Patents by Inventor Motoaki Kataoka
Motoaki Kataoka 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).
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Patent number: 9688307Abstract: A steering controller for controlling an electric power steering includes a load estimator estimating a road surface load, a pre-correction target determiner determining a pre-correction target steer torque based on the estimated road surface load, a steer angle detector detecting a steer angle, and a target corrector correcting the pre-correction target steer torque based on the steer angle, and the controller determines an assist torque instruction value based on the deviation between the target steer torque and a steer torque, thereby establishing a robust steering feel of an electric power steering system irrespective of the change of the mechanical friction of the power steering system.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
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Publication number: 20170144696Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls steering characteristics by controlling a motor to output assist torque, which is generated corresponding to a steering torque applied to a steering shaft. The steering control apparatus includes a torque deviation generator generating a torque deviation between the steering torque applied to the steering shaft and a target steering torque and a command value generator generating an assist torque command value for controlling the motor based on a basic command value. The basic command value controls the torque deviation to become zero. The command value generator includes an integrator integrating and outputting the torque deviation and an output limiter setting an output limit to an immediately previous basic command value obtained immediately before the basic command value. The output limiter generates the assist torque command value using the immediately previous basic command value to which the output limit is set.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Motoaki Kataoka
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Publication number: 20170137056Abstract: A steering controller that controls a motor to output an assist torque to steer a steering member, including a steer property calculator calculating a steer state quantity that is an index of a steering state indicating one of (i) a steer-away state, (ii) a steer-back state, or (iii) a stay-still state, an adjusted torque calculator calculating an adjusted torque based on the steer state quantity, and an instruction value calculator calculating an assist torque instruction that is an instruction value regarding a drive of the motor by using the adjusted torque. In such manner, the steer state quantity, the steer-back operation, the stay-still operation of a steering wheel, and the adjusted torque are appropriately calculated, thereby enabling an appropriate adjustment of a steering feel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
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Publication number: 20170137055Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls includes a steering quantity generation unit generating a steering quantity indicative of an operation performed on the steering member, an adjustment torque generation unit generating an adjustment torque and adjusting a mechanical impedance corresponding to the adjustment torque, and a command value generation unit generating a command value and controlling the motor according to the command value using the adjustment torque generated by the adjustment torque generation unit. The steering quantity is a physical quantity that has different values at least in a state of rotating the steering member, a state of returning the steering member, or a state of retaining the steering member, and the steering quantity indicates an operation amount of rotating the steering member or an operation amount of returning the steering member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Motoaki Kataoka
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Publication number: 20170096166Abstract: A steering controller for controlling an electric power steering includes a load estimator estimating a road surface load, a pre-correction target determiner determining a pre-correction target steer torque based on the estimated road surface load, a steer angle detector detecting a steer angle, and a target corrector correcting the pre-correction target steer torque based on the steer angle, and the controller determines an assist torque instruction value based on the deviation between the target steer torque and a steer torque, thereby establishing a robust steering feel of an electric power steering system irrespective of the change of the mechanical friction of the power steering system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
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Patent number: 9592849Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle works to determine an assist command based on steering torque to produce assist torque through an electric motor for assisting in turning a steering wheel of the vehicle, also determines a tracking command for producing automatic steering torque which brings a value of a given physical quantity associated with steering of the vehicle into agreement a target value, and calculates a vibration correction command for use in producing vibration correction torque which suppresses vibration of the steering torque which arises from output of the torque from the electric motor based on a transfer characteristic of transmission of the output of torque from the electric motor as a part of the steering torque through the steering mechanism. A motor driver works to actuate the electric motor based on the sum of the assist command, the tracking command, and the vibration correction command.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Hisashi Iida
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Patent number: 9592850Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes an assist deviation calculator calculating an assist deviation, a follow deviation calculator calculating a follow deviation, a unit converter converting a measurement unit, a weighting factor setter setting a weighting factor, a deviation mixer calculating a controlled deviation by mixing the deviations, and an instruction value generator generating an assist instruction value that drives a motor to output (i) an automatic steering torque and (ii) an assist torque. The assist instruction value is generated based on the calculated controlled deviation, and by decreasing the controlled deviation in a feedback manner, so that the drive of the motor leads to a decrease of the calculated controlled deviation, thereby switching the assist and follow control without a wrong steering feeling, and without deterioration of each of assist/follow functions.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Hisaya Akatsuka
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Patent number: 9592848Abstract: An electric power steering controller adjustably generates a target steer torque dynamically by weighting (i) a load based target steer torque that is determined based on an estimated load and (ii) a steer angle based target steer torque with a weighting ratio. The weighting ratio varies depending on a condition of a road surface on which a subject vehicle is traveling, a steering state of the driver and the like, which enables an adjustment of the target steer torque to suitably accommodate the condition of the road surface and to provide a road surface conscious steering feel while achieving robustness over an influence of a friction of the mechanical components in a steering system.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yosuke Hirate, Motoaki Kataoka
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Patent number: 9586619Abstract: A motor controller has an assist controller generating an assist instruction for a generation of an assist torque based on a detection value of a steering torque, a follow controller obtaining a target value of a physical quantity regarding a steering operation and generating a follow instruction, and a motor driver driving, according to a sum of the assist instruction and the follow instruction, a motor that generates the assist torque and an automatic steering toque. In addition, the follow controller changes, according to a degree of intervention by a driver that is detected by an intervention detector, responsiveness of the follow control, making it possible to naturally hand over a motor control to the driver or to a system when the driver or the system intervenes a current control of the motor that generates the assist torque and/or the steering torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Yasuhiko Mukai
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Patent number: 9545945Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle works to determine an assist command based on steering torque to produce assist torque through an electric motor for assisting in turning a steering wheel of the vehicle, also determines a tracking command for producing automatic steering torque which brings a value of a given physical quantity associated with steering of the vehicle into agreement a target value, and calculates a steering correction command for use in producing a steering correction torque which reduces the steering torque which arises from output of the torque from the electric motor based on a transfer characteristic of transmission of the output of torque from the electric motor as a part of the steering torque. A motor driver works to actuate the electric motor based on sum of the assist command, the tracking command, and the steering correction command.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Hisashi Iida
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Patent number: 9457837Abstract: A steering device (1) includes: a steering member (4) that is provided in a vehicle (2) and configured to be rotationally operated; an actuator (8) that generates a torque assisting a steering operation on the steering member (4); a detection device (9) that detects a torque applied to a steering shaft portion (5) that rotates together with the steering member (4); and a steering control device (11) that performs vibration suppression control to suppress vibrations transmitted to the steering member (4) by adjusting a torque generated by the actuator (8), on a basis of a detected torque that is a torque detected by the detection device (9). The steering control device (11) controls the actuator (8) such that a torque of a frequency band in a first predetermined range, which corresponds to the detected torque is not suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshio Kudo, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Motoaki Kataoka, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20160129934Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle works to determine an assist command based on steering torque to produce assist torque through an electric motor for assisting in turning a steering wheel of the vehicle, also determines a tracking command for producing automatic steering torque which brings a value of a given physical quantity associated with steering of the vehicle into agreement a target value, and controls a response rate at which a value of a given physical quantity is brought into agreement with a target value in a feedback mode. A motor driver works to actuate an electric motor based on the sum of the assist command and the tracking command to output the torque for steering the system vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Hisashi Iida
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Publication number: 20160129935Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle works to determine an assist command based on steering torque to produce assist torque through an electric motor for assisting in turning a steering wheel of the vehicle, also determines a tracking command for producing automatic steering torque which brings a value of a given physical quantity associated with steering of the vehicle into agreement a target value, and calculates a vibration correction command for use in producing vibration correction torque which suppresses vibration of the steering torque which arises from output of the torque from the electric motor based on a transfer characteristic of transmission of the output of torque from the electric motor as a part of the steering torque through the steering mechanism. A motor driver works to actuate the electric motor based on the sum of the assist command, the tracking command, and the vibration correction command.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Hisashi Iida
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Publication number: 20160129933Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle works to determine an assist command based on steering torque to produce assist torque through an electric motor for assisting in turning a steering wheel of the vehicle, also determines a tracking command for producing automatic steering torque which brings a value of a given physical quantity associated with steering of the vehicle into agreement a target value, and calculates a steering correction command for use in producing a steering correction torque which reduces the steering torque which arises from output of the torque from the electric motor based on a transfer characteristic of transmission of the output of torque from the electric motor as a part of the steering torque. A motor driver works to actuate the electric motor based on sum of the assist command, the tracking command, and the steering correction command.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Hisashi Iida
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Publication number: 20150210310Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a basic assist amount calculation section calculating a basic assist amount for assisting the manipulation of a steering wheel, and an assist compensation amount calculation section calculating an assist compensation amount for correcting the basic assist amount. The system includes an assist amount correction section calculating a corrected assist amount by correcting the basic assist amount based on the assist compensation amount, and a motor drive section driving a motor using the corrected assist amount. The assist compensation amount calculation section uses a reverse input specification that more transmits the signal components of specific frequency in road-surface input torque, to a steering wheel than in the case of using only the basic assist amount, and calculates the assist compensation amount suitable for a vehicle-state value, such as a steering torque, to suppress variation in the transmission characteristics due to variation of the vehicle-state value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2013Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Hisaya Akatsuka, Daiji Watanabe, Motoaki Kataoka, Yoshio Kudo, Yoshiaki Suzuki
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Publication number: 20150120140Abstract: A steering device (1) includes: a steering member (4) that is provided in a vehicle (2) and configured to be rotationally operated; an actuator (8) that generates a torque assisting a steering operation on the steering member (4); a detection device (9) that detects a torque applied to a steering shaft portion (5) that rotates together with the steering member (4); and a steering control device (11) that performs vibration suppression control to suppress vibrations transmitted to the steering member (4) by adjusting a torque generated by the actuator (8), on a basis of a detected torque that is a torque detected by the detection device (9). The steering control device (11) controls the actuator (8) such that a torque of a frequency band in a first predetermined range, which corresponds to the detected torque is not suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshio Kudo, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Motoaki Kataoka, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka
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Patent number: 8996251Abstract: A base assist section generates a base assist command so that a steering reaction according to a road surface reaction returns to a steering wheel side. A modifying section generates a torque modifying command for modifying the base assist command so that an unstable movement of a vehicle converges appropriately. A sum of the each command becomes a final assist torque command. The base assist section estimates a road surface force based on the self-generated base assist command and a steering torque actually detected. A target steering torque is generated based on the estimated force, and the base assist command is generated based on a deviation of the target steering torque and the steering torque.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Daiji Watanabe
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Patent number: 8649938Abstract: In a control system, a first estimator estimates, as a first controlled force, a force being applied to a controlled object. A second estimator estimates, as a second controlled force, a force being transferred to the controlled object. An external force estimator estimates, as an external force, a force being exerted on the vehicle as the vehicle runs. A dynamics estimator estimates, based on the first controlled force, the second controlled force, and the external force, a value of a parameter that represents the dynamics of the controlled object. A compensator compensates for at least one of the first controlled force and the second controlled force such that the value of the parameter is within a preset target range.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Toshiki Matsumoto, Mamoru Sawada, Motoaki Kataoka
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Patent number: 8489300Abstract: An object of the present invention is to execute an optimum control of vibrations due to a driver's operation of an accelerator pedal, steering wheel and brake pedal. The operation instructions are inputted into a vibration calculating means (kinetic model) comprising a vehicle body model, suspension model and tire model. Conventional kinetic model controlled the suspension in order to suppress the vehicle body vibration. However, in the kinetic model of the present invention, the tire vibration due to a change in the engine output is first absorbed by the suspension, whereby a residual vibration which was not be absorbed yet by the suspension is transferred to the vehicle body. The operation inputs are compensated by the three feed-back loops between the outputs of the above-mentioned three portions and input of the tire portion, giving the highest priority on the vehicle body model.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Toshiki Matsumoto, Tsutomu Tashiro, Mamoru Mabuchi, Mamoru Sawada
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Publication number: 20130060426Abstract: In an electric power steering control device, a target assist torque calculation unit calculates a target assist torque or a target current, and a current control unit calculates a basic current instruction so that an actual current Im flowing in an electric motor becomes equal to the target current. An output of the unit is adjusted on the basis of an output of a stable current compensation unit. The unit uses a transfer function Gi expressed by using a differential operator s of not more than fourth order terms. The unit generates a compensation instruction on the basis of the actual current Im in order to produce stable operation of the entire system. A motor drive unit receives a current instruction adjusted on the basis of the compensation instruction, and controls the current flowing in the electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daiji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Hori, Motoaki Kataoka