Patents by Inventor Daisuke Umetsu

Daisuke Umetsu 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: 11951874
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system that can suppress a difference in effect of vehicle attitude control between the cases where a friction braking force is applied and not applied, is provided. The system includes a rotating electric machine, a battery, a steering apparatus, a steering angle sensor, a brake actuator that applies a friction braking force, a friction braking force sensor, and a controller that sets a deceleration torque based on a steering speed detected by the steering angle sensor and controls the rotating electric machine to apply the deceleration torque to a front wheel of the vehicle, thereby executing a vehicle attitude control. When the friction braking force is applied to the wheels by the brake actuator during the vehicle attitude control, if the friction braking force is large, the controller corrects the deceleration torque to a larger value than when the friction braking force is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu, Shinya Morishita
  • Publication number: 20230398992
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle system is configured to be capable of switching among four or more of a plurality of traveling modes including a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode and an electric vehicle (EV) mode, and includes one toggle switch for selecting any one of the plurality of traveling modes and a controller. The controller selects the plurality of traveling modes in sequence whenever the toggle switch accepts each of operations to a first direction and a second direction. The HEV mode is set to be changed to different traveling modes between when the toggle switch accepts one or a plurality of operations to the first direction and when the toggle switch accepts an operation to the second direction, and the HEV mode and the EV mode are set to be continuous in an order of selection by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Yasumasa Imamura, Juntaro Matsuo, Daisuke Umetsu, Kohei Okada, Junichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 11840146
    Abstract: In a control method for a vehicle and a vehicle controller that add deceleration to a vehicle so as to control a vehicle posture when a turning operation of a steering system is performed, the deceleration is appropriately set on the basis of an operation of a single pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Umetsu, Osamu Sunahara, Daisaku Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11827211
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. Based on the detected steering angle, the controller reduces the driving torque to add deceleration to the vehicle when the steering wheel is being turned in one direction, and increases the torque to add acceleration when the steering wheel is being turned back in the other direction. The controller controls the torque, when the steering wheel is being turned in the returning direction from a state where it is turned in the one direction, so as to add forward acceleration until the steering wheel returns to a neutral position, and when the steering wheel is then being turned in the other direction after passing through the neutral position, so as not to add the forward acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11772633
    Abstract: A vehicle control method is applied to a vehicle 1 in which a front wheel 2 is driven by an engine 4, and the method includes a basic torque setting step of setting basic torque to be generated by the engine 4, based on an operational state of the vehicle 1; an acceleration torque setting step of setting acceleration torque, based on a reduction in steering angle of a steering apparatus 5 mounted on the vehicle 1; a torque generation step of controlling the engine 4 so that torque based on the basic torque and the acceleration torque is generated; and an acceleration torque changing step of changing the acceleration torque, based on a vehicle-width-direction mounting position of a steering wheel 6 and an operation direction of the steering wheel 6 when the steering angle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, IKUTOKU GAKUEN
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tsukano, Shohei Yamada, Daisuke Umetsu, Fuminori Kato, Osamu Sunahara, Masato Abe, Makoto Yamakado, Yoshio Kano, Kazuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11767017
    Abstract: A travel mode switching device for a vehicle is provided, which is switchable between a plurality of travel modes including a sport travel mode and a towing travel mode. The device includes a travel mode selection interface that allows a driver to select one of the travel modes, a towing detection sensor that detects a towing state, and a processor configured to execute a travel mode switching module to switch the travel mode to the travel mode selected by the travel mode selection interface, and a travel mode regulating module to regulate the selection of the sport travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is detected by the towing detection sensor, and regulate the selection of the towing travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Nobutani, Yasumasa Imamura, Daisuke Umetsu, Naoki Takata, Juntaro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11752999
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus has a steering wheel 6, an engine 4 for outputting a driving force of a vehicle 1, a brake apparatus 16 capable of applying different braking forces to left and right wheels, and a PCM 14 including a processor and the like. When executing vehicle yaw control, which controls the brake apparatus 16 to apply to the vehicle 1 a yaw moment in the direction opposite to the yaw rate generated in the vehicle 1, after executing vehicle attitude control for reducing an output torque of the engine 4 based on a turning operation of the steering wheel 6, when the control amount of the vehicle attitude control is large, the PCM 14 increases the control amount of the vehicle yaw control compared to when the control amount of the vehicle attitude control is not large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Takahara, Kazunori Tsumura, Daisuke Umetsu, Hirofumi Fujishita
  • Patent number: 11739703
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering angle related value sensor configured to detect a steering angle related value of a steering device, and a controller configured to control the torque to control the vehicle attitude based on the steering angle related value. The controller acquires a current traveling mode defining a response of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle to an accelerator pedal operation. Based on the steering angle related value, when determined that a turning operation of the steering device in one direction is performed, the controller performs a torque decreasing control to add deceleration to the vehicle. When the acquired traveling mode is a high response traveling mode, the controller increases a reduction amount of the torque in the torque decreasing control more than in a low response traveling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11529991
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes an accelerator pedal and a steering wheel configured to be operated by a driver, an accelerator opening sensor configured to detect an accelerator opening corresponding to operation of the accelerator pedal, a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle corresponding to operation of the steering wheel, and a controller configured to set an additional deceleration to be applied to the vehicle in order to control a posture of the vehicle based on the detected steering angle, when the steering wheel is turned, and apply the additional deceleration to the vehicle. The controller sets the additional deceleration based on the detected accelerator opening, in addition to the steering angle, and sets the additional deceleration larger while the vehicle is towing than while the vehicle is not towing, when the additional decelerations are compared at the same accelerator opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Umetsu, Yasumasa Imamura
  • Patent number: 11518386
    Abstract: A vehicle system comprises an engine, a motor-generator and a controller. The engine has a combustion mode in which a part of an air-fuel mixture is combusted by spark ignition, and then the remaining air-fuel mixture is combusted by self-ignition. The controller sets a target additional deceleration based on a steering angle, when a steering wheel is turned, and sets an air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture to either one of a first air-fuel ratio and a second air-fuel ratio which is on a lean side, based on an operating state, when the engine performs the combustion mode. The controller controls an ignition timing so as to generate the target additional deceleration in the first air-fuel ratio, and controls a regenerative electric power generation of the motor-generator so as to generate the target additional deceleration in the second air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Akiya, Chikako Ohisa, Keitaro Ezumi, Akira Tsuda, Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11518405
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control system capable of, when a swaying phenomenon occurs during towing, preventing the swaying phenomenon from becoming worse due to driving force reduction control based on an increase in steering angle-related value. This vehicle control system comprises a steering wheel, a driving force control mechanism to control a driving force of a vehicle, and a power-train control module to control the driving force control mechanism. The power-train control module is operable, upon an increase in steering angle, to control an engine to reduce an output torque of the engine and, when a reversal of yaw rate of the vehicle is repeated in a situation where the vehicle is performing a towing operation, to restrict the output torque reduction based on the increase in the steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu, Setsuya Kishimura
  • Publication number: 20220340136
    Abstract: A travel mode switching device for a vehicle is provided, which is switchable between a plurality of travel modes including a sport travel mode and a towing travel mode. The device includes a travel mode selection interface that allows a driver to select one of the travel modes, a towing detection sensor that detects a towing state, and a processor configured to execute a travel mode switching module to switch the travel mode to the travel mode selected by the travel mode selection interface, and a travel mode regulating module to regulate the selection of the sport travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is detected by the towing detection sensor, and regulate the selection of the towing travel mode by the travel mode selection interface when the towing state is not detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Naoki Nobutani, Yasumasa Imamura, Daisuke Umetsu, Naoki Takata, Juntaro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11472396
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle control method which comprises the steps of: determining whether or not a squat of a rear end of a vehicle body is equal to or greater than a given level; determining whether or not turning manipulation of a steering device has been made; and, when the turning manipulation of the steering device is determined to have been made, controlling each part of an engine (4) to reduce an output torque of the engine (4), wherein, in response to the determination that the turning manipulation of the steering device has been made, a reduction amount of the output torque of the engine is increased when the squat of the rear end of the vehicle body is equal to or greater than the given level, as compared to when the squat is less than the given level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11458836
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine driving a vehicle, a front wheel and a rear wheel, a suspension device with an attachment portion to a vehicle body which is located at a higher level than a center axis of the rear wheel, an electromagnetic coupling to distribute a torque of the engine to the front wheel and the rear wheel, a steering wheel to be operated by a driver, a steering angle sensor to detect a steering angle corresponding to operation of the steering wheel, and a controller to control the engine and the electromagnetic coupling. The controller is configured to control the electromagnetic coupling such that the torque distributed to the rear wheel is decreased in accordance with a returning operation of the steering wheel which is detected by the steering angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasumasa Imamura, Naoki Nobutani, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11447112
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle attitude control system for controlling the attitude of a vehicle in which a road wheel suspension is configured such that a roll axis of a vehicle body inclines downwardly in a forward direction. The vehicle attitude control system includes: a lateral acceleration sensor operable to detect a lateral acceleration; a brake actuator operable to apply a braking force; and a brake control device operable, based on a traveling state of the vehicle, to generate the braking force, wherein the brake control device is configured to execute vehicle attitude control of applying, to an inner rear road wheel, a larger braking force when the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is relatively large than when the lateral acceleration is relatively small, thereby suppressing uplift of an inner rear portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Hiraga, Daisuke Umetsu, Fuminori Kato, Hiroyuki Ogata
  • Publication number: 20220282681
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering angle related value sensor configured to detect a steering angle related value of a steering device, and a controller configured to control the torque to control the vehicle attitude based on the steering angle related value. The controller acquires a current traveling mode defining a response of acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle to an accelerator pedal operation. Based on the steering angle related value, when determined that a turning operation of the steering device in one direction is performed, the controller performs a torque decreasing control to add deceleration to the vehicle. When the acquired traveling mode is a high response traveling mode, the controller increases a reduction amount of the torque in the torque decreasing control more than in a low response traveling mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11433879
    Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises: an engine (4); an accelerator position sensor (10) configured to detect the position of an accelerator pedal; a steering device; a PCM (14) configured to generate a deceleration in the vehicle to control the attitude of the vehicle, when a steering angle-related value as a parameter related to a steering angle of the steering device increases; and a brake unit (16) configured to generate a deceleration in the vehicle, independently of reduction of an output torque of the engine, wherein the PCM is configured to generates the deceleration by means of the reduction of the output torque of the engine when a depression of the accelerator pedal is detected by the accelerator position sensor, and to generate the deceleration by the brake unit (16) when the depression of the accelerator pedal is not detected by the accelerator position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Osamu Sunahara, Yasunori Takahara, Chikako Ohisa, Yuichiro Akiya, Atsushi Yamasaki, Keiichi Hiwatashi, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20220260029
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering angle related value sensor configured to detect a steering angle related value of a steering device of the vehicle, a grille shutter configured to adjust an opening-and-closing degree of an opening formed in a front surface of a vehicle body, and a controller configured to control the torque to control a vehicle attitude based on the steering angle related value. Based on the steering angle related value, when the controller determines that a turning operation of the steering device is performed, it performs a torque decreasing control for reducing the torque to add deceleration to the vehicle, and when the grille shutter opening is large, the controller increases the torque reduction amount in the torque decreasing control more than when the opening is small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11401876
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering angle related value sensor configured to detect a steering angle related value of a steering device of the vehicle, a grille shutter configured to adjust an opening-and-closing degree of an opening formed in a front surface of a vehicle body, and a controller configured to control the torque to control a vehicle attitude based on the steering angle related value. Based on the steering angle related value, when the controller determines that a turning operation of the steering device is performed, it performs a torque decreasing control for reducing the torque to add deceleration to the vehicle, and when the grille shutter opening is large, the controller increases the torque reduction amount in the torque decreasing control more than when the opening is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20220234571
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is provided, which includes a driving force source configured to generate torque for driving drive wheels, a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. Based on the detected steering angle, the controller reduces the driving torque to add deceleration to the vehicle when the steering wheel is being turned in one direction, and increases the torque to add acceleration when the steering wheel is being turned back in the other direction. The controller controls the torque, when the steering wheel is being turned in the returning direction from a state where it is turned in the one direction, so as to add forward acceleration until the steering wheel returns to a neutral position, and when the steering wheel is then being turned in the other direction after passing through the neutral position, so as not to add the forward acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu