Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Akazawa

Hiroaki Akazawa 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: 8649951
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus includes an actuator to direct a travel range setting of a vehicle transmission, a selector to indicate a desired travel range setting, a transmission controller to move the actuator into the travel range setting in response to the desired travel range setting of the selector, and a restrictor to restrict an output of a drive motor if the vehicle transmission is in a travel range setting other than the desired travel range setting. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes detecting a travel range setting of the vehicle transmission, detecting a desired travel range setting of a selector, and entering a limp-home mode if the detected travel range setting is different from the desired travel range setting and a detected vehicle travel direction corresponding to the detected travel range setting is the same as a desired travel direction corresponding to the desired travel range setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 8282529
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle transmission includes a hydraulic circuit configured to activate at least one friction element with a control pressure, a selector configured to select a range of the transmission, a valve configured to switch a transmission shifter, and a control unit configured to direct the valve to switch the transmission shifter in response to the selected transmission range and to reduce the control pressure prior to switching the transmission shifter. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes activating at least one friction element with a control pressure, selecting a desired range of the transmission, switching a transmission range in response to the selected desired transmission range, and reducing the control pressure prior to switching the transmission range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa, Masahiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20110010064
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus includes an actuator to direct a travel range setting of a vehicle transmission, a selector to indicate a desired travel range setting, a transmission controller to move the actuator into the travel range setting in response to the desired travel range setting of the selector, and a restrictor to restrict an output of a drive motor if the vehicle transmission is in a travel range setting other than the desired travel range setting. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes detecting a travel range setting of the vehicle transmission, detecting a desired travel range setting of a selector, and entering a limp-home mode if the detected travel range setting is different from the desired travel range setting and a detected vehicle travel direction corresponding to the detected travel range setting is the same as a desired travel direction corresponding to the desired travel range setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20100294065
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle transmission includes a hydraulic circuit configured to activate at least one friction element with a control pressure, a selector configured to select a range of the transmission, a valve configured to switch a transmission shifter, and a control unit configured to direct the valve to switch the transmission shifter in response to the selected transmission range and to reduce the control pressure prior to switching the transmission shifter. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes activating at least one friction element with a control pressure, selecting a desired range of the transmission, switching a transmission range in response to the selected desired transmission range, and reducing the control pressure prior to switching the transmission range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa, Masahiko Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7040446
    Abstract: A power train support apparatus supports a power train which is adapted to be dropped with a load greater than or equal to a given value thereof applied substantially in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicular body. The power train support apparatus includes: a support bracket mounted to the power train. The support bracket includes an upper connection at least which is suspended with a support member of the vehicular body. The support bracket is formed with a breakable portion which is breakable with a load greater than or equal to a given value thereof applied substantially downward from the upper connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Anzai, Shinnosuke Gotoh, Hiroaki Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20030209380
    Abstract: A power train support apparatus supports a power train which is adapted to be dropped with a load greater than or equal to a given value thereof applied substantially in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicular body. The power train support apparatus includes: a support bracket mounted to the power train. The support bracket includes an upper connection at least which is suspended with a support member of the vehicular body. The support bracket is formed with a breakable portion which is breakable with a load greater than or equal to a given value thereof applied substantially downward from the upper connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Anzai, Shinnosuke Gotoh, Hiroaki Akazawa