Patents by Inventor Koji Kanda

Koji Kanda 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).

  • Publication number: 20040090199
    Abstract: A current sensor 8a detects a motor current of a steering motor 5 which supplies a steering mechanism 1 with steering force corresponding to the steering amount applied to a steering wheel 2. A main controller 4 extracts component within a predetermined frequency range out of a motor current detected by the current sensor 8a, amplifies the extracted component and drives a reaction force motor 3 in a controlled manner so as to supply the steering wheel 2 with steering reaction force corresponding to the steering amount applied to the steering wheel 2 and steering reaction force corresponding to a current of the component, which has been extracted and amplified. The vehicle steering apparatus constructed as above can supply steering means with steering reaction force corresponding to component within a predetermined frequency range of a motor current of the steering motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 6687589
    Abstract: A reduction gear ratio n of a reduction gear is multiplied by a steering angular speed by a multiplier, and the deviation e achieved by subtracting a motor rotational speed from the multiplication value is integrated and then multiplied by an integration gain to achieve a current target value. The current target value is added with the multiplication value of the deviation e and a proportional gain in a phase compensator to perform phase compensation. The phase-compensation result is added with the value achieved by differentiating the motor rotational speed and multiplying the differential value thus achieved by a control gain in an inertia compensator to perform inertia compensation. Further, the value achieved by multiplying the motor rotational speed by a control gain is subtracted from the inertia-compensation result in a damping controller to perform damping control, and a final current target value. It is achieved from an adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Publication number: 20030146041
    Abstract: A reduction gear ratio n of a reduction gear is multiplied by a steering angular speed by a multiplier, and the deviation e achieved by subtracting a motor rotational speed from the multiplication value is integrated and then multiplied by an integration gain to achieve a current target value. The current target value is added with the multiplication value of the deviation e and a proportional gain in a phase compensator to perform phase compensation. The phase-compensation result is added with the value achieved by differentiating the motor rotational speed and multiplying the differential value thus achieved by a control gain in an inertia compensator to perform inertia compensation. Further, the value achieved by multiplying the motor rotational speed by a control gain is subtracted from the inertia-compensation result in a damping controller to perform damping control, and a final current target value It is achieved from an adder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 6600280
    Abstract: An electric power steering system is provided which employs an electric motor as a driving source to apply a steering assist force to a steering mechanism. The system includes: an operation degree detecting section for detecting an operation degree of an operation member; a motor current detecting section for detecting an electric current flowing through the electric motor; and a steering angle detecting section for detecting a steering angle of the steering mechanism. A reaction force from a road surface is computed on the basis of outputs of the operation degree detecting section, the motor current detecting section and the steering angle detecting section, and a driving target value of the electric motor is determined on the basis of the reaction force and the operation degree of the operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Publication number: 20030079934
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus for assisting steering by conferring a steering assisting force according to a steering manipulation to a steering mechanism. The apparatus includes an electric motor being driven under control according to the steering manipulation, and a deteriorated condition judging factor storage portion for storing a factor used for judging a deteriorated condition of the electric motor. The factor used for judging the deteriorated condition of the electric motor includes, for example, an accumulated value of load exerted on the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Publication number: 20030069676
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprising a torque sensor for detecting the steering torque applied on the steering member of a vehicle; the first control unit for outputting the first control signal to drive a motor for steering assist, based on the steering torque detected by the torque sensor; the steering angle sensor for detecting the steering angle of the steering member; the norm steering unit for outputting a norm steering angle, based on a norm steering model which defines the relation between the steering torque and the norm steering angle; the second control unit for outputting the second control signal to drive the motor in order to reduce the difference between the norm steering angle outputted from the norm steering unit based on the steering torque and the detected steering angle; and the changing unit for switching between the first control signal and the second control signal, thereby being capable of switching between the driving at the steering torque determined regardless of the cond
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: KOYO SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Publication number: 20020124663
    Abstract: A rotational angle detecting device included in a steering apparatus or a torque detecting device includes a rotor having a portion which is magnetically discontinuous in an axial and a circumferential directions of the rotor; and a magnetic sensor for detecting the position where magnetic change occurs in an axial direction of the rotating shaft when the rotor rotates, wherein a rotational angle of the rotor from the magnetic sensor as the base point is detected in accordance with the position detected by the magnetic sensor. Therefore, the device does not comprise any contact and sliding member so that excellent durability is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Tokumoto, Yoshiaki Nakano, Koji Kanda, Kenichi Kotaka, Naoki Maeda, Mahito Shiba
  • Publication number: 20020063543
    Abstract: An electric power steering system is provided which employs an electric motor as a driving source to apply a steering assist force to a steering mechanism. The system includes: an operation degree detecting section for detecting an operation degree of an operation member; a motor current detecting section for detecting an electric current flowing through the electric motor; and a steering angle detecting section for detecting a steering angle of the steering mechanism. A reaction force from a road surface is computed on the basis of outputs of the operation degree detecting section, the motor current detecting section and the steering angle detecting section, and a driving target value of the electric motor is determined on the basis of the reaction force and the operation degree of the operation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 6389342
    Abstract: The invention provides a linkless steering apparatus for vehicle in which a steering mechanism and steering wheel are not mechanically connected. The steering apparatus drives a steering motor of the steering mechanism in accordance with a steering torque so as to increase or decrease a steering angle. The steering torque for this purpose is calculated based on results obtained by detecting a rotational angle of an electric motor (a reaction-force motor) connected to a rotational shaft of the steering wheel and an electric current flowing to the electric motor, a moment of inertia of the steering wheel, and a moment of inertia of the electric motor. Therefore, it is possible to avoid use of a torque sensor which requires a large space for installation thereof and high cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 5640218
    Abstract: Spectacles accommodated in a flat case comprise an auxiliary temple member pivoted to the outer end of upper side of a lens frame and a main temple member pivoted to a free end of the temple member, the temple members being folded generally in the same plane as the lens frame and prepared from a light metal. The main temple member is provided at its outer end with an earpiece prepared from an easily elastically deformable synthetic resin and having an ear-engaging bent portion at the earpiece outer end. The spectacles can be worn by the user with good stability by engaging the bent portion on the ear from above. The case has a small height H.sub.0 less than the bend height H of the bent portion and corresponding to the overall thickness of the lens frame and the auxiliary temple member as folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Kanda Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 5231429
    Abstract: A foldable spectacle frame having temples which are foldable to a thin form in the same plane as its lens frames without lapping over the lens frames. Each of the temples comprises an auxiliary temple member having a length corresponding to the vertical width of the lens frame and supported by an outer portion of upper side of the lens frame pivotally movably in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of the lens frame, and a main temple member pivoted to the auxiliary temple member rotatably in a plane orthogonal to the plane of pivotal movement of the auxiliary temple member. The spectacle frame further comprises a slide member slidably provided on the auxiliary temple member and having a length permitting a base end thereof to project from the auxiliary member, means for moving the slide member away from the lens frame when the main member is folded, and means for engaging the slide member with the lens frame by cooperation of the slide member and the lens frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Kanda Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kanda