Patents by Inventor Shin Noumura

Shin Noumura 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: 20220097662
    Abstract: The driving force control device includes: a requested driving force calculation unit configured to calculate requested driving force requested to the vehicle, in a coasting state where neither an accelerator operation nor a brake operation is performed by a driver; a power train control unit configured to control a gear ratio of the power train on the basis of the requested driving force and driving force that is achieved by the power train in the coasting state; a braking force calculation unit configured to calculate braking force required for achieving the requested driving force, when the requested driving force is smaller than driving force that is achieved by the power train at a gear ratio set by the power train control unit; and a brake control unit configured to cause the brake to generate the braking force calculated by the braking force calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin NOUMURA
  • Patent number: 11225227
    Abstract: The driving force control device includes: a requested driving force calculation unit configured to calculate requested driving force requested to the vehicle, in a coasting state where neither an accelerator operation nor a brake operation is performed by a driver; a power train control unit configured to control a gear ratio of the power train on the basis of the requested driving force and driving force that is achieved by the power train in the coasting state; a braking force calculation unit configured to calculate braking force required for achieving the requested driving force, when the requested driving force is smaller than driving force that is achieved by the power train at a gear ratio set by the power train control unit; and a brake control unit configured to cause the brake to generate the braking force calculated by the braking force calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20200023819
    Abstract: The driving force control device includes: a requested driving force calculation unit configured to calculate requested driving force requested to the vehicle, in a coasting state where neither an accelerator operation nor a brake operation is performed by a driver; a power train control unit configured to control a gear ratio of the power train on the basis of the requested driving force and driving force that is achieved by the power train in the coasting state; a braking force calculation unit configured to calculate braking force required for achieving the requested driving force, when the requested driving force is smaller than driving force that is achieved by the power train at a gear ratio set by the power train control unit; and a brake control unit configured to cause the brake to generate the braking force calculated by the braking force calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin NOUMURA
  • Patent number: 10315653
    Abstract: A vehicle running control apparatus is provided with: a first detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, and a speed of a self-vehicle or a relative speed; a second detector configured to detect accelerator-off and brake-off; a first calculator configured to calculate an approaching degree; a second calculator configured to calculate target deceleration corresponding to an engine brake amount on the basis of the approaching degree if the accelerator-off and the brake-off are detected; a controller configured to change the engine brake amount in accordance with the target deceleration; and a regulator configured to regulate or restrict a number of changes from an increase side to a reduction side of the engine brake amount, and a number of changes from the reduction side to the increase side, to be less than or equal to a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 9719443
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes an acceleration generating device (engine, T/M) that generates an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a vehicle control device that controls the acceleration generating device, based on an accelerator pedal stroke representing an operation of an accelerator pedal by a driver, and a vehicle speed of the vehicle. In the vehicle control system or method, the vehicle control device controls the acceleration generating device, based on a required acceleration that is determined based on a relationship between the accelerator pedal stroke and the required acceleration, including, as a condition, an acceleration corresponding to a given accelerator pedal stroke, which is specified by a relationship between the vehicle speed and the acceleration when the accelerator pedal stroke is held at the given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 9656675
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for adjusting control characteristics governing behaviors of a vehicle in accordance with a driving preference of a driver. The vehicle control system is comprised of a shifting means that shifts a driving mode of the vehicle between a first mode in which a driving force to be generated is moderated and a second mode in which a driving force to be generated is larger than that generated under the first mode, upon exceedance of a predetermined threshold value by an index that is changed according to a change in a behavior of the vehicle resulting from an accelerating or a decelerating operation executed by the driver. The threshold value is set to a limit value of acceleration for human beings to sense a linear change in the acceleration from zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20170129488
    Abstract: A vehicle running control apparatus is provided with: a first detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, and a speed of a self-vehicle or a relative speed; a second detector configured to detect accelerator-off and brake-off; a first calculator configured to calculate an approaching degree; a second calculator configured to calculate target deceleration corresponding to an engine brake amount on the basis of the approaching degree if the accelerator-off and the brake-off are detected; a controller configured to change the engine brake amount in accordance with the target deceleration; and a regulator configured to regulate or restrict a number of changes from an increase side to a reduction side of the engine brake amount, and a number of changes from the reduction side to the increase side, to be less than or equal to a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin NOUMURA
  • Patent number: 9630610
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle having a mechanism for changing an engine speed continuously. The driving force control system basically controls said mechanism in a manner such that the engine speed is adjusted to optimize fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine an index representing a demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle based on an actual behavior of the vehicle or an amount of operation carried out by a driver to cause said behavior. An upper limit value of the engine speed of the case in which a drive demand is increased is determined on the basis of the index, and the upper limit value is set to the higher value with an increase in the index representing the demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Hayashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Toshio Tanahashi, Shin Noumura, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Hiroki Kaneko, Tomoyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 9081652
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an acceleration acquisition unit that detects or estimates an acceleration of a vehicle; and a control unit that is configured to change a running characteristic, which includes at least any one of a driving force characteristic, shift characteristic, steering characteristic and suspension characteristic of the vehicle, on the basis of the acceleration, wherein the control unit is configured to relatively delay a change of the running characteristic for decreasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle with respect to a change of the running characteristic for increasing quickness of behavior of the vehicle, and is configured to limit a change of the running characteristic when a jerk, which is a time differential value of the acceleration, is larger than a limit determination threshold as compared with when the jerk is smaller than or equal to the limit determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 9074544
    Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus that changes the travel characteristic of a vehicle on the basis of a change of the acceleration of the vehicle, when the travel characteristic is to be changed because the acceleration has changed, the amount of change of the travel characteristic to be changed is adjusted on the basis of the pre-change travel characteristic that is present immediately prior to the change of the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9067604
    Abstract: In a control device for a vehicle that controls a revolution speed of a drive power source or a gear ratio of a transmission coupled to an output side of the drive power source in the vehicle equipped with the drive power source and the transmission, the control device is configured to determine an index that is based on a running state of the vehicle, and to control a required revolution speed of the drive power source or a required gear ratio for the transmission on the basis of the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Kaiji Itabashi, Ken Koibuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara
  • Publication number: 20150127200
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle having a mechanism for changing an engine speed continuously. The driving force control system basically controls said mechanism in a manner such that the engine speed is adjusted to optimize fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine an index representing a demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle based on an actual behavior of the vehicle or an amount of operation carried out by a driver to cause said behavior. An upper limit value of the engine speed of the case in which a drive demand is increased is determined on the basis of the index, and the upper limit value is set to the higher value with an increase in the index representing the demand to enhance agility of behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Takeshi Hayashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Toshio Tanahashi, Shin Noumura, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Hiroki Kaneko, Tomoyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 9002578
    Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to judge a vehicle behavior or a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle including at least longitudinal acceleration. An acceleration value used in the judgment is obtained on the basis of a weighted detection value of the actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a weighted parameter which is varied by an operation to increase a driving force of the vehicle executed by the driver. A weight on the parameter is reduced in case a weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is increased, and the weight on the parameter is increased in case the weight on the detection value of the longitudinal acceleration is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8977461
    Abstract: When the operating speed of an accelerator pedal is higher than a given operating speed, a target acceleration as a target output value is multiplied by a gain so that an absolute value of the target acceleration is increased; therefore, a large acceleration requested by the driver can be achieved. The gain by which the target acceleration is multiplied is set to 1 when the target acceleration is about zero, so as to resume a condition where the absolute value of the target acceleration is not increased. Thus, when the control of increasing the absolute value of the target acceleration with the gain is stopped, an elevation change is less likely or unlikely to occur in the actual acceleration. Consequently, a desired acceleration is generated without causing the driver to feel uncomfortable during driving of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Matsushita, Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 8972087
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a controller that configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of a vehicle and that configured to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, wherein the controller is configured to relatively delay a variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition when the variation in the index decreases quickness of a behavior of the vehicle as compared with when the variation in the index increases the quickness of the behavior of the vehicle, and to correct the running characteristic on the basis of the index so that energy efficiency of a driving force source of the vehicle varies within a predetermined range depending on control over power output from the driving force source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 8954232
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter. A relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined. The control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Youji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 8930085
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle, includes: a controller that is configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of the vehicle, to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, and to vary details output from an effect producing device, which applies a stimulus to at least part of five senses of a driver of the vehicle, on the basis of the index, wherein when a variation in the running characteristic because of a variation in the index decreases, quickness of a behavior of the vehicle, the variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition is relatively delayed, as compared with when the variation in the running characteristic because of the variation in the index increases quickness of the behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Shinichi Sano, Yoshimitsu Agata, Toshihiro Yamazaki, Shin Noumura
  • Patent number: 8909386
    Abstract: In a vehicle control system, an index used to set a running characteristic of a vehicle is obtained based on a running condition of the vehicle. A change of the index that makes behavior of the vehicle crisper is more likely to occur than a change of the index that makes the behavior of the vehicle milder. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a turning condition, the change of the index or a change of the miming characteristic based on the index is less likely to occur than when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the turning condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara
  • Patent number: 8903619
    Abstract: In a vehicle control system that obtains an index based on a running condition of a vehicle and changes a running characteristic of the vehicle according to the index, includes index setting means for making a change in the index in response to a change in the running condition in a direction toward crisp running of the vehicle, faster than a change in the index in response to a change in the running condition in such a direction as to reduce crispness with which the vehicle is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara
  • Publication number: 20140343815
    Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to estimate an index representing a driving condition of a vehicle and a driving preference of a driver based on acceleration of the vehicle, and to adjust a driving characteristics of the vehicle based on the index. The vehicle control system is comprised of a straight-line braking determining means configured to determine a fact that a braking operation of the vehicle is carried out under a condition that the vehicle travels in a straight line, and an operational disturbance reducing means that prevents or reduces an effect of a disturbance resulting from the straight-line braking of the vehicle on an adjustment of the driving characteristics of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura