Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Niino
Hiroaki Niino 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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Publication number: 20150344034Abstract: In an apparatus, a first obtainer obtains a first travelling-condition parameter of a target vehicle. The first travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the target vehicle is travelling on the road. A second obtainer obtains a second travelling-condition parameter of a preceding vehicle travelling on the road immediately ahead of the target vehicle. The second travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the preceding vehicle is travelling on the road. A deviation calculator calculates a deviation between the first and second travelling-condition parameters. A behavior determiner determines a recommended behavior of the target vehicle in response to the calculated deviation. A controller controls a device, which is associated with a behavior of the target vehicle, according to the recommended behavior.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: HIROAKI NIINO, MASAO OOOKA, SHOTARO FUKUDA, TAKAHIRO NARITA
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Publication number: 20150232017Abstract: An axial direction control device obtains information regarding a road gradient in front of a road on which a motor vehicle drives. The axial direction control device adjusts an optical axis of headlamps and an image acquiring axis of an in-vehicle camera to an optimum direction on the basis of the acquired information before the motor vehicle has reached a road gradient change point. The road gradient is changed at the road gradient change point. Because the axial direction control device quickly changes the axial direction of each of the headlamps and the camera to an optimum direction before the road gradient is changed, driver safety and comfort is enhanced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: MASAYOSHI OOISHI, HIROAKI NIINO, YOSUKE HATTORI, HIDESHI IZUHARA, HIROKI TOMABECHI
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Publication number: 20150237311Abstract: In an apparatus, a first unit obtains a picked-up image in a travelling direction of a vehicle, and a second unit determines whether or not a driver of the vehicle is about to perform in parking of the vehicle or is performing parking of the vehicle. A third unit estimates, based on the obtained picked-up image, a target parking area of the vehicle when it is deter mined that the driver of the vehicle is about to perfoim parking of the vehicle or is perfoi ming parking of the vehicle. A fourth unit sets, based a position of the estimated target parking area relative to the vehicle, a display mode for the obtained picked-up image. A fifth unit generates, based on the picked-up image and the display mode for the picked-up image, an image to be displayed on the display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: YOSUKE HATTORI, MASAYOSHI OOISHI, HIROAKI NIINO, HIDESHI IZUHARA, HIROKI TOMABECHI
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Publication number: 20150232089Abstract: An apparatus is configured for setting an assistance region for assisting a driver's recognition of a circumstance around a vehicle. The assistance region is indicative of at least one of: an imaging region of a device for picking up an image of the imaging region, and a particular image-processing region in the picked-up image. In the apparatus, a first unit estimates, based on a travelling condition of the vehicle, a turning parameter indicative of how the vehicle is turning or is about to turn. The turning parameter includes a turning course of the vehicle. A second unit sets the assistance region to an outside of the turning course of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: HIROAKI NIINO, MASAYOSHI OOISHI, YOSUKE HATTORI, HIDESHI IZUHARA, HIROKI TOMABECHI
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Publication number: 20150203088Abstract: The vehicle braking control device adapted to a vehicle brake device having an electromagnetic valve which controls the brake fluid flow between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders in response to the input electric energy. The vehicle braking control device includes a valve opening electric energy obtaining portion which obtains an input electric energy upon opening of the electromagnetic valve as a valve opening electric energy and an operation characteristic setting portion which sets an operation characteristic based on the valve opening electric energy obtained corresponding to the predetermined pressure differential. The opening valve electric energy obtaining portion changes the input electric energy at a valve closing side or a valve opening side with a change amount per unit of time larger than before valve opening in response to an obtaining of the valve opening electric energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2013Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Yosuke Kuki, Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaaki Komazawa, Akira Sakai, Yasuji Mizutani, Yusuke Kamiya
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Patent number: 9056602Abstract: A vehicle brake device is provided with a regulator for generating a servo pressure acting on a master piston in a master cylinder, based on a pilot pressure. The regulator is provided with a brake fluid absorbing section communicating with a first pilot chamber for absorbing the brake fluid as the pilot pressure in the first pilot chamber in the quantity depending on the fluid pressure in the first pilot chamber. The brake fluid absorbing section comprises a piston receiving portion formed in a second piston and opening to the first pilot chamber, a pressure receiving piston slidably received in the piston receiving portion and making the first pilot chamber variable in capacity, and an urging member urging the pressure receiving piston toward the first pilot chamber side.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Shimizu, Hiroaki Niino, Shigemitsu Nohira
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Publication number: 20150151729Abstract: The vehicle brake system includes a cylinder, an output piston disposed in the cylinder, an input piston disposed in the cylinder but separating from the output piston and defining a separation chamber therebetween, a brake pedal connected to the input piston, a reaction force generating device for generating an elastic reaction force, a separation lock valve for controlling the communication between the separation chamber and the reaction force generating device, a fade state judging portion to judge whether the friction brake device is in a fade state or not and a friction braking force control portion for changing the mode to the fade state when the fade state judging portion judged that the friction brake device is in the fade state, wherein a desired friction braking force can be assured even under the brake fade state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Yosuke Yamasoe, Hiroaki Niino, Yoshio Masuda, Takashi Kurokawa, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaaki Komazawa, Akira Sakai, Yasuji Mizutani, Yusuke Kamiya
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Publication number: 20150120161Abstract: When a brake switch is switched from OFF to ON, current is applied to a brake ECU, and a command to switch a master cylinder from a second state to a first state is issued after a lapse of preparation time, so that switching-time change suppression control is performed. A reservoir shutoff valve is closed, and duty control is performed on a communication control valve. The duty ratio is set to 1 when a switching-time control duration expires, and the communication control valve is placed in an open position, to establish the first state. Thus, since the communication control valve is duty-controlled during switching from the second state to the first state, change in the hydraulic pressure of an input chamber is suppressed, and change of the operating feeling is suppressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Kamiya, Akira Sakai, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaki Maruyama, Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Kurokawa
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Publication number: 20150107240Abstract: The brake device for a vehicle generates two master pressures by controlling one single servo pressure to accurately control braking force. The pressure increasing characteristic is set based on the first pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the relationship between the servo pressure and the first master pressure upon increasing the servo pressure and the second pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the servo pressure and the second master pressure. The pressure decreasing characteristic is set based on the first pressure increasing characteristic obtained from the relationship between the servo pressure and the first master pressure upon decreasing the servo pressure and the second pressure decreasing characteristic obtained from the servo pressure and the second master pressure. Thus, the total braking force of the brake device is the sum of a braking force generated by the first master pressure and a braking force generated by the second master piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino, Akira Sakai, Yasuji Mizutani, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaaki Komazawa, Kazutaka Noro, Yusuke Kamiya
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Patent number: 9010880Abstract: A vehicle brake system comprises a master brake cylinder having an input piston and master piston and connected to a wheel brake device, a reaction force generating device for generating a reaction force pressure corresponding to a displacement amount of the input piston, a change over valve provided in an open passage branched from a hydraulic conduit connecting the reaction force generating device to the reaction force chamber defined by the input piston and the change over valve connected to a reservoir, a brake force boosting device for applying an assisting pressure to a master piston, an assisting pressure limit judging portion for judging whether the assisting pressure has reached to an assisting limit pressure, and a change over controlling portion for changing over the change over valve to an open state when the assisting pressure limit judging portion judges that the assisting pressure has reached the assisting limit pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yosuke Yamasoe, Hiroaki Niino
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Patent number: 8939519Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes a master cylinder having a master piston moved by servo pressure in a servo chamber and master pressure of a master chamber is changed by movement of the master piston. A mechanical servo pressure generating unit is connected to a high pressure source and the servo chamber, and generates a servo pressure within the servo chamber according to pilot pressure within a pilot chamber based on brake fluid pressure of the high pressure source. An electrical pilot pressure generating unit is connected to the pilot chamber and generates desired pilot pressure within the pilot chamber, and a master chamber-to-pilot chamber brake fluid line connects the master chamber with the pilot chamber so pilot pressure is generated by the pilot pressure generating unit during normal operation of a power supply system, and the master pressure is used as pilot pressure when the power supply system fails.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Kurokawa
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Publication number: 20140265546Abstract: A vehicle brake device is provided with a regulator for generating a servo pressure acting on a master piston in a master cylinder, based on a pilot pressure. The regulator is provided with a brake fluid absorbing section communicating with a first pilot chamber for absorbing the brake fluid as the pilot pressure in the first pilot chamber in the quantity depending on the fluid pressure in the first pilot chamber. The brake fluid absorbing section comprises a piston receiving portion formed in a second piston and opening to the first pilot chamber, a pressure receiving piston slidably received in the piston receiving portion and making the first pilot chamber variable in capacity, and an urging member urging the pressure receiving piston toward the first pilot chamber side.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi SHIMIZU, Hiroaki NIINO, Shigemitsu NOHIRA
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Publication number: 20130318963Abstract: The braking control device for a vehicle is adapted to be used for a vehicle brake device and it is an object of the present invention to prevent an operator of the vehicle from feeling of any an unpleasant feeling by reducing an ineffective operating amount by which no braking force increases in response to the increase of the brake operating amount. The braking control device includes a controlling portion for changing a servo performance to an ineffective operating amount reducing servo performance which is closer to the increase ratio of the hydraulic pressure braking force relative to the increase of the brake operating amount after the input piston has been in contact with the output piston when the brake operating amount reaches to the servo performance change operating amount which is smaller than the assisting limit operating amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: ADVICS Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino
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Patent number: 8564229Abstract: A motor controlling device is provided that controls a brushless motor having a plurality of phases based on magnetic pole signals output by a plurality of magnetic pole signal output sections each corresponding to one of the phases. The motor controlling device includes an abnormality determining section, a signal generating section, and a motor controlling section. The abnormality determining section determines whether a magnetic pole signal output by each magnetic pole signal output section is an abnormal magnetic pole signal. When the abnormality determining section determines that at least one of the magnetic pole signals is an abnormal magnetic pole signal, the signal generating section generates a simulated signal corresponding to the abnormal magnetic pole signal based on the normal magnetic pole signals other than the abnormal magnetic pole signal and the rotational state of the brushless motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Imoto, Masahiro Matsuura, Hiroaki Niino
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Patent number: 8544963Abstract: In a braking control apparatus, a plurality of pumps are driven by a common first motor. A brake supplies operating fluid to pipelines by operating the first motor, and controls opening/closing of a fluid pressure regulating valve so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the right front wheel approach the right front wheel target pressure, and controls opening closing of a fluid pressure regulating valve so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the left rear wheel approach the left rear wheel target pressure. In the case where the right front wheel target pressure is zero when the fluid pressure regulating valve is to be opened so as to make the wheel cylinder pressure in the left rear wheel approach the left rear wheel target pressure, the brake turns off the first motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Matsubayashi, Hiroaki Niino, Koichi Kokubo
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Patent number: 8434830Abstract: An electronic control unit for a brake control apparatus has a pressure-command-signal memorizing portion, which outputs a pressure command signal to a brake force control unit, when a braking operation is not carried out by a vehicle driver, in order to gradually increase brake fluid pressure. The memorizing portion memorizes the pressure command signal as a gap-zero pressure signal sent to the brake force control unit when vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined value. A pre-charge control portion outputs the gap-zero pressure signal to carry out a pre-charge control, when the braking operation is not carried out, so that a gap between a friction element and a non-friction element is reduced to a desired amount before an actual braking operation by the vehicle driver.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroaki Niino
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Patent number: 8380415Abstract: There is provided a low-cost, power-saving brake control apparatus that is capable of performing control with good pressure regulation precision.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Tetsuya Yoshijima, Masato Kimbara, Yoshio Masuda
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Publication number: 20120247100Abstract: A vehicle brake system comprises a master brake cylinder having an input piston and master piston and connected to a wheel brake device, a reaction force generating device for generating a reaction force pressure corresponding to a displacement amount of the input piston, a change over valve provided in an open passage branched from a hydraulic conduit connecting the reaction force generating device to the reaction force chamber defined by the input piston and the change over valve connected to a reservoir, a brake force boosting device for applying an assisting pressure to a master piston, an assisting pressure limit judging portion for judging whether the assisting pressure has reached to an assisting limit pressure, and a change over controlling portion for changing over the change over valve to an open state when the assisting pressure limit judging portion judges that the assisting pressure has reached the assisting limit pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke YAMASOE, Hiroaki NIINO
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Patent number: 8140233Abstract: Braking discomfort applied to the driver is minimized. Provided are a brake operation amount section (26) capable of detecting a brake operation before a master cylinder hydraulic pressure is generated; an estimation section (28) for estimating the hydraulic pressure generation timing at which the master cylinder hydraulic pressure is generated, on the basis of detection information of the brake operation amount section (26); and a hydraulic pressure control section (29) for controlling the operation of an assist hydraulic pressure generation mechanism (D) by using the hydraulic pressure generation timing estimated by the estimation section (28) as a reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Takashi Sato
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Patent number: 8128181Abstract: A braking control apparatus includes a brake operating member, a hydraulic circuit supplying a wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure to a wheel cylinder, a pump generating a hydraulic pressure so that the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure reaches a value in response to an operation of the brake operating member, a circulation conduit provided at a portion of the hydraulic circuit, the circulation conduit through which a partial amount of brake fluid discharged from the pump is circulated back to the pump, a pressure regulating valve adjusting a pressure difference between an upstream side of the pressure regulating valve connected to the wheel cylinder and a downstream side, and a controlling device calculating, on the basis of a circulation flow rate of the brake fluid passing through the pressure regulating valve, an applied current to the pressure regulating valve for obtaining a target of the pressure difference and controlling the applied current.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidehiro Yamauchi, Koichi Kokubo, Hiroaki Niino, Takeshi Hato, Masayoshi Takeda