Patents by Inventor Kenichi Kozuka
Kenichi Kozuka 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: 11413971Abstract: Provided are a power supply circuit and a motor control device configured to suppress complexity in management of the power supply circuit. A switching unit acquires identification information that is information corresponding to a type of a torque sensor. Based on the acquired identification information, the switching unit outputs either a reference voltage or a power supply voltage as a standard voltage. A voltage application unit applies to the torque sensor an operation voltage in accordance with a type of the torque sensor based on the power supply voltage or the reference voltage that is the standard voltage of the voltage application unit and that is applied by the switching unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Kozuka, Masato Oda
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Patent number: 11400876Abstract: A sensor information output apparatus includes a plurality of first power supply circuits, a single second power supply circuit, and a plurality of receivers. The first power supply circuits are configured to generate operating voltages of digital sensors of a plurality of systems. The number of the first power supply circuits is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The second power supply circuit is configured to generate a signal voltage for synchronizing signals. The receivers are configured to supply the digital sensors with the synchronizing signals including the operating voltages and the signal voltage. The number of the receivers is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The digital sensors are configured to supply the electric signals to an external circuit as sensor information.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Yuma Sato, Masato Oda, Kenichi Kozuka
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Patent number: 11352048Abstract: A rotation detection device includes a rotation detection circuit, a step-up power supply circuit, a step-down power supply circuit, a first power supply path, and a second power supply path. The rotation detection circuit is configured to detect a rotation number of a motor that generates a torque applied to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, based on an electric signal. The electric signal is generated according to a rotation angle of the motor that is acquired through an in-vehicle sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Kozuka, Masato Oda, Tadashi Kawahara, Masashi Oki
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Patent number: 11186311Abstract: A control circuit connected to a control device configured to control a motor connected to a rotation shaft that is convertible into a turning angle of a turning wheel, the control circuit includes a main circuit configured to calculates a rotation number indicating a rotational state of the rotation shaft based on a detection signal from a rotation angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the motor as a relative angle, a detection result communication unit configured to detect whether or not there is an abnormality in the main circuit and output a detection result to the control device, and a pseudo abnormality generating unit configured to set the detection result to be abnormal based on a pseudo abnormal signal from the control device.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Masato Oda, Kenichi Kozuka, Hiromasa Suzuki, Masashi Oki
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Patent number: 11014603Abstract: An ECU of a vehicle controls a motor on the vehicle. The ECU includes a microcomputer and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit includes a rotation detection circuit that detects the number of rotations of the motor at a preset sampling interval, a control circuit including a logic circuit that controls an operation of the rotation detection circuit, and an inspection circuit that inspects of the control circuit. The microcomputer is started upon start of vehicle power supply and performs a specific process using the number of rotations of the motor detected by the rotation detection circuit. The inspection circuit performs the inspection of the control circuit in the monitoring circuit in a period in which the microcomputer is kept in a reset state after the vehicle power supply is turned on and which is within a sampling interval of the rotation detection circuit in the monitoring circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Kozuka, Masato Oda
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Publication number: 20200269904Abstract: A control circuit connected to a control device configured to control a motor connected to a rotation shaft that is convertible into a turning angle of a turning wheel, the control circuit includes a main circuit configured to calculates a rotation number indicating a rotational state of the rotation shaft based on a detection signal from a rotation angle sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the motor as a relative angle, a detection result communication unit configured to detect whether or not there is an abnormality in the main circuit and output a detection result to the control device, and a pseudo abnormality generating unit configured to set the detection result to be abnormal based on a pseudo abnormal signal from the control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Masato ODA, Kenichi KOZUKA, Hiromasa SUZUKI, Masashi OKI
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Publication number: 20200156569Abstract: A sensor information output apparatus includes a plurality of first power supply circuits, a single second power supply circuit, and a plurality of receivers. The first power supply circuits are configured to generate operating voltages of digital sensors of a plurality of systems. The number of the first power supply circuits is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The second power supply circuit is configured to generate a signal voltage for synchronizing signals. The receivers are configured to supply the digital sensors with the synchronizing signals including the operating voltages and the signal voltage. The number of the receivers is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The digital sensors are configured to supply the electric signals to an external circuit as sensor information.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Yuma SATO, Masato ODA, Kenichi KOZUKA
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Publication number: 20200139824Abstract: Provided are a power supply circuit and a motor control device configured to suppress complexity in management of the power supply circuit. A switching unit acquires identification information that is information corresponding to a type of a torque sensor. Based on the acquired identification information, the switching unit outputs either a reference voltage or a power supply voltage as a standard voltage. A voltage application unit applies to the torque sensor an operation voltage in accordance with a type of the torque sensor based on the power supply voltage or the reference voltage that is the standard voltage of the voltage application unit and that is applied by the switching unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi KOZUKA, Masato ODA
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Publication number: 20200102001Abstract: A rotation detection device includes a rotation detection circuit, a step-up power supply circuit, a step-down power supply circuit, a first power supply path, and a second power supply path. The rotation detection circuit is configured to detect a rotation number of a motor that generates a torque applied to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, based on an electric signal. The electric signal is generated according to a rotation angle of the motor that is acquired through an in-vehicle sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi KOZUKA, Masato ODA, Tadashi KAWAHARA, Masashi OKI
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Publication number: 20190351940Abstract: An ECU of a vehicle controls a motor on the vehicle. The ECU includes a microcomputer and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit includes a rotation detection circuit that detects the number of rotations of the motor at a preset sampling interval, a control circuit including a logic circuit that controls an operation of the rotation detection circuit, and an inspection circuit that inspects of the control circuit. The microcomputer is started upon start of vehicle power supply and performs a specific process using the number of rotations of the motor detected by the rotation detection circuit. The inspection circuit performs the inspection of the control circuit in the monitoring circuit in a period in which the microcomputer is kept in a reset state after the vehicle power supply is turned on and which is within a sampling interval of the rotation detection circuit in the monitoring circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi KOZUKA, Masato ODA
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Patent number: 10259406Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target and a CPU that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the sensor. The interface circuit has a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, a receiver including a receiver circuit, and an operation determination circuit. The first power supply circuit generates an operating voltage of the sensor. The second power supply circuit generates a synchronizing signal for the digital signal. The receiver circuit receives an electric signal generated by the digital sensor. The operation determination circuit stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Kenichi Kozuka
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Patent number: 9914474Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus that functions more reliably is provided. A quasi-abnormality control circuit brings one of a clock signal, an internal watchdog signal, and an answer signal into a quasi-abnormal state when an ignition is switched on. A clock determining circuit, an internal watchdog signal determining circuit, and a Q&A watchdog circuit output determination signals, respectively. One of the determination signals corresponds to a monitoring target signal brought into the quasi-abnormal state and indicates an abnormality. A reset signal determining circuit receives the determination signals, and generates a reset signal in accordance with determination results in the determination signals. A quasi-abnormality control circuit switches the monitoring target signal to be brought into the quasi-abnormal state each time the ignition is switched on.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Kenichi Kozuka
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Publication number: 20170282816Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target and a CPU that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the sensor. The interface circuit has a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, a receiver including a receiver circuit, and an operation determination circuit. The first power supply circuit generates an operating voltage of the sensor. The second power supply circuit generates a synchronizing signal for the digital signal. The receiver circuit receives an electric signal generated by the digital sensor. The operation determination circuit stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Kenichi KOZUKA
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Publication number: 20160339950Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus that functions more reliably is provided. A quasi-abnormality control circuit brings one of a clock signal, an internal watchdog signal, and an answer signal into a quasi-abnormal state when an ignition is switched on. A clock determining circuit, an internal watchdog signal determining circuit, and a Q&A watchdog circuit output determination signals, respectively. One of the determination signals corresponds to a monitoring target signal brought into the quasi-abnormal state and indicates an abnormality. A reset signal determining circuit receives the determination signals, and generates a reset signal in accordance with determination results in the determination signals. A quasi-abnormality control circuit switches the monitoring target signal to be brought into the quasi-abnormal state each time the ignition is switched on.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Kenichi KOZUKA
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Patent number: 9043089Abstract: There is provided an actuator control apparatus configured such that even when an electronic device that generates an electric signal to be used to control an actuator is provided in the form of a duplexed system, an increase in the number of communication paths between the electronic device and a controller is suppressed. A torque sensor and a rotation angle sensor are each provided in the form of a duplexed system. Two sets of a torque sensor and a rotation angle sensor are connected to a microcomputer via a SPI communication line. The torque sensors and the rotation angle sensors are connected to the microcomputer via CS communication lines, respectively. By selecting a communication target via a corresponding one of the CS communication lines, the microcomputer is able to receive multiple kinds of electric signals via each one of the SPI communication lines.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuya Sakai, Tsutomu Matsumoto, Atsuo Sakai, Kenichi Kozuka, Takehide Adachi
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Publication number: 20140358375Abstract: There is provided an actuator control apparatus configured such that even when an electronic device that generates an electric signal to be used to control an actuator is provided in the form of a duplexed system, an increase in the number of communication paths between the electronic device and a controller is suppressed. A torque sensor and a rotation angle sensor are each provided in the form of a duplexed system. Two sets of a torque sensor and a rotation angle sensor are connected to a microcomputer via a SPI communication line. The torque sensors and the rotation angle sensors are connected to the microcomputer via CS communication lines, respectively. By selecting a communication target via a corresponding one of the CS communication lines, the microcomputer is able to receive multiple kinds of electric signals via each one of the SPI communication lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuya SAKAI, Tsutomu MATSUMOTO, Atsuo SAKAI, Kenichi KOZUKA, Takehide ADACHI
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Patent number: 7971895Abstract: A trailer hitch is disclosed, which is configured to be provided at a rear part of a vehicle. The trailer hitch of the invention includes a pair of hitch side members. Each of the hitch side members including a mounting part and a cross member installation part. The mounting part is configured to be connected to a support portion of a rear side member of the vehicle, and the cross member installation part is configured to protrude from a rear end of the rear side member. The trailer hitch further includes a cross member and a hitch ball support member. The cross member extends in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and having ends connected to the cross member installation part, and the hitch ball support member has a hitch ball. The upper end of the hitch ball support member is provided on the cross member so as to suspend therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenichi Kozuka
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Patent number: D1016031Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Yorimasa Yasuda, Satoru Kozuka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Nichika Moriguchi, Keisuke Tada, Kenichi Oi, Masaaki Kadoyanagi, Toshio Nakayama, Shinichiro Ando, Akihiro Gonda
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Patent number: D1016032Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Yorimasa Yasuda, Satoru Kozuka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Nichika Moriguchi, Keisuke Tada, Kenichi Oi, Masaaki Kadoyanagi, Toshio Nakayama, Shinichiro Ando, Akihiro Gonda
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Patent number: D1016033Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kato, Yorimasa Yasuda, Satoru Kozuka, Hideaki Yamamoto, Nichika Moriguchi, Keisuke Tada, Kenichi Oi, Masaaki Kadoyanagi, Toshio Nakayama, Shinichiro Ando, Akihiro Gonda