Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Kuroiwa

Hiroshi Kuroiwa 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: 11077852
    Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle includes: an engine; a shift mechanism disposed between the engine and driving wheels; a shift control section configured to control a transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism; and a fuel cut control section configured to stop a fuel supply to the engine, at least when an accelerator pedal is in a release state, and when an engine speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the shift control section being configured to perform a minimum rotation speed restriction control to control the transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism so that the minimum rotation speed of the engine is equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation speed regardless of a vehicle front condition and an accelerator operation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Araki, Tomoaki Honma, Yasuhiro Endo, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20200023849
    Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle includes: an engine; a shift mechanism disposed between the engine and driving wheels; a shift control section configured to control a transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism; and a fuel cut control section configured to stop a fuel supply to the engine, at least when an accelerator pedal is in a release state, and when an engine speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed, the shift control section being configured to perform a minimum rotation speed restriction control to control the transmission gear ratio of the shift mechanism so that the minimum rotation speed of the engine is equal to or greater than the predetermined rotation speed regardless of a vehicle front condition and an accelerator operation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicants: JATCO Ltd, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu ARAKI, Tomoaki HONMA, Yasuhiro ENDO, Hiroshi KUROIWA
  • Patent number: 10396547
    Abstract: To realize a reduction in the number of parts in a system including a driver IC (semiconductor device). A high potential side power supply voltage is applied to a power supply application area. A high side area is formed with a circuit which includes a driver driving a high side transistor and is operated at a boot power supply voltage with a floating voltage as a reference. A low side area is formed with a circuit operated at a power supply voltage with a low potential side power supply voltage as a reference. A first termination area is disposed in a ring form so as to surround the power supply application area. A second termination area is disposed in a ring form so as to surround the high side area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Kanda, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Tetsu Toda, Yasushi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10224921
    Abstract: A driver IC includes a ring-shaped termination area, and a first area and a second area that are respectively arranged outside and inside the termination area on a layout. A sense MOS that is arranged between a floating terminal and a first sense node and is driven at a power supply voltage is formed in the termination area. A fault detection circuit that detects presence of a fault when a voltage of the first sense node is higher than a decision voltage that has been determined in advance in a period of time that a low side driver is driving a low side transistor into an ON state is formed in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Kanda, Koichi Yamazaki, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Masatoshi Maeda, Tetsu Toda
  • Publication number: 20180076614
    Abstract: To realize a reduction in the number of parts in a system including a driver IC (semiconductor device). A high potential side power supply voltage is applied to a power supply application area. A high side area is formed with a circuit which includes a driver driving a high side transistor and is operated at a boot power supply voltage with a floating voltage as a reference. A low side area is formed with a circuit operated at a power supply voltage with a low potential side power supply voltage as a reference. A first termination area is disposed in a ring form so as to surround the power supply application area. A second termination area is disposed in a ring form so as to surround the high side area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ryo KANDA, Hiroshi KUROIWA, Tetsu TODA, Yasushi NAKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20170170819
    Abstract: A driver IC includes a ring-shaped termination area, and a first area and a second area that are respectively arranged outside and inside the termination area on a layout. A sense MOS that is arranged between a floating terminal and a first sense node and is driven at a power supply voltage is formed in the termination area. A fault detection circuit that detects presence of a fault when a voltage of the first sense node is higher than a decision voltage that has been determined in advance in a period of time that a low side driver is driving a low side transistor into an ON state is formed in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Ryo KANDA, Koichi YAMAZAKI, Hiroshi KUROIWA, Masatoshi MAEDA, Tetsu TODA
  • Patent number: 9667142
    Abstract: A power supply device is responsive to load changes. The power supply device includes a switch control circuit, a charge control circuit, and a discharge control circuit. The switch control circuit controls switches so that electrical power is charged into an inductor, discharged from the inductor, and distributed to first and second capacitors in a time-division manner based on a switching cycle. The charge control circuit controls the amount of electrical power to be charged into the inductor based on a first amount of error between a first output power supply voltage and its target value and a second amount of error between a second output power supply voltage and its target value. The discharge control circuit controls a distribution ratio at which the electrical power discharged from the inductor is distributed to the first and second capacitors based on the ratio between the first and second amounts of error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Osamu Yamashita, Masahiro Ishihara, Minoru Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 9621151
    Abstract: A driver IC includes a ring-shaped termination area, and a first area and a second area that are respectively arranged outside and inside the termination area on a layout. A sense MOS that is arranged between floating terminal and a first sense node and is driven at a power supply voltage is formed in the termination area. A fault detection circuit that detects presence of a fault when a voltage of the first sense node is higher than a decision voltage that has been deteLutined in advance in a period of time that a low side driver is driving a low side transistor into an ON state is formed in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Kanda, Koichi Yamazaki, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Masatoshi Maeda, Tetsu Toda
  • Publication number: 20170019093
    Abstract: A driver IC includes a ring-shaped termination area, and a first area and a second area that are respectively arranged outside and inside the termination area on a layout. A sense MOS that is arranged between a floating terminal and a first sense node and is driven at a power supply voltage is formed in the termination area. A fault detection circuit that detects presence of a fault when a voltage of the first sense node is higher than a decision voltage that has been determined in advance in a period of time that a low side driver is driving a low side transistor into an ON state is formed in the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Ryo KANDA, Koichi Yamazaki, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Masatoshi Maeda, Tetsu Toda
  • Publication number: 20140084889
    Abstract: A power supply device is responsive to load changes. The power supply device includes a switch control circuit, a charge control circuit, and a discharge control circuit. The switch control circuit controls switches so that electrical power is charged into an inductor, discharged from the inductor, and distributed to first and second capacitors in a time-division manner based on a switching cycle. The charge control circuit controls the amount of electrical power to be charged into the inductor based on a first amount of error between a first output power supply voltage and its target value and a second amount of error between a second output power supply voltage and its target value. The discharge control circuit controls a distribution ratio at which the electrical power discharged from the inductor is distributed to the first and second capacitors based on the ratio between the first and second amounts of error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi KUROIWA, Osamu YAMASHITA, Masahiro ISHIHARA, Minoru KUROSAWA
  • Patent number: 8482233
    Abstract: A head of a hard disc device is retracted to a predetermined position by operating a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) driver. Trouble in a hard disc is detected and retraction is performed even if a short circuit occurs in either of the output line of a VCM driver in an input end of a high potential side or in an input end of a low potential side. A ground short circuit is detected in each side separately and different retracting methods are executed for each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7967721
    Abstract: A transmission system in a vehicle using a motor to transmit power assists acceleration by generating auxiliary engine power during acceleration in addition to gear changing by the motor. Where acceleration assistance is added, torque transition is conducted along a torque transmission route of dog clutch, second intermediate shaft, motor, first intermediate shaft, and gear position of first intermediate shaft before shifting so as to avoid the torque reduction in uncomfortable shocks and feelings to the driver due to torque reduction when shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Masahiko Ibamoto, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20110102931
    Abstract: A head of a hard disc device is retracted to a predetermined position by operating a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) driver. Trouble in a hard disc is detected and retraction is performed even if a short circuit occurs in either of the output line of a VCM driver in an input end of a high potential side or in an input end of a low potential side. A ground short circuit is detected in each side separately and different retracting methods are executed for each case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi KUROIWA
  • Patent number: 7848044
    Abstract: The present invention provides a VCM driver realizing low power consumption and high accuracy and a PWM amplifier compensating a dead time distortion. A phase compensator, a ?? modulator receiving an output signal of the phase compensator and converting the output signal to a control code of predetermined bits, a PWM modulator receiving the control code to produce a PWM signal, and an output circuit receiving the PWM signal to drive a voice coil constitute a forward path. A sense amplifier sensing a current of the voice coil, an ADC receiving an output signal of the sense amplifier, a low-pass filter receiving an output signal of the ADC, and a decimation filter receiving an output signal of the low-pass filter constitute a feedback path. An output signal of the decimation filter is fed back to the input side of the phase compensator to form a major feedback loop having a first-order characteristic loop gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kokami, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20100177444
    Abstract: The present invention provides a VCM driver realizing low power consumption and high accuracy and a PWM amplifier compensating a dead time distortion. A phase compensator, a ?? modulator receiving an output signal of the phase compensator and converting the output signal to a control code of predetermined bits, a PWM modulator receiving the control code to produce a PWM signal, and an output circuit receiving the PWM signal to drive a voice coil constitute a forward path. A sense amplifier sensing a current of the voice coil, an ADC receiving an output signal of the sense amplifier, a low-pass filter receiving an output signal of the ADC, and a decimation filter receiving an output signal of the low-pass filter constitute a feedback path. An output signal of the decimation filter is fed back to the input side of the phase compensator to form a major feedback loop having a first-order characteristic loop gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kokami, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7710678
    Abstract: The present invention provides a VCM driver realizing low power consumption and high accuracy and a PWM amplifier compensating a dead time distortion. A phase compensator, a ?S modulator receiving an output signal of the phase compensator and converting the output signal to a control code of predetermined bits, a PWM modulator receiving the control code to produce a PWM signal, and an output circuit receiving the PWM signal to drive a voice coil constitute a forward path. A sense amplifier sensing a current of the voice coil, an ADC receiving an output signal of the sense amplifier, a low-pass filter receiving an output signal of the ADC, and a decimation filter receiving an output signal of the low-pass filter constitute a feedback path. An output signal of the decimation filter is fed back to the input side of the phase compensator to form a major feedback loop having a first-order characteristic loop gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technolgy Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kokami, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20100041514
    Abstract: A transmission system in a vehicle using a motor to transmit power assists acceleration by generating auxiliary engine power during acceleration in addition to gear changing by the motor. Where acceleration assistance is added, torque transition is conducted along a torque transmission route of dog clutch, second intermediate shaft, motor, first intermediate shaft, and gear position of first intermediate shaft before shifting so as to avoid the torque reduction in uncomfortable shocks and feelings to the driver due to torque reduction when shifting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SAKAMOTO, Masahiko Ibamoto, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7632209
    Abstract: In a shift system wherein the transfer of power is performed using a motor, the smaller the gear ratio difference is, the smaller can be made the motor output. However, the number of gears must be increased in order to reduce the gear ratio. As the number of gears increases, the problem of gear noise becomes more serious. It is necessary to prevent both an increase in the number of gears and an increase of the motor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Masahiko Ibamoto, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7628720
    Abstract: A transmission system in a vehicle using a motor to transmit power assists acceleration by generating auxiliary engine power during acceleration in addition to gear changing by the motor. Where acceleration assistance is added, torque transition is conducted along a torque transmission route of dog clutch, second intermediate shaft, motor, first intermediate shaft, and gear position of first intermediate shaft before shifting so as to avoid the torque reduction in uncomfortable shocks and feelings to the driver due to torque reduction when shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Masahiko Ibamoto, Hiroshi Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7575084
    Abstract: An automobile is equipped with a gear type transmission having a first torque transfer path between input and output shafts formed by mesh type clutches and a second torque transfer path between input and output shafts formed by transfer torque variable systems, and actuators for selecting the torque transfer path. When a wheel slips while the automobile is driving using the first torque transfer path, the actuators are controlled so that at least part of the torque being transferred via the first torque transfer path is instead transferred via the second torque transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Fujimoto, Tetsuo Matsumura, Hiroshi Kuroiwa, Naoyuki Ozaki