Patents by Inventor Etsugo YANAGIDA
Etsugo YANAGIDA 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).
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Patent number: 12656808Abstract: A pedal device includes: a pedal configured to rotate about a rotational axis; and a reaction force generator configured to generate a reaction force corresponding to an urging force generated by pressing operation of the pedal. The pedal includes an urging portion configured to transmit the urging force to the reaction force generator when the urging portion is rotated integrally with the pedal. The reaction force generator includes a linearly moving portion configured to move linearly in an extending direction of a central axis of the reaction force generator when the pressing operation is performed. The urging portion has an urging surface configured to urge a contact surface of the linearly moving portion. The urging portion is placed at a position where a virtual urging center passes through a virtual axis perpendicular line when the pedal is rotated within a predetermined rotational range.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2024Date of Patent: June 16, 2026Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Yuki Matsunaga, Masashi Arao, Ryo Sano, Kengo Ito
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Patent number: 12654656Abstract: An inductive sensor detects a position of a detection object relative to a fixed body, in which the detection object is either provided as (i) a rotating body rotatable about a predetermined axis relative to the fixed body or (ii) a movable body movable in accordance with movement of the rotating body. The inductive sensor includes a circuit board and multiple targets. The circuit board has, implemented thereon, a transceiver coil including a transmitter coil and a receiver coil, and a transceiver circuit that supplies a high frequency wave to the transmitter coil and outputs a signal corresponding to a change in inductance of the receiver coil, and is fixed to the fixed body. The multiple target objects are configured to move in synchronization with movement of the detection object and to include a conductor.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2024Date of Patent: June 16, 2026Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichiro Takenaka, Yuki Matsunaga, Etsugo Yanagida
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Publication number: 20260138570Abstract: In a brake pedal device, a brake pedal is connected to a casing with a posture changeable by a brake operation of a driver, and includes an operation unit that is pressed by a driver. A reaction force generating unit is provided inside the casing, and the reaction force generating unit is configured to generate a reaction force with respect to the brake pedal in accordance with an amount of change in the posture of the brake pedal during the brake operation, and to cause the brake pedal to return to a reference position when the brake operation is released. A sensor unit is provided outside the casing, to detect an amount of change in the posture of the brake pedal, and a sensor protector is provided at the casing in a position away from the brake pedal, to cover at least a part of the sensor unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2026Publication date: May 21, 2026Inventors: Kengo ITO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Daisuke HOKUTO, Masashi ARAO, Yasuhisa FUKUDA
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Publication number: 20260084664Abstract: An organ-type pedal device includes a housing, a shaft, a pedal pad, and a sensor unit. The housing is attached to a vehicle body. The shaft is rotatably supported around a center of a shaft receiving portion provided in the housing as a rotation axis. The pedal pad is fixed to the shaft and rotates about a same rotation axis as the shaft. The pedal pad has a structure in which a portion to be stepped on by a driver is arranged above the rotation axis in a vertical direction when being mounted on the vehicle. The sensor unit has a rotating portion provided at the shaft and a signal output portion provided at the housing for outputting a signal corresponding to a phase of the rotating portion, and detects a rotation angle of the pedal pad and the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2025Publication date: March 26, 2026Inventors: Daisuke HOKUTO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yasuhisa FUKUDA
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Publication number: 20260084666Abstract: A housing is fixed to a vehicle. A pedal arm is provided at the housing to be rotatable about an axis within a predetermined angular range, and has a pedal operation part positioned at an upper side of the vehicle above the axis, which is a part stepped on by a driver. A covering member is provided at the pedal art and covers all or part of an area outside the housing, where the pedal arm rotates and operates, which is a front side of the vehicle, a right side in a vehicle width direction and a left side in the vehicle width direction, relative to a pedal operating area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2025Publication date: March 26, 2026Inventors: Genki SUZUKI, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Kengo ITO
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Publication number: 20260070523Abstract: A brake pedal device includes a pedal pad rotatable about an axis when stepped on by a driver, and a reaction force generation mechanism generating a reaction force to the pedal pad according to a stepping amount of the pedal pad. The pedal pad includes a pedal base portion extending away from an axis side end to another end, and a pedal operation portion attached to the pedal base portion and stepped on by the driver. The pedal operation portion protrudes toward a pedal return side in a rotation direction about the axis with respect to the pedal base portion, and a surface of the pedal operation portion has a plane portion that is configured as a flat surface and is stepped on by the driver, so that the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation mechanism acts on the pedal pad in a direction piercing the plane portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2025Publication date: March 12, 2026Inventors: Kengo ITO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Masashi ARAO, Daisuke HOKUTO, Yasuhisa FUKUDA
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Publication number: 20260061975Abstract: A pedal pad includes a tread portion depressed by a driver, is fixed to a pad holder, and is displaced together with the pad holder with respect to a support when depressed. A load sensor is fixed to the pad holder and detects a pedal effort of the driver acting on the pedal pad. A pedal effort transmission member includes a pressing portion that presses the load sensor to transmit the pedal effort to the load sensor, and is placed between the tread portion and both the load sensor and the pad holder, and pressed by the tread portion. The pedal pad holds the pedal effort transmission member against the pad holder so that the pressing portion is pressed against the load sensor by the elastic deformation of the pedal pad when the depression operation is not performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2025Publication date: March 5, 2026Inventors: Genki SUZUKI, Etsugo YANAGIDA
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Patent number: 12552349Abstract: In a brake pedal device, a brake pedal is connected to a casing with a posture changeable by a brake operation of a driver, and includes an operation unit that is pressed by a driver. A reaction force generating unit is provided inside the casing, and the reaction force generating unit is configured to generate a reaction force with respect to the brake pedal in accordance with an amount of change in the posture of the brake pedal during the brake operation, and to cause the brake pedal to return to a reference position when the brake operation is released. A sensor unit is provided outside the casing, to detect an amount of change in the posture of the brake pedal, and a sensor protector is provided at the casing in a position away from the brake pedal, to cover at least a part of the sensor unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2024Date of Patent: February 17, 2026Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kengo Ito, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Masashi Arao, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Patent number: 12509029Abstract: An organ-type pedal device includes a housing, a shaft, a pedal pad, and a sensor unit. The housing is attached to a vehicle body. The shaft is rotatably supported around a center of a shaft receiving portion provided in the housing as a rotation axis. The pedal pad is fixed to the shaft and rotates about a same rotation axis as the shaft. The pedal pad has a structure in which a portion to be stepped on by a driver is arranged above the rotation axis in a vertical direction when being mounted on the vehicle. The sensor unit has a rotating portion provided at the shaft and a signal output portion provided at the housing for outputting a signal corresponding to a phase of the rotating portion, and detects a rotation angle of the pedal pad and the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2023Date of Patent: December 30, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Patent number: 12497004Abstract: A brake pedal device includes a pedal pad rotatable about an axis when stepped on by a driver, and a reaction force generation mechanism generating a reaction force to the pedal pad according to a stepping amount of the pedal pad. The pedal pad includes a pedal base portion extending away from an axis side end to another end, and a pedal operation portion attached to the pedal base portion and stepped on by the driver. The pedal operation portion protrudes toward a pedal return side in a rotation direction about the axis with respect to the pedal base portion, and a surface of the pedal operation portion has a plane portion that is configured as a flat surface and is stepped on by the driver, so that the reaction force generated by the reaction force generation mechanism acts on the pedal pad in a direction piercing the plane portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2023Date of Patent: December 16, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kengo Ito, Etsugo Yanagida, Masashi Arao, Daisuke Hokuto, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Patent number: 12491846Abstract: A pedal pad includes a tread portion depressed by a driver, is fixed to a pad holder, and is displaced together with the pad holder with respect to a support when depressed. A load sensor is fixed to the pad holder and detects a pedal effort of the driver acting on the pedal pad. A pedal effort transmission member includes a pressing portion that presses the load sensor to transmit the pedal effort to the load sensor, and is placed between the tread portion and both the load sensor and the pad holder, and pressed by the tread portion. The pedal pad holds the pedal effort transmission member against the pad holder so that the pressing portion is pressed against the load sensor by the elastic deformation of the pedal pad when the depression operation is not performed.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2024Date of Patent: December 9, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Genki Suzuki, Etsugo Yanagida
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Patent number: 12459467Abstract: At a pedal device, a force applied from a pedal at a time of rotating the pedal moves a first guide portion of a first holder to slide relative to a second guide portion of a second holder in a vehicle front-rear direction, resulting in deformation of a first resilient member. Furthermore, the force applied from the pedal at the time of rotating the pedal moves the second guide portion to slide relative to a third guide portion of a guide member in the vehicle front-rear direction, resulting in deformation of a second resilient member.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2024Date of Patent: November 4, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Yuki Matsunaga, Masashi Arao, Atsushi Nishimura
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Patent number: 12411516Abstract: A pedal device includes a pedal, a connecting rod, a reaction force generating mechanism, a housing having a housing hole for allowing the connecting rod to pass therethrough when the pedal is stepped on by an operator, and a cover member. The cover member includes a first connecting portion and a covering portion. The first connecting portion is connected to a housing end portion of the housing forming a housing hole. The covering portion is arranged at a position between the first connecting portion and a back surface of the pedal and is connected to the first connecting portion to cover the housing hole.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2023Date of Patent: September 9, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Masashi Arao, Etsugo Yanagida
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Publication number: 20250271892Abstract: A pedal device has a pedal to receive stepping force of a driver. The pedal is located above a housing. The housing accommodates a stepping force transmission member. The pedal and the stepping force transmission member are connected by a connection member which extends through an insertion hole penetrating the housing. An inner opening of the insertion hole faces downward or obliquely downward in a predetermined state in which the pedal device is stored or mounted on a vehicle. The insertion hole is positioned so that the inner opening end does not overlap with movable member in the housing. The movable member may include a sliding member such as a part of a rotation angle sensor, a slidable member, and a member of a reaction force generator mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2025Publication date: August 28, 2025Inventors: Genki SUZUKI, Etsugo YANAGIDA
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Patent number: 12397755Abstract: A pedal pad in an organ-type pedal device swings about a predetermined axis when stepped on by a driver's foot. A sensor unit outputs a signal corresponding to a swing angle of the pedal pad. A reaction force generation mechanism generates a reaction force against a driver's stepping force applied to the pedal pad. A first housing holds or covers at least one of a rotation shaft provided at the axis of the swinging of the pedal pad, the sensor unit, and the reaction force generation mechanism. A second housing is made of a rigid portion having a Young's modulus greater than that of the first housing or has the rigid portion at least in part. The second housing is configured to support a portion of the reaction force generation mechanism on one side opposite to the pedal pad by the rigid portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2023Date of Patent: August 26, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Masashi Arao, Kengo Ito, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Patent number: 12384332Abstract: An arm includes an arm one end and an arm body extended from the arm one end. The arm is coupled with a pedal pad at the arm one end and is coupled with a reaction force generation mechanism on an counter-operation side. A stopper part is a component separate from the pedal pad and fixed to the pedal pad. One part, which is one of the pedal pad and the stopper part, includes a first arrangement section, and the other part, which is the other of the pedal pad and the stopper part, includes a second arrangement section. The first arrangement section and the second arrangement section interpose the arm one end therebetween and hold the arm one end against the pedal pad.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2023Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhisa Fukuda, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Takao Yamamoto
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Patent number: 12366879Abstract: A pedal device includes a shaft, a pedal, a housing, a reaction force generating mechanism, and a connecting rod. The connecting rod includes an arm portion and a push portion. The arm portion is connected to a back surface of the pedal. The push portion is connected to the arm portion. The push portion is configured to transmit force from the pedal to the reaction force generating mechanism by contacting the reaction force generating mechanism when the pedal is stepped on by an operator. Further, the connecting rod is connected to the back surface of the pedal, to rotate with the pedal about the axis of the shaft when the operator steps on the pedal, while an angle defined between the back surface of the pedal and an axis of the connecting rod is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2023Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhisa Fukuda, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Masashi Arao
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Patent number: 12298799Abstract: A pedal device to be pedaled by a user includes: a pedal supported to be swingable about an axis and to swing toward one side in a circumferential direction about the axis when being pedaled by the user; a housing; a reaction force generation portion disposed in the housing and to apply a force to the pedal toward another side in the circumferential direction; and a stopper. The stopper is arranged outside the housing, to swing about the axis together with the pedal while being supported by the pedal, and to stop the pedal by coming into contact with the housing in a non-pedaled state in which the pedal is not pedaled by the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2023Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi Nishimura, Etsugo Yanagida, Yuki Matsunaga, Daisuke Hokuto
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Patent number: 12296672Abstract: A pedal device includes: a pedal that is depressed by a driver; and a reaction force generation mechanism. The reaction force generation mechanism generates a reaction force against a depression force applied from the driver to the pedal. The reaction force generation mechanism includes at least one resilient member, a first holder and a second holder. The first holder contacts the at least one resilient member from one side where the pedal is placed in one direction. The second holder contacts the at least one resilient member from another side that is opposite to the one side. One holder among the first holder and the second holder includes an outer guide portion, and another holder among the first holder and the second holder includes an inner guide portion that is fitted into the outer guide portion and is movable relative to the outer guide portion in the one direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2023Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhisa Fukuda, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Masashi Arao
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Patent number: 12292756Abstract: A pedal device mounted on a vehicle includes a housing, a pedal pad, and a reaction force generation mechanism. The housing is mounted on a vehicle body. The pedal pad is provided to be rotatable with respect to the housing. The reaction force generation mechanism is configured to include a plurality of resilient members each having a predetermined leaf spring. The reaction force generation mechanism is arranged in a space on the side opposite to a surface stepped on by a driver in the pedal pad to generate a reaction force against a pedaling force applied to the pedal pad by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2023Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhisa Fukuda, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Takao Yamamoto