Patents by Inventor Chihiro Kawabata

Chihiro Kawabata 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: 9073449
    Abstract: An efficiency map generating apparatus (100) generates an efficiency map of motors (M) connected to drive wheels of a mobile body and includes an instructed torque detecting unit (111) that detects an instructed torque input for the multiple motors (M), a torque distributing unit (112) that distributes torque to each of the multiple motors (M) based on the instructed torque, a power consumption detecting unit (113) that detects power consumption of the motors (M), a rotation count detecting unit (103) that detects the rotation counts of the motors (M), and an efficiency map generating unit (114) that generates a motor efficiency map (115) based on the torque in multiple combinations, the power consumption, and the rotation counts, where the torque distributing unit (112) causes any of the multiple motors (M) to generate regenerative torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kitano, Masahiro Kato, Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Chihiro Kawabata, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9045057
    Abstract: An efficiency map generating apparatus (100) generates an efficiency map of motors (M) connected to drive wheels of a mobile body and includes an instructed torque detecting unit (111) that detects an instructed torque input for the multiple motors (M), a torque distributing unit (112) that distributes torque to each of the multiple motors (M) based on the instructed torque, a power consumption detecting unit (113) that detects power consumption of the motors (M), a rotation count detecting unit (103) that detects the rotation counts of the motors (M), and an efficiency map generating unit (114) that generates a motor efficiency map (115) based on the torque in multiple combinations, the power consumption, and the rotation counts, where the torque distributing unit (112) causes any of the multiple motors (M) to generate regenerative torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kitano, Masahiro Kato, Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Chihiro Kawabata, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 9014897
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus acquires instructed torque input and a motor efficiency map; detects vehicular speed and drive wheel rotational speed; calculates based on the speeds, a relational expression of a slip rate at drive wheels and a friction coefficient; creates based on the relational expression, a performance curve expression that indicates torque-drive wheel rotational speed relations, superimposes the performance curve expression on the motor efficiency map, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates for each vehicular speed, the torque and efficiency values of the motor efficiency map, and calculates torque that optimizes efficiency, from the efficiency variation expression; calculates within a range of the slip rate being 0 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazutoshi Kitano, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8935032
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus acquires an instructed torque input and a motor efficiency map for motors; detects vehicular speed and drive wheel rotational speed; calculates based on the detected speeds, a relational expression of drive wheel slip rate and a friction coefficient; creates based on the relational expression, a performance curve expression indicating relations between torque and the drive wheel rotational speed, superimposes the performance curve expression on the motor efficiency map, creates an efficiency variation expression indicating for each vehicular speed, the torque and efficiency values of the motor efficiency map, and calculates a torque that optimizes efficiency from the efficiency variation expression; calculates based on the instructed torque and the torque optimizing efficiency, a torque distribution value for each motor; and controls torque distribution to each motor, within a range of the slip rate being 0 to 0.2 and based on the torque distribution values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazutoshi Kitano, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8849538
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus includes an instructed torque acquiring unit that acquires input instructed torque, a determining unit that determines whether to perform power running control or regenerative braking, an efficiency map acquiring unit that based on a determination result, acquires a motor efficiency map, a vehicular speed detecting unit, a drive wheel rotational speed detecting, a slip rate calculating unit that calculates slip rate at drive wheels, a calculating unit that based on the slip rate, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates efficiency values on a performance curve that indicates relations between drive wheel rotational speed and torque, a distributing unit that calculates based on the slip rate, the instructed torque, and the torque optimizing efficiency, torque distribution values such that overall efficiency during power running and during regeneration are maximized, and a control unit that controls torque distribution to the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Kazutoshi Kitano, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140067181
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus acquires an instructed torque input and a motor efficiency map for motors; detects vehicular speed and drive wheel rotational speed; calculates based on the detected speeds, a relational expression of drive wheel slip rate and a friction coefficient; creates based on the relational expression, a performance curve expression indicating relations between torque and the drive wheel rotational speed, superimposes the performance curve expression on the motor efficiency map, creates an efficiency variation expression indicating for each vehicular speed, the torque and efficiency values of the motor efficiency map, and calculates a torque that optimizes efficiency from the efficiency variation expression; calculates based on the instructed torque and the torque optimizing efficiency, a torque distribution value for each motor; and controls torque distribution to each motor, within a range of the slip rate being 0 to 0.2 and based on the torque distribution values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazutoshi Kitano, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140046568
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus includes an instructed torque acquiring unit that acquires input instructed torque, a determining unit that determines whether to perform power running control or regenerative braking, an efficiency map acquiring unit that based on a determination result, acquires a motor efficiency map, a vehicular speed detecting unit, a drive wheel rotational speed detecting, a slip rate calculating unit that calculates slip rate at drive wheels, a calculating unit that based on the slip rate, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates efficiency values on a performance curve that indicates relations between drive wheel rotational speed and torque, a distributing unit that calculates based on the slip rate, the instructed torque, and the torque optimizing efficiency, torque distribution values such that overall efficiency during power running and during regeneration are maximized, and a control unit that controls torque distribution to the motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Kazutoshi Kitano, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140018988
    Abstract: An efficiency map generating apparatus (100) generates an efficiency map of motors (M) connected to drive wheels of a mobile body and includes an instructed torque detecting unit (111) that detects an instructed torque input for the multiple motors (M), a torque distributing unit (112) that distributes torque to each of the multiple motors (M) based on the instructed torque, a power consumption detecting unit (113) that detects power consumption of the motors (M), a rotation count detecting unit (103) that detects the rotation counts of the motors (M), and an efficiency map generating unit (114) that generates a motor efficiency map (115) based on the torque in multiple combinations, the power consumption, and the rotation counts, where the torque distributing unit (112) causes any of the multiple motors (M) to generate regenerative torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kitano, Masahiro Kato, Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Chihiro Kawabata, Eiji Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20140018987
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus acquires instructed torque input and a motor efficiency map; detects vehicular speed and drive wheel rotational speed; calculates based on the speeds, a relational expression of a slip rate at drive wheels and a friction coefficient; creates based on the relational expression, a performance curve expression that indicates torque-drive wheel rotational speed relations, superimposes the performance curve expression on the motor efficiency map, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates for each vehicular speed, the torque and efficiency values of the motor efficiency map, and calculates torque that optimizes efficiency, from the efficiency variation expression; calculates within a range of the slip rate being 0 to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazutoshi Kitano, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140018989
    Abstract: An efficiency map generating apparatus (100) generates an efficiency map of motors (M) connected to drive wheels of a mobile body and includes an instructed torque detecting unit (111) that detects an instructed torque input for the multiple motors (M), a torque distributing unit (112) that distributes torque to each of the multiple motors (M) based on the instructed torque, a power consumption detecting unit (113) that detects power consumption of the motors (M), a rotation count detecting unit (103) that detects the rotation counts of the motors (M), and an efficiency map generating unit (114) that generates a motor efficiency map (115) based on the torque in multiple combinations, the power consumption, and the rotation counts, where the torque distributing unit (112) causes any of the multiple motors (M) to generate regenerative torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kitano, Masahiro Kato, Yoshikazu Takeuchi, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Chihiro Kawabata, Eiji Muramatsu