Patents by Inventor Eiji Kasai

Eiji Kasai 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: 20180063365
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit that performs a printing process in accordance with print data received from at least one transmission destination; and a detection unit that detects connection information that can be used to identify the transmission destination with which the printing apparatus can communicate. A communication setting table in which multiple pieces of connection information are associated with communication setting information is stored in a storage unit of the printing apparatus. Once the detection unit detects connection information, a control unit functions as a communication setting unit that identifies communication setting information by referring to the communication setting table in accordance with the detected connection information and performs communication setting in accordance with the identified communication setting information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji KASAI
  • Patent number: 9714050
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assistance device configured to perform driver steering assistance to avoid a collision between a vehicle and an obstacle, the device includes a steering control unit configured to perform the steering assistance in a case where it is determined that there is a possibility of the collision between the vehicle and the obstacle. During a period from commencement of the steering assistance to elapsing of a first time determined by response characteristics of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, the steering control unit is configured to rotate a steering wheel of the vehicle in a collision avoidance direction by a control amount determined based on a steering holding force of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Morotomi, Yoshihisa Yamada, Eiji Kasai, Tomonori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9467323
    Abstract: A communication device having time information that may not be correct can efficiently and accurately authenticate a server certificate. The communication unit of a printer processes server authentication that inspects a server certificate when connecting to an external network. Server authentication includes a first authentication that verifies the validity period of the server certificate based on status information and time information stored by the communication unit. The communication unit cuts the connection to the external network if the time information stored by the communication unit is after the validity period (the validity period is clearly expired). The first authentication reliably succeeds if the communication unit has the correct time information and a valid server certificate. If the time information is before the validity period, the time information may be old, and processing proceeds based on the status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 9461568
    Abstract: In a state in which the energization in the first direction is possible between the motor and the drive circuit and the motor is not rotating at high speed, when the phase induced voltage value of the specific phase that is the target of determination is continuously equal to or smaller than the abnormality determination threshold, the abnormality detecting unit determines that an open malfunction has occurred in the relay FET of the specific phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Tomita, Satoru Mikamo, Hiroshi Kawamura, Toshihiro Takahashi, Jun Hasegawa, Akira Nambu, Kenichiro Aoki, Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 9321484
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assistance device includes a target control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a target control amount used for travelling on a target trajectory through which the vehicle passes, a first control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a first control amount to be applied by the first steering assistance system out of the target control amount, and output the first control amount to the first steering assistance system, and a second control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a second control amount to be applied by the second steering assistance system out of the target control amount, and output the second control amount to the second steering assistance system. The first control amount is set to be larger than the second control amount during a predetermined time period from a time of starting the collision avoidance assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Morotomi, Eiji Kasai, Tomonori Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20160009318
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assistance device configured to perform driver steering assistance to avoid a collision between a vehicle and an obstacle, the device includes a steering control unit configured to perform the steering assistance in a case where it is determined that there is a possibility of the collision between the vehicle and the obstacle. During a period from commencement of the steering assistance to elapsing of a first time determined by response characteristics of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, the steering control unit is configured to rotate a steering wheel of the vehicle in a collision avoidance direction by a control amount determined based on a steering holding force of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei MOROTOMI, Yoshihisa YAMADA, Eiji KASAI, Tomonori AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150353134
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assistance device includes a target control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a target control amount used for travelling on a target trajectory through which the vehicle passes, a first control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a first control amount to be applied by the first steering assistance system out of the target control amount, and output the first control amount to the first steering assistance system, and a second control amount calculation unit configured to calculate a second control amount to be applied by the second steering assistance system out of the target control amount, and output the second control amount to the second steering assistance system. The first control amount is set to be larger than the second control amount during a predetermined time period from a time of starting the collision avoidance assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei MOROTOMI, Eiji KASAI, Tomonori AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20150334109
    Abstract: A communication device having time information that may not be correct can efficiently and accurately authenticate a server certificate. The communication unit of a printer processes server authentication that inspects a server certificate when connecting to an external network. Server authentication includes a first authentication that verifies the validity period of the server certificate based on status information and time information stored by the communication unit. The communication unit cuts the connection to the external network if the time information stored by the communication unit is after the validity period (the validity period is clearly expired). The first authentication reliably succeeds if the communication unit has the correct time information and a valid server certificate. If the time information is before the validity period, the time information may be old, and processing proceeds based on the status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Publication number: 20140139158
    Abstract: In a state in which the energization in the first direction is possible between the motor and the drive circuit and the motor is not rotating at high speed, when the phase induced voltage value of the specific phase that is the target of determination is continuously equal to or smaller than the abnormality determination threshold, the abnormality detecting unit determines that an open malfunction has occurred in the relay FET of the specific phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Tomita, Satoru Mikamo, Hiroshi Kawamura, Toshihiro Takahashi, Jun Hasegawa, Akira Nambu, Kenichiro Aoki, Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 8594892
    Abstract: A steering angle estimation section calculates a front-wheel-side estimative steering angle and a rear-wheel-side estimative steering angle through use of wheel speeds of respective wheels, and averages these steering angles to thereby obtain an accurate estimative steering angle. It also calculates an estimative steering angle difference between the steering angles. An axial force estimation section calculates a base axial force through use of the estimative steering angle and a vehicle speed, and calculates a correction axial force which applies an axial force difference (hysteresis) to the base axial force in accordance with a turning or returning operation by a driver. The axial force estimation section adds the base axial force and the correction axial force together to thereby calculate an accurate estimative axial force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Fujimoto, Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 8381869
    Abstract: An electric power steering device for a vehicle includes an estimation mechanism estimating if there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in a booster circuit toward a vehicle battery device, and a boosting controller stopping the boosting operation of the booster circuit to prevent a backward electric current from flowing in the booster circuit when it is estimated that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows by the estimation mechanism. The estimation mechanism estimates that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in the booster circuit when the steering condition of a steering wheel is a returning condition or a steering-held condition. Otherwise, the estimation mechanism estimates if a backward electric current flows on the basis of input and output voltages of the booster circuit and information on the switching of a first boosting switching element. Thereby, overheat of the booster circuit can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Fujimoto, Masaharu Yamashita, Kenichiro Aoki, Megumu Nishikohri, Akihiro Ohtomo, Eiji Kasai, Tsutomu Onagi, Keitaro Niki
  • Publication number: 20120197493
    Abstract: A steering angle estimation section calculates a front-wheel-side estimative steering angle and a rear-wheel-side estimative steering angle through use of wheel speeds of respective wheels, and averages these steering angles to thereby obtain an accurate estimative steering angle. It also calculates an estimative steering angle difference between the steering angles. An axial force estimation section calculates a base axial force through use of the estimative steering angle and a vehicle speed, and calculates a correction axial force which applies an axial force difference (hysteresis) to the base axial force in accordance with a turning or returning operation by a driver. The axial force estimation section adds the base axial force and the correction axial force together to thereby calculate an accurate estimative axial force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Fujimoto, Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 8140280
    Abstract: A battery condition diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle gradually supplies electricity to an electric motor of an electric power steering apparatus when a predetermined time elapses after an ignition switch is turned off. The apparatus diagnoses the deteriorated condition of the battery on the basis of the amount of supplied electricity and the detected battery voltage which changes in accordance therewith. The electric motor may be a brushless DC motor. In this case, current is supplied to the electric motor such that only d-axis armature current Id in the d-q coordinate system flows, to thereby prevent the electric motor from rotating, whereby safety is secured. Accordingly, the condition of the battery can be accurately diagnosed by supplying electricity to the electric motor without changing the condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Publication number: 20110272205
    Abstract: An electric power steering device for a vehicle includes an estimation mechanism estimating if there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in a booster circuit toward a vehicle battery device, and a boosting controller stopping the boosting operation of the booster circuit to prevent a backward electric current from flowing in the booster circuit when it is estimated that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows by the estimation mechanism. The estimation mechanism estimates that there is a possibility that a backward electric current flows in the booster circuit when the steering condition of a steering wheel is a returning condition or a steering-held condition. Otherwise, the estimation mechanism estimates if a backward electric current flows on the basis of input and output voltages of the booster circuit and information on the switching of a first boosting switching element. Thereby, overheat of the booster circuit can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Fujimoto, Masaharu Yamashita, Kenichiro Aoki, Megumu Nishikohri, Akihiro Ohtomo, Eiji Kasai, Tsutomu Onagi, Keitaro Niki
  • Patent number: 7984786
    Abstract: An electric power steering device, including an electric motor supplied with power from a power supply device to generate a predetermined steering assistance force for a steered wheel, and an assistance control device the controls the amount of electrical power supplied to the electric motor, according to the steering state of a steering wheel. The assistance control device detects the power supply voltage of the power supply device. The assistance control device controls the electrical current supplied to the electric motor, so as to maintain the power supply voltage greater than or equal to a set voltage which is set in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Kasai, Ippei Yamazaki, Shuji Fujita, Yuichiro Ido, Yutaka Aoki
  • Patent number: 7863845
    Abstract: In a power supply apparatus, a power supply circuit includes a primary power supply circuit including a high-voltage battery and a step-down circuit for stepping down the voltage of the high-voltage battery, and a secondary power supply circuit including a low-voltage battery and a step-up circuit for stepping up the voltage of the low-voltage battery. The primary power supply circuit and the secondary power supply circuit are connected in parallel. An output voltage of the secondary power supply circuit is set to be lower than an output voltage of the primary power supply circuit. When the output voltage of the primary power supply circuit becomes lower than a target voltage of the secondary power supply circuit, the voltage stepped-up by the step-up circuit is supplied to a motor drive circuit. Accordingly, power supply backup of an electric power steering apparatus can be performed at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Kasai, Yoichi Fujinori, Takatoshi Saito, Masaharu Yamashita, Ippei Yamazaki, Shuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7845459
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an electric power supply device that includes a main electric power unit that supplies high-tension electric power and a sub-electric power supply unit that supplies low-tension electric power, the main electric power unit and the sub-electric power supply unit being connected to each other in parallel, and that supplies electric power to the electric motor from one of the main electric power supply unit and the sub-electric power supply unit. An assist ECU calculates a correction coefficient based on which a d-axis target current increases with a decrease in voltage output from the electric power supply device, and calculates a final corrected d-axis target current by multiplying the d-axis target current by the correction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai
  • Patent number: 7694777
    Abstract: When it is determined that a malfunction has occurred in a rotational angle sensor, an electronic control unit changes the control manner from the normal assist control to the sensorless assist control. In the sensorless assist control, an assist stop command unit receives the information concerning the motor rotational angular speed ?m from an angular speed conversion unit. Then, the motor rotational angular speed ?m is compared with the threshold value ?m1. If the motor rotational angular speed ?m is equal to or higher than the threshold value ?m1, an assist enabling signal is transmitted to a PWM voltage production unit to continue the power assist. On the other hand, if the motor rotational angular speed ?m is lower than the threshold value ?m1, a stop command signal is transmitted to the PWM voltage production unit to stop the power assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaharu Yamashita, Eiji Kasai, Ippei Yamazaki, Shuji Fujita
  • Publication number: 20100044146
    Abstract: An electric power steering device, including an electric motor supplied with power from a power supply device to generate a predetermined steering assistance force for a steered wheel, and an assistance control device the controls the amount of electrical power supplied to the electric motor, according to the steering state of a steering wheel. The assistance control device detects the power supply voltage of the power supply device. The assistance control device controls the electrical current supplied to the electric motor, so as to maintain the power supply voltage greater than or equal to a set voltage which is set in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Kasai, Ippei Yamazaki, Shuji Fujita, Yuichiro Ido, Yutaka Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090259419
    Abstract: A battery condition diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle gradually supplies electricity to an electric motor of an electric power steering apparatus when a predetermined time elapses after an ignition switch is turned off. The apparatus diagnoses the deteriorated condition of the battery on the basis of the amount of supplied electricity and the detected battery voltage which changes in accordance therewith. The electric motor may be a brushless DC motor. In this case, current is supplied to the electric motor such that only d-axis armature current Id in the d-q coordinate system flows, to thereby prevent the electric motor from rotating, whereby safety is secured. Accordingly, the condition of the battery can be accurately diagnosed by supplying electricity to the electric motor without changing the condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eiji Kasai