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).

  • Patent number: 8096624
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating portion for calculating a master cylinder pressure, a first determining portion for determining whether or not the brake operation is performed, a second calculating portion for calculating a target wheel cylinder pressure, a third calculating portion for calculating a controlled pressure, a controlling portion for controlling a pressure difference control valve, a second determining portion for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and a driving portion for specifying a drive pattern of a motor to a first motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is not stopped, the motor driving a pump for discharging a brake fluid, the driving means specifying the drive pattern to a second motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is stopped, the driving means driving the motor based on the motor driving pattern specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato, Yoichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 8055421
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to minimize any sensation of inadequate firmness and large changes in deceleration rate with respect to a change in a brake operation force when the force exceeds a boost limit point. A first correlation S1 when a brake operation force increases and a second correlation S2 after hysteresis is applied at the time of a decrease in the brake operation force are taken as relationships between a brake operation force F and a wheel cylinder pressure PWC in a state wherein an assist hydraulic pressure PA is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Masayuki Naito, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 8042885
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a controlling device for actuating the pressure modulating device and the motor, calculating a target braking force corresponding to an operation amount, and driving the motor and the pressure modulating device, wherein, in an electric power supply stopped situation, in which electric power is not supplied by the battery, while an operation amount detected by the operation amount sensor increases, the controlling device starts driving the motor by means of electric power supplied by the capacitor, only when a target braking force corresponding to the operation amount reaches memorized target braking force memorized in the memorizing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Maki, Hiroaki Niino
  • Publication number: 20110210604
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Tetsuya Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Matsubayashi, Hiroaki Niino, Koichi Kokubo
  • Publication number: 20110077832
    Abstract: There is provided a low-cost, power-saving brake control apparatus that is capable of performing control with good pressure regulation precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIINO, Tetsuya YOSHIJIMA, Masato KIMBARA, Yoshio MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20110062906
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro IMOTO, Masahiro MATSUURA, Hiroaki NIINO
  • Patent number: 7887145
    Abstract: In a vehicle brake control device, a target W/C pressure depending on an amount of operation performed to a brake operating member, exhibits hysteresis due to a forward mapping dataset and a backward mapping dataset. The vehicle brake control device selects the forward mapping dataset or the backward mapping dataset based on the amount of operation performed to the brake operating member, and determines a current value of a current to be supplied to one of first to fourth linear valves. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a wheel cylinder pressure from changing too sensitively to the operation to the brake operating member and from changing even when the driver is not intentionally operating the brake operating member. This makes the driver experience an improved brake feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 7798576
    Abstract: In an ABS control, a vehicle brake control device detects a sudden change road in which a friction coefficient changes suddenly from a high value to a lower value and controls, based on the detection of the sudden change road, the currents to be supplied to a first and a second electrical motor in a first manner or a second manner, wherein in the first manner the currents are controlled so that the first and second electrical motors would eventually stop rotating if the motor control portion kept controlling the currents in the first manner for a sufficiently long time, and in the second manner the currents are controlled so that the first and second electrical motors would eventually start rotating in a reverse direction if the motor controlling portion kept controlling the currents in the second manner for a sufficiently long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 7621603
    Abstract: When the ABS control is executed by the ABS control portion, the vehicle brake control device calculates the first rotational speeds of the first and second motors necessary to achieve the corresponding pressure increase rates and calculates the second rotational speeds of the first and second motors as the upper limits caused by the unlocking pressure limits. Then the vehicle brake control device controls current values of the currents to be supplied to the first and second motors so that they are rotated in the rotational speeds obtained within a range from the first rotational speeds to the second rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: ADVICS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 7621602
    Abstract: A vehicle brake control device determines a first duty factor required to achieve a stable rotational speed of motors and a second duty factor required to achieve a change rate of a target wheel cylinder pressure. The vehicle brake control device selects the larger one of the determined duty factors as a for-use motor duty factor to be used in outputting currents to the motors. Therefore, with the stable rotational speed and the change rate of the target wheel cylinder pressure, it is possible to achieve quick response to a request for braking made by a driver while suppressing the electric energy consumption of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Hiroaki Niino
  • Publication number: 20090243382
    Abstract: 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 adjust 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yamauchi, Koichi Kokubo, Hiroaki Niino, Takeshi Hato, Masayoshi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20090195057
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroaki Niino
  • Publication number: 20090024289
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20090024291
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to minimize any sensation of inadequate firmness and large changes in deceleration rate with respect to a change in a brake operation force when the force exceeds a boost limit point. A first correlation S1 when a brake operation force increases and a second correlation S2 after hysteresis is applied at the time of a decrease in the brake operation force are taken as relationships between a brake operation force F and a wheel cylinder pressure PWC in a state wherein an assist hydraulic pressure PA is not applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshio MASUDA, Masayuki Naito, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 7445298
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes: controlling means having timing means for timing an elapsed time from a brake operation starting time, and extended period of time calculating means obtaining an extended period of time based upon a target wheel cylinder pressure corresponding to an operation amount detected by an operation amount detecting sensor when the timing means times a predetermined period of time at which an amount of brake fluid discharged by each pump reaches a threshold value of brake fluid amount to generate an actual wheel cylinder pressure. During the extended period of time, the value of electric current to be supplied to each first and second motor is maintained at the maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20080203812
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating portion for calculating a master cylinder pressure, a first determining portion for determining whether or not the brake operation is performed, a second calculating portion for calculating a target wheel cylinder pressure, a third calculating portion for calculating a controlled pressure, a controlling portion for controlling a pressure difference control valve, a second determining portion for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and a driving portion for specifying a drive pattern of a motor to a first motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is not stopped, the motor driving a pump for discharging a brake fluid, the driving means specifying the drive pattern to a second motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is stopped, the driving means driving the motor based on the motor driving pattern specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato, Yoichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 7337873
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus is provided for controlling a steered wheel angle of a wheel to be steered. On the basis of a road coefficient of friction estimated between right and left wheels, a braking force difference between the right and left wheels is calculated. A slip angle—total lateral force characteristic indicative of a relationship between a slip angle and a total lateral force of a wheel to be steered is provided on the basis of the estimated coefficient of friction. Then, a steered wheel angle of the wheel to be steered is set on the basis of the braking force difference and the slip angle—total lateral force characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Aizawa, Hiroaki Niino, Minekazu Momiyama, Hiroaki Kato
  • Patent number: 7302328
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus obtains a steered amount by which a steered wheel is steered based on a left-and-right braking force difference control amount, a vehicle state control amount, and a steering control amount. The apparatus changes the magnitude of the braking force difference control amount and the magnitude of the vehicle state control amount according to a vehicle speed or to time elapsed from when braking started to be applied to the left and right wheels. Accordingly, the vehicle driving on a ?-split road is prevented from being deflected toward a side of higher friction coefficient due to the left-and-right braking force difference when the braking is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kato, Minekazu Momiyama, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroaki Aizawa, Hiroaki Niino
  • Publication number: 20070210642
    Abstract: In a vehicle brake control device, a target W/C pressure depending on an amount of operation performed to a brake operating member, exhibits hysteresis due to a forward mapping dataset and a backward mapping dataset. The vehicle brake control device selects the forward mapping dataset or the backward mapping dataset based on the amount of operation performed to the brake operating member, and determines a current value of a current to be supplied to one of first to fourth linear valves. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a wheel cylinder pressure from changing too sensitively to the operation to the brake operating member and from changing even when the driver is not intentionally operating the brake operating member. This makes the driver experience an improved brake feeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato
  • Publication number: 20070210648
    Abstract: In an ABS control, a vehicle brake control device detects a sudden change road in which a friction coefficient changes suddenly from a high value to a lower value and controls, based on the detection of the sudden change road, the currents to be supplied to a first and a second electrical motor in a first manner or a second manner, wherein in the first manner the currents are controlled so that the first and second electrical motors would eventually stop rotating if the motor control portion kept controlling the currents in the first manner for a sufficiently long time, and in the second manner the currents are controlled so that the first and second electrical motors would eventually start rotating in a reverse direction if the motor controlling portion kept controlling the currents in the second manner for a sufficiently long time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Hiroaki Niino