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: 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
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Patent number: 12269452Abstract: 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 has an elastic member that generates a reaction force against a driver's pedaling force applied to the pedal pad. A first housing covers the reaction force generation mechanism, and an opening at least on one side. A second housing is provided on one side of the first housing in a swing direction of the pedal pad. Further, the first housing has a largest opening on a second housing side, which is closed by the second housing and into which the elastic member of the reaction force generation mechanism in a non-bending state is insertable.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Masashi Arao, Kengo Ito, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Patent number: 12248332Abstract: An organ-type pedal device includes a housing attached to a vehicle body. A pedal pad of the pedal device is provided rotatably about a predetermined rotation axis with respect to the housing, and a stepped portion of the pedal pad is arranged above the rotation axis in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The pedal pad rotates in a forward direction in accordance with an increase of a pedaling force of the driver, and rotates in a backward direction in accordance with a decrease of the pedaling force of the driver. A sensor unit outputs an electric signal corresponding to a rotation angle of the pedal pad. A full-close stopper comes in contact with a lower part of the pedal pad with respect to the rotation axis, and prevents the pedal pad from rotating in the backward direction when the pedaling force of the driver is not applied thereto.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2023Date of Patent: March 11, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takao Yamamoto, Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Yasuhisa Fukuda
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Publication number: 20250033609Abstract: A tubular member is provided between an inner wall of a hole portion in a fixed member and a shaft. A predetermined gap is provided between an inner wall of the tubular member on a radial inside thereof and the shaft, so that the shaft is rotatable around an axis with respect to the tubular member. On the other hand, the inner wall of the hole portion and the tubular member are fixed to each other. When a load is applied to a predetermined position of a brake pedal, where a driver can apply a pedaling force in a stuck state in which the tubular member and the shaft are stuck together, a torque that releases fixation between the inner wall of the hole portion and the tubular member is greater than 0, and is smaller than a damaging torque that damages at least a part of the brake pedal device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Kenichiro TAKENAKA, Masashi ARAO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA
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Publication number: 20250036154Abstract: 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: October 10, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Genki SUZUKI, Etsugo YANAGIDA
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Publication number: 20250033607Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Daisuke HOKUTO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Masashi ARAO, Atsushi NISHIMURA
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Publication number: 20250033608Abstract: A pedal device includes a pedal, a rotatable shaft, a cover and a housing main body. The rotatable shaft includes a first projection and a second projection. A first bearing rotatably supports the first projection. A second bearing rotatably supports the second projection. The pedal is supported by the rotatable shaft to enable rotation of the pedal relative to a housing. The cover and the housing main body are fixed relative to each other in an adjusted state where a position of the cover and a position of the housing main body are adjusted such that a radial position of a central axis of the first bearing and a radial position of a central axis of the second bearing coincide with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Masashi ARAO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Atsushi NISHIMURA, Kenichiro TAKENAKA, Makoto SHIGEMATSU
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Publication number: 20250026320Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Kenichiro TAKENAKA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Etsugo YANAGIDA
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Publication number: 20250026323Abstract: A pedal device for a vehicle includes a pedal unit, a rubber member and a restricting member. The pedal unit is displaced by receiving a pedal operation from a driver of the vehicle. The rubber member is pressed by the pedal unit displaced in response to the pedal operation and generates a reaction force against a displacement of the pedal unit. The restricting member is configured to restrict the displacement of the pedal unit separately from the rubber member, when the rubber member generates the reaction force.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Atsushi NISHIMURA, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Masashi ARAO
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Publication number: 20250028346Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Daisuke HOKUTO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Yuki MATSUNAGA, Masashi ARAO, Ryo SANO, Kengo ITO
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Patent number: 12204360Abstract: A pedal pad includes a plate portion having a plate shape extending in a pedal extending direction and having a thickness in a plate thickness direction, and the pedal pad is rotatably movable about a pedal shaft center that is perpendicular to the pedal extending direction by a step-on operation of a driver to the plate portion from one side in the plate thickness direction. The plate portion has one end portion in the pedal extending direction positioned lower in the vehicle than an another end portion in the pedal extending direction in a non-stepping state in which the driver is not performing the step-on operation on the pedal pad. Furthermore, the one end portion of the plate shape of the plate portion extends in the pedal extending direction, more than a position of the pedal shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Hokuto, Etsugo Yanagida, Kengo Ito
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Patent number: 12151555Abstract: An accelerator device includes a pedal lever, a reaction force adjuster and a controller. The pedal lever operates according to a stepping operation. The reaction force adjuster is driven by an actuator, and is capable of adjusting a reaction force that is a force in a direction of pushing back the pedal lever. The controller includes a target operation amount setting unit and a drive control unit. The target operation amount setting unit sets a target operation amount, which is an operation amount of the pedal lever according to a vehicle speed. The drive control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The controller controls the reaction force according to the target operation amount so that the operation amount of the pedal lever is within a target range when switching from an automatic drive to a manual drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2023Date of Patent: November 26, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tetsuo Hariu, Takuto Kita, Yuusuke Yoshida, Kiyoshi Kimura, Takehiro Saito, Soichi Kinouchi, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto
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Publication number: 20240383453Abstract: 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: July 22, 2024Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Kengo ITO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Daisuke HOKUTO, Masashi ARAO, Yasuhisa FUKUDA
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Patent number: 12145441Abstract: A pedal device comprises a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a support member and an adjusting device. The brake pedal is operated to be depressed by a leg of a passenger, and an operation amount of a depressing operation of the brake pedal is transmitted as an electrical signal. The accelerator pedal is operated to be depressed by a leg of the passenger, and an operation amount of a depressing operation of the accelerator pedal is transmitted as an electrical signal. The support member is connected with the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, respectively, to support the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in a rotatable manner. The adjusting device adjusts a position or a posture of the pedal unit including the brake pedal, the accelerator pedal, and the support member.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Kiyoshi Kimura, Tetsuo Hariu, Yuusuke Yoshida, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Takehiro Saito
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Publication number: 20240201725Abstract: A pedal pad includes a plate part having a plate shape. When a driver performs a depression operation on a plate part from one side in a plate thickness direction, the pedal pad rotates about an axis perpendicular to an extending direction of the plate part. A shaft member is provided at a position away and downward in a vehicle from the plate part. A housing rotatably supports the shaft member. A connecting portion connects the pedal pad and the shaft member. Such a pedal device is an organ-type pedal device in which a pedal lower end is positioned below in the vehicle than a pedal upper end when the plate part is not subject to the depression operation by the driver in the non-depressed state. The pedal device is provided with a gap between the housing and the pedal lower end.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2024Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Masashi ARAO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Daisuke HOKUTO, Atsushi NISHIMURA, Kengo ITO, Genki SUZUKI, Hiroto YOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20240157922Abstract: A brake device includes a brake pedal, a pedal operation detection section, a tank section, an actuator, a master cylinder, a brake fluid path and a reaction force generating section. The master cylinder includes a cylinder section that forms a storage chamber for storing brake fluid and a piston rod that connects to the brake pedal and pushes out the brake fluid stored in the storage chamber and discharges the brake fluid to an outside of the cylinder section by moving a distance corresponding to an amount of operation of the brake pedal. The brake fluid flow path guides the brake fluid discharged from the storage chamber by being pushed out by the piston rod to the tank section. The reaction force generating section includes an elastic member that generates a reaction force on the brake pedal by elastically deforming according to the amount of operation of the brake pedal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Kengo ITO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Koichi FUKAYA, Hiroyuki KODAMA, Sho FUKAMI
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Publication number: 20240069587Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Yasuhisa FUKUDA, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Daisuke HOKUTO, Masashi ARAO