Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Horii

Hiroaki Horii 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).

  • Publication number: 20190256093
    Abstract: Even in the case that a learning flag and an ACC permission flag are not set, if a power switch is in an ON state, a travel control of a second control state, which is capable of being executed in a setting in which an inter-vehicle distance setting is a short setting or a host vehicle velocity setting is a low setting, is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroaki HORII, Tadahiko KANOH, Jun OCHIDA, Hirofumi KANAZAKI, Luwei JIA, Nobuharu NAGAOKA
  • Publication number: 20180173226
    Abstract: A vehicle motion determining unit determines a value indicative of a motion of the vehicle that occurs in the vehicle transverse direction of a host vehicle, on the basis of a planned travel trajectory generated by a trajectory generating unit at a time of making a lane change. The grasping request unit outputs a grasping request to the notification control unit to request grasping of the steering wheel in the case that the value indicative of the vehicle motion is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Jun Ochida, Tadahiko Kanou, Takashi Kuboshima, Ken Hanayama, Hiroaki Horii
  • Publication number: 20180170389
    Abstract: A vehicle operation setting unit determines vehicle operations of a host vehicle. When a course change is performed, the vehicle operation setting unit sets values (at least one of target values for a velocity, an acceleration/deceleration, a curvature, a yaw rate, a steering angle, and a lateral G force) to be less than or equal to upper limit values thereof. The vehicle operation setting unit causes the upper limit values to differ between a case in which a preceding vehicle is recognized by an external environment recognition unit, and a case in which a preceding vehicle is not recognized by the external environment recognition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Jun Ochida, Tadahiko Kanou, Takashi Kuboshima, Ken Hanayama, Hiroaki Horii
  • Patent number: 9266559
    Abstract: An electric power steering device provides an appropriate power assist from the motor even when torque sensors have failed and the steering torque is no longer detected. If an error is detected in a torque sensor, the motor is driven based on the rotor rotation angle detected by a resolver and assist characteristics. When the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity calculated based on the rotor rotation angle falls to or below a prescribed value, a process is started for reducing the current driving the motor, and if the state in which the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity has fallen to or below the prescribed value continues over a prescribed length of time, the process for reducing the current is interrupted and, because an assist current was flowing at said time of interruption, an appropriate power assist can be given during a steering retention period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Takuji Wada, Hiroki Sagami, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 9043119
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device capable of relieving reaction force (kickback) of a handle occurring at idle stop controlled by the control of the idle stop control device. Specifically, an EPSECU (20) detects the rotational speed of an electric motor by detecting the rotational angle (?m) of the electric motor using a resolver (22), and at the same time, detects the steering torque using a torque sensor (23). Subsequently, the EPSECU determines whether or not the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are inside an idle stop transition area (P) by referring to a table (28) stored in a memory (27) in advance. When either or both of the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are outside the idle stop transition area (P), a signal requesting the prohibition of idle stop transition is output to an idle stop control device (10) via a cable (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Shinji Hironaka, Yoshitake Sakai, Yuki Shiga, Kyoji Hamamoto, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroki Sagami, Takuji Wada
  • Patent number: 8960363
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power steering device capable of applying a prescribed steering assist force to a steering assembly, even when a torque sensor is out of order and the electric power steering device is in a state of being unable to sense steering torque by the torque sensor. Using an angle of rotation of a rotating element, which is detected by a resolver that serves as a rotating element angle of rotation sensing unit of a motor, a steering angle and a steering angular velocity are estimated, and a prescribed steering assist force is applied to a steering assembly by the motor, on the basis of an estimated steering angle and/or an estimated steering angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Hiroaki Horii, Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 8710775
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus detects, as an abnormal phase, a phase other than a combination of phases whose interphase voltage is of nearly zero volts if a q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value though a q-axis voltage is being applied. Alternatively, the electric power steering apparatus calculates a base electric angle at which the q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a third threshold value though the q-axis voltage is being applied, and determines an abnormal phase based on the base electric angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Shinji Hironaka, Takashi Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20130304327
    Abstract: An electric power steering device provides an appropriate power assist from the motor even when torque sensors have failed and the steering torque is no longer detected. If an error is detected in a torque sensor, the motor is driven based on the rotor rotation angle detected by a resolver and assist characteristics. When the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity calculated based on the rotor rotation angle falls to or below a prescribed value, a process is started for reducing the current driving the motor, and if the state in which the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity has fallen to or below the prescribed value continues over a prescribed length of time, the process for reducing the current is interrupted and, because an assist current was flowing at said time of interruption, an appropriate power assist can be given during a steering retention period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Takuji Wada, Hiroki Sagami, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 8354810
    Abstract: An electric motor is driven with high output at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is enabled at the time of fast-speed running. An electric power steering device causes the electric motor to generate auxiliary torque in accordance with the largeness of steering wheel torque by the steering operation of a wheel made by a driver and reduces the steering wheel torque to the driver. A control device drives, based on a vehicle-speed signal (Vs) from a speed sensor, the electric motor with high output at the time of low-speed running, and enables steering at a high resolution at the time of fast-speed running without increasing an electric-motor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroki Sagami
  • Publication number: 20120312627
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power steering device capable of applying a prescribed steering assist force to a steering assembly, even when a torque sensor is out of order and the electric power steering device is in a state of being unable to sense steering torque by the torque sensor. Using an angle of rotation of a rotating element, which is detected by a resolver that serves as a rotating element angle of rotation sensing unit of a motor, a steering angle and a steering angular velocity are estimated, and a prescribed steering assist force is applied to a steering assembly by the motor, on the basis of an estimated steering angle and/or an estimated steering angular velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Hiroaki Horii, Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Shinji Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20120185150
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device capable of relieving reaction force (kickback) of a handle occurring at idle stop controlled by the control of the idle stop control device. Specifically, an EPSECU (20) detects the rotational speed of an electric motor by detecting the rotational angle (?m) of the electric motor using a resolver (22), and at the same time, detects the steering torque using a torque sensor (23). Subsequently, the EPSECU determines whether or not the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are inside an idle stop transition area (P) by referring to a table (28) stored in a memory (27) in advance. When either or both of the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are outside the idle stop transition area (P), a signal requesting the prohibition of idle stop transition is output to an idle stop control device (10) via a cable (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Shinji Hironaka, Yoshitake Sakai, Yuki Shiga, Kyoji Hamamoto, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroki Sagami, Takuji Wada
  • Publication number: 20120176069
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus detects, as an abnormal phase, a phase other than a combination of phases whose interphase voltage is of nearly zero volts if a q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value though a q-axis voltage is being applied. Alternatively, the electric power steering apparatus calculates a base electric angle at which the q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a third threshold value though the q-axis voltage is being applied, and determines an abnormal phase based on the base electric angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki SAGAMI, Kyoji HAMAMOTO, Hiroaki HORII, Fumihiro MORISHITA, Takuji WADA, Shinji HIRONAKA, Takashi KURIBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8179079
    Abstract: The rotation angle detection device detects the rotation angle of a rotary member by employing, at the least, either a sine wave signal or a cosine wave signal that is generated as the rotary member is rotated, and employs a change per unit time in the sine wave signal or cosine wave signal to determine whether an output abnormality has occurred in the rotation angle detection device. Further, this rotation angle device is employed to detect the motor angle of an electric power steering apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Hiroaki Horii, Fumihiro Morishita
  • Publication number: 20110000738
    Abstract: An electric motor (7) is driven with high output at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is enabled at the time of fast-speed running. An electric power steering device (1) causes the electric motor (7) to generate auxiliary torque in accordance with the largeness of steering wheel torque by the steering operation of a wheel (9) made by a driver and reduces the steering wheel torque to the driver. A control device (10) drives, based on a vehicle-speed signal (Vs) from a speed sensor (11), the electric motor (7) with high output at the time of low-speed running, and enables steering at a high resolution at the time of fast-speed running without increasing an electric-motor output. Moreover, large steering wheel torque is requisite at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is requisite at the time of fast-speed running. Accordingly, this does not affect the steering feeling to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroki Sagami
  • Patent number: 7602140
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a switching device, a monitoring device and a control device. The first battery is electrically connected to load devices which are mounted on the vehicle. The second battery serves as a backup power source. The switching device switches the first and second batteries. The monitoring device monitors remaining capacity for each of the first and second batteries. When the control device determines that the remaining capacity of the second battery is less than the remaining capacity of the first battery based on information monitored by the monitoring device, the control device controls the switching device so as to conduct switching of the first and second batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Asaumi, Hiroaki Horii
  • Patent number: 7224142
    Abstract: A battery load power detecting system includes a generator current sensor which detects a current supplied from a generator to at least one of a battery and a load group including a steering device, and first and second load current sensors which detect a current supplied from at least one of the generator and the battery to the load group. A battery state monitor calculates a load power of the battery by multiplying a difference between both the currents by a voltage at a terminal of the battery detected by a voltage sensor. Therefore, the load state of the battery can be appropriately confirmed to avoid a situation where the steering device, e.g., a steering-by-wire type steering device, falls into an inoperable state due to power deficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Asaumi, Hiroaki Horii
  • Publication number: 20060288800
    Abstract: The rotation angle detection device detects the rotation angle of a rotary member by employing, at the least, either a sine wave signal or a cosine wave signal that is generated as the rotary member is rotated, and employs a change per unit time in the sine wave signal or cosine wave signal to determine whether an output abnormality has occurred in the rotation angle detection device. Further, this rotation angle device is employed to detect the motor angle of an electric power steering apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Hiroaki Horii, Fumihiro Morishita
  • Patent number: 7155327
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric power steering system is provided, which controls a motor for applying assist steering torque to a steering line of a vehicle at least according to steering torque signal of the steering line, vehicle velocity signal and motor current signal. The control apparatus includes a target current controller for setting target current signal for driving the motor, a deviation calculator for computing a deviation between the target current and motor current signals, a deviation adjuster for adjusting the deviation with a variable gain according to the vehicle velocity signal, a proportional element for executing proportional control for the motor, an integral element for executing integral control for the motor and an gain adjuster for adjusting the gain according to a differential of the steering torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyoji Hamamoto, Yoshinobu Mukai, Osamu Tsurumiya, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7154244
    Abstract: Steering apparatus includes at least one motor for generating a steering assisting force in a direction to steer a steerable wheel, two drive circuits having respective switching elements for PWM-controlling the motor, and a controller for differentiating, between the drive circuits, a control frequency at which the switching element is switched on and off. The differentiated PWM switching timing can effectively reduce switching noise and magnetostrictive sound of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Asaumi, Osamu Tsurumiya, Hirokazu Kitazawa, Shinji Suto, Junichi Yoshida, Tomoaki Sugano, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroaki Horii
  • Patent number: 7142964
    Abstract: An electric power steering control device includes a memory. The memory is accommodated in the electric power steering control device mounted on a vehicle, and permits rewrite and storage of data. Transmitting a signal from an external of the vehicle allows the data stored in the memory to be rewritten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe