Patents by Inventor Akira Higashimata

Akira Higashimata 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: 7346442
    Abstract: A controller (5) controls the engaging force between a pump impeller (1a) connected to an engine (2) and a turbine runner (1b) connected to an automatic transmission (23). The controller (5) first performs feedforward control of the engaging force. The controller (5) determines a reference value and a target rotation speed based on the capacity characteristics of the torque converter (1), and if the rotation speed of the engine (2) becomes less than the reference value, performs feedback control of the engaging force so that the deviation between the target rotation speed and the rotation speed decreases. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller (5) changes over from feedforward control to feedback control, even if the rotation speed of the engine (21) is not less than the reference value. As a result, the control precision of feedback control when performing a slip lock-up, is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Satoshi Segawa
  • Patent number: 7050898
    Abstract: In a vehicle driving force control apparatus for controlling a driving force of the vehicle to achieve a target acceleration or a target vehicle speed, a running resistance estimating section calculates an estimated running resistance. A target acceleration modifying section modifies the target acceleration with the estimated running resistance and thereby decreases the target acceleration with increase in the estimated running resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ono, Takeshi Ishizu, Hiroyuki Ashizawa, Akira Higashimata
  • Publication number: 20050278103
    Abstract: A controller (5) controls the engaging force between a pump impeller (1a) connected to an engine (2) and a turbine runner (1b) connected to an automatic transmission (23). The controller (5) first performs feedforward control of the engaging force. The controller (5) determines a reference value and a target rotation speed based on the capacity characteristics of the torque converter (1), and if the rotation speed of the engine (2) becomes less than the reference value, performs feedback control of the engaging force so that the deviation between the target rotation speed and the rotation speed decreases. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller (5) changes over from feedforward control to feedback control, even if the rotation speed of the engine (21) is not less than the reference value. As a result, the control precision of feedback control when performing a slip lock-up, is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Satoshi Segawa
  • Patent number: 6928357
    Abstract: A slip control system of a lockup torque converter includes a pre-compensator that pre-compensates for a target slip-rotation speed to produce a target slip-rotation speed correction value. A feedback compensator is provided to feedback-control an engagement capacity of a lock-up clutch based on a deviation between the target slip-rotation speed correction value and an actual slip-rotation speed to bring the actual slip-rotation speed closer to the target slip-rotation speed. Also provided is a dead-time processing section that compensates for the target slip-rotation speed correction value to reflect a dead time of dynamic characteristics peculiar to the slip control system in the target slip-rotation speed correction value. The dead-time compensated output is fed to the feedback compensator. The dead time is variable in accordance with a predetermined dead time characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Satoshi Segawa
  • Publication number: 20040111203
    Abstract: A slip control system of a lockup torque converter includes a pre-compensator that pre-compensates for a target slip-rotation speed to produce a target slip-rotation speed correction value. A feedback compensator is provided to feedback-control an engagement capacity of a lock-up clutch based on a deviation between the target slip-rotation speed correction value and an actual slip-rotation speed to bring the actual slip-rotation speed closer to the target slip-rotation speed. Also provided is a dead-time processing section that compensates for the target slip-rotation speed correction value to reflect a dead time of dynamic characteristics peculiar to the slip control system in the target slip-rotation speed correction value. The dead-time compensated output is fed to the feedback compensator. The dead time is variable in accordance with a predetermined dead time characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Satoshi Segawa
  • Publication number: 20030074124
    Abstract: In a vehicle driving force control apparatus for controlling a driving force of the vehicle to achieve a target acceleration or a target vehicle speed, a running resistance estimating section calculates an estimated running resistance. A target acceleration modifying section modifies the target acceleration with the estimated running resistance and thereby decreases the target acceleration with increase in the estimated running resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ono, Takeshi Ishizu, Hiroyuki Ashizawa, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6482122
    Abstract: A driving force control device, which controls a driving force by changing a gear ratio of an automatic transmission, comprises: a virtual throttle opening converter for converting a target driving force into a virtual throttle opening by using a target driving force characteristic and a detected vehicle speed; a throttle opening information selector for selecting the virtual throttle opening from the virtual throttle opening converter as throttle opening information when the driving force is controlled, and selecting an actual throttle opening from the throttle opening sensor as throttle opening information when the driving force is not controlled; and a target input revolutionary speed calculator 123d that calculates the target input revolutionary speed according to the selected throttle opening information, the detected vehicle speed and one shift map. The Continuously variable transmission determines an achievable gear ratio according to the target input revolutionary speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: JATCO TransTechnology Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Ochiai, Hiroyuki Ashizawa, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6434471
    Abstract: When a vehicle-to-vehicle time gap is changed from a first level to a second level with a selector switch, a controller determines a desired time gap so that the desired time gap varies from the first level to the second level at such a gradual rate as to prevent an abrupt change in the vehicle speed. The controller further determines a desired vehicle spacing from the controlled vehicle to a preceding vehicle in accordance with the desired time gap and a sensed vehicle speed, and controls the driving force and braking force of the controlled vehicle so as to bring the actual vehicle spacing closer to the desired vehicle spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Asada, Kenichi Egawa, Akira Higashimata, Satoshi Tange
  • Patent number: 6415217
    Abstract: In vehicular velocity controlling apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to a preceding vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle is detected, a vehicular velocity of the vehicle is detected; a relative velocity of the vehicle to the preceding vehicle is detected, a target inter-vehicle distance is calculated on the basis of detected values of the inter-vehicle distance and of the vehicular velocity, a control response characteristic of an inter-vehicle distance system to the target inter-vehicle distance is determined, an inter-vehicle distance command value based on the target inter-vehicle distance is calculated in accordance with the determined control response characteristic, a target vehicular velocity is calculated on the basis of the inter-vehicle distance command value, and the vehicular velocity is controlled to make the detected value of the vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target vehicular velocity, the control response character
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Takenori Hashizume, Kazutaka Adachi
  • Patent number: 6405120
    Abstract: In vehicular velocity controlling method and apparatus, an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle is detected, a target vehicular velocity to make a detected value of the inter-vehicle distance substantially equal to a target inter-vehicle distance is calculated, a vehicular velocity of the vehicle is detected, a target vehicular driving force to make a detected value of the vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target vehicular velocity is detected, a gradient of a descending slope on which the vehicle is running is detected, a driving force exerted by a rotary driving force source and a gear position of a vehicular transmission are controlled and simultaneously a brake force exerted by a vehicular brake system if the target driving force is negative on the basis of the calculated target driving force is controlled, and a limitation on a shift of the gear position of the vehicular transmission even under an establishment of a gear position shi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Takenori Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6401024
    Abstract: A preceding-vehicle follow-up control system is arranged to calculate a target vehicle speed based on a vehicle-to-vehicle distance and a controlled-vehicle speed, to calculate a target acceleration based on the target vehicle speed and to control driving force and braking force of the controlled vehicle based on the target acceleration. During this control period, the target acceleration is limited by an acceleration limit and a deceleration limit which are varied according the controlled-vehicle speed, respectively. This arrangement enables a follow-up vehicle speed control to be preferably executed without applying a strange feeling to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tange, Kenichi Egawa, Tetsuya Asada, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6389351
    Abstract: A preceding-vehicle follow-up control system is arranged to calculate a target vehicle speed employed for bringing a detected vehicle-to-vehicle distance closer to a target vehicle-to-distance, to control the controlled-vehicle speed to bring a controlled-vehicle speed closer to the target vehicle speed, to decelerate the controlled-vehicle speed to a set vehicle speed at a rate of a preset deceleration when the controlled-vehicle speed is greater than a control continuation decision value greater than an upper limit of the set vehicle speed and when the accelerating operation is terminated. This arrangement provides a smooth drive feeing to a driver even after an acceleration of the controlled vehicle is executed during a follow-up control and is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Egawa, Tetsuya Asada, Satoshi Tange, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6345227
    Abstract: In vehicular velocity controlling method and apparatus for an automotive vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to a preceding vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle is detected, a target vehicular velocity is calculated to make a detected value of the inter-vehicle distance substantially equal to a target inter-vehicle distance, a vehicular velocity of the vehicle is detected, the vehicular velocity of the vehicle is adjustably controlled to make a detected value of the vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target vehicular velocity, a target braking pressure for a vehicular brake system is calculated in accordance with a target deceleration variable calculated on the basis of the target vehicular velocity and the detected value of the vehicular velocity; and a limitation on a rate of increase in the target braking pressure is placed when the target braking pressure is in excess of a predetermined braking pressure threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Egawa, Satoshi Tange, Tetsuya Asada, Akira Higashimata
  • Publication number: 20010056009
    Abstract: A driving force control device, which controls a driving force by changing a gear ratio of an automatic transmission, comprises: a virtual throttle opening converter for converting a target driving force into a virtual throttle opening by using a target driving force characteristic and a detected vehicle speed; a throttle opening information selector for selecting the virtual throttle opening from the virtual throttle opening converter as throttle opening information when the driving force is controlled, and selecting an actual throttle opening from the throttle opening sensor as throttle opening information when the driving force is not controlled; and a target input revolutionary speed calculator 123d that calculates the target input revolutionary speed according to the selected throttle opening information, the detected vehicle speed and one shift map. The Continuously variable transmission determines an achievable gear ratio according to the target input revolutionary speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Tatsuo Ochiai, Hiroyuki Ashizawa, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6311122
    Abstract: In a vehicular velocity control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, a first calculator is provided to calculate a target vehicular velocity to make an actual inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to another vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle substantially equal to a target inter-vehicle distance, a second calculator is provided to calculate a target vehicular driving force to make an actual vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target vehicular velocity, a first controller is operated to control an engine output variable of a vehicular engine to make an actual engine output variable substantially equal to the target vehicular driving force, a second controller is responsive to a negative target driving force to control a mechanical brake manipulated variable of a vehicular brake system to make a vehicular brake force substantially equal to the negative target vehicular driving force together with an operation of the first controller, a brake force integrator is provided to integrate the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6298298
    Abstract: In vehicular velocity controlling method and apparatus for an automotive vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance from the vehicle to a preceding vehicle which is running ahead of the vehicle is detected, a relative velocity of the vehicle to the preceding vehicle is detected, a vehicular velocity of the vehicle is detected, a target value of the vehicular velocity to make a detected value of the inter-vehicle distance substantially equal to a target value of the inter-vehicle distance is calculated on the basis of the detected value of the inter-vehicle distance and a detected value of the vehicular velocity, the vehicular velocity is controlled to make the detected value of the vehicular velocity substantially equal to the target value of the vehicular velocity, a magnitude of a turning (for example, a lateral acceleration) of the vehicle is detected, a correction coefficient of the magnitude of the turning of the vehicle is calculated in accordance with the detected value of the vehicular velocity, and the targe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tange, Kenichi Egawa, Tetsuya Asada, Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6292737
    Abstract: A vehicle follow-up control apparatus includes a distance sensor sensing an actual vehicle-to-vehicle distance from a controlled vehicle to a preceding vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor sensing an actual vehicle speed of the controlled vehicle, and a controller for calculating a desired vehicle speed to be achieved in the controlled vehicle. The desired vehicle speed is calculated in accordance with the actual vehicle-to-vehicle distance, the relative speed and a control gain which is adjusted in accordance with the relative speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Takenori Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6256573
    Abstract: In system and method for an automotive vehicle equipped with the system and defined as a system vehicle, an inter-vehicle distance from the system vehicle to a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the system vehicle is detected, a velocity of the system vehicle is detected, a determination is made whether the system vehicle is running to follow up the preceding vehicle at a target value of the inter-vehicle distance, a control system for performing a feedback control of the detected value of the inter-vehicle distance to the target value thereof is provided, a target value of the velocity of the system vehicle is outputted, a control gain of the feedback control system being modified according to the detected value of the inter-vehicle distance and a result of a determination whether the system vehicle is running to follow up the preceding vehicle at a target value of the inter-vehicle distance and a braking force and a driving force of the system vehicle are controlled so as to make a detected value of the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Higashimata
  • Patent number: 6249738
    Abstract: In apparatus and method for controlling a vehicular velocity for an automotive vehicle, when a controller carries out a preceding vehicle follow-up control to follow up a preceding vehicle which is traveling ahead of the vehicle and is decelerated and a vehicular velocity of the vehicle becomes reduced and has crossed a set lower limit value of the vehicular velocity in a vehicular velocity controllable range, the controller releases the preceding vehicle follow-up control but continues a braking operation through a vehicular brake system using a function generator (Pbrk*=f(t)MPa) to prevent a sudden G drop from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Higashimata, Hideo Iwamoto, Takenori Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6188950
    Abstract: In system and method for an automotive vehicle equipped with the system and defined as a system vehicle, a target value of a driving-and-braking force applied to the system vehicle to make a detected value of a system vehicle velocity coincident with a target value of the velocity of the system vehicle is determined, a prime mover of the system vehicle and a transmission thereof in accordance with the target value of the driving-and-braking force is determined, a maximum deceleration force according to the target value of the velocity of the system vehicle and a shift position of the transmission of the system vehicle is estimated, a relative velocity of the system vehicle to the preceding vehicle on the basis of the detected value of the inter-vehicle distance is determined, and the shift position of the transmission is determined on the basis of the target value of the driving-and-braking force, the estimated maximum deceleration force, and the relative velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Tsutsumi, Akira Higashimata