Patents by Inventor Akihiko Nishimura

Akihiko Nishimura 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: 11959883
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a diagnostic apparatus includes a sound-emitting unit, at least one measurement unit, and a processor. The sound-emitting unit includes a plurality of speakers arranged at equal angular intervals on a circumference of a circle, and is configured to emit a first vibration sound to a target by using the speakers. The at least one measurement unit is arranged on a central axis of the circle, and is configured to measure a vibration of the target generated in response to the first vibration sound, or a second vibration sound radiated from the target due to the vibration. The processor is configured to diagnose the target based on an output from the at least one measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Goto, Akihiko Enamito, Osamu Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20240098408
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a noise reduction system includes a microphone, a loudspeaker, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry switches an operating mode between a control mode and a path characteristic measurement mode, includes a control filter that generates a control signal that causes the loudspeaker to output a control sound for reducing noise, based on a detection signal obtained by detecting a first sound including the noise with the microphone, measures a path characteristic including an acoustic characteristic between the loudspeaker and the microphone, and generates the control filter by using a measurement result of the path characteristic and a noise feature signal including a feature of the noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko GOTO, Osamu NISHIMURA, Akihiko ENAMITO
  • Patent number: 11628878
    Abstract: A driving assistance control device outputs a driving assistance command value to a steering control device as information indicating a target course that is generated on the basis of the detection result of a vehicle-mounted sensor. The driving assistance command value is output as a torque component or an angle component depending on the design of the driving assistance control device. In response, processing in which a driving assistance command value input from the exterior of the steering control device is used as input for angle control processing or input for torque control processing within an assist command value calculation unit is performed by a microcomputer as assistance command value input processing by an assistance command value input processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto Matsuo, Terutaka Tamaizumi, Akihiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11273864
    Abstract: A driving assistance control device outputs a driving assistance command value to a steering control device as information indicating a target course that is generated on the basis of the detection result of a vehicle-mounted sensor. The driving assistance command value is output as a torque component or an angle component depending on the design of the driving assistance control device. In response, processing in which a driving assistance command value input from the exterior of the steering control device is used as input for angle control processing or input for torque control processing within an assist command value calculation unit is performed by a microcomputer as assistance command value input processing by an assistance command value input processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto Matsuo, Terutaka Tamaizumi, Akihiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10858039
    Abstract: A steering control unit includes a microcomputer that controls the driving of a motor on the basis of a steering torque to cause the motor to produce an assist force that is supplied to a steering mechanism as power to steer front wheels. The microcomputer calculates, on the basis of the steering torque, an assist component indicative of the assist force that the motor needs to produce. The microcomputer obtains vertical forces related to the front wheels that are calculated by hub units that rotatably support the front wheels and have front wheel sensors for detecting forces applied to the front wheels. The microcomputer compensates the assist component by using the obtained vertical forces, to reduce a change in load on a driver that is caused when vertical loads on the front wheels change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20200339184
    Abstract: This steering control device is provided with a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes: a basic assist component calculation unit for calculating a basic assist component; an angle command value calculation unit for calculating an angle command value; an angle feedback control unit that calculates an assist command value via angle feedback control in which a pinion angle is made to follow the angle command value; and a control signal generation unit that generates a motor control signal on the basis of the assist command value. The basic assist component calculation unit includes: a torque command value calculation unit for calculating a torque command value that is a target value for steering torque to be input by a driver; and a torque feedback control unit that calculates the basic assist component via torque feedback control in which the steering torque is made to follow the torque command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto MATSUO, Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200331523
    Abstract: A driving assistance control device outputs a driving assistance command value to a steering control device as information indicating a target course that is generated on the basis of the detection result of a vehicle-mounted sensor. The driving assistance command value is output as a torque component or an angle component depending on the design of the driving assistance control device. In response, processing in which a driving assistance command value input from the exterior of the steering control device is used as input for angle control processing or input for torque control processing within an assist command value calculation unit is performed by a microcomputer as assistance command value input processing by an assistance command value input processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto MATSUO, Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20200324812
    Abstract: A driving assistance control device outputs a driving assistance command value to a steering control device as information indicating a target course that is generated on the basis of the detection result of a vehicle-mounted sensor. The driving assistance command value is output as a torque component or an angle component depending on the design of the driving assistance control device. In response, processing in which a driving assistance command value input from the exterior of the steering control device is used as input for angle control processing or input for torque control processing within an assist command value calculation unit is performed by a microcomputer as assistance command value input processing by an assistance command value input processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto MATSUO, Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 10787197
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a microcomputer configured to control driving of a motor based on a steering torque so as to generate, for a steering mechanism, an assist force as power for turning front wheels. The microcomputer calculates an assist component indicating the assist force to be generated in the motor based on the steering torque, acquires steered moments about axes extending in a vertical direction of the front wheels from hub units that rotatably support the front wheels and include front wheel sensors configured to detect forces applied to the front wheels, respectively, and compensates for the assist component by using the acquired steered moments so as to generate, in the motor, a vibration suppressing force for suppressing a reverse input vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10661826
    Abstract: The microcomputer included in the steering control unit calculates a basic assist component that is a component of the assist force, on the basis of the steering torque. The microcomputer calculates a damping compensation component that suppresses a sudden change in a rotation angle, on the basis of a rotational angular velocity that is a time rate of change of the rotation angle. The microcomputer calculates, independently of the damping compensation component, a return compensation component that suppresses influence of the damping compensation component, on the basis of the rotational angular velocity. The microcomputer compensates the basic assist component by using both the damping compensation component and the return compensation component, in a situation where the steering wheel comes back to the neutral position without a steering operation that a driver performs to return the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto Matsuo, Yoshihiko Sugimoto, Akihiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10286946
    Abstract: A steering control system with which a steering angle accurately follows a steering angle command value is provided. An assist command value calculation circuit calculates a first assist component based on a value obtained by adding a basic assist controlled variable with a system stabilization controlled variable. The assist command value calculation circuit includes a pinion angle feedback control circuit that calculates a second assist component by executing angle feedback control based on a deviation between a pinion angle and a final pinion angle command value that is the sum of a pinion angle command value and an ADAS command angle. The assist command value calculation circuit outputs an assist command value based on the first assist component and the second assist component. The assist command value calculation circuit receives a steering torque obtained after the influence of viscosity and inertia is reduced by a steering torque compensation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20190077448
    Abstract: The microcomputer included in the steering control unit calculates a basic assist component that is a component of the assist force, on the basis of the steering torque. The microcomputer calculates a damping compensation component that suppresses a sudden change in a rotation angle, on the basis of a rotational angular velocity that is a time rate of change of the rotation angle. The microcomputer calculates, independently of the damping compensation component, a return compensation component that suppresses influence of the damping compensation component, on the basis of the rotational angular velocity. The microcomputer compensates the basic assist component by using both the damping compensation component and the return compensation component, in a situation where the steering wheel comes back to the neutral position without a steering operation that a driver performs to return the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeto MATSUO, Yoshihiko SUGIMOTO, Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190039640
    Abstract: A steering control unit includes a microcomputer that controls the driving of a motor on the basis of a steering torque to cause the motor to produce an assist force that is supplied to a steering mechanism as power to steer front wheels. The microcomputer calculates, on the basis of the steering torque, an assist component indicative of the assist force that the motor needs to produce. The microcomputer obtains vertical forces related to the front wheels that are calculated by hub units that rotatably support the front wheels and have front wheel sensors for detecting forces applied to the front wheels. The microcomputer compensates the assist component by using the obtained vertical forces, to reduce a change in load on a driver that is caused when vertical loads on the front wheels change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20190023311
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus includes a microcomputer configured to control driving of a motor based on a steering torque so as to generate, for a steering mechanism, an assist force as power for turning front wheels. The microcomputer calculates an assist component indicating the assist force to be generated in the motor based on the steering torque, acquires steered moments about axes extending in a vertical direction of the front wheels from hub units that rotatably support the front wheels and include front wheel sensors configured to detect forces applied to the front wheels, respectively, and compensates for the assist component by using the acquired steered moments so as to generate, in the motor, a vibration suppressing force for suppressing a reverse input vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20170253265
    Abstract: A steering control system with which a steering angle accurately follows a steering angle command value is provided. An assist command value calculation circuit calculates a first assist component based on a value obtained by adding a basic assist controlled variable with a system stabilization controlled variable. The assist command value calculation circuit includes a pinion angle feedback control circuit that calculates a second assist component by executing angle feedback control based on a deviation between a pinion angle and a final pinion angle command value that is the sum of a pinion angle command value and an ADAS command angle. The assist command value calculation circuit outputs an assist command value based on the first assist component and the second assist component. The assist command value calculation circuit receives a steering torque obtained after the influence of viscosity and inertia is reduced by a steering torque compensation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 9573616
    Abstract: A control device in an electric power steering device calculates a first assist component based on steering torque and a vehicle speed. The control device also calculates a compensation component associated with an reverse input and calculates a steered angle command value based on an addition value of the compensation component and basic drive torque that is an addition value of the steering torque and the first assist component, produces a second assist component by performing steered angle feedback control that causes the steered angle of a vehicle to follow the steered angle command value. The control device controls drive of a motor based on an assist command value that is an addition value of the first assist component and the second assist component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka Tamaizumi, Hirozumi Eki, Masayuki Kita, Isao Namikawa, Akihiko Nishimura, Jun Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9327760
    Abstract: There is provided an electric power steering system that makes it possible to improve the driver's steering feel, and that includes a controller that controls driving of a motor. The controller computes a first assist component based on a steering torque. The controller computes a torque command value based on a basic drive torque that is the sum of the steering torque and the first assist component, and computes an assist compensation component through feedback control based on the torque command value. The controller computes a steered angle command value based on a value obtained by adding the assist compensation component to the basic drive torque, and computes a second assist component through feedback control based on the steered angle command value. The controller controls driving of the motor based on an assist command value that is the sum of the first assist component and the second assist component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka Tamaizumi, Hirozumi Eki, Masayuki Kita, Isao Namikawa, Jun Hasegawa, Akihiko Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20150251691
    Abstract: A control device in an electric power steering device calculates a first assist component based on steering torque and a vehicle speed. The control device also calculates a compensation component associated with an reverse input and calculates a steered angle command value based on an addition value of the compensation component and basic drive torque that is an addition value of the steering torque and the first assist component, produces a second assist component by performing steered angle feedback control that causes the steered angle of a vehicle to follow the steered angle command value. The control device controls drive of a motor based on an assist command value that is an addition value of the first assist component and the second assist component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Hirozumi EKI, Masayuki KITA, Isao NAMIKAWA, Akihiko NISHIMURA, Jun HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20140343794
    Abstract: There is provided an electric power steering system that makes it possible to improve the driver's steering feel, and that includes a controller that controls driving of a motor. The controller computes a first assist component based on a steering torque. The controller computes a torque command value based on a basic drive torque that is the sum of the steering torque and the first assist component, and computes an assist compensation component through feedback control based on the torque command value. The controller computes a steered angle command value based on a value obtained by adding the assist compensation component to the basic drive torque, and computes a second assist component through feedback control based on the steered angle command value. The controller controls driving of the motor based on an assist command value that is the sum of the first assist component and the second assist component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka TAMAIZUMI, Hirozumi EKI, Masayuki KITA, Isao NAMIKAWA, Jun HASEGAWA, Akihiko NISHIMURA
  • Patent number: 8560174
    Abstract: A steering torque shift control amount calculation unit (31) calculates the steering torque shift control amount (?ts) by multiplying the basic shift amount (?ts_b) used as the basic compensation component by the transition coefficient (Kss). Then, the steering torque shift control amount (?ts) is subjected to the low-pass filter process in an abrupt change prevention processing unit (32). An abrupt change prevention processing unit (40) is provided in the steering torque shift control amount calculation unit (31). The transition coefficient (Kss) is subjected to the low-pass filter process in the abrupt change prevention processing unit (40). The cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter that forms the abrupt change prevention processing unit (40) is set to a value lower than the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter that forms the abrupt change prevention processing unit (32) that executes the low-pass filter process on the torque shift control amount (?ts).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Nishimura, Terutaka Tamaizumi, Masayuki Kita, Shinya Aono, Jun Hasegawa, Akira Nambu