Patents by Inventor Toshio Tanahashi

Toshio Tanahashi 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8838264
    Abstract: A mold is designed by calculating a distribution of a contact surface pressure of a mating surface of a mold under a casting condition, and setting a machining amount of the mating surface of the mold based on the calculated distribution of the contact surface pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sato, Takeshi Tajima, Toshio Tanahashi, Nobuo Abe
  • Publication number: 20140257662
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20140222296
    Abstract: A vehicle control system vehicle control system configured to adjust a control characteristic of a vehicle in accordance with a driving preference of a driver. The vehicle control system detects an intentional operation of the driver based on a pattern of a change in a speed of an operation carried out by the driver to change a driving condition of the vehicle, and judges the driving preference on the basis of: a correlation of operational preference determining a correlation among an operating amount, an operating time and an operating preference; an operating amount of the intentional operation; and an operating time of the intentional operation. Therefore, the driving preference can be judged immediately when the driver carries out an operation to change a driving condition of the vehicle based on the operating time and the operating amount. The judged driving preference is reflected on the control characteristic of the vehicle immediately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20140207334
    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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20140195090
    Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Hiroki Kaneko, Koji Tsurumura
  • Patent number: 8775040
    Abstract: A vehicle control system obtains an index indicating a running condition of a vehicle on the basis of a vehicle parameter indicating a motion of the vehicle and then sets a running characteristic of the vehicle in accordance with the index. The vehicle control system includes a noise reduction unit that is configured to obtain the index on the basis of the vehicle parameter of which a fluctuating component that fluctuates because of a driver's driving operation or the influence of a running road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara, Kaiji Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20140129089
    Abstract: A steering system includes: a steering member that is provided on a vehicle and that is used for a steering operation; an actuator that assists the steering operation of the steering member; and a steering control device that executes returning operation assist control in which the actuator is controlled to assist a returning operation for returning the steering member to a neutral position, the returning operation corresponding to a turning operation for turning the steering member from the neutral position, and that determines a returning operation time at the time of executing the returning operation assist control on the basis of a steering operation amount of the steering member at the time of the turning operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8596162
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the easiness of steadily maintaining the magnitude of treading on a foot-operated operating element while mitigating a feeling of treading on a wall at the time of start of treading on the operating element. A pedal-operated operation device includes a pedal arm, a support housing, a spring for urging the pedal arm in a direction of return, a first shim and a second shim. A frictional engagement portion of the second shim is higher in maximum static friction force than a frictional engagement portion of the first shim. The second shim has a region in which the elastic modulus of the second elastic deformation portion is lower than that of the first shim, in terms of elastic deformation at the time when the pedal arm moves relative to the support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Nozu, Norihiro Nishiumi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 8521338
    Abstract: A vehicle control system capable of improving drivability by reflecting driving environment and driving preference accurately on driving characteristics. The vehicle control system is configured to change an index for setting driving characteristics of the vehicle. When accelerations Gx and Gy are changed, a sportiness index is changed in a different manner depending on a detail of an operation for changing accelerations Gx and Gy executed by a driver, thereby reflecting the driving preference of the driver appearing on the operation can be reflected on sportiness of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara
  • Publication number: 20130184934
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Yoji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20130166121
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20130166101
    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: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8473154
    Abstract: A vehicle control system, which is configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of a vehicle and to change at least any one of a driving force control characteristic and a vehicle body support characteristic of a suspension mechanism in response to the index, is configured to acquire information associated with a friction coefficient of a road surface on which the vehicle runs, and to correct the at least any one of the driving force control characteristic and the vehicle body support characteristic, which is changed in response to the index, on the basis of the information associated with the friction coefficient of the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Publication number: 20130151074
    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: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Youji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20120221228
    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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara
  • Publication number: 20120179342
    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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Kaiji Itabashi, Ken Koibuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara