Patents by Inventor Hiroto Kawano
Hiroto Kawano 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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Patent number: 9561720Abstract: A driving force distribution control apparatus includes: a driving force transmission device including a clutch which can change distribution of a driving force to front wheels and rear wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle; and a controller which controls an engagement force of the clutch in accordance with a traveling state. The controller includes a different-diameter tire detector which detects an attachment of a different-diameter tire to one of the front wheels and the rear wheels when a rotation speed ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels continues to be equal to or larger than a reference rotation speed ratio for a predetermined time. The different-diameter tire detector performs detection of the attachment of the different-diameter tire when it is determined that the wheels are unlikely to slip based on an outside condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Kotaro Sarai, Tomoaki Kato, Hiroto Kawano, Daisuke Kofu, Yasushi Yagi
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Patent number: 9539973Abstract: A floor portion structure that serves as a right foot protecting structure has a tibia pad that is provided at a portion, where a right foot of a vehicle occupant is placed, at a dash panel of a vehicle. In a case in which the tibia pad receives compressive load from the right foot at a time of a vehicle collision, the tibia pad is deformed in a shape that is inclined downwardly to the right such that a right side portion in a vehicle transverse direction at a region of contact with the right foot becomes lower than a left side portion, or is deformed such that the left side portion in the vehicle transverse direction at the region of contact with the right foot generates greater reaction force than the right side portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroto Kawano
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Patent number: 9533715Abstract: A vehicle hood structure includes a hood lock reinforcement that is provided on a vehicle lower side of an inner panel that forms a hood, and to which a striker is attached on a front side in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The hood lock reinforcement includes a step-shaped rear wall portion that is formed farther to a rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the striker, on the hood lock reinforcement, and in which a rear end portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction is arranged farther to a vehicle upper side than a front end portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and that includes at least four ridge lines that extend in a vehicle width direction, and that includes at least two leg portions that separate at least one of the ridge lines in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuya Inoue, Hiroto Kawano
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Publication number: 20160152280Abstract: A vehicle hood structure includes a hood lock reinforcement that is provided on a vehicle lower side of an inner panel that forms a hood, and to which a striker is attached on a front side in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The hood lock reinforcement includes a step-shaped rear wall portion that is formed farther to a rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the striker, on the hood lock reinforcement, and in which a rear end portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction is arranged farther to a vehicle upper side than a front end portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and that includes at least four ridge lines that extend in a vehicle width direction, and that includes at least two leg portions that separate at least one of the ridge lines in the vehicle width direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuya INOUE, Hiroto KAWANO
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Publication number: 20160039380Abstract: A floor portion structure that serves as a right foot protecting structure has a tibia pad that is provided at a portion, where a right foot of a vehicle occupant is placed, at a dash panel of a vehicle. In a case in which the tibia pad receives compressive load from the right foot at a time of a vehicle collision, the tibia pad is deformed in a shape that is inclined downwardly to the right such that a right side portion in a vehicle transverse direction at a region of contact with the right foot becomes lower than a left side portion, or is deformed such that the left side portion in the vehicle transverse direction at the region of contact with the right foot generates greater reaction force than the right side portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2013Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventor: Hiroto KAWANO
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Publication number: 20150258889Abstract: A driving force distribution control apparatus includes: a driving force transmission device including a clutch which can change distribution of a driving force to front wheels and rear wheels of a four-wheel drive vehicle; and a controller which controls an engagement force of the clutch in accordance with a traveling state. The controller includes a different-diameter tire detector which detects an attachment of a different-diameter tire to one of the front wheels and the rear wheels when a rotation speed ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels continues to be equal to or larger than a reference rotation speed ratio for a predetermined time. The different-diameter tire detector performs detection of the attachment of the different-diameter tire when it is determined that the wheels are unlikely to slip based on an outside condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicants: JTEKT Corporation, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kotaro SARAI, Tomoaki Kato, Hiroto Kawano, Daisuke Kofu, Yasushi Yagi
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Patent number: 8972136Abstract: Discloses is a method of controlling a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a torque distribution device capable of changing a torque distribution amount for secondary driven wheels according to an input current to be applied thereto. This method comprises the steps of: applying, to the torque distribution device, a current value corresponding to a target torque distribution amount; and, performing a current changing control for increasing and reducing the input current to the torque distribution device. The step of performing a current changing control includes causing the input current to the torque distribution device to be temporarily increased to a value greater than the current value corresponding to the target torque distribution amount, and then returned to the current value corresponding to the target torque distribution amount, and repeating the temporary increasing of the input current at least at intervals of a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, JTEKT CorporationInventors: Yasushi Yagi, Hiroto Kawano, Tomohiro Nozu, Akiyoshi Kakita, Ryohei Shigeta
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Publication number: 20130030664Abstract: Discloses is a method of controlling a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a torque distribution device capable of changing a torque distribution amount for secondary driven wheels according to an input current to be applied thereto. This method comprises the steps of: applying, to the torque distribution device, a current value corresponding to a target torque distribution amount; and, performing a current changing control for increasing and reducing the input current to the torque distribution device. The step of performing a current changing control includes causing the input current to the torque distribution device to be temporarily increased to a value greater than the current value corresponding to the target torque distribution amount, and then returned to the current value corresponding to the target torque distribution amount, and repeating the temporary increasing of the input current at least at intervals of a predetermined time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Yasushi YAGI, Hiroto KAWANO, Tomohiro NOZU, Akiyoshi KAKITA, Ryohei SHIGETA
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Patent number: 5211081Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission including a main transmission and a subtransmission whose shift operation is carried out by hydraulically. The control system comprises a first device for adjusting a gear ratio advance of the main transmission, the gear ratio advance corresponding to a gear ratio change during the shift operation, a second device for adjusting a gear ratio advance of the subtransmission, the gear ratio advance corresponding to a gear ratio change during the shift operation, and a device for controlling the frist adjusting device and the second adjusting device during concurrent shift operations of the main transmission and the subtransmission so that the gear ratio advances of the main transmission and the subtransmission become equal to respective predetermined target gear ratio advances.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1991Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Keiji Bota, Hidehiko Mishima, Hiroto Kawano, Takuro Shigemura, Toshihisa Marusue, Kotaro Ninomiya
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Patent number: 4819606Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for a distributor injection pump for use in a diesel engine. The apparatus has an injection timing advancing device which advances a fuel injection timing of the distributor injection pump at an advancing rate responsive to a change of engine loading. A timing control includes a variable pressure relief system for changing the amount of pressure relieved from a pump chamber of the distributor injection pump. This variable pressure relief system can change the advancing rate of the injection timing advancing device in such a way that the advancing rate becomes lower in a low range of engine loading than in a high range of engine loading. The advancing rate may be continuously increasingly varying from that determined by the low engine loading in accordance with atmospheric pressure to a mostly increased advancing rate which is higher than a predetermined advancing rate in the high range of engine loading.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1987Date of Patent: April 11, 1989Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Hiroto Kawano