Patents by Inventor Koichi Kokubo

Koichi Kokubo 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: 20240079742
    Abstract: A battery includes a current collecting member connected to a power generating element housed in an outer casing with a lid, and a rivet placed outside the outer casing. The current collecting member includes a plate-shaped portion placed along the lid. The rivet includes a through part extending through the lid, and a contact part contacting a first surface of the plate-shaped portion. A part of a peripheral end portion of the contact part is joined to the first surface. An edge portion of a non-joined portion of the peripheral end portion, facing the first surface, includes a tapered surface generating a gap smaller at a position closer to the through part. The tapered surface has a maximum size of 0.1 mm or more in a direction from the peripheral end portion to the through part and 0.03 mm or more in a thickness direction of the peripheral end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicants: PRIMEARTH EV ENERGY CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, PRIME PLANET ENERGY & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Keitaro MACHIDA, Masaya OGURA, Akinori KOKUBO, Yuya TANAKA, Koichi TANIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10933851
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, for example, when it is determined that a certain condition has been satisfied while first antilock control is being executed, a controller of a brake control apparatus executes second antilock control by opening and closing a solenoid valve with a motor stopped so that brake fluid of the wheel cylinder is caused to flow into a reservoir, the second antilock control including a second pressure reduction mode, the second pressure reduction mode reducing a pressure of a wheel cylinder while substantially equilibrating the pressure of the wheel cylinder and a pressure of the reservoir at a certain pressure or larger, the certain pressure being larger than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Shinozaki, Koichi Kokubo, Masayuki Naito, Yuji Yoshii, Masahiro Hara
  • Patent number: 10640097
    Abstract: Provided is an electric braking device that transmits power generated by an electric motor MTR to a pressing member PSN and causes pressing force to be generated by the pressing member PSN with respect to a friction member MSB. Hysteresis characteristics in the relation between the power supply amount to the electric motor and the pressing force of the pressing member are detected each time a predetermined point in time arrives. Upon determination of a “holding state in which the pressing force is held constant”, a minimum value for a power supply amount that makes it possible to maintain the current pressing force is obtained on the basis of the most recently detected hysteresis characteristics and the power supply amount is set to a value determined on the basis of the obtained minimum value for the power supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Tsukamoto, Koichi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 10604017
    Abstract: An electric braking device includes: a first valve unit for adjusting a first differential pressure between a master cylinder side liquid pressure and a wheel cylinder side liquid pressure; a storage unit forming a fluid storage chamber; second valve units for adjusting a second differential pressure between the master cylinder side liquid pressure and a storage chamber side liquid pressure; an electric pump for discharging the fluid in the storage chamber; and a control unit which, while operating the electric pump during a time from initiation of braking force application until a request value acquired by a request braking force acquiring unit reaches a maximum value, controls the first valve unit such that the first differential pressure becomes zero, and controls the second valve units such that the second differential pressure becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Koichi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 10556573
    Abstract: A braking control device includes a first wheel cylinder on either the left or right front wheel side of a vehicle; a second wheel cylinder on the other side; a first pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes the brake fluid inside the first wheel cylinder; a second pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes brake fluid inside the second wheel cylinder; and a normally-closed opening/closing valve interposed in a connecting fluid path connecting the first wheel cylinder and the second wheel cylinder and in which, if a sudden operation is determined, the opening/closing valve is put in a connected state and increases the pressure of the brake fluid inside the first and second wheel cylinders by the first and second pressure-regulating mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motokazu Ishikawa, Koichi Kokubo, Shinichiro Yukoku
  • Patent number: 10378600
    Abstract: In an electric braking device for a vehicle, the following are carried out in order: a first lock process in which either torque for shifting the ratchet gear in a release direction is generated in an electric motor or the driving of the electric motor is stopped, while a pawl member is being pressed against a ratchet gear; a second lock process in which the rotational angle of the ratchet gear is brought to an angle different from a semi-engaging rotational angle by driving the electric motor; and a third lock process in which the ratchet gear is rotated in the release direction by driving the electric motor in reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun Tsukamoto, Koichi Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20190084539
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, for example, when it is determined that a certain condition has been satisfied while first antilock control is being executed, a controller of a brake control apparatus executes second antilock control by opening and closing a solenoid valve with a motor stopped so that brake fluid of the wheel cylinder is caused to flow into a reservoir, the second antilock control including a second pressure reduction mode, the second pressure reduction mode reducing a pressure of a wheel cylinder while substantially equilibrating the pressure of the wheel cylinder and a pressure of the reservoir at a certain pressure or larger, the certain pressure being larger than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicants: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun SHINOZAKI, Koichi KOKUBO, Masayuki NAITO, Yuji YOSHII, Masahiro HARA
  • Publication number: 20190061532
    Abstract: An electric braking device includes: a first valve unit for adjusting a first differential pressure between a master cylinder side liquid pressure and a wheel cylinder side liquid pressure; a storage unit forming a fluid storage chamber; second valve units for adjusting a second differential pressure between the master cylinder side liquid pressure and a storage chamber side liquid pressure; an electric pump for discharging the fluid in the storage chamber; and a control unit which, while operating the electric pump during a time from initiation of braking force application until a request value acquired by a request braking force acquiring unit reaches a maximum value, controls the first valve unit such that the first differential pressure becomes zero, and controls the second valve units such that the second differential pressure becomes zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki MARUYAMA, Takahiro YAMAGUCHI, Koichi KOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20180297562
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a first wheel cylinder on either the left or right front wheel side of a vehicle; a second wheel cylinder on the other side; a first pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes the brake fluid inside the first wheel cylinder; a second pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes brake fluid inside the second wheel cylinder; and a normally-closed opening/closing means interposed in a connecting fluid path connecting the first wheel cylinder and the second wheel cylinder control means: determines whether or not the operation of a brake operation member is a sudden operation; and, if a sudden operation is determined, puts the opening/closing means in a connected state and, by using the first and second pressure-regulating mechanisms, increases the pressure of the brake fluid inside the first and second wheel cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motokazu ISHIKAWA, Koichi KOKUBO, Shinichiro YUKOKU
  • Publication number: 20180073584
    Abstract: In an electric braking device for a vehicle, the following are carried out in order: a first lock process in which either torque for shifting the ratchet gear in a release direction is generated in an electric motor or the driving of the electric motor is stopped, while a pawl member is being pressed against a ratchet gear; a second lock process in which the rotational angle of the ratchet gear is brought to an angle different from a semi-engaging rotational angle by driving the electric motor; and a third lock process in which the ratchet gear is rotated in the release direction by driving the electric motor in reverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun TSUKAMOTO, Koichi KOKUBO
  • Publication number: 20180009420
    Abstract: Provided is an electric braking device that transmits power generated by an electric motor MTR to a pressing member PSN and causes pressing force to be generated by the pressing member PSN with respect to a friction member MSB. Hysteresis characteristics in the relation between the power supply amount to the electric motor and the pressing force of the pressing member are detected each time a predetermined point in time arrives. Upon determination of a “holding state in which the pressing force is held constant”, a minimum value for a power supply amount that makes it possible to maintain the current pressing force is obtained on the basis of the most recently detected hysteresis characteristics and the power supply amount is set to a value determined on the basis of the obtained minimum value for the power supply amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shun TSUKAMOTO, Koichi KOKUBO
  • Patent number: 9050949
    Abstract: A braking apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a fluid pressure circuit that is provided between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, and that includes both a first system flow channel connecting a reservoir and at least one of the plurality of wheel cylinders, and a second system flow channel connecting at least one of the plurality of wheel cylinders and the master cylinder, and that forms a flow channel for supplying operating fluid to each of the wheel cylinders; and a pump provided in the first system flow channel and driven by the motor to increase the fluid pressure of the operating fluid to be supplied from the reservoir to the wheel cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Takayuki Yamamoto, Koichi Kokubo, Yoshio Masuda
  • Publication number: 20130297145
    Abstract: An brake control apparatus includes a reference temperature acquiring unit which acquires a reference temperature correlating with a fluid temperature of a vehicle; an offset amount update unit which increases an offset amount with respect to the reference temperature of the fluid temperature depending on a lapsed time from the starting of the vehicle; and a fluid temperature estimation unit which estimates the fluid temperature by applying the offset amount to the reference temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: ADVICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jun SHINOZAKI, Koichi KOKUBO
  • Patent number: 8544963
    Abstract: In a braking control apparatus, a plurality of pumps are driven by a common first motor. A brake supplies operating fluid to pipelines by operating the first motor, and controls opening/closing of a fluid pressure regulating valve so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the right front wheel approach the right front wheel target pressure, and controls opening closing of a fluid pressure regulating valve so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the left rear wheel approach the left rear wheel target pressure. In the case where the right front wheel target pressure is zero when the fluid pressure regulating valve is to be opened so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the left rear wheel approach the left rear wheel target pressure, the brake turns off the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Matsubayashi, Hiroaki Niino, Koichi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 8366210
    Abstract: A braking apparatus for a vehicle includes a hydraulic brake apparatus generating a basic hydraulic pressure so that a basic hydraulic braking force is generated at wheels, the hydraulic brake apparatus generating a controlled hydraulic pressure so that a controlled hydraulic braking force is generated at the wheels, a regenerative brake apparatus causing a regenerative braking force to be generated at any of the wheels, and braking force replacement controlling means for gradually replacing the regenerative braking force with the controlled hydraulic braking force while braking during which at least the regenerative braking force is applied for a purpose of achieving a braking force replacement control to ensure a total braking force required for the wheels by decreasing the regenerative braking force at a gradient within a predetermined range and by increasing the controlled hydraulic braking force in response to the decrease of the regenerative braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Maki, Koichi Kokubo, Masayuki Naito
  • Patent number: 8256849
    Abstract: A braking control device which adjusts fluid pressure according to the degree of opening of a proportional electromagnetic valve driven at a set drive frequency, and controls a braking force on the basis of the adjusted fluid pressure, comprises a required pressure adjustment precision index setting mechanism for setting a required pressure adjustment precision index on the basis of the precision of pressure adjustment required when the fluid pressure is adjusted according to a required braking force, required operating noise reduction index setting mechanism for setting a required operating noise reduction index on the basis of a requirement to reduce operating noise caused by the drive frequency for driving the proportional electromagnetic valve, and drive frequency setting mechanism for setting the drive frequency of the proportional electromagnetic valve on the basis of the set required pressure adjustment precision index and required operating noise reduction index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 8128181
    Abstract: A braking control apparatus includes a brake operating member, a hydraulic circuit supplying a wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure to a wheel cylinder, a pump generating a hydraulic pressure so that the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure reaches a value in response to an operation of the brake operating member, a circulation conduit provided at a portion of the hydraulic circuit, the circulation conduit through which a partial amount of brake fluid discharged from the pump is circulated back to the pump, a pressure regulating valve adjusting a pressure difference between an upstream side of the pressure regulating valve connected to the wheel cylinder and a downstream side, and a controlling device calculating, on the basis of a circulation flow rate of the brake fluid passing through the pressure regulating valve, an applied current to the pressure regulating valve for obtaining a target of the pressure difference and controlling the applied current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yamauchi, Koichi Kokubo, Hiroaki Niino, Takeshi Hato, Masayoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8042886
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system is provided with a brake ECU serving as controlled hydraulic brake force control for executing a controlled hydraulic brake force control to decrease the rotational speed of an electric motor when at least both of a regenerative brake force and a controlled hydraulic brake force are being applied. The brake ECU decreases the rotational speed of the electric motor when the gradient of a target controlled hydraulic brake force being a controlled hydraulic pressure command value given to a hydraulic brake device is downhill or is not present. Thus, the pressured fluid supplied from a pump driven by the electric motor to be supplied to wheel cylinders of a vehicle is decreased to enhance the efficiency in utilizing the regenerative energy which an electric motor for driving the vehicle has in dependence on the stepping state of a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Maki, Koichi Kokubo, Masayuki Naito
  • Publication number: 20110241417
    Abstract: A braking apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a fluid pressure circuit that is provided between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, and that includes both a first system flow channel connecting a reservoir and at least one of the plurality of wheel cylinders, and a second system flow channel connecting at least one of the plurality of wheel cylinders and the master cylinder, and that forms a flow channel for supplying operating fluid to each of the wheel cylinders; and a pump provided in the first system flow channel and driven by the motor to increase the fluid pressure of the operating fluid to be supplied from the reservoir to the wheel cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Takayuki Yamamoto, Koichi Kokubo, Yoshio Masuda
  • Patent number: 8025345
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system, capable of realizing a brake-by-wire construction which can be installed in vehicles in the same manner as conventional brake systems, is provided with a booster device, a master cylinder, wheel brakes, and a hydraulic pressure control device interposed between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes. The system is further provided with a stroke sensor for detecting the moving stroke of a brake pedal, a simulator for applying to the brake pedal a pseudo reaction force corresponding to the moving stroke of the brake pedal, a play or idling component arranged between the booster device and the hydraulic pressure control device for absorbing the moving stroke of the brake pedal by a predetermined amount, and an electronic control device for controlling the hydraulic pressure control device based on an input from the stroke sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Hashida, Yusuke Morikawa, Masayuki Naito, Koichi Kokubo