Patents by Inventor Takayuki Kawakura

Takayuki Kawakura 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: 7714526
    Abstract: The control device for a closure member of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: estimated load calculation means (8b) for obtaining an estimated load from a rotation speed, acceleration, and drive voltage of a DC motor (3) for driving a closure member (9); motor torque calculation means (8b) for calculating a motor torque from the rotation speed and drive voltage of the motor; reference torque calculation means (8f) for calculating a reference torque based on a stationary state of the motor torque; and pinching determination means (8c) for determining a pinching of an object based on the estimated load, motor torque and reference torque, wherein the pinching determination means determines that there is no pinching when at least one of the estimated load and the motor torque is below the reference torque even when the estimated load is greater than a prescribed threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawakura, Narimitsu Kobori, Takao Arai, Kenichi Hirano, Masahiro Fueki
  • Publication number: 20070216330
    Abstract: The control device for a closure member of a vehicle according to the present invention comprises: estimated load calculation means (8b) for obtaining an estimated load from a rotation speed, acceleration, and drive voltage of a DC motor (3) for driving a closure member (9); motor torque calculation means (8b) for calculating a motor torque from the rotation speed and drive voltage of the motor; reference torque calculation means (8f) for calculating a reference torque based on a stationary state of the motor torque; and pinching determination means (8c) for determining a pinching of an object based on the estimated load, motor torque and reference torque, wherein the pinching determination means determines that there is no pinching when at least one of the estimated load and the motor torque is below the reference torque even when the estimated load is greater than a prescribed threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Takayuki Kawakura, Narimitsu Kobori, Takao Arai, Kenichi Hirano, Masahiro Fueki
  • Patent number: 7218120
    Abstract: Various component parts of a driver circuit for drive sources such as electric motors and clutches, such as relays and FETs as well as the drive sources can be tested by selectively energizing the relays and evaluating the voltage levels of the selected points by using the first and second test voltage detection circuits. This testing process is typically executed before the power up of the drive circuit. The test current is so small that the drive sources would not be inadvertently activated and various components would not be damaged even when there is any faulty component in the driver circuit. When any faulty component is detected in the testing process, the driver circuit may be prevented from being powered up so that any undesired operation of the drive sources or permanent damage to various components owing to such a faulty component may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihito Shimoyama, Takayuki Kawakura, Tomoyuki Ogawa, Naohiko Shiga, Yuichi Yanagita, Katsuhiro Tanino
  • Publication number: 20050218904
    Abstract: Various component parts of a driver circuit for drive sources such as electric motors and clutches, such as relays and FETs as well as the drive sources can be tested by selectively energizing the relays and evaluating the voltage levels of the selected points by using the first and second test voltage detection circuits. This testing process is typically executed before the power up of the drive circuit. The test current is so small that the drive sources would not be inadvertently activated and various components would not be damaged even when there is any faulty component in the driver circuit. When any faulty component is detected in the testing process, the driver circuit may be prevented from being powered up so that any undesired operation of the drive sources or permanent damage to various components owing to such a faulty component may be avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihito Shimoyama, Takayuki Kawakura, Tomoyuki Ogawa, Naohiko Shiga, Yuichi Yanagita, Katsuhiro Tanino