Patents by Inventor Michimasa Tanaka

Michimasa Tanaka 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: 8176807
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control unit includes a shift-by-wire control circuit that inputs an electrical signal based on a selected range selected by a driver, changes a range changeover member of an automatic transmission using the rotation of a motor to a predetermined position based on the electrical signal, and outputs a signal that drives the motor so as to achieve a travel range; and an automatic transmission control circuit that inputs the electrical signal based on the selected range and a signal based on a vehicle state and outputs a signal for controlling the automatic transmission in order to achieve the travel range, wherein the shift-by-wire control circuit and the automatic transmission control circuit are accommodated in one storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ito, Michimasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7721624
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that includes a case; and a range shift device that includes: a housing with an opening portion on one side, a motor that produces a driving force based on a signal from a manually operated shift operating device, and a mechanical transmission that transmits the driving force of the motor to a manual valve, wherein the range shift device shifts a running range in accordance with a shift position of the manual valve, and the case has a joining portion that closes the opening portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michimasa Tanaka, Kazumichi Kayama, Takeo Arai, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Kazuhisa Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20090241715
    Abstract: A range shifting apparatus which achieves a predetermined shift range selected from a plurality of shift ranges by shifting a range shifting member on the basis of an electric signal, the apparatus including a motor controlled on the basis of a signal from a range selecting mechanism which selects the shift ranges; a converting mechanism which converts a rotational drive force of the motor to a drive force of a linear movement; and an arm member for converting the drive force of the linear movement converted by the converting mechanism into a drive force of a pivotal movement, wherein the motor is arranged between the converting mechanism and a proximal portion of the arm member, which is a pivotal center of the pivotal movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michimasa TANAKA, Shinichiro Hazama, Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090139362
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control unit includes a shift-by-wire control circuit that inputs an electrical signal based on a selected range selected by a driver, changes a range changeover member of an automatic transmission using the rotation of a motor to a predetermined position based on the electrical signal, and outputs a signal that drives the motor so as to achieve a travel range; and an automatic transmission control circuit that inputs the electrical signal based on the selected range and a signal based on a vehicle state and outputs a signal for controlling the automatic transmission in order to achieve the travel range, wherein the shift-by-wire control circuit and the automatic transmission control circuit are accommodated in one storage portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ito, Michimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090100954
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control unit includes an actuator that changes a travel range of an automatic transmission; a shift-by-wire control circuit that controls the actuator in order to change the travel range of the automatic transmission to a selected range selected by a driver; an automatic transmission control circuit that controls a shift speed of the automatic transmission by at least a travel range position signal; and a control unit case that encloses the actuator, the shift-by-wire control circuit, and the automatic transmission control circuit, and is fixed by a fixing member to an automatic transmission case, wherein: the actuator is disposed within the control unit case on an automatic transmission case side, and the shift-by-wire control circuit and the automatic transmission control circuit are disposed within the control unit case on a side opposite the automatic transmission case side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ito, Michimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070129199
    Abstract: An automatic transmission that includes a case; and a range shift device that includes: a housing with an opening portion on one side, a motor that produces a driving force based on a signal from a manually operated shift operating device, and a mechanical transmission that transmits the driving force of the motor to a manual valve, wherein the range shift device shifts a running range in accordance with a shift position of the manual valve, and the case has a joining portion that closes the opening portion of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michimasa Tanaka, Kazumichi Kayama, Takeo Arai, Kazumasa Tsukamoto, Kazuhisa Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7146871
    Abstract: A range switching device is provided that is capable of selecting a running range accurately using a simple configuration and control. The range switching device includes a conversion mechanism which, in turn, includes a ball screw shaft, a ball nut, and other members. The ball nut is connected to a spool through an arm member, a range control shaft, and a detent lever. The spool is moved into a specified selection region among a plurality of selection regions by the conversion mechanism and the arm member. Then, the spool is more precisely moved to a selection position within the specified selection region by the detent mechanism and positioned and held thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin A W Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Ozaki, Takeshi Inuzuka, Chihiro Hosono, Kazuhisa Murase, Michimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20040261559
    Abstract: A range switching device is provided that is capable of selecting a running range accurately using a simple configuration and control. The range switching device includes a conversion mechanism which, in turn, includes a ball screw shaft, a ball nut, and other members. The ball nut is connected to a spool through an arm member, a range control shaft, and a detent lever. The spool is moved into a specified selection region among a plurality of selection regions by the conversion mechanism and the arm member. Then, the spool is more precisely moved to a selection position within the specified selection region by the detent mechanism and positioned and held thereat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Ozaki, Takeshi Inuzuka, Chihiro Hosono, Kazuhisa Murase, Michimasa Tanaka