Patents by Inventor Kimio Nishino

Kimio Nishino 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: 20230227017
    Abstract: Accurately controlling pressing thrust regardless of an individual difference and a use situation of a brake apparatus, and the like are set forth herein. The present invention controls a motor that applies thrust to a piston that presses a brake pad, in a current variation period before an idling current period, a variation in the current and the voltage or a variation in a function including the current and the voltage in the idling current period is computed as a plurality of prospective values. At a predetermined time T0 during the current variation period, one of the plurality of prospective values is selected on the basis of the current and the voltage, and on the basis of the variation in the current and the voltage or the function related to the selected prospective value, a characteristic parameter of the motor is computed to compute a stop current of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke ARITOMI, Shinji SETO, Norikazu MATSUZAKI, Kimio NISHINO, Daisuke KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20230043134
    Abstract: Provided fire an electric parking brake device and an electric parking brake control method that can apply an appropriate clamping force by accelerating data measurement and by suppressing influence of load fluctuation during idle rum For this end, the electric parking brake device of the present invention includes: a disc rotor; brake pads that are pressed to the disc rotor; an electric motor that imparts a thrust to the brake pads; a current detection unit that detects a motor current of the electric motor; and a brake control device that controls the electric motor 8 based on the motor current. The brake control device controls the electric motor 8 based on a current change amount of an electric current during a period from a point of time that the motor current becomes a peak current to a predetermined point of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji SETO, Shunsuke ARITOMI, Ryu KAI, Kimio NISHINO, Daisuke KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20210269001
    Abstract: Wheel speed sensors detect wheel speeds of a plurality of wheels (i.e., a wheel speed of a front left wheel, a wheel speed of a front right wheel, a wheel speed of a rear left wheel, and a wheel speed of a rear right wheel), respectively. A braking control apparatus controls driving of an electric motor. The braking control apparatus drives the electric motor to increase a braking force when the wheel speed sensors detect wheel speed pulses from at least two wheels after a start to maintain the braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kenji SUZUKI, Hirotake SUZUKI, Kimio NISHINO
  • Publication number: 20210078557
    Abstract: A rear wheel-side disc brake is provided with an electric mechanism that converts a rotative force of an electric motor into thrust by using a speed reducer and a rotation-linear motion conversion mechanism and propels (displaces) a piston. The electric motor of the electric mechanism is connected to a parking brake control device and controlled by the parking brake control device. The parking brake control device drives the electric motor to discontinue the maintenance of a braking state and then determines from a running state of a vehicle (for example, whether the vehicle starts moving) whether an abnormality (for example, an idling abnormality due to which the rotative force of the electric motor fails to be transmitted) occurs in the electric mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Tatsuro KOBUNE, Daisuke KOJIMA, Kimio NISHINO, Sota SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10442413
    Abstract: A parking brake control apparatus 20 drives an electric motor 43B to advance a piston 39 according to an application request signal from a parking brake switch 19. The parking brake control apparatus 20 includes a running state detection portion that calculates a running state about whether a vehicle is running or stopped based on a wheel signal from a wheel speed sensor 18. When the running state cannot be calculated by the running state detection portion, the parking brake control apparatus 20 controls the electric motor 43B in such a manner that the thrust force of the piston 39 changes at a lower time rate of change than when the running state can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Tanaka, Wataru Yokoyama, Kimio Nishino, Masayoshi Okamiya, Kenichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10293800
    Abstract: A parking brake controller (19) activates an electric actuator (43) in response to operation of a parking switch (18) to hold a disc brake (31) to serve as a parking brake. If a failure (fault) is detected in the parking switch (18), the parking brake controller (19) activates the electric actuator (43) so as to hold the parking brake automatically upon detecting a condition that presumes the vehicle operator's intent not to drive any longer while the vehicle is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Yokoyama, Kimio Nishino, Kenichiro Matsubara, Hiroshi Chikuma, Kenji Hashida
  • Patent number: 10232834
    Abstract: Provided is a brake device capable of maintaining pads and a rotor in a desired positional relationship. When receiving a release request within a time period from start of execution of an application request to detection of contact between brake pad and a disc rotor, a parking brake control device inhibits execution of the release request, and executes the release request after detection of the contact between the brake pad and the disc rotor. Further, when receiving the application request within a time period from start of execution of the release request to detection of separation between the brake pad and the disc rotor, the parking brake control device inhibits execution of the application request, and executes the application request after detection of the separation between the brake pad and the disc rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Michiharu Okada, Shigeyuki Uehara, Tatsuro Kobune, Wataru Yokoyama, Kimio Nishino, Kenichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10001183
    Abstract: A brake apparatus comprising: a caliper having a piston configured to move a brake pad to be pressed on a disc rotor rotating with a wheel; a thrust retaining mechanism located in the caliper to thrust the piston and maintain braking force exerted by the thrust piston; an electric motor mounted on the caliper to operate the thrust retaining mechanism; and a controller configured to apply electric current to the electric motor in response to an application command or a release command, thereby perform control according to the commands, wherein the controller, upon receiving a release command, configured to operate the electric motor to reduce braking force exerted by the piston by performing current maintenance control which continuously applies electric current to the electric motor and switching control which successively switches between a larger and a smaller amount of electric current applied to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Kenichiro Matsubara, Wataru Yokoyama, Tatsuro Kobune, Hirotaka Oikawa
  • Publication number: 20180072285
    Abstract: A parking brake control apparatus 20 drives an electric motor 43B to advance a piston 39 according to an application request signal from a parking brake switch 19. The parking brake control apparatus 20 includes a running state detection portion that calculates a running state about whether a vehicle is running or stopped based on a wheel signal from a wheel speed sensor 18. When the running state cannot be calculated by the running state detection portion, the parking brake control apparatus 20 controls the electric motor 43B in such a manner that the thrust force of the piston 39 changes at a lower time rate of change than when the running state can be calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Yuki TANAKA, Wataru YOKOYAMA, Kimio NISHINO, Masayoshi OKAMIYA, Kenichiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20170355356
    Abstract: Provided is a brake device capable of maintaining pads and a rotor in a desired positional relationship. When receiving a release request within a time period from start of execution of an application request to detection of contact between brake pad and a disc rotor, a parking brake control device inhibits execution of the release request, and executes the release request after detection of the contact between the brake pad and the disc rotor. Further, when receiving the application request within a time period from start of execution of the release request to detection of separation between the brake pad and the disc rotor, the parking brake control device inhibits execution of the application request, and executes the application request after detection of the separation between the brake pad and the disc rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Michiharu OKADA, Shigeyuki UEHARA, Tatsuro KOBUNE, Wataru YOKOYAMA, Kimio NISHINO, Kenichiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20160339888
    Abstract: A parking brake controller 19 activates an electric actuator 43 in response to operation of a parking switch 18 to hold a disc brake 31 to serve as a parking brake. If a failure (fault) is detected in the parking switch 18, the parking brake controller 19 activates the electric actuator 43 so as to hold the parking brake automatically upon detecting a condition that presumes the vehicle operator's intent not to drive any longer while the vehicle is at rest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Wataru YOKOYAMA, Kimio NISHINO, Kenichiro MATSUBARA, Hiroshi CHIKUMA, Kenji HASHIDA
  • Patent number: 9475472
    Abstract: A brake system includes a brake apparatus. This brake apparatus is configured to keep a vehicle braked by an electric mechanism in response to a parking brake request signal, and brake the vehicle by supply of a hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic source in response to an operation performed on a brake pedal. The brake system further includes a controller configured to drive the electric mechanism until a target pressing force is acquired to establish a brake holding state in response to the parking brake request signal. The controller is configured to change the target pressing force according to a change in a hydraulic pressure in the brake apparatus after starting driving the electric mechanism in response to the parking brake request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayasu Sakashita, Hirotaka Oikawa, Kimio Nishino
  • Patent number: 9434368
    Abstract: When a controller (19) is restarted after system control has ended, a brake apparatus drives an electric motor (43) so as to achieve a corrected target thrust force calculated by setting a greater thrust force than a target thrust force set according to a temperature estimated value of a frictional member at this time, based on the temperature estimated value of the frictional member at the time of the end of the control, or drives the electric motor based on the temperature estimated value of the frictional member at the time of the end of the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ohara, Wataru Yokoyama, Kenji Hashida, Kimio Nishino, Kenichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9278676
    Abstract: According to the present invention, limited electric power is consumed so as to achieve long-lasting use of electric power during brake control with the use of an auxiliary power supply source when there is a malfunction of a vehicle power supply source. In addition, a brake control device for ensuring responsiveness at the beginning of braking or when emergency braking is necessary is provided. The brake control device of the present invention is a brake control device for detecting electric signals generated depending on the degree of brake-pedal operation and calculating the driver's demanded braking force based on the electric signals so as to generate the demanded braking force, which comprises an auxiliary power supply source for supplying electric power to the brake control device when there is a malfunction of a vehicle power supply source and controls braking depending on the charged capacity of the auxiliary power supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Toshiyuki Innami, Norikazu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Kikawa, Ayumu Miyajima, Toshiyuki Ajima
  • Publication number: 20160032995
    Abstract: A brake apparatus comprising: a caliper having a piston configured to move a brake pad to be pressed on a disc rotor rotating with a wheel; a thrust retaining mechanism located in the caliper to thrust the piston and maintain braking force exerted by the thrust piston; an electric motor mounted on the caliper to operate the thrust retaining mechanism; and a controller configured to apply electric current to the electric motor in response to an application command or a release command, thereby perform control according to the commands, wherein the controller, upon receiving a release command, configured to operate the electric motor to reduce braking force exerted by the piston by performing current maintenance control which continuously applies electric current to the electric motor and switching control which successively switches between a larger and a smaller amount of electric current applied to the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Kimio NISHINO, Kenichiro MATSUBARA, Wataru YOKOYAMA, Tatsuro KOBUNE, Hirotaka OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150120163
    Abstract: When a system of a control means (19) is restarted after system control is ended, a brake apparatus drives an electric motor (43) so as to achieve a corrected target thrust force calculated by setting a greater thrust force than a target thrust force set according to a temperature estimated value of a frictional member at this time, based on the temperature estimated value of the frictional member at the time of the end of the control, or drives the electric motor based on the temperature estimated value of the frictional member at the time of the end of the control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tomohiro OHARA, Wataru YOKOYAMA, Kenji HASHIDA, Kimio NISHINO, Kenichiro MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20150061365
    Abstract: A brake system includes a brake apparatus. This brake apparatus is configured to keep a vehicle braked by an electric mechanism in response to a parking brake request signal, and brake the vehicle by supply of a hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic source in response to an operation performed on a brake pedal. The brake system further includes a controller configured to drive the electric mechanism until a target pressing force is acquired to establish a brake holding state in response to the parking brake request signal. The controller is configured to change the target pressing force according to a change in a hydraulic pressure in the brake apparatus after starting driving the electric mechanism in response to the parking brake request signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takayasu SAKASHITA, Hirotaka OIKAWA, Kimio NISHINO
  • Patent number: 8833869
    Abstract: A brake system which can secure quietness in a passenger compartment is provided. A vehicle brake system 1 includes a brake assist device 2 which boosts a pressing force on a brake pedal 5 by drive of a motor 31, and an assist control unit 6 which controls the motor 31. The assist control unit 6 changes responsiveness of the motor 31 in accordance with a vehicle speed, and sets a dead zone amount and a filtering value to large values in a region with a low vehicle speed. Thereby, responsiveness of a boosting operation of the motor 31 to the operation of the brake pedal is made low, and a rotational variation and a vibration are prevented from occurring to the motor 31 by a minute variation of a detection signal of a stroke sensor 14 during low-speed traveling or stoppage of traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Matsuzaki, Toshiyuki Innami, Kimio Nishino, Ayumu Miyajima, Toshiyuki Ajima, Masayuki Kikawa
  • Patent number: 8672808
    Abstract: Provided is a brake control apparatus for a vehicle which detects an amount of brake-pedal operation by means of an electric signal, and then calculates a braking force demanded by a driver from the electric signal, and thereby generates the demanded braking force. A control mode for a braking force is switched from a normal control mode to a stationary-vehicle control mode, if a determination that the vehicle is in a stationary state is followed by another determination that an electric signal corresponding to an actual braking force exceeds a command value for a stationary-vehicle braking force while the vehicle is in the stationary state. The control mode for a braking force is switched from the stationary-vehicle control mode to the normal control mode, if it is determined that the demanded braking force becomes smaller than the command value for the stationary-vehicle braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Toshiyuki Innami, Norikazu Matsuzaki, Shingo Nasu, Ayumu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8662602
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a master cylinder for raising a wheel cylinder pressure according to operation of a brake pedal; a booster for raising the wheel cylinder pressure by operating the master cylinder independently of operation of the brake pedal; a pressure regulator provided with a hydraulic pump for raising the wheel cylinder pressure independently of operation of the master cylinder; and a control section including: a first controller for controlling the booster; and a second controller for controlling the pressure regulator. The control section detects that at least one of the booster and the first controller is in a state of malfunction; selects one of backup modes according to the state of malfunction, wherein the backup modes restrict operation of at least one of the booster and the pressure regulator in different manners; and controls the wheel cylinder pressure in the selected backup mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Toshiyuki Innami, Kenichiro Matsubara, Toshiharu Sugawara