Patents by Inventor Ryouchi Watanabe

Ryouchi Watanabe 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: 9290205
    Abstract: A steering angle zero point detection unit 102 detects a zero point of a steering angle of a steering wheel. A zero point history holding unit 104 records a detection history of zero points. A characteristic change determination unit 116 determines whether or not a characteristic change occurs in the steering transmission system based on a width in the detection history of the zero points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kanou, Yoshihisa Yamada, Ryouchi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9260132
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a steering angle zero point detection unit configured to detect a zero point of a steering angle of a steering wheel; a history recording unit configured to record a detection history of the zero point; a characteristic variation determination unit configured to determine whether or not characteristic variation has occurred in a steering transmission system on the basis of the detection history; a pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure in one of a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder that apply a braking force to a vehicle wheel; and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit for a predetermined prohibition period one of detection of the zero point by the steering angle zero point detection unit and updating of the detection history by the history recording unit, when the pressure equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryouchi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9174675
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a history holding unit recording a zero point maximum value and a zero point minimum value of a steering angle of a steering wheel, a precursor determination unit, and a characteristic variation determination unit. The history holding unit cancels the recorded zero point maximum value and the recorded zero point minimum value respectively, when a predetermined period elapses following the update of the recorded value. When the precursor determination unit determines that the system is in a precursory condition to characteristic variation, the characteristic variation determination unit determines whether or not characteristic variation has occurred in the steering transmission system on the basis of at least one of an amount of increase in the zero point maximum value and an amount of decrease in the zero point minimum value following a point at which the system is determined to be in the precursory condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryouchi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150120134
    Abstract: A steering angle zero point detection unit 102 detects a zero point of a steering angle of a steering wheel. A zero point history holding unit 104 records a detection history of zero points. A characteristic change determination unit 116 determines whether or not a characteristic change occurs in the steering transmission system based on a width in the detection history of the zero points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Kanou, Yoshihisa Yamada, Ryouchi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140142810
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a steering angle zero point detection unit configured to detect a zero point of a steering angle of a steering wheel; a history recording unit configured to record a detection history of the zero point; a characteristic variation determination unit configured to determine whether or not characteristic variation has occurred in a steering transmission system on the basis of the detection history; a pressure measurement unit configured to measure a pressure in one of a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder that apply a braking force to a vehicle wheel; and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit for a predetermined prohibition period one of detection of the zero point by the steering angle zero point detection unit and updating of the detection history by the history recording unit, when the pressure equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryouchi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140136053
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a history holding unit recording a zero point maximum value and a zero point minimum value of a steering angle of a steering wheel, a precursor determination unit, and a characteristic variation determination unit. The history holding unit cancels the recorded zero point maximum value and the recorded zero point minimum value respectively, when a predetermined period elapses following the update of the recorded value. When the precursor determination unit determines that the system is in a precursory condition to characteristic variation, the characteristic variation determination unit determines whether or not characteristic variation has occurred in the steering transmission system on the basis of at least one of an amount of increase in the zero point maximum value and an amount of decrease in the zero point minimum value following a point at which the system is determined to be in the precursory condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryouchi Watanabe