Patents Assigned to Nissan Motor Company Limited
  • Automatic power transmission with mechanism for establishing under-drive speed ratio and bearing structure therefor
    Patent number: 5055098
    Abstract: An automatic power transmission includes a clutch drum integrally connected with an one-way clutch which is fixed to a support secured on a transmission casing so that each one bearing is required for supporting the clutch drum and the one-way clutch. A sun gear is also supported by means of a single bearing and is integrally formed with a spline which is loosely engageable with a spline of the clutch drum so that the radial force may not act in the spline engagement while an engine output torque is transmitted therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Jatco Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeto Umebayashi, Kazuyoshi Iwanaga, Noboru Hattori
  • Working fluid circuit for active suspension system with surge suppressive feature
    Patent number: 5054808
    Abstract: An active suspension system is provided a pressure accumulator connected to a drain line connecting a drain port of a pressure control valve which controls pressure in the working chamber of an active cylinder. The pressure accumulator serves for absorbing high pressure surge. On the other hand, means, disposed within the drain line, for generating pressure difference between the upstream and the lowerstream thereof so that the fluid pressure in the drain line at the orientation where the pressure accumulator is connected, is maintained at a level higher than an initial gas pressure in the pressure accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Tsukamoto
  • Cushion arrangement
    Patent number: 5054145
    Abstract: A cushion arrangement includes a cushion body and a dynamic damper connected to the cushion body for damping vibration of the cushion body. The dynamic damper generally includes a mass and a resilient connection between the mass and the cushion body. The mass may include liquid. A device may offer resistance to movement of the liquid responsive to vibration of the cushion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kouji Tsuchiya, Keiichiro Tsutsui, Masaru Koide
  • Attitude change suppressive vehicular height regulation system
    Patent number: 5053965
    Abstract: A vehicular height regulation system performs attitude change suppressive suspension control for equalized magnitude at respective of front and rear wheels. For performing equalized magnitude not only for the front suspension systems, the vehicular height control system includes a pair of actuator means associated with respective of rear-left and rear-right wheels, which actuator means are operable independently of each of other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Itaru Fujimura, Naoto Fukushima, Yukio Fukunaga, Yohsuke Akatsu, Masaharu Sato
  • Ultrasonic ground speedometer utilizing doppler effect
    Patent number: 5054003
    Abstract: An ultrasonic ground speedometer utilizing Doppler effect comprises an ultrasonic transmitter for outputting an ultrasonic wave having a particular wavelength at a predetermined angle against a road surface, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave caused by reflection of the output ultrasonic wave from the road surface, and a signal processor for deriving ground speed from Doppler shift between the output ultrasonic wave and the reflected ultrasonic wave. The particular wavelength is set to a value within a range of 2.6 mm through 3.4 mm to assure the highest possible S/N ratio for the Doppler shift signal obtained from the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Toshiya Kimura, Masami Negishi
  • System and method for automatically controlling vehicle speed so as to trail a preceding vehicle
    Patent number: 5053979
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling vehicle speed calculates the relative speed between the subject vehicle and another preceding vehicle on the basis of the intervehicle distance detected by an intervehicle distance detector. One of a number of relative speed values derived with reference to different sampling periods is selected according to the magnitude of one of the relative speed values so that a highly accurate and fast responsive system for controlling the vehicle speed can be achieved on the basis of the vehicle speed, intervehicle distance, and selected relative speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Etoh
  • Piezoelectric sensor for monitoring kinetic momentum
    Patent number: 5053671
    Abstract: A piezoelectric kinetic momentum sensor employs a thin oscillable diaphragm member on which a thin plate form piezoelectric sensor element is mounted. The entire circumferential edge of the oscillable diaphragm member is supported by the sensor casing. To avoid fluctuation of sensitivity due to the exerting direction of kinetic energy, the diaphragm member and the piezoelectric sensor element are formed in a coaxial thin disc shaped configuration, in the preferred construction. In the further preferred construction, the sensor casing is composed of two seperable bottomed cylindrical components, each of whcih has its circumferential cylindrical wall section free edge mating with the other. The circumferential edge of the diaphragm member is sandwiched between the mating free edges of the cylindrical components to define a sealed and enclosed internal space within the sensor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Kenichi Tanaka
  • System and method for controlling ignition timing for internal combustion engine in which alcohol is mixed with gasoline
    Patent number: 5050555
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling ignition timing for a lean burn type internal combustion engine in which alcohol is mixed with gasoline. A final ignition timing value ADV is determined from a basic ignition timing value BASE, a feedback correction quantity .DELTA..sub.1, plus a second correction quantity .DELTA..sub.2, the basic ignition timing value being derived for conventional fuel (gasoline) on the basis of the operating conditions of an engine having a driving region in which the engine is driven with a lean air/fuel mixture ratio. The second correction quantity, .DELTA..sub.2, is derived according to an estimated value of a percentage R of mixture of an alternative fuel (alcohol) to the conventional fuel (gasoline).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hisashi Mitsumoto
  • Transmission gear position dependent output control system for automotive internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5048372
    Abstract: An engine output characteristics control system includes means for monitoring a selection of speed ratios of a power transmission to provide information concerning transmission gear position. The control system receives transmission gear position indicative information to detect selection of a specific speed ratio of the transmission for providing information indicative of the selection of the specific transmission gear position. The control system is responsive to the specific transmission gear position selection indicative information for deriving an engine control signal for controlling the engine output characteristics so that the engine output is adapted to the specific speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sodeno, Shozo Nakayama, Kiyomi Kawamizu, Yuji Kato, Nobutaka Takahashi
  • Active suspension system and pressure control valve therefor
    Patent number: 5048861
    Abstract: A pressure control valve unit to be employed in an active suspension system includes a valve member movable between a pressure increasing mode position, a pressure decreasing mode position and a pressure holding mode position for adjusting fluid pressure in a working chamber of an active cylinder disposed between a vehicular body and a suspension member rotatably supporting a road wheel. The valve member is further movable to a pressure relieving position in response to a pressure in the working chamber higher than a predetermined value. The valve member at the pressure relieving position establishes fluid communication between the working chamber and a drain line for draining pressurized fluid in the working chamber at a draining rate higher than that in said pressure decreasing mode position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kenro Takahashi
  • System and method for controlling engine revolutions for vehicular internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5048483
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine revolution speed are disclosed in which upon a reduction in coolant temperature, a control signal is supplied to an idling control valve having a duty ratio reducing the duty ratio corresponding to the opening angle of the idling control valve when an engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined value so that during an engine deceleration in which an air regulator is open, an increase in a boost pressure is prevented and no reduction of the engine revolution speed occurs or engine revolution speed during the idling does not become excessively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shinsuke Nakazawa
  • System and method for controlling air/fuel mixture ratio for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5050083
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an air/fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine are disclosed in which an integration constant used for a calculation of an integration portion included in a feedback correction coefficient (.alpha.) of the air/fuel mixture ratio after a relationship between an actual air/fuel mixture raito and target (stoichiometric) air/fuel mixture ratio has been inverted is set and varied according to an engine driving condition, so that the integration constant meets requirements of a stability during an engine steady driving condition and a favorable responsive characteristic during an engine transient condition. In a preferred embodiement, a fuzzy control is applicable to the calculation of the integration constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masaaki Uchida, Hideki Uema, Fumio Yukawa, Kunifumi Sawamoto, Toyaki Nakagawa, Naoki Nakada
  • Automotive wiper control system with fail-safe feature for preventing burn-in of wiper motor
    Patent number: 5049794
    Abstract: A wiper control system includes measures an elapsed time of operation cycle, through which a wiper blade assembly performs one cycle of wiper operation. The wiper control system resets the measured elapsed time when ever the wiper blade assembly reaches a predetermined position. On the other hand, wiper control system detects the measured elapsed time exceeding a given period of time to initiate a predetermined fail-safe operation. In practice, the fail-safe operation is performed to intermittently drive the wiper motor with an interval which is long enough to sufficiently cooling off the wiper motor, when fail-safe operation is performed while wiper system is maintained ON, and to terminate driving of the wiper motor when the wiper system is turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Okada, Kiyoshi Konishi, Youzou Masaki
  • System and method for automatically controlling vehicle speed to cruise speed
    Patent number: 5048631
    Abstract: A System and method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed to a desired cruise speed are disclosed in which a control unit determines whether a control mode is a steady state mode in which the vehicle cruises at a set target vehicle speed or a transient state in which the target vehicle speed is transiently changed on the basis of input data of the actual vehicle speed, set target vehicle speed, an actual opening angle of an engine throttle valve, and a target opening angle of an engine throttle valve determined on the basis of a running resistance of the vehicle. In the steady state mode, the control unit controls a throttle actuator so that the target opening angle of the throttle valve coincides with the actual vehicle speed and actual vehicle speed is matched with the target vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Etoh
  • Rear wheel steering angle control system for vehicle
    Patent number: 5047939
    Abstract: A rear wheel steering angle control system for a 4WS vehicle is provided. This system includes a first circuit for deriving a locus defined by a specific point provided on the front end of the vehicle, a second circuit for deriving a locus defined by a specific point provided on the rear end of the vehicle, a third circuit for providing a target steering angle for the rear wheels so that a rear corner does not overhang outwardly during turning, and a controller for controlling an actual angle for steering the rear wheels. The third circuit determines the target steering angle so as to restrict the magnitude of offset of the rear specific point from the locus of the front specific point. The controller steers the rear wheels by the target steering angle to restrict the magnitude of overhang of the rear end of the vehicle and enables the vehicle to turn within the minimum possible turning circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ken Ito, Kazutaka Adachi
  • Suspension control system for automotive vehicle with adjustment of wheel slippage dependent wheel load distribution
    Patent number: 5044660
    Abstract: A suspension control system includes a mechanism for monitoring wheel slippage on each of individual wheels as a parameter represenatative of road/tire traction. Suspension control is performed generally according to the vehicle driving conditions reflected in various suspension control parameters, such as vehicular speed, lateral acceleration and so forth in order to adjust spring coefficient or damping characteristics of a suspension system which is provided between a vehicle body and a suspension member supporting each individual wheel in order to adjust wheel load distribution and whereby to minimize variation of vehicular attitude change. Suspension control is further performed with taking the road/tire friction as one of suspension control parameters in order to provide traction dependent wheel load distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamamura, Fukashi Sugasawa, Masatsugu Yokote, Takashi Imaseki
  • Active suspension system with enhanced suspension control characteristics at ON/OFF transition of suspension control
    Patent number: 5044661
    Abstract: An active suspension system includes a pressure holding mechanism with a pressure holding valve means which is maintained in conductive state for a given period in which the fluid pressure in a working chamber is gradually adjusted toward a predetermined neutral pressure level after turning OFF of a power switch. The pressure holding valve is, on the other hand, maintained in non-conductive state for a given period until the fluid pressure is adjusted to the neutral pressure after turning ON of the power switch. A control means is provided for performing suspension control operation in response to various suspension control parameters for adjusting fluid pressure in a working chamber of a cylinder for regulating vehicular height and vehicular attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazunobu Kawabata
  • Slip suppressive drive control system for automotive vehicle with reduction of power output of internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 5046009
    Abstract: A slip suppressive drive control system derives an optimal wheel slippage for slip control mode operation on the basis of an actual engine speed, a vehicle speed and the wheel speed of a driving wheel. A target engine speed is derived based on the derived optimal wheel slippage so that optimal wheel slippage is obtained at the target engine speed. The system is responsive to wheel slippage which is derived on the basis of the vehicle speed and wheel speed on the driving wheel, to perform slip control mode operation by performing fuel cut-off to shut down fuel supply for the engine in order to adjust the actual engine speed to the target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toshimi Abo, Takeshi Fujishiro, Katsunori Oshiage
  • Active suspension system with enhanced suspension control characteristics at on/off transition of suspension control
    Patent number: 5044662
    Abstract: An active suspension system includes a pressure holding mechanism with a pressure holding valve means which is maintained in conductive state for a given period in which the fluid pressure in a working chamber is gradually adjusted toward a predetermined neutral pressure level after turning OFF of a power switch. The pressure holding valve is, on the other hand, maintained in non-conductive state for a given period until the fluid pressure is adjusted to the neutral pressure after turning ON of the power switch. The system further includes a detector for detecting resumption of power supply after a short period of turning OFF of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazunobu Kawabata
  • Active suspension system with fail-safe system capable of automatically resuming normal suspension control upon resumption of normal state operation
    Patent number: 5042833
    Abstract: An active suspension system is provided with a fail detector for detecting failure of control system which includes sensors, control unit, control valves and so forth. Fail-safe operation is taken place by closing a fluid circuit across a working chamber in a suspension system disposed between a vehicular body and a road wheel and a pressure control valve for adjusting the fluid pressure in the working chamber, and by adjusting the fluid pressure in the closed circuit substantially at a predetermined neutral pressure. The system further includes a vehicular driving condition monitor for monitoring vehicular driving condition. When faulty condition of the control system is cured or terminated, active suspension control is resumed at a timing when the vehicular driving condition monitor detects a predetermined vehicular driving condition stable enough for permitting resumption of active suspension control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazunobu Kawabata