Patents by Inventor Shigeki Ehara
Shigeki Ehara 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: 10040479Abstract: There is provided an estimated steering angle calculation device for a vehicle capable of suppressing deterioration in accuracy of an estimated steering angle even if vehicle wheels slips or is locked due to acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. Although, when being accelerated during turning, tire gripping force of front wheels serving as a driving wheel increases and a difference between wheel speeds of the front wheels decreases so that an estimated steering angle ?es relative to an actual steering angle ?act tends to decrease, the deterioration in accuracy of the estimated steering angle ?es due to this tendency can be suppressed by increasing a second contribution rate relative to the estimated steering angle ?es on the rear wheel side and decreasing a first contribution rate on the front wheel side in accordance with an accelerator opening degree.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kawabe, Shigeki Ehara
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Publication number: 20170088173Abstract: There is provided an estimated steering angle calculation device for a vehicle capable of suppressing deterioration in accuracy of an estimated steering angle even if vehicle wheels slips or is locked due to acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. Although, when being accelerated during turning, tire gripping force of front wheels serving as a driving wheel increases and a difference between wheel speeds of the front wheels decreases so that an estimated steering angle ?es relative to an actual steering angle ?act tends to decrease, the deterioration in accuracy of the estimated steering angle ?es due to this tendency can be suppressed by increasing a second contribution rate relative to the estimated steering angle ?es on the rear wheel side and decreasing a first contribution rate on the front wheel side in accordance with an accelerator opening degree.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Kawabe, Shigeki Ehara
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Patent number: 8392066Abstract: An electric power-assist steering system that provides a steering assist control in accordance with the steering angle right after the idle stop to reduce an unpleasant steering feeling and is installed in a vehicle having an idle stop mechanism (engine controller) that automatically performs an idle stop operation in a predetermined condition. The electric power-assist steering system includes a torque sensor, a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle relative to a midpoint of a steering angle that is learned, an electric motor whose assist force is controlled based on the steering torque and the steering angle, and a resolver for detecting a rotational angle of the electric motor. A steering angle right after the idle stop is determined based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor right before the idle stop and variation in the rotational angle detected by the resolver during the idle stop.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., LtdInventors: Shigeki Ehara, Hiroyuki Tokunaga, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Yoshifumi Banno
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Patent number: 7913804Abstract: In an electric power steering system for a vehicle that controls a force that urges a steering wheel toward a neutral position thereof, a control unit (21) for the system is configured such that an electric motor (9) for providing an assisting force produces a relatively large returning force when a rotational direction of a steering wheel (2) agrees with a direction of the steering torque applied to the road wheel (7), and a relatively small returning force when a rotational direction of the steering wheel disagrees from a direction of the steering torque applied to the road wheel. Thereby, the effort required for a vehicle operator to steer the vehicle is reduced and the steering feel can be thereby and otherwise improved while providing a favorable returning force that urges a steering wheel toward a neutral position.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigeki Ehara, Hiroyuki Tokunaga
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Publication number: 20100286868Abstract: An electric power-assist steering system that provides a steering assist control in accordance with the steering angle right after the idle stop to reduce an unpleasant steering feeling and is installed in a vehicle having an idle stop mechanism (engine controller) that automatically performs an idle stop operation in a predetermined condition. The electric power-assist steering system includes a torque sensor, a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle relative to a midpoint of a steering angle that is learned, an electric motor whose assist force is controlled based on the steering torque and the steering angle, and a resolver for detecting a rotational angle of the electric motor. A steering angle right after the idle stop is determined based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor right before the idle stop and variation in the rotational angle detected by the resolver during the idle stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigeki Ehara, Hiroyuki Tokunaga, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Yoshifumi Banno
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Publication number: 20090266641Abstract: In an electric power steering system for a vehicle that controls a force that urges a steering wheel toward a neutral position thereof, a control unit (21) for the system is configured such that an electric motor (9) for providing an assisting force produces a relatively large returning force when a rotational direction of a steering wheel (2) agrees with a direction of the steering torque applied to the road wheel (7), and a relatively small returning force when a rotational direction of the steering wheel disagrees from a direction of the steering torque applied to the road wheel. Thereby, the effort required for a vehicle operator to steer the vehicle is reduced and the steering feel can be thereby and otherwise improved while providing a favorable returning force that urges a steering wheel toward a neutral position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTDInventors: Shigeki Ehara, Hiroyuki Tokunaga
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Patent number: 7552794Abstract: An input device 30A of an electric steering device 1 includes a pair of steering wheels 31A, 31B. When both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B. is operated being rotated, front wheels 9 can be steered. Further, when both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B is slid in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, the front wheels 9 can be steered.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norifumi Tamura, Takamitsu Tajima, Yoshinobu Tada, Koichi Suyama, Shigeki Ehara
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Publication number: 20070029711Abstract: In the present invention, when the controlling of the damping force of a damper by an actuator becomes impossible in a suspension apparatus for a vehicle, having an actuator for controlling the damping force of the damper for a suspension from which a wheel is suspended from a vehicle body, and a regulating device that regulates a vehicle height by extending and contracting the damper, the vehicle height regulation device extends and contracts the damper and thereby reduce the vehicle height. Therefore, even when the damper is fixed in a low damping force condition with the rolling rigidity and pitching rigidity of the vehicle in a lowered state, the stability of the vehicle can be secured by extending and contracting the damper by the actuator and thereby reducing the vehicle height and lowering the center of gravity of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Shigeki Ehara, Tsukasa Fukuzato
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Publication number: 20060214409Abstract: An input device 30A of an electric steering device 1 includes a pair of steering wheels 31A, 31B. When both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B. is operated being rotated, front wheels 9 can be steered. Further, when both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B is slid in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, the front wheels 9 can be steered.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2006Publication date: September 28, 2006Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norifumi Tamura, Takamitsu Tajima, Yoshinobu Tada, Koichi Suyama, Shigeki Ehara
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Patent number: 6161645Abstract: A cable steering device in which the steering torque of a steering wheel is transmitted to wheels by a driven pulley provided in a driven pulley housing, cables, a follower pulley provided in a follower pulley housing and a gear box, and a power steering motor for assisting in the generation of the steering torque is provided in the follower pulley housing and not in the gear box.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1998Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Tabata, Yasuo Shimizu, Shigeki Ehara, Koichi Suyama
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Patent number: 6116371Abstract: A cable steering device is provided such that it can be easily and reliably confirmed whether an inner cable of a Bowden cable is precisely wound around a pulley housed in a housing. Two inner cables are wound around a helical groove defined in an outer peripheral surface of a driven pulley connected to a steering wheel through a driven shaft. An opening is defined in a driven pulley housing enclosing the driven pulley, so that when the steering wheel is assembled to the driven shaft by a spline, it can be confirmed from the outside that the two inner cables have been wound precisely in two turns around the driven pulley.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichi Suyama, Yoshinobu Tada, Tomoya Toyohira, Norifumi Tamura, Hiroshi Tabata, Shigeki Ehara
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Patent number: 6053274Abstract: Operation of a steering wheel is transmitted to a steering gear box through two cables. In this cable-type steering device, a steering torque inputted to the steering wheel is detected by a steering torque detector provided between the steering wheel and the cables. The operation of a motor for a power steering operation for driving the steering gear box is controlled on the basis of the detected steering torque. The steering torque detected by the steering torque detector includes the friction of the cables and hence, a steering torque offsetting the friction of the cables can be generated in the motor for the power steering operation, thereby providing an appropriate steering feeling. A hydraulic power steering device may be used instead of or in addition to a motor for a power steering operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeki Ehara, Kouichi Suyama
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Patent number: 5951031Abstract: A steering-wheel lock mechanism is provided at a position in which a driver can easily operate the lock mechanism in a cable-type steering device, and prevents a large load from being applied to Bowden wires. Bowden wires, wound around and fixed to a driving pulley mounted in a rotary shaft of a steering wheel, are connected to a steering gear box. A cylinder lock operated by an ignition key is mounted on a driving-pulley housing having the driving pulley accommodated therein. By bringing a lock pin protruding from the cylinder lock, operated to a lock position, into engagement into a lock bore in the driving pulley, the rotation of the driving pulley is inhibited to lock the steering wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Hiroshi Tabata, Shigeki Ehara
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Patent number: 5924520Abstract: In a cable-type steering device (in which a steering torque of a steering wheel is transmitted to wheels through a driven pulley, cables, and a follower pulley, and is assisted by a motor for a power-steering operation), a rotational angle of the driven pulley and a rotational angle of the follower pulley upon operation of the steering wheel are detected by potentiometers. A deviation between both of the rotational angles is proportional to an amount of elongation of the cables, i.e., the steering torque. Hence, an electronic control unit U controls the driving of the motor for the power-steering operation based on the deviation.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigeki Ehara, Hiroshi Tabata
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Patent number: 5893426Abstract: A cable-type steering device for controlling operation of a power-steering motor in accordance with the tension on stranded metal wire cables which connect a vehicle steering wheel to a steering gearbox. Tensions of the cables are detected by contact with an arm of a potentiometer. The surfaces of the cables are smoothed by a swaging treatment or resin coating treatment to prevent undesirable vibrations of the arm of the potentiometer and improve the detection accuracy of the potentiometer. The smoothing treatment eliminates undesirable vibration which might otherwise occur due to irregularity of the surface of untreated stranded metal wire cable.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1998Date of Patent: April 13, 1999Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Hiroshi Tabata, Shigeki Ehara