Patents by Inventor Robert Shibata

Robert Shibata 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: 11970231
    Abstract: A vehicle can include a first wheel, a second wheel, and a steering system. Either both the first wheel and the second wheel can be front wheels or both the first wheel and the second wheel can be rear wheels. The steering system can be configured to concurrently cause: (1) a steering angle of the first wheel to be at a first angle and (2) a steering angle of the second wheel to be at a second angle. A difference angle can be a difference of the first angle subtracted from the second angle and can be greater than an angle determined to comply with Ackermann steering geometry. Such a difference angle can act to securely brake the vehicle when the vehicle is parked at a location at which a three-dimensional shape of a topological relief of the location can complicate an effort to securely brake the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Zwegers, Robert C. MacArthur, Claudia A. Ma, Shigenori Shibata, Adam R. VanAntwerp
  • Patent number: 11958448
    Abstract: A lifting system for generating a lifting force on a portion of a vehicle includes a vehicle wheel and a force-generating mechanism structured to be received inside a rim cavity of the wheel. The force-generating mechanism is also structured to be operably connected to a frame of a vehicle. A bearing member is operably connected to the force-generating mechanism. The bearing member is structured to transmit a force generated by the force-generating mechanism to a surface in physical contact with the bearing member. The bearing member is also structured for operably connecting the wheel to the force-generating mechanism. Force applied by the force-generating mechanism may be sufficient to lift a portion of the vehicle off of a ground surface, or the force may only be sufficient to apply a parking brake force without lifting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. MacArthur, Shigenori Shibata, Corey Zwegers, Rachel M. Menchak, Claudia A. Ma, Adam R. VanAntwerp
  • Publication number: 20110231864
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems for dynamic configuration and control of multi-function peripherals. A method comprises exposing a unified application programming interface (API) for operating a plurality of MFPs, receiving a first set of instructions from an application according to the API, the instructions directed to a first MFP; receiving a second set of instructions from the application according to the API, the instructions directed to a second MFP; translating the first set of instructions according to the native set of instruction of the first MFP, and sending the translated instructions to the first MFP; translating the second set of instructions according to the native set of instructions of the second MFP, and sending the translated instruction to the second MFP; thereby allowing the application to communicate with the first and second MFPs according to a unified API.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: THINXTREAM TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ranga Raj B.K, Sanjiv Shet, Robert Shibata, Shunmuga Kumaraswamy