Patents by Inventor Kyoji Hamamoto

Kyoji Hamamoto 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: 20230311978
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: an idle-stop controller configured to control an idle-stop function of a vehicle; and an electric power steering controller configured to assist a steering operation with an electric motor. The electric power steering controller is configured such that, when the electric power steering controller detects a failure by diagnosis, the electric power steering controller controls, based on whether vehicle speed related information including vehicle wheel speed information is receivable and based on whether idle-stop related information related to an idle-stop operation is receivable, an assist operation assisting a steering effort while the idle-stop operation is in progress so that the idle-stop operation may be performed. The idle-stop controller is configured to control the idle-stop function of the vehicle even when the electric power steering controller detects the failure by the diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ko IWANO, Kyoji HAMAMOTO, Masaya KUSATANI, Yuki MANO
  • Publication number: 20220250674
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering device including: a motor; a drive device that supplies the motor with three-phase alternating current electric power; and a control device that controls the drive device, in which the control device is connected to a first power supply path that supplies power to the control device not via an ignition switch and a second power supply path that supplies power to the control device via the ignition switch, and the control device, in a case of detecting a failing of the first power supply path, operates with power supplied from the second power supply path and makes the motor generate an electromagnetic brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Kyoji Hamamoto, Takashi Kuribayashi, Seigo Murashige, Hirohito Ide, Hideki Imafuku, Ryoto Teranishi, Ryuhei Miyoshi, Yuki Mano
  • Patent number: 9828023
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a steering angle reference yaw rate calculation section that calculates a steering angle reference yaw rate by using a speed of a vehicle and a steering angle of a steering wheel, a torque estimation device that estimates a self-aligning torque (SAT) generated in a turning wheel of the vehicle on the basis of a measured yaw rate or the steering angle reference yaw rate, the absolute value of which is smaller, and the speed of the vehicle, and estimates a required assist torque on the basis of the estimated SAT, and an abnormality determination section that determines whether or not a steering torque sensor is abnormal. If the steering torque sensor is abnormal, an EPS control device controls drive of an assist motor using the required assist torque estimated by the torque estimation device, in place of a steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Mose, Norifumi Tamura, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hironori Aoyagi
  • Publication number: 20160288824
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a steering angle reference yaw rate calculation section that calculates a steering angle reference yaw rate by using a speed of a vehicle and a steering angle of a steering wheel, a torque estimation device that estimates a self-aligning torque (SAT) generated in a turning wheel of the vehicle on the basis of a measured yaw rate or the steering angle reference yaw rate, the absolute value of which is smaller, and the speed of the vehicle, and estimates a required assist torque on the basis of the estimated SAT, and an abnormality determination section that determines whether or not a steering torque sensor is abnormal. If the steering torque sensor is abnormal, an EPS control device controls drive of an assist motor using the required assist torque estimated by the torque estimation device, in place of a steering torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryota Mose, Norifumi Tamura, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hironori Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 9266559
    Abstract: An electric power steering device provides an appropriate power assist from the motor even when torque sensors have failed and the steering torque is no longer detected. If an error is detected in a torque sensor, the motor is driven based on the rotor rotation angle detected by a resolver and assist characteristics. When the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity calculated based on the rotor rotation angle falls to or below a prescribed value, a process is started for reducing the current driving the motor, and if the state in which the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity has fallen to or below the prescribed value continues over a prescribed length of time, the process for reducing the current is interrupted and, because an assist current was flowing at said time of interruption, an appropriate power assist can be given during a steering retention period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Takuji Wada, Hiroki Sagami, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 9043119
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device capable of relieving reaction force (kickback) of a handle occurring at idle stop controlled by the control of the idle stop control device. Specifically, an EPSECU (20) detects the rotational speed of an electric motor by detecting the rotational angle (?m) of the electric motor using a resolver (22), and at the same time, detects the steering torque using a torque sensor (23). Subsequently, the EPSECU determines whether or not the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are inside an idle stop transition area (P) by referring to a table (28) stored in a memory (27) in advance. When either or both of the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are outside the idle stop transition area (P), a signal requesting the prohibition of idle stop transition is output to an idle stop control device (10) via a cable (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Shinji Hironaka, Yoshitake Sakai, Yuki Shiga, Kyoji Hamamoto, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroki Sagami, Takuji Wada
  • Patent number: 8960363
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power steering device capable of applying a prescribed steering assist force to a steering assembly, even when a torque sensor is out of order and the electric power steering device is in a state of being unable to sense steering torque by the torque sensor. Using an angle of rotation of a rotating element, which is detected by a resolver that serves as a rotating element angle of rotation sensing unit of a motor, a steering angle and a steering angular velocity are estimated, and a prescribed steering assist force is applied to a steering assembly by the motor, on the basis of an estimated steering angle and/or an estimated steering angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Hiroaki Horii, Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 8710775
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus detects, as an abnormal phase, a phase other than a combination of phases whose interphase voltage is of nearly zero volts if a q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value though a q-axis voltage is being applied. Alternatively, the electric power steering apparatus calculates a base electric angle at which the q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a third threshold value though the q-axis voltage is being applied, and determines an abnormal phase based on the base electric angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Shinji Hironaka, Takashi Kuribayashi
  • Publication number: 20130304327
    Abstract: An electric power steering device provides an appropriate power assist from the motor even when torque sensors have failed and the steering torque is no longer detected. If an error is detected in a torque sensor, the motor is driven based on the rotor rotation angle detected by a resolver and assist characteristics. When the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity calculated based on the rotor rotation angle falls to or below a prescribed value, a process is started for reducing the current driving the motor, and if the state in which the absolute value of the rotor turning angle velocity has fallen to or below the prescribed value continues over a prescribed length of time, the process for reducing the current is interrupted and, because an assist current was flowing at said time of interruption, an appropriate power assist can be given during a steering retention period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Takuji Wada, Hiroki Sagami, Shinji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 8354810
    Abstract: An electric motor is driven with high output at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is enabled at the time of fast-speed running. An electric power steering device causes the electric motor to generate auxiliary torque in accordance with the largeness of steering wheel torque by the steering operation of a wheel made by a driver and reduces the steering wheel torque to the driver. A control device drives, based on a vehicle-speed signal (Vs) from a speed sensor, the electric motor with high output at the time of low-speed running, and enables steering at a high resolution at the time of fast-speed running without increasing an electric-motor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroki Sagami
  • Publication number: 20120312627
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power steering device capable of applying a prescribed steering assist force to a steering assembly, even when a torque sensor is out of order and the electric power steering device is in a state of being unable to sense steering torque by the torque sensor. Using an angle of rotation of a rotating element, which is detected by a resolver that serves as a rotating element angle of rotation sensing unit of a motor, a steering angle and a steering angular velocity are estimated, and a prescribed steering assist force is applied to a steering assembly by the motor, on the basis of an estimated steering angle and/or an estimated steering angular velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Morishita, Takuji Wada, Hiroaki Horii, Hiroki Sagami, Kyoji Hamamoto, Shinji Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20120185150
    Abstract: Disclosed is an idle stop control device capable of relieving reaction force (kickback) of a handle occurring at idle stop controlled by the control of the idle stop control device. Specifically, an EPSECU (20) detects the rotational speed of an electric motor by detecting the rotational angle (?m) of the electric motor using a resolver (22), and at the same time, detects the steering torque using a torque sensor (23). Subsequently, the EPSECU determines whether or not the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are inside an idle stop transition area (P) by referring to a table (28) stored in a memory (27) in advance. When either or both of the rotational speed of the electric motor and the steering torque are outside the idle stop transition area (P), a signal requesting the prohibition of idle stop transition is output to an idle stop control device (10) via a cable (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Shinji Hironaka, Yoshitake Sakai, Yuki Shiga, Kyoji Hamamoto, Fumihiro Morishita, Hiroki Sagami, Takuji Wada
  • Publication number: 20120176069
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus detects, as an abnormal phase, a phase other than a combination of phases whose interphase voltage is of nearly zero volts if a q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value though a q-axis voltage is being applied. Alternatively, the electric power steering apparatus calculates a base electric angle at which the q-axis current is equal to or smaller than a third threshold value though the q-axis voltage is being applied, and determines an abnormal phase based on the base electric angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki SAGAMI, Kyoji HAMAMOTO, Hiroaki HORII, Fumihiro MORISHITA, Takuji WADA, Shinji HIRONAKA, Takashi KURIBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20110000738
    Abstract: An electric motor (7) is driven with high output at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is enabled at the time of fast-speed running. An electric power steering device (1) causes the electric motor (7) to generate auxiliary torque in accordance with the largeness of steering wheel torque by the steering operation of a wheel (9) made by a driver and reduces the steering wheel torque to the driver. A control device (10) drives, based on a vehicle-speed signal (Vs) from a speed sensor (11), the electric motor (7) with high output at the time of low-speed running, and enables steering at a high resolution at the time of fast-speed running without increasing an electric-motor output. Moreover, large steering wheel torque is requisite at the time of low-speed running, and a steering at a high resolution is requisite at the time of fast-speed running. Accordingly, this does not affect the steering feeling to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroki Sagami
  • Patent number: 7155327
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric power steering system is provided, which controls a motor for applying assist steering torque to a steering line of a vehicle at least according to steering torque signal of the steering line, vehicle velocity signal and motor current signal. The control apparatus includes a target current controller for setting target current signal for driving the motor, a deviation calculator for computing a deviation between the target current and motor current signals, a deviation adjuster for adjusting the deviation with a variable gain according to the vehicle velocity signal, a proportional element for executing proportional control for the motor, an integral element for executing integral control for the motor and an gain adjuster for adjusting the gain according to a differential of the steering torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kyoji Hamamoto, Yoshinobu Mukai, Osamu Tsurumiya, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7142964
    Abstract: An electric power steering control device includes a memory. The memory is accommodated in the electric power steering control device mounted on a vehicle, and permits rewrite and storage of data. Transmitting a signal from an external of the vehicle allows the data stored in the memory to be rewritten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6874595
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus is provided, which includes a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque exerted on a steering system, a motor for exerting assist steering torque on the steering system, a motor current sensor for detecting drive current of the motor, a target current setting section for determining target current to be supplied for the motor based on the steering torque, a feedback control section for executing feedback control based on a deviation between the target current and the drive current of motor and a feedforward control section for executing feedforward control based on the target current. The apparatus has a feature that gain of the feedforward control is adapted to be greater as the speed of a vehicle increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20050065685
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric power steering system is provided, which controls a motor for applying assist steering torque to a steering line of a vehicle at least according to steering torque signal of the steering line, vehicle velocity signal and motor current signal. The control apparatus includes a target current controller for setting target current signal for driving the motor, a deviation calculator for computing a deviation between the target current and motor current signals, a deviation adjuster for adjusting the deviation with a variable gain according to the vehicle velocity signal, a proportional element for executing proportional control for the motor, an integral element for executing integral control for the motor and an gain adjuster for adjusting the gain according to a differential of the steering torque signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyoji Hamamoto, Yoshinobu Mukai, Osamu Tsurumiya, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040083822
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus is provided, which includes a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque exerted on a steering system, a motor for exerting assist steering torque on the steering system, a motor current sensor for detecting drive current of the motor, a target current setting section for determining target current to be supplied for the motor based on the steering torque, a feedback control section for executing feedback control based on a deviation between the target current and the drive current of motor and a feedforward control section for executing feedforward control based on the target current. The apparatus has a feature that gain of the feedforward control is adapted to be greater as the speed of a vehicle increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040073345
    Abstract: An electric power steering control device includes a memory. The memory is accommodated in the electric power steering control device mounted on a vehicle, and permits rewrite and storage of data. Transmitting a signal from an external of the vehicle allows the data stored in the memory to be rewritten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Mukai, Kyoji Hamamoto, Hiroaki Horii, Kazuhisa Watanabe