Patents by Inventor Masayasu Ohkubo

Masayasu Ohkubo 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: 11608043
    Abstract: An electric brake device for a vehicle, including: a rotation body that rotates with a wheel; a friction member; and an actuator including (a) a piston configured to come into engagement with the friction member, (b) two electric motors each as a drive source, and (c) a motion converting mechanism configured to convert a rotating motion of each of the two electric motors into an advancing and retracting movement of the piston, the actuator being configured such that the piston is advanced to push the friction member against the rotation body so as to generate a braking force and the piston is retracted to move the friction member away from the rotation body so as to cancel the braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 11498534
    Abstract: An electric brake device installed on a vehicle, including: a rotary body to rotate with a wheel; a friction member to be pushed onto the rotary body; an actuator including an electric motor as a drive source to cause the friction member to be pushed onto the rotary body; and a controller to control a braking force generated by the electric brake device by controlling a supply current supplied to the electric motor, wherein the controller determines, by mutually different methods, a plurality of target supply current components each of which is a component of a target supply current as a target of the supply current, determines the target supply current by adding up the target supply current components, and changes contribution degrees of the respective target supply current components in the determination of the target supply current in accordance with a characteristic of the braking force to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20210162977
    Abstract: An electric brake device for a vehicle, including: a rotation body that rotates with a wheel; a friction member; and an actuator including (a) a piston configured to come into engagement with the friction member, (b) two electric motors each as a drive source, and (c) a motion converting mechanism configured to convert a rotating motion of each of the two electric motors into an advancing and retracting movement of the piston, the actuator being configured such that the piston is advanced to push the friction member against the rotation body so as to generate a braking force and the piston is retracted to move the friction member away from the rotation body so as to cancel the braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 10654454
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system, wherein an electric brake device is configured such that a clearance exists between a friction member and a rotary body when no braking force request is made, and wherein a controller is configured to: execute, for a hydraulic brake device, from a time point of generation of the request, a braking-force-request-dependent control for generating a hydraulic braking force in accordance with a degree of the request; and execute, for the electric brake device, (a) a clearance removing control for removing the clearance, which is executed from the time point of generation of the request till a time point when the degree increases up to a threshold degree, and (b) a braking-force-request-dependent control for generating an electric braking force in accordance with the degree of the request, the control being executed after the time point when the degree becomes equal to the threshold degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20200108807
    Abstract: An electric brake device installed on a vehicle, including: a rotary body to rotate with a wheel; a friction member to be pushed onto the rotary body; an actuator including an electric motor as a drive source to cause the friction member to be pushed onto the rotary body; and a controller to control a braking force generated by the electric brake device by controlling a supply current supplied to the electric motor, wherein the controller determines, by mutually different methods, a plurality of target supply current components each of which is a component of a target supply current as a target of the supply current, determines the target supply current by adding up the target supply current components, and changes contribution degrees of the respective target supply current components in the determination of the target supply current in accordance with a characteristic of the braking force to be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu OHKUBO
  • Patent number: 10611350
    Abstract: A vehicle electric brake device configured such that, when no braking force request is made, a piston of an actuator of the electric brake device is retracted to a set backward position so as to allow a clearance to exist between a friction member and a rotary body of the device, wherein a controller of the device is configured to execute, for the actuator, a clearance removing control in which the piston is advanced at a first speed and subsequently advanced such that a piston advancing speed is reduced from the first speed to a second speed, so as to remove the clearance, the clearance removing control being executed when the braking force request is generated, and a braking-force-request-dependent control in which a braking force in accordance with a degree of the braking force request is generated, the braking-force-request-dependent control being executed after execution of the clearance removing control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 10507810
    Abstract: An electric brake device includes: an electric brake being configured such that a shaft is moved forward by diving of an electric motor, and the forward movement of the shaft brings the electric brake into an acting state in which brake friction members are pushed against a brake rotary body so as to suppress rotation of a wheel; and a motor controller being configured to control the electric motor, wherein through a rotation speed control on the electric motor, after the shaft reaches a set position before the electric brake comes into the acting state, the motor controller controls a forward speed of the shaft to be smaller than that before the shaft reaches the set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Yogo, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20190061713
    Abstract: A vehicle electric brake device configured such that, when no braking force request is made, a piston of an actuator of the electric brake device is retracted to a set backward position so as to allow a clearance to exist between a friction member and a rotary body of the device, wherein a controller of the device is configured to execute, for the actuator, a clearance removing control in which the piston is advanced at a first speed and subsequently advanced such that a piston advancing speed is reduced from the first speed to a second speed, so as to remove the clearance, the clearance removing control being executed when the braking force request is generated, and a braking-force-request-dependent control in which a braking force in accordance with a degree of the braking force request is generated, the braking-force-request-dependent control being executed after execution of the clearance removing control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayasu OHKUBO
  • Publication number: 20190039579
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system, wherein an electric brake device is configured such that a clearance exists between a friction member and a rotary body when no braking force request is made, and wherein a controller is configured to: execute, for a hydraulic brake device, from a time point of generation of the request, a braking-force-request-dependent control for generating a hydraulic braking force in accordance with a degree of the request; and execute, for the electric brake device, (a) a clearance removing control for removing the clearance, which is executed from the time point of generation of the request till a time point when the degree increases up to a threshold degree, and (b) a braking-force-request-dependent control for generating an electric braking force in accordance with the degree of the request, the control being executed after the time point when the degree becomes equal to the threshold degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayasu OHKUBO
  • Patent number: 9969379
    Abstract: A method for detecting fluid leakage from a pressure-decrease valve in a hydraulic brake system having an ABS device including: a shutoff valve for shutting off supply of a working fluid from a fluid-pressure supply source to a brake device provided for a wheel; the pressure-decrease valve for discharging the working fluid from the brake device; a reservoir for storing the working fluid discharged from the pressure-decrease valve; and a return pump for returning the working fluid stored in the reservoir to a portion between the shutoff valve and the fluid-pressure supply source, the method including the steps of: activating the return pump in a state in which the hydraulic brake system is not in ABS operation, and detecting the fluid leakage from the pressure-decrease valve based on a variation in a pressure of the working fluid in the fluid-pressure supply source caused when the return pump is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nanahara, Masayasu Ohkubo, Kazutaka Noro, Masaki Ninoyu, Takahiro Okano
  • Publication number: 20180099651
    Abstract: An electric brake device includes: an electric brake being configured such that a shaft is moved forward by diving of an electric motor, and the forward movement of the shaft brings the electric brake into an acting state in which brake friction members are pushed against a brake rotary body so as to suppress rotation of a wheel; and a motor controller being configured to control the electric motor, wherein through a rotation speed control on the electric motor, after the shaft reaches a set position before the electric brake comes into the acting state, the motor controller controls a forward speed of the shaft to be smaller than that before the shaft reaches the set position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji YOGO, Masayasu OHKUBO
  • Patent number: 9656650
    Abstract: A brake ECU brings master cut valves into an open state and brings holding valves into a closed state, thereby controlling a master cylinder and wheel cylinders to communicate to each other when a magnitude of a hydraulic pressure detected by an accumulator pressure sensor has decreased to a value less than a predetermined value set in advance. On the other hand, the ECU maintains holding valves in an open state, and controls an accumulator and the wheel cylinders to communicate to each other via linear control valves. Then, the ECU determines in which brake system a failure occurs out of a brake system for a front right wheel, a brake system for a front left wheel, and brake systems for rear right and left wheels based on changes in hydraulic pressure detected by a sensor, a master cylinder pressure sensor, and a control pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 9586488
    Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kei Sato, Kazunori Nimura, Kentaro Oya, Takeshi Ishida, Masaki Nanahara, Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Yoshito Tanaka, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 9481349
    Abstract: A brake ECU uses a control pressure acquired from a control pressure sensor to determine whether a valve closing operation abnormality or a valve opening operation abnormality occurs in one of a pressure increasing linear control valve and an adjusted flow rate cut valve in a state where a hydraulic pressure is supplied from an accumulator. The brake ECU controls, if the brake ECU determines that an abnormality occurs, respectively the control valve and the cut valve to change to an open state or a closed state, and identifies, based on a change in the control pressure acquired from the control pressure sensor, in which of the control valve and the cut valve the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs. The brake ECU can use, after a valve in which the valve opening operation abnormality or the valve closing operation abnormality occurs is identified, a valve in which the abnormality does not occur to carry out brake control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20160096434
    Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Kei SATO, Kazunori NIMURA, Kentaro OYA, Takeshi ISHIDA, Masaki NANAHARA, Tsuyoshi YAMASAKI, Yoshito TANAKA, Masayasu OHKUBO
  • Publication number: 20160059839
    Abstract: A method for detecting fluid leakage from a pressure-decrease valve in a hydraulic brake system having an ABS device including: a shutoff valve for shutting off supply of a working fluid from a fluid-pressure supply source to a brake device provided for a wheel; the pressure-decrease valve for discharging the working fluid from the brake device; a reservoir for storing the working fluid discharged from the pressure-decrease valve; and a return pump for returning the working fluid stored in the reservoir to a portion between the shutoff valve and the fluid-pressure supply source, the method including the steps of: activating the return pump in a state in which the hydraulic brake system is not in ABS operation, and detecting the fluid leakage from the pressure-decrease valve based on a variation in a pressure of the working fluid in the fluid-pressure supply source caused when the return pump is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Masaki NANAHARA, Masayasu OHKUBO, Kazutaka NORO, Masaki NINOYU, Takahiro OKANO
  • Patent number: 9133954
    Abstract: An electromagnetic linear valve includes a housing including a core closing an opening at one end portion of the body portion, and a separation portion separating an interior into a first liquid chamber located in a core side and a second liquid chamber; a plunger disposed in the first liquid chamber so as to move along the axis in a state in which one end thereof faces to the core and the other end can sit on a hole; an elastic member applying a force to move the plunger away from the core; and a coil generating magnetic field to move the plunger toward the core. A recess is formed in a section of an inner circumferential portion of the body portion which intersects with an end face of the core in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Sato, Masaki Nanahara, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 9132817
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes: a hydraulic pressure source provided for a vehicle, and including a hydraulic-pressure generating device and a reservoir; a plurality of hydraulic brakes provided for respective wheels of the vehicle, and configured to restrain rotations of the respective wheels; and a control valve device including at least one hydraulic-pressure control valve group disposed between the hydraulic-pressure generating device and at least one of brake cylinders of the hydraulic brakes and/or between the reservoir and the at least one of the brake cylinders. Each of the at least one hydraulic-pressure control valve group includes (a) at least one ON/OFF control valve and (b) at least one linear control valve that are disposed in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayasu Ohkubo, Yoshito Tanaka, Hiroshi Nakaoka, Takayuki Yamamoto, Tetsuya Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20150166029
    Abstract: A separation valve mechanism includes a housing, and a stepped piston fitted into the housing in a liquid-tight and slidable manner and serving as a separation piston. A large diameter chamber is provided on a large diameter side of the stepped piston, and a small diameter chamber is provided on a small diameter side thereof. A first seal member is provided on the small diameter side of the stepped piston so as to secure liquid tightness of the small diameter chamber and partition the small diameter chamber. A second seal member is provided on the large diameter side of the stepped piston so as to secure liquid tightness of the large diameter chamber and partition the large diameter chamber. A reservoir chamber is formed, which is adjacent to the small diameter chamber and the large diameter chamber, and is partitioned by the first seal member and the second seal member. A master cylinder pressure is not input to the reservoir chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Masayasu Ohkubo
  • Publication number: 20150102658
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes: a hydraulic pressure source provided for a vehicle, and including a hydraulic-pressure generating device and a reservoir; a plurality of hydraulic brakes provided for respective wheels of the vehicle, and configured to restrain rotations of the respective wheels; and a control valve device including at least one hydraulic-pressure control valve group disposed between the hydraulic-pressure generating device and at least one of brake cylinders of the hydraulic brakes and/or between the reservoir and the at least one of the brake cylinders. Each of the at least one hydraulic-pressure control valve group includes (a) at least one ON/OFF control valve and (b) at least one linear control valve that are disposed in parallel with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Masayasu OHKUBO, Yoshito TANAKA, Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Takayuki YAMAMOTO, Tetsuya MIYAZAKI