wheels) are connected to a brake ECU by a connector, and signal lines for supplying control signals to the control circuits controlling coils of linear valve devices for other wheels (e.g., front-right and rear-left wheels) are connected to the brake ECU by a different connector. Thus, even if one of the connectors starts operating abnormally, it is possible to supply control signals via the signal lines connected by the other connector and control linear valve devices for some of the wheels (e.g., a pair of diagonally located wheels).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Masanori Hirose
  • Publication number: 20020149259
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking pressure control unit including three or more hydraulic pressure control components, and a holder structure which holds those hydraulic pressure control components, wherein the three or more hydraulic pressure control components are selected from electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves capable of controlling a pressure of a working fluid in a brake cylinder in a braking system, and pressure detecting devices, to detect respective pressures of the fluid used to control the electromagnetically operated hydraulic pressure control valves. The three or more hydraulic pressure control components include three hydraulic pressure control components which are attached to the holder structure such that one of the three hydraulic pressure control components is spaced from the other two hydraulic pressure control components by substantially the same distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Otomo, Kiyoharu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6425644
    Abstract: A braking pressure control apparatus for a hydraulically operated brake, including a first hydraulic system having a first hydraulic pressure source power-operated to pressurize a working fluid and capable of controlling the fluid pressure, for operating the brake, a second hydraulic system having a second hydraulic pressure source operable by an operating force acting on a manually operable brake operating member, to pressurize the working fluid to a pressure higher than a level corresponding to the operating force, for operating the brake, a switching device operable to selectively establish a first state in which the brake is operated with the pressurized fluid delivered from the first hydraulic pressure source, and a second state in which the brake is operated with the pressurized fluid delivered from the second hydraulic pressure source, and a diagnosing device operable to diagnose the second hydraulic system on the basis of the fluid pressure in the second hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiaki Kawahata, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hirohiko Morikawa, Akihiro Otomo
  • Patent number: 6412885
    Abstract: In order to prevent a needlessly excessive yaw moment from being applied to the vehicle, thereby improving the running stability of the vehicle when either one of the braking force generation units went wrong, a brake system for vehicles having electric brake units (14) each provided for each of the wheels to generate a braking force by its actuator (22) being driven according to the amount of depression of a brake pedal, and a controller (38) for controlling each of the electric brake units independently of others, is so constructed as to judge if any of the electric brake units went wrong (step 253, 259, 550, 650), and when either one of the electric brake units went wrong, to control the electric brake units other than the wrong unit according to the depression amount of the brake pedal so as to accomplish a best available stability of running of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Shirai, Yasunori Yoshino, Akihiro Otomo, Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6402264
    Abstract: A hydraulic wheel brake system including a plurality of brakes and a hydraulic brake controller. The brakes includes wheel cylinders corresponding respectively to each wheel. The hydraulic brake controller includes a pump device, and a pump and valve controller. At least one pump included in the pump device is reversible. By controlling the pump and valve controller the pump increases brake fluid pressure in the brake during braking and the brake fluid pressure is reduced through the pump when it is required to be reduced. The hydraulic brake controller has a normal-open solenoid valve between a reservoir and the brake. The normal-open solenoid valve allows the brake fluid to flow when an electric current is not supplied. The hydraulic brake controller has also a normal-close solenoid valve between the reservoir and the brake. The normal-close solenoid valve prevents the brake fluid from flowing when an electric current is not supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Otomo
  • Patent number: 6394561
    Abstract: In a brake system of a vehicle in which a pair of wheel cylinders are supplied with a fluid pressure by a fluid circuit having a pair of inlet control valves for selectively connecting the pair of wheel cylinders respectively to an outlet port of a motor-driven pump and a pair of outlet control valves for selectively connecting the pair of wheel cylinders respectively to a fluid reservoir, a brake control device controls the motor driving of the pump and opening/closing of the inlet and outlet control valves, such that a controlled fluid pressure is supplied to the pair of wheel cylinders at least temporarily with the pair of inlet control valves substantially fully opened, while the pair of outlet control valves substantially closed, wherein it is judged if there is a difference between output signals of a pair of wheel cylinder pressure sensors beyond a predetermined threshold value, thereby judging the pair of wheel cylinder pressure sensors to be both operating normally when the difference is not larger t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sakamoto, Akihiro Otomo
  • Patent number: 6354672
    Abstract: A braking system including a brake cylinder, a first hydraulic pressure source having a first pump device for pressurizing a working fluid, a second hydraulic pressure source operable in response to an operation of a brake operating member, to pressurize the fluid to a pressure higher than a value corresponding to an operating force of the brake operating member, and a brake-cylinder-pressure control device operable when the brake cylinder is disconnected from the second hydraulic pressure source, to control the pressure of the fluid pressurized by the first hydraulic pressure source, such that the fluid pressure in the brake cylinder is controlled to a value determined on the basis of the operating force, and wherein an emergency communication device is operated when at least one of the brake-cylinder-pressure control device and the first pump device fails to normally function, to hold the brake cylinder in communication with the second hydraulic pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Nakamura, Akihiro Otomo, Fumiaki Kawahata, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hiroshi Toda