Patents by Inventor Masamichi Imamura

Masamichi Imamura 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: 11731631
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicle motion control device, a method thereof, a program thereof, a system thereof in which it is adapted for traveling situation while an occurrence of an unstable behavior of a vehicle at the time of automatic lane change is suppressed, and a target trajectory generation device, a method thereof, a method thereof, a program thereof, and a system thereof. In a vehicle that can automatically control a lateral acceleration generated in the vehicle at the time of lane change, the lateral acceleration at the time of lane change is controlled such that an absolute value of a maximum lateral acceleration generated on a lateral acceleration generation phase (the secondary steering side) in a lateral direction opposite to the moving direction at the time of lane change is equal or more than an absolute value of a maximum lateral acceleration generated on a lateral acceleration generation phase (primary steering side) in the same direction as a lateral moving direction at the time of lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Takahashi, Kenta Maeda, Masamichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 11628840
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention outputs a signal regarding a target braking/driving force for guiding a vehicle in a target traveling direction to a braking/driving controller. The signal regarding the target braking/driving force is acquired based on information regarding a running route of the vehicle and a physical amount regarding a motion state of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus outputs a signal regarding a steering correction torque for correcting a steering torque according to a behavior of the vehicle to a steering force controller. The signal regarding the steering correction torque is acquired based on a vehicle-body slip angle of the vehicle and the target braking/driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Satoshi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20210362720
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicle motion control device, a method thereof, a program thereof, a system thereof in which it is adapted for traveling situation while an occurrence of an unstable behavior of a vehicle at the time of automatic lane change is suppressed, and a target trajectory generation device, a method thereof, a method thereof, a program thereof, and a system thereof. In a vehicle that can automatically control a lateral acceleration generated in the vehicle at the time of lane change, the lateral acceleration at the time of lane change is controlled such that an absolute value of a maximum lateral acceleration generated on a lateral acceleration generation phase (the secondary steering side) in a lateral direction opposite to the moving direction at the time of lane change is equal or more than an absolute value of a maximum lateral acceleration generated on a lateral acceleration generation phase (primary steering side) in the same direction as a lateral moving direction at the time of lane change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Junya TAKAHASHI, Kenta MAEDA, Masamichi IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 11148665
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicular motion control device and method such that, even when a vehicle is turning, the target trajectory can be followed while maintaining traveling stability, with a reduced sense of incongruity felt by the driver. This vehicular motion control device is equipped with: a target trajectory acquisition unit that acquires a target trajectory for a vehicle to travel; and a speed control unit that increases or decreases the longitudinal acceleration generated in the vehicle, the longitudinal acceleration being positive in the vehicle travel direction. If the vehicle deviates from the target trajectory during turning, the speed control unit performs longitudinal acceleration control to increase or decrease the longitudinal acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Takahashi, Atsushi Yokoyama, Masamichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 11117559
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to realize an M+ control which is suitable to a driving scene without depending on pedal operation information of a driver. A vehicle motion control device according to the invention sets an absolute value of deceleration generated in the vehicle in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state where the vehicle takes the lateral motion to a state where the vehicle does not take the lateral motion to be smaller than that generated in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state the vehicle takes one of right and left lateral motions to a state where the vehicle takes the other lateral motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Takahashi, Yuki Akiyama, Masamichi Imamura
  • Publication number: 20210245757
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention outputs a signal regarding a target braking/driving force for guiding a vehicle in a target traveling direction to a braking/driving controller. The signal regarding the target braking/driving force is acquired based on information regarding a running route of the vehicle and a physical amount regarding a motion state of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus outputs a signal regarding a steering correction torque for correcting a steering torque according to a behavior of the vehicle to a steering force controller. The signal regarding the steering correction torque is acquired based on a vehicle-body slip angle of the vehicle and the target braking/driving force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Masamichi IMAMURA, Satoshi NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20210053564
    Abstract: The present invention provides a braking/driving force control apparatus capable of performing stable braking/driving force control. A braking/driving force control apparatus acquires a target braking/driving force and a target slip ratio for guiding a vehicle to a target route. The target braking/driving force and the target slip ratio are determined by a vehicle control apparatus based on information regarding a running route of the vehicle that is input from an external world recognition sensor and a physical amount regarding a motion state of the vehicle that is input from a vehicle motion state detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventor: Masamichi IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20190263368
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to realize an M+ control which is suitable to a driving scene without depending on pedal operation information of a driver. A vehicle motion control device according to the invention sets an absolute value of deceleration generated in the vehicle in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state where the vehicle takes the lateral motion to a state where the vehicle does not take the lateral motion to be smaller than that generated in a period in which the lateral motion of the vehicle is predicted to be changed from a state the vehicle takes one of right and left lateral motions to a state where the vehicle takes the other lateral motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Junya TAKAHASHI, Yuki AKIYAMA, Masamichi IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180297594
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicular motion control device and method such that, even when a vehicle is turning, the target trajectory can be followed while maintaining traveling stability, with a reduced sense of incongruity felt by the driver. This vehicular motion control device is equipped with: a target trajectory acquisition unit that acquires a target trajectory for a vehicle to travel; and a speed control unit that increases or decreases the longitudinal acceleration generated in the vehicle, the longitudinal acceleration being positive in the vehicle travel direction. If the vehicle deviates from the target trajectory during turning, the speed control unit performs longitudinal acceleration control to increase or decrease the longitudinal acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Junya TAKAHASHI, Atsushi YOKOYAMA, Masamichi IMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20160221558
    Abstract: The present invention provides a brake control apparatus capable of preventing or reducing excessive opening of a pressure regulating valve, which otherwise might be caused by pump pulsation, without leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus. The brake control apparatus alternately supplies power corresponding to a predetermined current value for acquiring a target wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure and power corresponding to a larger current value than this predetermined current value to a solenoid of a gate-out valve 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro NISHIDA, Masamichi IMAMURA
  • Patent number: 8727453
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus has an electromagnetic valve having a valve body forced to one side by an elastic member and a coil driving the valve body to the other side; a hydraulic pressure control section for calculating a command current value to drive the electromagnetic valve and controlling a hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic circuit by opening/closing the electromagnetic valve; a current detection section detecting a value of the current passing through the coil; and a command current value correction section. The command current value correction section detects a change of an inductance of the coil when the valve body moves from the one side to the other side or from the other side to the one side through the current detection section, and corrects the command current value using the detected inductance change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Saita, Taichi Shibata, Masamichi Imamura, Shinichiro Nishida, Satoshi Doi, Tadaharu Yokota
  • Publication number: 20110221264
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus has an electromagnetic valve having a valve body forced to one side by an elastic member and a coil driving the valve body to the other side; a hydraulic pressure control section for calculating a command current value to drive the electromagnetic valve and controlling a hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic circuit by opening/closing the electromagnetic valve; a current detection section detecting a value of the current passing through the coil; and a command current value correction section. The command current value correction section detects a change of an inductance of the coil when the valve body moves from the one side to the other side or from the other side to the one side through the current detection section, and corrects the command current value using the detected inductance change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Norihiro SAITA, Taichi SHIBATA, Masamichi IMAMURA, Shinichiro NISHIDA, Satoshi DOI, Tadaharu YOKOTA
  • Patent number: 7066559
    Abstract: In brake pressure estimating method and apparatus for an automotive vehicle, at a second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimating, a vehicular state is detected and the second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure for each road wheel is calculated from the detected vehicular motion state, and, at a master cylinder liquid pressure estimating, a master cylinder liquid pressure estimated value is outputted to make a difference between a first wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimated value based on a vehicle model and the second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimated value based on a hydraulic unit model small to cause the master cylinder liquid pressure estimated value to be converged into a true value thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masamichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 6986555
    Abstract: A vehicle brake control system includes an electric fluid pump that, upon energization thereof, pumps brake fluid from a reservoir to a brake circuit at a position upstream of a pressure control valve, an inlet circuit connecting the inlet opening of the pump to a master cylinder, an inside gate valve installed in the inlet circuit, and a control unit that controls the pressure control valve, the inlet gate valve and the electric fluid pump and carries out a predetermined brake control to adjust the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder by operating the pressure control valve. The control unit is configured to carry out a flow back control after completion of the predetermined brake control. The flow back control is a control wherein the inside gate valve is kept open having the electric fluid pump kept de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Gen Inoue, Yukihiko Inoue, Chiharu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 6945612
    Abstract: A brake control system includes a brake line with a supply line, a pump for supplying brake fluid to the supply line, branch lines branched from the supply line to wheel cylinders, a pressure controller for allowing independent control of brake-fluid pressures within the wheel cylinders, and an ECU for controlling the pump and the pressure controller. The ECU includes an estimate part for estimating the pressures within the wheel cylinders in accordance with a flow amount of brake fluid obtained out of signals indicative of braking conditions, wherein it is estimated an amount of brake fluid flowing from the supply line to the wheel cylinder during execution of brake-fluid pressure control of the ECU and when the control is switched to pressure-increase control for the wheel cylinder having the pressure lower than that in the supply line, and wherein it is estimated the pressure within the wheel cylinder in accordance with the amount of brake fluid as estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Motohiro Higuma
  • Publication number: 20040041470
    Abstract: In brake pressure estimating method and apparatus for an automotive vehicle, at a second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimating, a vehicular state is detected and the second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure for each road wheel is calculated from the detected vehicular motion state, and, at a master cylinder liquid pressure estimating, a master cylinder liquid pressure estimated value is outputted to make a difference between a first wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimated value based on a vehicle model and the second wheel cylinder brake liquid pressure estimated value based on a hydraulic unit model small to cause the master cylinder liquid pressure estimated value to be converged into a true value thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI UNISIA AUTOMOTIVE, LTD.
    Inventor: Masamichi Imamura
  • Publication number: 20030205929
    Abstract: A vehicle brake control system comprising a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder of a road wheel, a brake circuit connecting the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder, a pressure control valve installed in the brake circuit, a reservoir into which a brake fluid is led from the wheel cylinder when the pressure control valve operates to reduce the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder, an electric fluid pump that, upon energization thereof, pumps the brake fluid from the reservoir to the brake circuit at a position upstream of the pressure control valve, an inlet circuit connecting the inlet opening of the pump to the master cylinder, an inside gate valve installed in the inlet circuit, and a control unit that controls the pressure control valve, the inlet gate valve and the electric fluid pump and carries out a predetermined brake control to adjust the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder by operating the pressure control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: HITACHI UNISIA AUTOMOTIVE, LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Gen Inoue, Yukihiko Inoue, Chiharu Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20030111896
    Abstract: A brake control system includes a brake line with a supply line, a pump for supplying brake fluid to the supply line, branch lines branched from the supply line to wheel cylinders, a pressure controller for allowing independent control of brake-fluid pressures within the wheel cylinders, and an ECU for controlling the pump and the pressure controller. The ECU includes an estimate part for estimating the pressures within the wheel cylinders in accordance with a flow amount of brake fluid obtained out of signals indicative of braking conditions, wherein it is estimated an amount of brake fluid flowing from the supply line to the wheel cylinder during execution of brake-fluid pressure control of the ECU and when the control is switched to pressure-increase control for the wheel cylinder having the pressure lower than that in the supply line, and wherein it is estimated the pressure within the wheel cylinder in accordance with the amount of brake fluid as estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: HITACHI UNISIA AUTOMOTIVE, LTD.
    Inventors: Masamichi Imamura, Motohiro Higuma
  • Patent number: 6027183
    Abstract: A vehicle dynamics control system for an automotive vehicle with a diagonal split layout of brake circuits comprises a tandem master cylinder, two hydraulic pumps each fluidly disposed in one of the two brake circuits, selector valves for selecting a brake-fluid pressure to be fed to a first brake line and for selecting a brake-fluid pressure to be fed to a second brake line, a plurality of pressure control valves for regulating a fluid pressure in each individual wheel-brake cylinder, vehicle sensors for detecting a vehicle's cornering behavior, and a control unit being responsive to the sensor's input information for controlling the respective valves. The control unit operates to supply the fluid pressure generated from the pump to an inner front wheel-brake cylinder in the vehicle understeer on turns. The control unit also operates to supply the fluid pressure generated from the pump to an outer front wheel-brake cylinder in the vehicle oversteer on turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Katayose, Masamichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 6003959
    Abstract: A vehicle dynamics control system for an automotive vehicle with a parallel split layout of brake circuits comprises a tandem master cylinder, a hydraulic pump fluidly disposed in one brake circuit, a selector valve for selecting a brake-fluid pressure to be fed to a first brake line from between the fluid pressure generated from the pump and the master-cylinder pressure, a plurality of pressure control valves for regulating a fluid pressure in each individual wheel-brake cylinder, vehicle sensors for detecting a vehicle's cornering behavior, and a control unit being responsive to the sensor's input information for controlling the respective control valves associated with the front wheel-brake cylinders. The control unit operates to supply the fluid pressure generated from the pump to an inner front wheel-brake cylinder in the vehicle understeer on turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Katayose, Masamichi Imamura