Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Satou
Kazuhiko Satou 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: 7684921Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
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Publication number: 20070221007Abstract: The present invention provides a steering handle for a vehicle, in which no burden is imposed on a driver's arms and wrists during operation of the steering handle. In the steering handle (23) grasped and rotated by both hands of a driver, an axis (Ls) of a steering shaft included in the steering handle is inclined so as to be higher in level in a forward direction of a vehicle body, and a left grip (24L) grasped by a left hand and a right grip (24R) grasped by a right hand are rotatable in opposite directions about an axis (Lg) perpendicular to the axis (Ls) of the steering shaft. Thus, an upper half of the driver's body sitting on a seat and leaning backwards and a plane of rotation of the steering handle (23) are substantially parallel to each other, thereby ensuring that the driver can rotate the steering handle (23) without stretching and withdrawing his or her arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2004Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takafumi Ozaki, Paul Baron, Kazuhiko Satou, Tatsuya Amano, Hisao Asaumi, Masaaki Kawano, Hirokazu Kitazawa, Kunio Shirakawa, Osamu Tsurumiya, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kazuhisa Watanabe
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Patent number: 7209821Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6980899Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20050143890Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2005Publication date: June 30, 2005Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6883398Abstract: Pedal device 10 has a pedal member 11 depressed by the driver, and arm member 12 engaged with the pedal member, for turning when the pedal member is depressed, and transmitting driver's force-on-pedal to the brake master cylinder. When the driver's force-on-pedal which acts on pedal member 11 is less than the fixed value, footrest means 13 restricts the turning of the arm member. Pedal member 11 is composed of footplate 11a to be depressed by the driver, and protruding portion 11b engaged with the footplate, on which driver's heel can be put.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20050005728Abstract: Pedal device 10 has a pedal member 11 depressed by the driver, and arm member 12 engaged with the pedal member, for turning when the pedal member is depressed, and transmitting driver's force-on-pedal to the brake master cylinder. When the driver's force-on-pedal which acts on pedal member 11 is less than the fixed value, footrest means 13 restricts the turning of the arm member. Pedal member 11 is composed of footplate 11a to be depressed by the driver, and protruding portion 11b engaged with the footplate, on which driver's heel can be put.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Inventors: Takao Kojima, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20050004743Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
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Patent number: 6796399Abstract: An automobile which is designed to be able to drive wheel tires by making use of a double series differential gear device 15 provided with both a first series gear constituted by a first ring gear 22A and a first drive gear 23A and a second series gear constituted by a second ring gear 22B and a second drive gear 23B, thereby, a back-up for an abnormal situation can be prepared and a high reliability is maintained, accordingly, with the use of highly reliable differential gear mechanism, an automobile in which a stable braking force is always obtained without being affected by its environmental conditions is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Ochi
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Patent number: 6738705Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
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Publication number: 20030149521Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20030146035Abstract: An automobile which is designed to be able to drive wheel tires by making use of a double series differential gear device 15 provided with both a first series gear constituted by a first ring gear 22A and a first drive gear 23A and a second series gear constituted by a second ring gear 22B and a second drive gear 23B, thereby, a back-up for an abnormal situation can be prepared and a high reliability is maintained, accordingly, with the use of highly reliable differential gear mechanism, an automobile in which a stable braking force is always obtained without being affected by its environmental conditions is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Ochi
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Patent number: 6584395Abstract: The footrest force of the footrest function attached to a vehicle braking pedal is adjusted by a driver's-lad estimation device for deciding a footrest force corresponding to an individual driver and correspondingly to a load computed by the load estimation device. A detection device for detecting whether the present vehicle presently corners is used to change the set speed of the vehicle in accordance with the radius of a corner.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Takao Kojima
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Publication number: 20030109980Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
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Patent number: 6564137Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6542793Abstract: There is provided a pedal apparatus for vehicles, which comprises a pedal reaction-force addition means 4 for adding a reaction force to a pedal 1 of a vehicle, a pedal force detection means 2 for detecting a force added to the pedal 1, a pedal reaction-force control means 3 for adjusting the output of the pedal reaction-force addition means 4. During the running of the vehicle, the pedal reaction-force control means 3 performs the adjustment of a reaction force of the pedal on the basis of the driving environment of the vehicle and the driver's intention and judgement in pedal operation in the driving environment, whereby it is ensured that when the driver has no intention of operating the pedal, the driver can sufficiently place his or her foot on the pedal and that when he driver has any intention of operating the pedal, the driver can realize a smooth pedal operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6510911Abstract: An automobile which is designed to be able to drive wheel tires by making use of a double series differential gear device 15 provided with both a first series gear constituted by a first ring gear 22A and a first drive gear 23A and a second series gear constituted by a second ring gear 22B and a second drive gear 23B, thereby, a back-up for an abnormal situation can be prepared and a high reliability is maintained, accordingly, with the use of highly reliable differential gear mechanism, an automobile in which a stable braking force is always obtained without being affected by its environmental conditions is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Ochi
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Publication number: 20020180263Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20020161487Abstract: There is provided a pedal apparatus for vehicles, which comprises a pedal reaction-force addition means 4 for adding a reaction force to a pedal 1 of a vehicle, a pedal force detection means 2 for detecting a force added to the pedal 1, a pedal reaction-force control means 3 for adjusting the output of the pedal reaction-force addition means 4. During the running of the vehicle, the pedal reaction-force control means 3 performs the adjustment of a reaction force of the pedal on the basis of the driving environment of the vehicle and the driver's intention and judgement in pedal operation in the driving environment, whereby it is ensured that when the driver has no intention of operating the pedal, the driver can sufficiently place his or her foot on the pedal and that when he driver has any intention of operating the pedal, the driver can realize a smooth pedal operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Takao Kojima, Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6463377Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa