Patents by Inventor Satoru Kuragaki

Satoru Kuragaki 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: 20220315105
    Abstract: An actual steering ratio, which is a linkage relationship between a steering target wheel and a steering wheel, is controlled based on a setting steering ratio. Then, when a “mismatch” occurs between the actual steering ratio and the setting steering ratio due to an emergent avoidance motion, a steering control apparatus corrects the setting steering ratio using a corrected steering ratio so as to reduce the “mismatch”, thereby improving the consistency of the linkage relationship between a driver's steering operation and the steering target wheel, allowing the relationship between a rotational angle of the steering wheel and a steering angle of the steering target wheel to match the steering ratio, and thus reducing an uncomfortable feeling evoked in a driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru KURAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20190152455
    Abstract: Provided is a novel pressure pulsation reducing device of a hydraulic system that reduces a stress generated in a metal diaphragm and is excellent in durability. A plurality of concentric recess portions projecting toward an interior space of a pulsation damping member is formed on one of metal diaphragms, and a plurality of concentric recess portions projecting toward the interior space of the pulsation damping member is formed on the other metal diaphragm likewise. When a predetermined pressure is applied to the metal diaphragms, at least one recess portion of one of the metal diaphragms and at least one recess portion of the other metal diaphragm are in contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Ryu KAI, Takahiro ITO, Shinji SETO, Atsushi YOKOYAMA, Satoru KURAGAKI, Toshihiro KOIZUMI
  • Patent number: 8886433
    Abstract: An electric braking control apparatus for controlling an electric braking apparatus which includes a brake pad, a motor which generates a rotational torque, and a rotation/linear motion conversion mechanism which causes the brake pad to generate a pressing force based on the torque. The braking control apparatus includes an inverter which converts and outputs an electric current supplied from a power supply to the motor, and a microcomputer that receives power from the power supply, detects the value of a voltage applied from the power supply to the inverter, and controls the electric current output from the inverter depending on a result of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Konishi, Toshiyuki Innami, Satoru Kuragaki, Takafumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8430213
    Abstract: Provided is an electric brake capable of accurately estimating the brake pad temperature and securing a sufficient braking force and response. An electric brake has a disc rotor rotating with a wheel, an actuator for rectilinearly actuating a piston in the axial direction of the disc rotor by using an electric motor, a drive controller for controlling the drive of the actuator, a brake pad pressed by the piston to give a frictional resistance to the disc rotor in the direction of rotation, and a braking start position detector for detecting a braking start position of the piston where the disc rotor is brought into contact with the brake pad. The drive controller stores the braking start position detected by the braking start position detector as the maximum braking start position. When the braking start position shifts in the pressing force-increasing direction, the drive controller updates the value stored as the maximum braking-start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Yoshinari Kawahara, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Patent number: 8123307
    Abstract: A brake boost control apparatus has a brake operation member, a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic pump, a master cylinder pressure detection section detecting a pressure of the brake fluid, a brake stroke amount detection section detecting a stroke amount of the brake operation member, a hydraulic pressure control section that controls a pressure of the wheel cylinder, a boost section which boosts the pressure of the brake fluid and increases the wheel cylinder pressure, and a control unit. The control unit controls at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic pressure control section so that the stroke amount detected by the brake stroke amount detection section under a boost operation by the boost section and the pressure detected by the master cylinder pressure detection section are maintained at a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamano, Takanobu Saito, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Patent number: 7850255
    Abstract: The invention provides an electro-mechanical brake system which can keep a stop state even if a malfunction is generated in a parking brake, and an electro-mechanical brake apparatus used for the electro-mechanical brake system. An electro-mechanical brake actuator presses a brake pad to a disc rotor so as to independently brake a braking force of each of wheels. A parking brake is constituted by a pawl portion attached to a motor of a motor driving the electro-mechanical actuator and a latch. A main controller detects a failure of the parking brake on the basis of a motor displacement at a time of reducing a motor current, and increases the pressing force in the remaining normal parking brake in the case that the parking brake failure in one wheel or more is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinari Kawahara, Atsushi Yokoyama, Satoru Kuragaki, Hirotaka Oikawa, Kenji Hiraku
  • Patent number: 7684921
    Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
  • Publication number: 20090261649
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brake booster in which an excellent pedal feeling can be provided even though a brake fluid pressure control unit is disposed between the brake booster and a wheel cylinder. The brake booster according to the present invention performs different methods for controlling a booster based on whether the fluid pressure control unit is in operation, and controls a displacement amount of an assist member so that a change in a master cylinder pressure is within a predetermined range even when the fluid pressure control unit is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Motohiro Higuma, Kazuya Yamano, Takanobu Saito, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Publication number: 20090218179
    Abstract: Provided is an electric brake capable of accurately estimating the brake pad temperature and securing a sufficient braking force and response. An electric brake has a disc rotor rotating with a wheel, an actuator for rectilinearly actuating a piston in the axial direction of the disc rotor by using an electric motor, a drive controller for controlling the drive of the actuator, a brake pad pressed by the piston to give a frictional resistance to the disc rotor in the direction of rotation, and a braking start position detector for detecting a braking start position of the piston where the disc rotor is brought into contact with the brake pad. The drive controller stores the braking start position detected by the braking start position detector as the maximum braking start position. When the braking start position shifts in the pressing force-increasing direction, the drive controller updates the value stored as the maximum braking-start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Yoshinari Kawahara, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Patent number: 7552978
    Abstract: A brake system that provides a good pedal feel, that assists stepping force of a driver by a small motor, and that can control braking force of wheels individually. The brake system comprises a first actuator (5) for increasing a liquid pressure in a master cylinder (2) by driving torque of a motor (51), and a second actuator (6) capable of driving a brake generating mechanism (3) without transmitting power to the master cylinder (2), wherein the actuators (5, 6) to be driven are switched depending on the operation of a brake pedal (1). The first and second actuators (5, 6) are connected to hydraulic piping (4f, 4r), and a pressurized oil is supplied to the brake generating mechanism (3) through hydraulic valve means (63f, 63r, . . . 65rr).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Taisetsu Tanimichi, Satoru Kuragaki, Yukihiro Osawa, Jun Kubo, Yukihiko Inoue, Katsuya Iwasaki, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tsutomu Hibi
  • Publication number: 20090143951
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a forward collision avoidance assistance system that attains the reduction of driver's uncomfortable feeling and the improvement in drivability while ensuring the collision avoidance performance during operation for avoiding contact with an object. A collision avoidance calculation unit 3 determines a risk of collision between a host vehicle and an object detected in the host vehicle traveling direction based on information about the host vehicle detected by a host vehicle information detection unit 1 and information about the object detected by an object information detection unit 2, and calculates control information for object avoidance to be output to an actuator 5 based on a result of collision risk judgment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Takahashi, Atsushi Yokoyama, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Publication number: 20090096280
    Abstract: A brake boost control apparatus has a brake operation member, a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic pump, a master cylinder pressure detection section detecting a pressure of the brake fluid, a brake stroke amount detection section detecting a stroke amount of the brake operation member, a hydraulic pressure control section that controls a pressure of the wheel cylinder, a boost section which boosts the pressure of the brake fluid and increases the wheel cylinder pressure, and a control unit. The control unit controls at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic pressure control section so that the stroke amount detected by the brake stroke amount detection section under a boost operation by the boost section and the pressure detected by the master cylinder pressure detection section are maintained at a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuya YAMANAO, Takanobu Saito, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Publication number: 20090026835
    Abstract: The first control is to displace the primary piston by the amount obtained by multiplying the input rod displacement quantity by a proportional gain. The second control is to propel the primary piston by a prescribed offset thereby executing the first control. The third control is to displace the primary piston by the amount obtained by multiplying the input rod displacement quantity by a proportional gain specifically at a pressure decrease request. The brake force control device properly selects a control method from the first to third control methods to control the primary piston based on the automatic braking release conditions and a driver's brake request when a driver executes a brake operation during the automatic braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro MATSUBARA, Toshiyuki Innami, Atsushi Yokoyama, Satoru Kuragaki, Kimio Nishino, Toshiharu Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20080282118
    Abstract: The highly reliable distributed system is composed of a communication protocol processing unit which comprises a mailbox for storing a communication message, and executes communication protocol processing between data of an application program and a network controller using the network controller performing network communication of the message in the mailbox; an error detection coding unit; an error detection decoding unit which reconverts data converted from communication data by the error detection coding unit to the original data, and detects that the content of the data is damaged if it is damaged; and a data comparing unit for checking whether or not two kinds of data agree with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru NAGAURA, Takanori Yokoyama, Shoji Suzuki, Satoru Kuragaki, Takaaki Imai
  • Patent number: 7425983
    Abstract: A simple outdoor security system which uses sensors to monitor an area around a building to detect intruders while reducing the number of sensors necessary for ensuring detection accuracy, which has at least a detection means for radiating light or an electric wave to a prescribed area to detect an object, receiving a wave reflected by the object and detecting at least the speed and location of the object; an imaging means for imaging the object; and a means for directing said imaging means toward the object according to the object's speed and location detected by said detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Hiroshi Kuroda, Satoru Kuragaki
  • Publication number: 20080116740
    Abstract: A brake system that provides a good pedal feel, that assists stepping force of a driver by a small motor, and that can control braking force of wheels individually. The brake system comprises a first actuator (5) for increasing a liquid pressure in a master cylinder (2) by driving torque of a motor (51), and a second actuator (6) capable of driving a brake generating mechanism (3) without transmitting power to the master cylinder (2), wherein the actuators (5, 6) to be driven are switched depending on the operation of a brake pedal (1). The first and second actuators (5, 6) are connected to hydraulic piping (4f, 4r), and a pressurized oil is supplied to the brake generating mechanism (3) through hydraulic valve means (63f, 63r, . . . 65rr).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Lld.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Taisetsu Tanimichi, Satoru Kuragaki, Yukihiro Osawa, Jun Kubo, Yukihiko Inoue, Katsuya Iwasaki, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tsutomu Hibi
  • Patent number: 7372395
    Abstract: This invention provides a ground-speed measuring apparatus for a vehicle that can detect a velocity along the movement of the vehicle (in the fore direction), a velocity across the movement of the vehicle (in the athwartships direction), a side-skid angle of the vehicle, and an angular velocity of the vehicle. A ground-speed measuring apparatus comprising three or more transceivers each of which contains a transmitter for transmitting a wave and a receiver for receiving a reflection of the wave transmitted from the transmitter, wherein at least three of said transceivers are placed outside a cylindrical area whose axis of symmetry passes through a point on the floor of the vehicle, three straight lines which respectively pass through said transceivers perpendicularly thereto intersect with each other or skewed in said cylindrical area, and the transmitter of each transceiver is at a preset angle with the floor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kojima, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi
  • Publication number: 20080097675
    Abstract: An electric braking control apparatus for controlling an electric braking apparatus which includes a brake pad, a motor which generates a rotational torque, and a rotation/linear motion conversion mechanism which causes the brake pad to generate a pressing force based on the torque. The braking control apparatus includes an inverter which converts and outputs an electric current supplied from a power supply to the motor, and a microcomputer that receives power from the power supply, detects the value of a voltage applied from the power supply to the inverter, and controls the electric current output from the inverter depending on a result of the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Konishi, Toshiyuki Innami, Satoru Kuragaki, Takafumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7356739
    Abstract: The highly reliable distributed system is composed of a communication protocol processing unit which comprises a mailbox for storing a communication message, and executes communication protocol processing between data of an application program and a network controller using the network controller performing network communication of the message in the mailbox; an error detection coding unit; an error detection decoding unit which reconverts data converted from communication data by the error detection coding unit to the original data, and detects that the content of the data is damaged if it is damaged; and a data comparing unit for checking whether or not two kinds of data agree with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Nagaura, Takanori Yokoyama, Shoji Suzuki, Satoru Kuragaki, Takaaki Imai
  • Publication number: 20080048596
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus having a conversion mechanism for generating a force for pressing or separating a brake friction member based on a rotational torque generated by an electric motor, wherein a rotor angle position state of the electric motor and a brake process of the brake friction member which is pressed or separated are detected from rotational information of a rotational information obtaining unit, it is detected that the electric motor has reached a predetermined rotational state based on the detected value, and a relationship between a pressure command and the rotor angle position of the electric motor is corrected based on the current value information of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasufumi KONISHI, Satoru Kuragaki