Patents by Inventor Hiroki Sonoda
Hiroki Sonoda 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: 20240092421Abstract: A steering device and a method for controlling the steering device according to the present invention are capable of suppressing, in a steer-by-wire steering device including a steering operation input member and a turning actuator that applies a turning force to a road wheel based on a driving signal, a change in which a yaw rate gain of a vehicle rises with respect to the operation speed of the steering operation input member by changing a turning angle command value to an angle less than the angle before the change when a turning frequency of the road wheel is a predetermined frequency. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress a case in which the yaw rate gain of the vehicle becomes too sensitive with respect to a steering operation by a driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2021Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicants: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., National University Corporation Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyInventors: Hiroki SONODA, Yoshiji HASEGAWA, Tomoaki FUJlBAYASHI, Hiroshi MOURI
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Publication number: 20230347972Abstract: The present disclosure provides a steering control device capable of transmitting an appropriate reaction force by a driver via a steering wheel and improving the stability of a vehicle. Provided is a steering control device 100 for controlling a reaction force actuator 16 that generates a reaction force against an operation of a driver in a steering wheel 13 of a vehicle 10. The steering control device 100 increases the reaction force in a nonlinear region where a cornering force characteristic that is the relationship between the slip angle and the lateral force of tires 11 of the vehicle 10 becomes nonlinear, more than the reaction force in a linear region where the cornering force characteristic becomes linear.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2020Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Go SAKAYORI, Kenta MAEDA, Tomoaki FUJIBAYASHI, Hiroki SONODA
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Publication number: 20230339534Abstract: A steering device according to the present invention includes: a steering input device including a reaction force actuator that applies a steering reaction force to a steering operation input member; and a control device including a steering gear ratio change unit that changes a steering gear ratio in accordance with a vehicle speed, a reaction force actuator control unit that controls an output amount of the reaction force actuator in accordance with an operation angular velocity of the steering operation input member, and a reaction force actuator output amount change unit that changes, based on the steering gear ratio, the output amount of the reaction force actuator. This makes it possible to set an appropriate steering reaction force applied to the steering operation input member, thereby stably reducing the operational burden on a driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.Inventors: Hiroki SONODA, Yoshiji HASEGAWA, Tomoaki FUJIBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20220340195Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering control device and a steering control method that can reduce a driving burden imposed on a driver during low velocity driving. The present invention is provided with an arithmetic logic unit that changes a steering angle of a wheel 11 by driving a wheel steering actuator 7 based on a manipulated variable of a steering 3, and calculates a controlled variable of the wheel steering actuator 7. In turning the steering 3, the arithmetic logic unit controls the wheel steering actuator 7 based on a first gain at which a ratio of an actual steering angle of the wheel 11 changes with respect to a steering angle ?, and in returning the steering 3, the arithmetic logic unit controls the wheel steering actuator 7 based on a second gain that differs from the first gain.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.Inventors: Go SAKAYORI, Tomoaki FUJIBAYASHI, Hiroki SONODA
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Publication number: 20220332366Abstract: A steering control device, a steering control method, and a steering control system according to the present invention determines a rear wheel steering angle control command for returning a rear wheel steering angle to a predetermined steering angle earlier than a front wheel steering angle when steering wheel operation (that is, operation of a steering wheel) shifts from a state of additional turning to a state of cutback turning, in steering control that steers a rear wheel steering angle of a vehicle in opposite-phase with respect to a front wheel steering angle, and outputs the determined rear wheel steering angle control command to a rear wheel steering device, so that hysteresis of a yaw rate is reduced or eliminated, reducing or eliminating a sense of discomfort given to a driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Hiroki SONODA, Tomoaki FUJIBAYASHI, Yoshiji HASEGAWA, Kazuya Takahashi, Toshihiko KANEDA
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Patent number: 10252707Abstract: A system comprises: pump (hydraulic pressure source) that uses brake fluid supplied from reservoir tank (reservoir) to generate hydraulic pressure in first hydraulic line, thereby generating hydraulic pressure in wheel cylinder; piston configured to move axially in cylinder under the action of hydraulic fluid supplied from master cylinder, piston dividing cylinder into at least two chambers (positive pressure chamber and backpressure chamber); stroke simulator for generating reaction force to a driver's brake operation by moving piston; second hydraulic line provided between positive pressure chamber in stroke simulator and master cylinder; and third hydraulic chamber provided between backpressure chamber and first hydraulic chamber to transmit brake fluid from backpressure chamber to first hydraulic chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Yagashira, Hiroki Sonoda, Asahi Watanabe, Toshiya Oosawa
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Publication number: 20180022332Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a brake apparatus capable of acquiring a sufficient braking force when an abnormality has occurred. The brake apparatus includes a stroke simulator. The stroke simulator is connected to a portion of an oil passage between a master cylinder and a valve. The oil passage connects the master cylinder and a wheel cylinder therebetween. The stroke simulator is configured to generate a brake operation reaction force due to an increase and a reduction in a volume of a positive pressure chamber formed inside the stroke simulator. Brake fluid contained in a first chamber of the master cylinder flows into the positive pressure chamber at the time of control by a by-wire control unit. A fluid amount that can be supplied from the first chamber is larger than a fluid amount that the positive pressure can absorb therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventors: Hiroki SONODA, Toshiya OOSAWA, Asahi WATANABE
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Publication number: 20170015293Abstract: A system comprises: pump (hydraulic pressure source) that uses brake fluid supplied from reservoir tank (reservoir) to generate hydraulic pressure in first hydraulic line, thereby generating hydraulic pressure in wheel cylinder; piston configured to move axially in cylinder under the action of hydraulic fluid supplied from master cylinder, piston dividing cylinder into at least two chambers (positive pressure chamber and backpressure chamber); stroke simulator for generating reaction force to a driver's brake operation by moving piston; second hydraulic line provided between positive pressure chamber in stroke simulator and master cylinder; and third hydraulic chamber provided between backpressure chamber and first hydraulic chamber to transmit brake fluid from backpressure chamber to first hydraulic chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Hideaki YAGASHIRA, Hiroki SONODA, Asahi WATANABE, Toshiya OOSAWA
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Patent number: 9527486Abstract: The present invention provides a brake device that can improve the pressure-increasing response of wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure. The invention is provided with: a master cylinder (5) actuated by the driver operating the brake, the master cylinder (5) being connected to a wheel cylinder (8) via a first oil channel (11), and capable of increasing the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure; and an auxiliary pressure-increasing part (auxiliary pressure-increasing part (106) and stroke simulator (27)) for assisting in the increasing of the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure by the master cylinder (5) of the pump (7).Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Ryohei Maruo, Masayuki Saito, Chiharu Nakazawa, Toshiya Oosawa, Asahi Watanabe, Hiroki Sonoda
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Patent number: 9522668Abstract: There is provided a brake apparatus configured to identify a fluid leak spot while generating a braking force. The brake apparatus is configured to drive pump 7 to supply a brake fluid to a first fluid passage (fluid passage 11P, discharge passage 13P) and a second fluid passage (fluid passage 11S, discharge passage 13S), switch communicating valves 23P and 23S alternately between open and closed positions more than once, and detect a brake-fluid leakage in the first or second fluid passage on the basis of magnitudes of detection values detected by hydraulic-pressure sensors 92P and 92S during the open-close switching.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Toshiya Oosawa, Hiroki Sonoda, Asahi Watanabe
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Publication number: 20150367828Abstract: There is provided a brake apparatus configured to identify a fluid leak spot while generating a braking force. The brake apparatus is configured to drive pump 7 to supply a brake fluid to a first fluid passage (fluid passage 11P, discharge passage 13P) and a second fluid passage (fluid passage 11S, discharge passage 13S), switch communicating valves 23P and 23S alternately between open and closed positions more than once, and detect a brake-fluid leakage in the first or second fluid passage on the basis of magnitudes of detection values detected by hydraulic-pressure sensors 92P and 92S during the open-close switching.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Toshiya OOSAWA, Hiroki SONODA, Asahi WATANABE
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Publication number: 20150314765Abstract: The present invention provides a brake device that can improve the pressure-increasing response of wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure. The invention is provided with: a master cylinder (5) actuated by the driver operating the brake, the master cylinder (5) being connected to a wheel cylinder (8) via a first oil channel (11), and capable of increasing the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure; and an auxiliary pressure-increasing part (auxiliary pressure-increasing part (106) and stroke simulator (27)) for assisting in the increasing of the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure by the master cylinder (5) of the pump (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Ryohei MARUO, Masayuki SAITO, Chiharu NAKAZAWA, Toshiya OOSAWA, Asahi WATANABE, Hiroki SONODA
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Publication number: 20140346851Abstract: A brake device used in a vehicle employing a regenerative braking device for applying an electric braking force to road wheels, is provided with a first pump for sucking brake fluid from a master cylinder for generating a brake fluid pressure by a brake operation of the driver and for increasing a wheel-cylinder fluid pressure of a front-wheel system so as to generate a braking force, and a second pump for sucking the brake fluid from a reservoir, and for increasing a wheel-cylinder fluid pressure of a rear-wheel system so as to generate a braking force. Also provided is a brake control unit for calculating a distribution amount among the braking forces respectively produced by the first pump, the second pump, and the regenerative braking device in order to generate a required braking force depending on the brake operation by the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2012Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Hiroki Sonoda, Toshiya Oosawa, Akira Takahashi, Asahi Watanabe
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Patent number: 8712664Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus employing a first speed self-adjustment control system configured to control a speed of a host vehicle based on a first command value, in a manner so as to maintain a distance of the host vehicle from a preceding vehicle or to maintain a set speed, a second speed self-adjustment control system is provided for controlling the host vehicle's speed based on a second command value determined based on information about a lateral acceleration acting on the host vehicle. Also provided is a deceleration selector configured to select either one of the first and second command values, which selected command value produces a greater deceleration exerted on the host vehicle. A control unit is configured to control the host vehicle's speed by driving an actuator based on the selected command value.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Toshiya Oosawa, Hiroki Sonoda, Akira Takahashi
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Patent number: 8469463Abstract: [OBJECT] To provide a brake control apparatus and method for controlling the brake which is capable of preventing a fluctuation of a brake pedal stroke amount when switching a regenerative braking force to a hydraulic braking force.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Sonoda, Motohiro Higuma
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Patent number: 8321117Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an inter-vehicle distance control section configured to perform a follow-up control to a preceding vehicle by automatically accelerating or decelerating a host vehicle, or a constant speed running control section configured to perform a constant speed running to converge to a set speed; a brake operating state sensing device; and a control unit including; a deceleration control section configured to perform a deceleration in accordance with the brake operating state of the driver when the brake operating state sensing device senses the brake operation of the driver during the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed running control; and an acceleration control limit section configured to cancel a control in the acceleration direction which is performed by the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed control when the brake operating state sensing device senses an end of the brake operation of the driver.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Sonoda, Toshiya Oosawa
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Publication number: 20120150411Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus employing a first speed self-adjustment control system configured to control a speed of a host vehicle based on a first command value, in a manner so as to maintain a distance of the host vehicle from a preceding vehicle or to maintain a set speed, a second speed self-adjustment control system is provided for controlling the host vehicle's speed based on a second command value determined based on information about a lateral acceleration acting on the host vehicle. Also provided is a deceleration selector configured to select either one of the first and second command values, which selected command value produces a greater deceleration exerted on the host vehicle. A control unit is configured to control the host vehicle's speed by driving an actuator based on the selected command value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Toshiya OOSAWA, Hiroki Sonoda, Akira Takahashi
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Publication number: 20110066350Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an inter-vehicle distance control section configured to perform a follow-up control to a preceding vehicle by automatically accelerating or decelerating a host vehicle, or a constant speed running control section configured to perform a constant speed running to converge to a set speed; a brake operating state sensing device; and a control unit including; a deceleration control section configured to perform a deceleration in accordance with the brake operating state of the driver when the brake operating state sensing device senses the brake operation of the driver during the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed running control; and an acceleration control limit section configured to cancel a control in the acceleration direction which is performed by the inter-vehicle distance control or the constant speed control when the brake operating state sensing device senses an end of the brake operation of the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Hiroki SONODA, Toshiya Oosawa
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Publication number: 20100187901Abstract: To provide a brake control apparatus and method for controlling the brake which is capable of preventing a fluctuation of a brake pedal stroke amount when switching a regenerative braking force to a hydraulic braking force.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Hiroki SONODA, Motohiro Higuma
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Publication number: 20100070151Abstract: An accelerator pedal operation condition detecting section detects an operation condition of the accelerator pedal, a brake pedal operation condition detecting section detects an operation condition of the brake pedal; an inter-vehicular distance detecting section detects a distance between an own-vehicle and a forward-vehicle and a speed control section controls a speed of the own-vehicle. A control unit is configured to keep a relative positional relation between the own-vehicle and the forward-vehicle when the detected inter-vehicular distance is smaller than a predetermined reference inter-vehicular distance and the operation condition detected by the accelerator pedal operation condition detecting section and the brake pedal operation condition detecting section indicates a predetermined operation condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroki Sonoda, Motohiro Higuma, Akira Takahashi, Jun Kubo, Toshiya Oosawa