Patents by Inventor Atsushi Yamanaka

Atsushi Yamanaka 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: 9267400
    Abstract: A device includes a timing sprocket configured to receive a rotational force from a crankshaft and includes an annular internal-teeth constituting portion having an inner circumferential portion formed with internal teeth; an eccentric shaft portion provided on a motor output shaft of an electric motor and formed in a cylindrical shape such that an outer circumferential surface of the eccentric shaft portion is eccentric relative to a rotational center of the eccentric shaft portion; and a plurality of rollers provided between the internal teeth and the eccentric shaft portion and having total number smaller than total number of the internal teeth. A laser hardening is performed from a tooth top and both tooth surfaces of each internal tooth to attain a high degree of hardness. On the other hand, a tooth bottom surface of each internal tooth is not treated with the laser hardening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Ryo Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20150367718
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first cross member 1, a second cross member 2, and a third cross member 3 forming part of a framework of a vehicle and extending in a vehicle width direction. Further, the vehicle body structure 100 accommodates at least part of a battery portion 10a of a power storage device 10 in a space SP1R between a floor in a passenger compartment and a floor panel 4 and between the first cross member 1 and the second cross member 2. Further, the vehicle body structure 100 accommodates at least part of a controlling portion 10c of the power storage device 10 in a space SP2R between the first cross member 1 and the third cross member 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi HAYASHI, Atsushi YAMANAKA
  • Publication number: 20150322826
    Abstract: A device includes a timing sprocket configured to receive a rotational force from a crankshaft and includes an annular internal-teeth constituting portion having an inner circumferential portion formed with internal teeth; an eccentric shaft portion provided on a motor output shaft of an electric motor and formed in a cylindrical shape such that an outer circumferential surface of the eccentric shaft portion is eccentric relative to a rotational center of the eccentric shaft portion; and a plurality of rollers provided between the internal teeth and the eccentric shaft portion and having total number smaller than total number of the internal teeth. A laser hardening is performed from a tooth top and both tooth surfaces of each internal tooth to attain a high degree of hardness. On the other hand, a tooth bottom surface of each internal tooth is not treated with the laser hardening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi YAMANAKA, Ryo TADOKORO
  • Patent number: 9115611
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus including an electric motor including a motor housing with a permanent magnet, and a speed reducing mechanism having a casing, the motor housing and the casing of the speed reducing mechanism being coupled to each other by a plurality of bolts, wherein the motor housing includes a convex portion formed in a portion of the motor housing which is opposed to one axial end of the permanent magnet, the convex portion having a threaded hole into which a tip end portion of each bolt is screwed, and a projection formed on an axial end surface of the convex portion in alignment with the threaded hole in an axial direction of the threaded hole, and wherein the axial end surface of the convex portion is located further spaced from the one axial end of the permanent magnet than the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Isao Doi
  • Patent number: 9109473
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a phase change mechanism configured to change a valve timing, a cover member provided near a front end side of the phase change mechanism; slip rings provided to one of a front end portion of the phase change mechanism and a facing surface of the cover member which faces the phase change mechanism; a pair of brushes provided to another of the front end portion of the phase change mechanism and the facing surface of the cover member to be axially slidable. One end portion the pigtail harness is connected with the corresponding brush. Another end portion of the pigtail harness is connected with a connector terminal under a deflected state, at a location radially shifted from an axis of the corresponding brush. The another end portions of the pair of pigtail harnesses are separated from each other by a partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawada, Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9097147
    Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: an electric intake valve timing control apparatus to vary an intake valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism; and an electric exhaust valve timing control apparatus to vary an exhaust valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism. A heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the intake valve timing control apparatus is made of a heat resisting material whereas a heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the exhaust valve timing control apparatus is made of a material lower in heat resistance than the heat resisting material of the intake valve timing control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9046014
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, brushes and slip rings are disposed within a space formed between each of an intake air side and an exhaust side device main frames and each of intake air side and exhaust side cover members and partitioned by means of the respective seal members and the respective cover members are configured to enable radial directional position adjustments by a predetermined quantity and are fixed to the internal combustion engine in a state in which the radial directional position adjustments of the respective cover members have been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 9027519
    Abstract: In an electrically-driven valve timing control apparatus employing a housing and a cover member axially opposed to each other, a cylindrical-hollow motor output shaft is installed in the housing, and configured to rotate relative to the housing by electricity-feeding to the electric motor, and also configured such that lubricating oil is supplied into the motor output shaft. A plug is fitted to the inner periphery of an axial opening end of the motor output shaft for suppressing a leakage of lubricating oil from the motor output shaft to the outside. One of two opposing faces of the cover member and the plug is formed with a protruding portion configured to prevent the plug's slipping out of the axial opening end. A part of the inside face of the cover member, opposed to the plug, is formed integral with the protruding portion partially disposed within the axial opening end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8997705
    Abstract: In a variable valve actuation apparatus with a speed reducer between a timing sprocket and a camshaft for changing a phase of the camshaft relative to the sprocket, while reducing normal-rotation/reverse-rotation of an electric motor, the speed reducer includes an eccentric rotation member connected to an output shaft of the motor, an annular member connected to the sprocket, a plurality of rollers installed between an inner toothed portion of the annular member and an outer peripheral surface of the eccentric rotation member, and a cage connected to the camshaft for circumferentially partitioning the respective rollers, while permitting a radial displacement of each roller. Depending on a dimension of a clearance space between the eccentric rotation member and the annular member, a suitable one of a plurality of roller sets, each having a different outside diameter, is selected, and then the selected rollers are installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Atsushi Yamanaka, Shinichi Kawada
  • Patent number: 8985075
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine employing both an electric-motor-driven intake valve timing control device for changing intake valve timing and an electric-motor-driven exhaust valve timing control device for changing exhaust valve timing, the intake valve timing control device includes a less-friction roller speed reducer having a toothed gear and configured to transmit torque by repeated relocations of each of rollers rolling and relocating from one of two adjacent teeth of the toothed gear to the other. In contrast, the exhaust valve timing control device includes a planetary-gear speed reducer having a friction greater than a friction of the roller speed reducer and configured to transmit torque by meshed-engagement of toothed gears in mesh with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8978610
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including a drive rotation member, a follower rotation member, an electric motor serving to change a relative rotational phase of the drive rotation member and the follower rotation member, a torsion spring accommodated in an annular accommodation space having an axial closed end which is formed between an inner periphery of the drive rotation member and an outer periphery of the follower rotation member, and a stop plate fixed to the drive rotation member so as to cover a part of an axial open end of the annular accommodation space, the stop plate cooperating with the follower rotation member or a camshaft to restrict relative rotation of the drive rotation member and the follower rotation member within a predetermined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Patent number: 8978608
    Abstract: In a valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a plurality of projection sections projected toward a cover member are integrally mounted on a bearing member configured to rotatably journalize a camshaft and a plurality of positioning pins are mounted across (or extended over) the cover member and the respective projection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Tadokoro, Hiroyuki Nemoto, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8973545
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a drive rotating member; a driven rotating member fixed to a cam shaft; an electric motor configured to rotate the driven rotating member relative to the drive rotating member; a motor housing connected integrally with the drive rotating member; a cover member located to face a front portion of the housing; a tubular motor output shaft provided inside the housing to be rotatable relative to the housing; and a plug member fixed to an inner circumferential surface of a tip portion of the tubular motor output shaft and configured to inhibit lubricating oil supplied into the tubular motor output shaft from leaking to an external. The plug member includes a core member formed in a bottomed tubular shape and formed with a through-hole in its bottom portion, and an elastic body coating at least the through-hole and an outer circumferential surface of the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawada, Ryo Tadokoro, Atsushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20150029377
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit, a pixel drive unit, and a signal processing unit. The pixel array unit includes first pixels and second pixels, the first pixels corresponding to respective color components of a plurality of color components, the second pixels having luminance components as main components, the first pixels and the second pixels being arranged regularly in a matrix. The pixel drive unit is configured to drive the pixels arranged in the pixel array unit. The signal processing unit is configured to execute predetermined weighted addition processing and calculate a pixel value of an output image by using only pixel information acquired from the first pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamanaka, Yasushi Saito, Daisuke Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20150008774
    Abstract: A valve-timing control apparatus includes a motor housing formed with an accommodating space; a permanent magnet provided along an inner circumference of the accommodating space of the motor housing; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the permanent magnet; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotational force of the rotor to a cam shaft; a switching brush mounted on the motor housing and configured to switch an energization of coil; a power-feeding brush provided to one of the motor housing and a fixed member and configured to feed electric power to the switching brush; a slip ring provided to another of the motor housing and the fixed member and being in contact with the power-feeding brush; a pigtail harness connecting the power-feeding brush with a power-feeding terminal; and contact portions bending the pigtail harness at a plurality of spots of the pigtail harness by contact with the pigtail harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi YAMANAKA, Ryo TADOKORO
  • Publication number: 20140373795
    Abstract: A variable valve operating apparatus including an electric motor including a motor housing with a permanent magnet, and a speed reducing mechanism having a casing, the motor housing and the casing of the speed reducing mechanism being coupled to each other by a plurality of bolts, wherein the motor housing includes a convex portion formed in a portion of the motor housing which is opposed to one axial end of the permanent magnet, the convex portion having a threaded hole into which a tip end portion of each bolt is screwed, and a projection formed on an axial end surface of the convex portion in alignment with the threaded hole in an axial direction of the threaded hole, and wherein the axial end surface of the convex portion is located further spaced from the one axial end of the permanent magnet than the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi YAMANAKA, Ryo TADOKORO, Hiroyuki NEMOTO, Isao DOI
  • Publication number: 20140245978
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine employing both an electric-motor-driven intake valve timing control device (VTC) and an electric-motor-driven exhaust VTC having similar fundamental configurations, a maximum drive-efficiency motor-speed range of a first electric motor of the intake VTC and a maximum drive-efficiency motor-speed range of a second electric motor of the exhaust VTC are set to differ from each other depending on two different working ranges respectively suitable for the intake VTC and the exhaust VTC such that the maximum drive-efficiency motor-speed range of the intake VTC is set higher than that of the exhaust VTC. A reduction ratio of a first speed reducer configured to reduce a rotational speed of the first electric motor is set higher than that of a second speed reducer configured to reduce a rotational speed of the second electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo TADOKORO, Shinichi KAWADA, Atsushi YAMANAKA, Hiroyuki NEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140224197
    Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: an electric intake valve timing control apparatus to vary an intake valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism; and an electric exhaust valve timing control apparatus to vary an exhaust valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism. A heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the intake valve timing control apparatus is made of a heat resisting material whereas a heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the exhaust valve timing control apparatus is made of a material lower in heat resistance than the heat resisting material of the intake valve timing control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo TADOKORO, Shinichi KAWADA, Atsushi YAMANAKA, Hiroyuki NEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140216372
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine employing both an electric-motor-driven intake valve timing control device for changing intake valve timing and an electric-motor-driven exhaust valve timing control device for changing exhaust valve timing, the intake valve timing control device includes a less-friction roller speed reducer having a toothed gear and configured to transmit torque by repeated relocations of each of rollers rolling and relocating from one of two adjacent teeth of the toothed gear to the other. In contrast, the exhaust valve timing control device includes a planetary-gear speed reducer having a friction greater than a friction of the roller speed reducer and configured to transmit torque by meshed-engagement of toothed gears in mesh with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo TADOKORO, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20140216374
    Abstract: In a valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, brushes and slip rings are disposed within a space formed between each of an intake air side and an exhaust side device main frames and each of intake air side and exhaust side cover members and partitioned by means of the respective seal members and the respective cover members are configured to enable radial directional position adjustments by a predetermined quantity and are fixed to the internal combustion engine in a state in which the radial directional position adjustments of the respective cover members have been made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo TADOKORO, Shinichi Kawada, Atsushi Yamanaka, Hiroyuki Nemoto