Patents by Inventor Atsuo Ota

Atsuo Ota 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: 20020180273
    Abstract: To prevent exhaustion of a battery by minimizing standby current while maintaining maximum response of a remote control lock apparatus. A lock control means for controlling an actuator for actuating and de-actuating a steering lock device of a vehicle by means of a remote control transmitter is provided, and power is saved by intermittently supplying a standby current to the lock control means while the steering lock device is actuated. In a normal mode for a short standby time shown in the figure, the standby current is supplied to an ID code obtaining means at a high intermittent supply ratio to thereby save power while maintaining quick response in de-actuating the steering lock device. In a long leaving mode for a long standby time, the standby current is supplied to both the ID code obtaining means and an ID code verifying means at a low intermittent supply ratio to thereby further save power while slightly sacrificing response in de-actuating the steering lock device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Konno, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 6484597
    Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for controlling a gear-shift of a motor-driven gear shifter in which the gear-shift is electrically performed by a motor. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a rotational position of a shift drum, when the shift operation is not normally ended, and thereby a shift drum is in the half-neutral state, which automatically executes the shift operation. In the method for controlling the gear-shift of the motor-driven gear shifter, the motor is driven in a desired shift direction, to intermittently turn a shift drum, thereby shifting one gear stage to another gear stage. The rotational position of the shift drum is monitored, and when the shift drum stays at a rotational position other than a rotational position corresponding to a desired gear stage, the motor is re-driven in the shift direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshiya Nagatsuyu
  • Patent number: 6481554
    Abstract: To provide a clutch connection control system capable of shortening the time required for clutch connection, preventing the degradation of riding comfort upon clutch connection, and ensuring good operability. A separation distance, that is, a shift amount of a clutch driven side from a clutch drive side is controlled by a clutch release mechanism driven by a drive motor. A drive side turning speed detecting portion detects a turning speed Nin of the drive side. A driven side turning speed detecting portion detects a turning speed Nout of the driven side. A turning speed difference detecting portion detects a difference Nd between the detected drive side turning speed Nin and driven side turning speed Nout. A rate-of-change detecting portion detects a time-dependent rate of change &Dgr;Nd of the detected turning speed difference Nd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshiya Nagatsuyu
  • Patent number: 6478386
    Abstract: A control device for an antilock braking system is disclosed. When a target angle of a crankshaft provided to a servomotor of an ABS that is closer to a turning limit than to a predetermined updating stop angle, the target angle is set at the updating stop angle or the vicinity thereof. An expander piston is displaced to an open end side corresponding to the turning limit of the crankshaft by an elastic force of a return spring after being displaced to a position corresponding to an updating stop angle for the crankshaft or the vicinity thereof. This arrangement permits reliable, accurate displacement of the expander piston to a predetermined position corresponding to a turning limit of the crankshaft without causing the servomotor to consume needless electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinji Goto
  • Patent number: 6453762
    Abstract: To enable a change spindle to be always operated as a driver wishes by providing an alternative selection of a motor change mode and a manual change mode. A change motor and a change manipulating member are arranged such that they can be connected to a change spindle of a transmission in parallel. Mode changeover means which can be changed over between a motor change mode position (A) which enables the operation of the change spindle only by the change motor and a manual change mode position (B) which enables the operation of the change spindle only by the change manipulating member is disposed between the change spindle and the change motor and the change manipulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Nishikawa, Atsuo Ota, Yuichi Tawarada
  • Patent number: 6435999
    Abstract: A continuously variable hydrostatic transmission in which a fixed displacement hydraulic pump and a variable displacement hydraulic motor are disposed on a drive axle, and connected via a closed hydraulic circuit. The continuously variable hydrostatic transmission shifts gears by changing the inclination angle of a movable swashplate provided for the variable displacement the hydraulic motor. The continuously variable hydrostatic transmission may perform a correction control, where the movable swashplate is moved to the TOP side, and the maximum value of the shift amount is obtained. Then, the movable swashplate is moved to the LOW side, and the minimum value is obtained. By storing the maximum and minimum values, correction data is derived. After that, the TOP and LOW transmission gear ratios are determined on the basis of the correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiko Nanri, Yoshihiro Yoshida, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 6428119
    Abstract: An ABS return control device for retracting an expander piston to an ABS non-operation position by turning a crank mechanism by a servomotor includes a first procedure of driving the servomotor with a position precedent to a turning limit. At the turning limit, the movement of the crank mechanism is limited by a stopper member. A target angle and a second procedure of driving the servomotor by updating the target angle with the turning limit is further disclosed. The ABS return control device permits reduction of a conventional actuator in size and weight by controlling the kinetic energy of a positioning member of the crank mechanism turned by a servomotor at the time of collision against the stopper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinji Goto
  • Patent number: 6369581
    Abstract: To enable calling and turning off of failure codes stored in a control unit without using a dedicated switch or the like. An electronic control unit controls an actuator of a braking device, stores failure codes representing problems in the braking device, and has its power terminal connected to a battery via a fuse. A main switch is turned on to connect the power terminal to the battery. Thereafter, the fuse is made inoperative or detached, and is re-installed after a lapse of a predetermined time interval. A failure code stored in the electronic control unit is called, and is displayed by an indicator. Then, the fuse is again made inoperative or detached, and re-installed in the predetermined time interval. The failure code will be automatically turned off. Alternatively, a connector may be used to substitute for or in combination with the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshiya Nagatsuyu
  • Patent number: 6341680
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a shift control method for an electric-power-assist transmission having excellent operability. In the shift control method, a main clutch is put in an engaged or disengaged state in a manner interlocked with the rotation of a shift spindle, and the main clutch is put back in an engaged state after being released from an engaged state by the rotation of the shift spindle with a rotational speed thereof changed from a high speed to a low speed with predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Osamu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010030465
    Abstract: A control device for an antilock braking system is disclosed. When a target angle of a crankshaft provided to a servomotor of an ABS that is closer to a turning limit than to a predetermined updating stop angle, the target angle is set at the updating stop angle or the vicinity thereof. An expander piston is displaced to an open end side corresponding to the turning limit of the crankshaft by an elastic force of a return spring after being displaced to a position corresponding to an updating stop angle for the crankshaft or the vicinity thereof. This arrangement permits reliable, accurate displacement of the expander piston to a predetermined position corresponding to a turning limit of the crankshaft without causing the servomotor to consume needless electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinji Goto
  • Publication number: 20010025755
    Abstract: A transmission for changing a ratio of a rotational number of a power source and a rotational number of an output shaft by shifting a gear train provided between the power source and the output shaft by moving a shift fork. The transmission includes a shift drum for moving the shift fork, a clutch provided between the power source and the gear train, a shift spindle for urging the shift drum and the clutch. When the shift spindle is pivoted, lift of a clutch is started by pivoting a clutch arm. In accordance with pivoting the shift spindle, a sub arm is pivoted and preload is applied on a master arm by a preload spring. Thereafter, when the sub arm is further pivoted, the master arm follows the sub arm and a shift drum is pivoted via index pins. Since the preload is applied, when the clutch is disengaged, the shift drum is pivoted immediately, a shift fork is displaced and gears are switched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Hiroshi Ohri, Satoru Narita
  • Publication number: 20010026096
    Abstract: An ABS return control device for retracting an expander piston to an ABS non-operation position by turning a crank mechanism by a servomotor includes a first procedure of driving the servomotor with a position precedent to a turning limit. At the turning limit, the movement of the crank mechanism is limited by a stopper member. A target angle and a second procedure of driving the servomotor by updating the target angle with the turning limit is further disclosed. The ABS return control device permits reduction of a conventional actuator in size and weight by controlling the kinetic energy of a positioning member of the crank mechanism turned by a servomotor at the time of collision against the stopper member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Shinji Goto
  • Publication number: 20010023619
    Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for controlling a gear-shift of a motor-driven gear shifter in which the gear-shift is electrically performed by a motor. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a rotational position of a shift drum, when the shift operation is not normally ended, and thereby a shift drum is in the half-neutral state, which automatically executes the shift operation. In the method for controlling the gear-shift of the motor-driven gear shifter, the motor is driven in a desired shift direction, to intermittently turn a shift drum, thereby shifting one gear stage to another gear stage. The rotational position of the shift drum is monitored, and when the shift drum stays at a rotational position other than a rotational position corresponding to a desired gear stage, the motor is re-driven in the shift direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshiya Nagatsuyu
  • Patent number: 6249734
    Abstract: A neutral position determination method for a speed change gear shaft of an electrically operated speed change gear can accurately detect a rotational position of a speed change gear shaft without the necessity for a complicated assembling operation. The method includes a speed change gear shaft which is rocked to one side or the other side by a drive motor and an angle sensor for detecting a rotational angle of the speed change gear shaft for executing predetermined speed change control based on a rocking direction and a rocking angle from a neutral position of the speed change gear shaft. Furthermore, rotational angles of the speed change gear shaft when the speed change gear shaft is rocked to a rotational limit on the one side or the other side are detected, and a middle point of a rotational angle detected from the rotational limits of the one side and the other side is updated in registration as a neutral position of the speed change gear shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 6117046
    Abstract: An electric-power-assist transmission and a shaft control method which allow good operability to be obtained. A main clutch is put in an engaged or disengaged state in a manner which is mechanically coupled with the rotation of a shift spindle. At normal times, the rotational direction and the rotational speed of the shift spindle rotated by a driving motor are controlled in accordance with a first control procedure. However, with the main clutch in a disengaged state, as the rotational speed of the engine exhibits a predicted change, the rotational direction and the rotational speed of the shift spindle are controlled in accordance with a second control procedure which is different from the first control procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshinari Mohara
  • Patent number: 6095004
    Abstract: An electric-power-assist transmission and a shift control method which allow good operability to be obtained. In the shift control method, a sleeve is engaged with a target gear. A shift spindle is rotated by a driving motor in order to move the sleeve along a main shaft by using a shift fork and a shift drum interlocked with the shift spindle. When the sleeve is moved to a position in contact with the target gear, PWM control is executed at a duty ratio of 70% during the first 20 ms. Thereafter, the PWM control is executed by changing the duty ratio to 50% and restoring the duty ratio back to 70% repeatedly at intervals of 10 ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Toshinari Mohara, Osamu Suzuki, Satoru Narita
  • Patent number: 6073507
    Abstract: A shift control unit is provided in an electric-power-assist transmission which offers good operatability. A shift disabling unit employs a neutral-position detecting unit, a vehicle-speed judging unit, an engine-rotational-speed judging device, an OR circuit and an AND circuit. The neutral-position detecting unit is used for outputting an "H"-level signal to indicate that a gear is placed at a neutral position. The vehicle-speed judging unit generates an "H"-level signal for a speed of a vehicle equal to or higher than 10 km/h. On the other hand, the engine-rotational-speed judging device generates an "H"-level signal for a rotational speed of an engine equal to or higher than 3,000 rpm. The OR circuit generates an "H"-level signal when the vehicle-speed judging unit generates an "H"-level signal or the engine-rotational speed judging device generates an "H"-level signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Ota, Satoru Narita, Tatsuo Masuda
  • Patent number: 5577816
    Abstract: The ABS is provided with a modulator, and when the ABS is activated, control of the caliper pressure by the driver, is modified by the operation of the modulator having the aforementioned inlet valve (normally closed to a pressurized fluid source) and aforementioned outlet valve (normally open to a fluid exit), both controlled by the above-described control logic circuit. The modulator increases or decreases the caliper pressure, in response to changes in the pressurized fluid, regulated by such valves. Depending on the operation of the control logic circuit described above, three events may occur. When the inlet and outlet valves are not operated (i.e. their normal state), the modulator releases pressurized fluid through the output valve, and increases caliper pressure, to increase braking up to a predetermined maximum. If only the outlet valve is operated (i.e. both the inlet and outlet valves are closed), the modulator remains in a constant state and likewise, the caliper pressure is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Suzuki, Keishin Tanaka, Tatsuo Hayashi, Takushi Matsuto, Chiaki Kumagai, Takeshi Sakurai, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 5573313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling brakes using a reciprocating cut valve actuated by an expander piston that is moved via a crank pin on a crank shaft. The cut valve cuts off caliper pressure and adjusts the volume and pressure of an output hydraulic chamber to effectuate antilock braking. When changing from antilock braking to normal braking, the movement of the expander piston is controlled by repeatedly changing a crank angle of the crank pin during specified time intervals. The rate of increase in caliper pressure can be set according to (1) detected brake operation which is detected from a present crank angle and a target crank angle and (2) the frictional state of the road surface which is estimated from vehicle acceleration/deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Suzuki, Keishin Tanaka, Tatsuo Hayashi, Takushi Matsuto, Chiaki Kumagai, Takeshi Sakurai, Atsuo Ota
  • Patent number: 5416708
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling a running condition of a motor vehicle such as a motorcycle has a wheel speed sensor and first and second CPUs. The first and second CPUs effect in a first mode, i.e., when an anti-lock brake control mode is not effected, the same calculations to produce calculated data to monitor the running condition of the motor vehicle, and compare the calculated data from each other to check the effected calculations. In a second mode, i.e., when the anti-lock brake control mode is effected, the first CPU continues the calculations to produce calculated data to monitor the running condition of the motor vehicle, and the second CPU performs an auxiliary controlling function for controlling the running condition of the motor vehicle by controlling a brake mechanism in the anti-lock brake control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, NEC Home Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takushi Matsuto, Atsuo Ota, Tatsuo Hayashi, Akinori Akai