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: 11041450
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an engine 10 capable of switching between reduced-cylinder operation and all-cylinder operation, an engine control mechanism that controls an engine torque, and a PCM 50 that executes vehicle posture control for generating vehicle deceleration by controlling the engine control mechanism to reduce the engine torque upon satisfaction of a condition that a vehicle is travelling and a steering angle-related value related to a steering angle of a steering device increases. In addition, this PCM 50 permits the execution of the vehicle posture control when an engine rotation speed is more than or equal to a first rotation speed Ne1 and permits the execution of the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 when the engine rotation speed is more than or equal to a second rotation speed Ne2 that is more than the first rotation speed Ne1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Osamu Sunahara, Yasunori Takahara, Chikako Ohisa, Yuichiro Akiya, Atsushi Yamasaki, Keiichi Hiwatashi, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20210146914
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori TAKAHARA, Kazunori TSUMURA, Daisuke UMETSU, Hirofumi FUJISHITA
  • Patent number: 11008930
    Abstract: When an incremental amount of a steering angle exceeds a reference incremental amount, an ECU 60 executes vehicle attitude control of reducing an output torque of an engine, and, in a given operating range, drives a spark plug 16 to allow an air-fuel mixture to be self-ignited at a given timing, thereby executing SPCCI combustion. When there is a request for an additional deceleration from the vehicle attitude control (#12: YES) and the SPCCI combustion is performed (#13: YES), the ECU 60 prohibits ignition retardation and performs torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control, by fuel amount reduction control of reducing the amount of fuel to be supplied into a cylinder 2 (#14). On the other hand, when the SPCCI combustion is not performed (NO in #13), the ECU 60 performs the ignition retardation to attain the torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control (#15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Takayama, Takeatsu Ito, Michio Ito, Kenko Ujihara, Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10968856
    Abstract: When an incremental amount of a steering angle exceeds a reference incremental amount, an ECU 60 executes vehicle attitude control of reducing an output torque of an engine, and, in a given operating range, drives a spark plug 16 in a manner allowing an air-fuel mixture to be self-ignited at a given timing, thereby executing SPCCI combustion. When there is a request for an additional deceleration from the vehicle attitude control (#12: YES), and the SPCCI combustion is performed (#13: YES), the ECU 60 executes fuel amount reduction control of reducing the amount of fuel to be supplied into a cylinder 2 (#14), so as to attain torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control. On the other hand, when the SPCCI combustion is not performed (#13: NO), the ECU 60 executes ignition retardation control of retarding an ignition timing of the spark plug 16 (#15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Takayama, Takeatsu Ito, Michio Ito, Kenko Ujihara, Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Publication number: 20210094563
    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 (6), a driving force control mechanism to control a driving force of a vehicle (1), and a PCM (16) to control the driving force control mechanism, wherein the PCM (16) is operable, upon an increase in steering angle, to control an engine (4) to reduce an output torque of the engine (4), and, when a reversal of yaw rate of the vehicle (1) is repeated in a situation where the vehicle (1) is performing a towing operation, to restrict the output torque reduction based on the increase in the steering angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU, Setsuya KISHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210079869
    Abstract: An engine control method includes a step of setting combustion mode in which a first combustion mode in which a mixed gas is combusted by propagating flame or a second combustion mode in which the mixed gas is combusted by self-ignition is selected, a step of setting air-fuel ratio mode in which a lean first air-fuel ratio mode or a second air-fuel ratio mode equal to or richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio is selected, a step of setting torque reduction in which a torque reduction amount by which a torque generated by an engine is reduced based on a steer angle of a steering wheel, and a suppressing step in which reducing the torque generated by the engine based on the torque reduction amount set in the step of setting torque reduction is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji TAKAYAMA, Takeatsu ITO, Masahiro NAGOSHI, Yuichiro AKIYA, Yuto MATSUSHIMA, Kenko UJIHARA, Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20210062709
    Abstract: When an incremental amount of a steering angle exceeds a reference incremental amount, an ECU 60 executes vehicle attitude control of reducing an output torque of an engine, and, in a given operating range, drives a spark plug 16 to allow an air-fuel mixture to be self-ignited at a given timing, thereby executing SPCCI combustion. When there is a request for an additional deceleration from the vehicle attitude control (#12: YES) and the SPCCI combustion is performed (#13: YES), the ECU 60 prohibits ignition retardation and performs torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control, by fuel amount reduction control of reducing the amount of fuel to be supplied into a cylinder 2 (#14). On the other hand, when the SPCCI combustion is not performed (NO in #13), the ECU 60 performs the ignition retardation to attain the torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control (#15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji TAKAYAMA, Takeatsu ITO, Michio ITO, Kenko UJIHARA, Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20210047978
    Abstract: A control unit performs a vehicle attitude control to reduce a torque generated by an engine when an increase in a steering angle exceeds a standard increase, and a spark ignition controlled compression ignition combustion in a predetermined operating range. In the spark ignition controlled compression ignition combustion, switching of an air-fuel ratio mode is performed between a first air-fuel ratio mode (?>1) is formed and a second air-fuel ratio mode (in which a mixed gas of ??1) is formed. If the switching of the air-fuel ratio mode is requested without the vehicle attitude control, the control unit allows performing the requested switching of the air-fuel ratio mode. In contrast, if the mode switching is requested in a state where the vehicle attitude control is requested, the control unit disallows switching of the air-fuel ratio mode even when the switching of the air-fuel ratio mode is requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji TAKAYAMA, Takeatsu ITO, Masahiro NAGOSHI, Yuichiro AKIYA, Yuto MATSUSHIMA, Kenko UJIHARA, Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20210039504
    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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke UMETSU, Osamu SUNAHARA, Daisaku OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20210039624
    Abstract: In a control method for a vehicle that adds 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke UMETSU, Osamu SUNAHARA, Daisaku OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200406873
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle (1) comprises the steps: when an output torque of an engine (4) is equal to or greater than a given value, reducing the output torque in accordance with an increase in steering angle of the vehicle; setting, in accordance with a decrease in the steering angle, a first yaw moment instruction value whose direction is reverse to that of a yaw rate being generated in the vehicle; when the output torque is less than the given value, applying a braking force to road wheels, based on the first yaw moment instruction value; and, when the output torque is equal to or greater than the given value, applying a braking force to the road wheels, based on a second yaw moment instruction value smaller than the first yaw moment instruction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu SUNAHARA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20200406883
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20200400090
    Abstract: When an incremental amount of a steering angle exceeds a reference incremental amount, an ECU 60 executes vehicle attitude control of reducing an output torque of an engine, and, in a given operating range, drives a spark plug 16 in a manner allowing an air-fuel mixture to be self-ignited at a given timing, thereby executing SPCCI combustion. When there is a request for an additional deceleration from the vehicle attitude control (#12: YES), and the SPCCI combustion is performed (#13: YES), the ECU 60 executes fuel amount reduction control of reducing the amount of fuel to be supplied into a cylinder 2 (#14), so as to attain torque reduction for the vehicle attitude control. On the other hand, when the SPCCI combustion is not performed (#13: NO), the ECU 60 executes ignition retardation control of retarding an ignition timing of the spark plug 16 (#15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji TAKAYAMA, Takeatsu ITO, Michio ITO, Kenko UJIHARA, Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Publication number: 20200384979
    Abstract: The 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 the vehicle inclines downwardly in a forward direction. The vehicle attitude control system includes: a road wheel speed sensor operable to detect a road wheel speed; a brake actuator operable to apply a braking force to each road wheel of the vehicle; and a brake control device operable to cause the brake actuator to generate the braking force, based on a detection signal of the road wheel speed sensor, wherein the brake control device executes vehicle attitude control of applying a first braking force to the inner rear road wheel, based on a difference in road wheel speed between an inner and an outer rear road wheels of the vehicle being turning, during turning of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Naoki HIRAGA, Daisuke UMETSU, Fuminori KATO, Hiroyuki OGATA
  • Publication number: 20200384967
    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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Naoki HIRAGA, Daisuke UMETSU, Fuminori KATO, Hiroyuki OGATA
  • Publication number: 20200377093
    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: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Yuichiro AKIYA, Chikako OHISA, Keitaro EZUMI, Akira TSUDA, Daisaku OGAWA, Daisuke UMETSU
  • Patent number: 10850726
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle behavior control device capable of improving responsivity of a vehicle behavior and a linear feeling with respect to a steering wheel operation without causing a driver to experience a strong feeling of intervention of the control and, at the same time, capable of controlling behavior of a vehicle in such a manner as to also improve stability of the vehicle attitude and riding comfort. In a vehicle behavior control device applied to a vehicle 1 having steerable front road wheels 2, the vehicle behavior control device includes a PCM 14 which acquires a steering speed of the vehicle, and increases a pitch angle in such a direction that a front portion of the vehicle dips when the steering speed becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold TS1 which is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Yoshioka, Daisuke Umetsu, Osamu Sunahara, Yasunori Takahara, Masaki Chiba
  • Publication number: 20200369261
    Abstract: A control method for a vehicle has: a step of determining whether a turning operation of a steering system including a steering wheel 6 and the like is performed on the basis of a steering angle that is detected by a steering angle sensor 8; a step of causing a motor generator 4 to generate regenerative power and adding deceleration to a vehicle 1 so as to control a vehicle posture when it is determined that the turning operation of the steering system is performed; and a step of increasing the deceleration, which is added to the vehicle 1 in order to control the vehicle posture, to be higher when the deceleration generated on the vehicle 1 has a first value than when the deceleration generated on the vehicle 1 has a second value that is lower than the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke UMETSU, Osamu SUNAHARA, Daisaku OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20200370608
    Abstract: A driving force distribution control device mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle is provided. A coupling mechanism controller connects a drive shaft with an auxiliary driving wheel and sets a fastening force as a first fastening force, when an increase rate in an accelerator opening becomes more than a given value and a vehicle speed is below a given first speed, and changes the fastening force from the first fastening force to a second fastening force, when a slip of at least one of main driving wheels is detected after the fastening force is set to the first fastening force, and before a given time period has lapsed from the setting of the fastening force, or before the vehicle speed becomes faster than a given second speed. The second fastening force at least immediately after the change of the fastening force is a value larger than the first fastening force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Yasumasa Imamura, Naoki Nobutani, Keisuke Haruta, Daisuke Umetsu, Yasushi Yagi
  • Patent number: 10836378
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle behavior control device capable of improving responsivity of a vehicle behavior and a linear feeling with respect to a steering wheel operation without causing a driver to experience a strong feeling of intervention of the control and, at the same time, capable of controlling behavior of a vehicle in such a manner as to also improve stability of the vehicle attitude and riding comfort. In a vehicle behavior control device applied to a vehicle 1 having steerable front road wheels 2, the vehicle behavior control device includes a PCM 14 which acquires a steering speed of the vehicle, and increases a vertical load on the front road wheels when the steering speed becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold TS1 which is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tom Yoshioka, Daisuke Umetsu, Osamu Sunahara, Yasunori Takahara, Masaki Chiba