Patents by Inventor Kaoru Sawase

Kaoru Sawase 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: 8585525
    Abstract: A left and right wheels drive system includes: first and second drive sources left and right drive wheels; and a gear mechanism interposed between the drive sources and the drive wheels, the gear mechanism including: a pinion set including a plurality of pinion gears installed on one shaft; and an element group linked with the pinion set and includes first, second, third, and fourth elements When the first element is held stationary, the second, third and fourth elements rotate in the same direction. When the first element is held stationary, the second element rotates at a higher speed than the third and fourth elements. One of the first and second drive sources is connected to the first element, and the other is connected to the second element. One of the left and right drive wheels is connected to the third element, and the other is connected to the fourth element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Patent number: 8548706
    Abstract: A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase a drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takami Miura, Kaoru Sawase, Takao Matsui, Yuichi Ushiroda, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8545359
    Abstract: A drive force adjustment apparatus includes a differential gear, a motor, a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism. The input element, the first output element, the second output element, the motor input element, the fixed element, and the connecting element are expressed as points I, R, L, M, F and C on a graph, an ordinate of which shows the number of revolutions and a abscissa of which shows relative ratios of the number of revolutions of the elements. Length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, I is located between F and C on a straight line F-C, and R is located between C and M on a straight line C-M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomo Kato, Kaoru Sawase, Yuichi Ushiroda
  • Patent number: 8403796
    Abstract: A drive force adjustment apparatus includes a differential gear, a motor, a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism. The input element, the first output element, the second output element, the motor input element, the fixed element, and the connecting element are expressed as points I, R, L, M, F and C on a graph, an ordinate of which shows the number of revolutions and a abscissa of which shows relative ratios of the number of revolutions of the elements. In one example, length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, C is located between L and M on a straight line L-M, and C is located between F and I on a straight line F-I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomo Kato, Kaoru Sawase, Yuichi Ushiroda
  • Patent number: 8355841
    Abstract: A turning behavior display device, operable to display control condition of a turning behavior control unit which controls turning behavior of a vehicle in a turning direction by using a relative difference between a first torque acting on one of left and right wheels of the vehicle and a second torque acting on the other of the left and right wheels of the vehicle, includes: first display portions, provided for the left and right wheels, and adapted to increase or decrease in the turning direction in accordance with the relative difference from a reference section used when the first torque is equal to the second torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Takahashi, Kaoru Sawase, Yuichi Ushiroda, Keiji Suzuki, Takami Miura
  • Patent number: 8285450
    Abstract: A differential limiting control device for a vehicle calculates a yaw rate correspondence control amount according to deviation between actual yaw rate and target yaw rate when a vehicle turns, and also judges the vehicle's steering characteristic of the moment and magnitude relation between wheel speeds of right and left front wheels. The differential limiting control device then applies compensation toward an increase or decrease side based on a yaw rate correspondence control amount to a base control amount according to a combination of the steering characteristic and the magnitude relation between the wheel speeds, and controls a differential limiting force between the right and left front wheels based upon a final control amount obtained after the compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase, Yusuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 8265845
    Abstract: A right-left driving force control system includes: a selecting unit which: selects an adjusting unit adjusting distribution of a driving force between right and left wheels, when a shifting direction in which the driving force is shifted between the wheels and which is related to a control amount is the same as a first direction towards one of the wheels which has a larger speed; selects a limiting unit adjusting a differential action limiting force, when the shifting direction is the same as a second direction towards one of the wheels which has a smaller speed, and a difference between the wheel speeds is equal to or larger than a threshold value; and maintains the adjusting unit or the limiting unit, which has been selected, when the shifting direction is the same as the second direction, and the difference between the wheel speeds is less than the threshold value; and a control unit which controls the adjusting unit or the limiting unit, which is selected or maintained by the selecting unit, based on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Patent number: 8241163
    Abstract: A controller includes: a adjuster, configured to adjust distribution of driving force between right and left wheels; a limiter, configured to limit a difference between operations of the right and left wheels; a first calculator, configured to calculate a first control amount corresponding to the adjustor and including an amount related to direction of shift of driving force between the right and left wheels; a second calculator, configured to calculate a second control amount corresponding to the limiter; a third calculator, configured to calculate a third control amount including the second control amount and the amount; a fourth calculator, configured to calculate a fourth control amount that is a combination of the first and third control amounts; a selector, configured to select either the adjustor and the limiter; and a controller, configured to control the adjustor or the limiter in accordance with the fourth control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Publication number: 20110281684
    Abstract: A left and right wheels drive system includes: a first drive source and a second drive source; a left drive wheel and a right drive wheel; and a gear mechanism interposed between the first and second drive sources and the left and right drive wheels, the gear mechanism including: a pinion set in which a plurality of pinion gears are installed on one shaft; and an element group which is linked with the pinion set and which includes a first element, a second element, a third element and a fourth element. When the first element is held stationary, the second, third and fourth elements rotate in the same direction. When the first element is held stationary, the second element rotates at a higher speed than the third and fourth elements. One of the first and second drive sources is connected to the first element, and the other of the first and second drive source is connected to the second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Yuichi USHIRODA, Kaoru SAWASE
  • Publication number: 20100234158
    Abstract: A drive force adjustment apparatus includes a differential gear, a motor, a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism. The input element, the first output element, the second output element, the motor input element, the fixed element, and the connecting element are expressed as points I, R, L, M, F and C on a graph, a ordinate of which shows the number of revolutions and a abscissa of which shows relative ratios of the number of revolutions of the elements. Length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, I is located between F and C on a straight line F-C, and R is located between C and M on a straight line C-M. Or, length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, L is located between M and C on a straight line M-C, and I is located between C and F on a straight line C-F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Tomo KATO, Kaoru Sawase, Yuichi Ushiroda
  • Publication number: 20100234161
    Abstract: A drive force adjustment apparatus includes a differential gear, a motor, a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism. The input element, the first output element, the second output element, the motor input element, the fixed element, and the connecting element are expressed as points I, R, L, M, F and C on a graph, a ordinate of which shows the number of revolutions and a abscissa of which shows relative ratios of the number of revolutions of the elements. Length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, C is located between L and M on a straight line L-M, and C is located between F and I on a straight line F-I. Or, length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, C is located between R and M on a straight line R-M, and C is located between F and I on a straight line F-I.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Tomo KATO, Kaoru Sawase, Yuichi Ushiroda
  • Patent number: 7793750
    Abstract: Restraining torque TF of an electronic controlled front limited slip differential (5) arranged between right and left front wheels is controlled in accordance with controlling right-left wheel rotational speed difference ?NF, which is the rotational speed difference between the right and left front wheels, while restraining torque TC of an electronic controlled coupling (8) arranged between the front and rear wheels is controlled in accordance with controlling front-rear wheel rotational speed difference ?NC obtained by subtracting ½ of the rotational speed difference between the right and left wheels (|?NF|/2) from the rotational speed difference (?NCT??NCD) between the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase, Yusuke Fujii
  • Patent number: 7761215
    Abstract: A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takami Miura, Kaoru Sawase, Takao Matsui, Yuichi Ushiroda, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7734402
    Abstract: A driving-force distribution control device includes a distributing mechanism, a distribution controller, an anti-skid brake system, an acceleration detector, a synthesized acceleration calculator and a control coefficient controller. The distributing mechanism is operable to variably distribute a driving force from an engine to individual drive wheels of a vehicle. The distribution controller is operable to control the distributing mechanism based on a running state of the vehicle. The acceleration detector is operable to detect a first acceleration in a front-rear direction and a second acceleration in a left-right direction of the vehicle. The synthesized acceleration calculator is operable to calculate a synthesized acceleration of the first acceleration and the second acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase, Kazuhiko Aono, Makoto Sakata, Kazufumi Hayashikawa, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki, Takami Miura
  • Publication number: 20100029437
    Abstract: A controller includes: a adjuster, configured to adjust distribution of driving force between right and left wheels; a limiter, configured to limit a difference between operations of the right and left wheels; a first calculator, configured to calculate a first control amount corresponding to the adjustor and including an amount related to direction of shift of driving force between the right and left wheels; a second calculator, configured to calculate a second control amount corresponding to the limiter; a third calculator, configured to calculate a third control amount including the second control amount and the amount; a fourth calculator, configured to calculate a fourth control amount that is a combination of the first and third control amounts; a selector, configured to select either the adjustor and the limiter; and a controller, configured to control the adjustor or the limiter in accordance with the fourth control amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Publication number: 20100023184
    Abstract: A right-left driving force control system includes: a selecting unit which: selects an adjusting unit adjusting distribution of a driving force between right and left wheels, when a shifting direction in which the driving force is shifted between the wheels and which is related to a control amount is the same as a first direction towards one of the wheels which has a larger speed; selects a limiting unit adjusting a differential action limiting force, when the shifting direction is the same as a second direction towards one of the wheels which has a smaller speed, and a difference between the wheel speeds is equal to or larger than a threshold value; and maintains the adjusting unit or the limiting unit, which has been selected, when the shifting direction is the same as the second direction, and the difference between the wheel speeds is less than the threshold value; and a control unit which controls the adjusting unit or the limiting unit, which is selected or maintained by the selecting unit, based on the
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Patent number: 7628721
    Abstract: A device operable to distribute driving forces to left and right wheels of a vehicle, includes: a differential mechanism, a driving-force adjuster and a differential limiter. The differential mechanism is operable to distribute a driving force from a drive source of the vehicle to the left and right wheels as distributed driving forces, while allowing a rotation difference between the left and right wheels. The driving-force adjuster is operable to adjust each of the distributed driving forces. The differential limiter is operable to limit rotation difference between the left and right wheels by applying a limiting torque to the differential mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase
  • Publication number: 20090127014
    Abstract: Restraining torque TF of an electronic controlled front limited slip differential (5) arranged between right and left front wheels is controlled in accordance with controlling right-left wheel rotational speed difference ?NF, which is the rotational speed difference between the right and left front wheels, while restraining torque TC of an electronic controlled coupling (8) arranged between the front and rear wheels is controlled in accordance with controlling front-rear wheel rotational speed difference ?NC obtained by subtracting ½ of the rotational speed difference between the right and left wheels (|?NF|/2) from the rotational speed difference (?NCT??NCD) between the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Yuichi Ushiroda, Kaoru Sawase, Yusuke Fujii
  • Publication number: 20090062998
    Abstract: A driving-force distribution control device includes a distributing mechanism, a distribution controller, an anti-skid brake system, an acceleration detector, a synthesized acceleration calculator and a control coefficient controller. The distributing mechanism is operable to variably distribute a driving force from an engine to individual drive wheels of a vehicle. The distribution controller is operable to control the distributing mechanism based on a running state of the vehicle. The acceleration detector is operable to detect a first acceleration in a front-rear direction and a second acceleration in a left-right direction of the vehicle. The synthesized acceleration calculator is operable to calculate a synthesized acceleration of the first acceleration and the second acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Yuichi USHIRODA, Kaoru Sawase, Kazuhiko Aono, Makoto Sakata, Kazufumi Hayashikawa, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki, Takami Miura
  • Publication number: 20090030572
    Abstract: A turning behavior display device, operable to display control condition of a turning behavior control unit which controls turning behavior of a vehicle in a turning direction by using a relative difference between a first torque acting on one of left and right wheels of the vehicle and a second torque acting on the other of the left and right wheels of the vehicle, includes: first display portions, provided for the left and right wheels, and adapted to increase or decrease in the turning direction in accordance with the relative difference from a reference section used when the first torque is equal to the second torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki TAKAHASHI, Kaoru Sawase, Yuich Ushiroda, Keiji Suzuki, Takami Miura