Patents by Inventor Kotaro Okimura

Kotaro Okimura 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: 8209086
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment device includes a vehicle height adjustment unit that changes the vehicle height at each wheel of the vehicle; a vehicle height sensor that detects the vehicle height at each wheel; a vehicle height control unit that executes the vehicle height control; a pressure sensor that detects the fluid pressure within the vehicle height adjustment unit; a control stop unit that temporarily suspends the execution of the vehicle height control if the detected pressure exceeds a threshold pressure; a road surface estimation unit that estimates the condition of a road surface over which the vehicle travels; and a control recovery unit that cancels the temporary suspension of the vehicle height control and allows the vehicle height adjustment unit to change the vehicle height if the road surface estimation unit estimates that the road surface over which the vehicle is traveling satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Ohashi, Kotaro Okimura, Shuji Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20090062985
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment device includes a vehicle height adjustment unit that changes the vehicle height at each wheel of the vehicle; a vehicle height sensor that detects the vehicle height at each wheel; a vehicle height control unit that executes the vehicle height control; a pressure sensor that detects the fluid pressure within the vehicle height adjustment unit; a control stop unit that temporarily suspends the execution of the vehicle height control if the detected pressure exceeds a threshold pressure; a road surface estimation unit that estimates the condition of a road surface over which the vehicle travels; and a control recovery unit that cancels the temporary suspension of the vehicle height control and allows the vehicle height adjustment unit to change the vehicle height if the road surface estimation unit estimates that the road surface over which the vehicle is traveling satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki OHASHI, Kotaro OKIMURA, Shuji HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20060186728
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus includes a fluid cylinder for a wheel of a vehicle; at least one of a first controller and a second controller; and a third controller. The fluid cylinder for the wheel of the vehicle is provided between a wheel-holding device that holds the wheel and the vehicle body. The first controller includes (a) an accumulator connected to the fluid cylinder; and (b) an electromagnetic control valve provided between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder. The second controller includes (a) a fluid source that includes a high-pressure source and a low-pressure source; and (b) an electromagnetic control valve, provided between the fluid source and the fluid cylinder, which controls the flow of fluid between the fluid cylinder and the fluid source. The third controller suppresses the pulsation of the fluid caused by operating the electromagnetic control valve included in at least one of the first controller and the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Mizuta, Hideki Ohashi, Kazuo Ogawa, Osamu Yasuike, Yukihide Kimura, Kazuyuki Mizuno, Masaki Nanahara, Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Kotaro Okimura