Patents by Inventor Satoru Kuragaki
Satoru Kuragaki 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).
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Patent number: 6609453Abstract: A controller of a vacuum brake power booster which amplifies an input force of a brake pedal and outputs the amplified force to a brake device, is characterized by comprising a control signal generating means generating a plurality of kinds of signals for controlling the vacuum brake power booster, and a means for switching or selecting the plurality of signals on the basis of an input different from one of the brake pedal.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20030146035Abstract: An automobile which is designed to be able to drive wheel tires by making use of a double series differential gear device 15 provided with both a first series gear constituted by a first ring gear 22A and a first drive gear 23A and a second series gear constituted by a second ring gear 22B and a second drive gear 23B, thereby, a back-up for an abnormal situation can be prepared and a high reliability is maintained, accordingly, with the use of highly reliable differential gear mechanism, an automobile in which a stable braking force is always obtained without being affected by its environmental conditions is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Ochi
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Publication number: 20030149521Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6591380Abstract: The highly reliable distributed system is composed of a communication protocol processing unit which comprises a mailbox for storing a communication message, and executes communication protocol processing between data of an application program and a network controller using the network controller performing network communication of the message in the mailbox; an error detection coding unit; an error detection decoding unit which reconverts data converted from communication data by the error detection coding unit to the original data, and detects that the content of the data is damaged if it is damaged; and a data comparing unit for checking whether or not two kinds of data agree with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1999Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Wataru Nagaura, Takanori Yokoyama, Shoji Suzuki, Satoru Kuragaki, Takaaki Imai
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On-vehicle emergency report apparatus, emergency communication apparatus and emergency report system
Publication number: 20030117273Abstract: An on-vehicle emergency report apparatus, an emergency communication apparatus and an emergency report system are disclosed. The emergency report apparatus includes an emergency situation prediction unit for predicting the possibility of a vehicle involved encountering an emergency situation, a report control unit and a communication unit. The communication is established based upon the determination of the emergency situation prediction unit, which predicts the possibility of the vehicle encountering an emergency situation a predetermined time later, based on at least one of the feature quantities including the distance between the vehicle involved and the vehicle running immediately ahead, the relative speed, the relative acceleration, the speed of the vehicle involved, the brake pedal stroke, the steering wheel angle and the expression of the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Sato, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Takao Kojima, Toshimichi Minowa -
On-vehicle emergency report apparatus, emergency communication apparatus and emergency report system
Publication number: 20030117274Abstract: An on-vehicle emergency report apparatus, an emergency communication apparatus and an emergency report system are disclosed. The emergency report apparatus includes an emergency situation prediction unit for predicting the possibility of a vehicle involved encountering an emergency situation, a report control unit and a communication unit. The communication is established based upon the determination of the emergency situation prediction unit, which predicts the possibility of the vehicle encountering an emergency situation a predetermined time later, based on at least one of the feature quantities including the distance between the vehicle involved and the vehicle running immediately ahead, the relative speed, the relative acceleration, the speed of the vehicle involved, the brake pedal stroke, the steering wheel angle and the expression of the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: HITACHIInventors: Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Sato, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Takao Kojima, Toshimichi Minowa -
Patent number: 6584395Abstract: The footrest force of the footrest function attached to a vehicle braking pedal is adjusted by a driver's-lad estimation device for deciding a footrest force corresponding to an individual driver and correspondingly to a load computed by the load estimation device. A detection device for detecting whether the present vehicle presently corners is used to change the set speed of the vehicle in accordance with the radius of a corner.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Takao Kojima
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Publication number: 20030112142Abstract: There is provided a device in which surroundings of a building can be monitored using a sensor; when detecting an intruder, an object can be detected even in the case of bad weather; and a predetermined area can be monitored using as few sensors as possible. The device includes a security system which emits a radio wave from a building to a predetermined area outside the building to detect an object, and on the basis of output of the object detecting unit, a judgment is made as to whether or not the object will intrude into the predetermined area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Hiroshi Kuroda, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Sato, Terumi Nakazawa, Kenichi Mizuishi, Kazuaki Takano, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Hiroshi Kondoh, Mikito Tsubota
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Publication number: 20030109980Abstract: The present invention can realize a vehicle running control apparatus including ACC function and map information data recording medium to obtain effective information for safety driving capable for running control meeting a driver's feeling. The first running speed is decided on the basis of the distance between the vehicles and the relative speed. The position detecting means detects the position of own vehicle on a map. The map information getting means gets road information, the width of the road, the radius of curvature, and slope on the basis of the map information. The visible distance estimating means estimates the visible distance on the basis of the map information, deciding the second running safety speed with the estimated visible distance. The running control means decides the object running speed of smallest one of the set speed, the first running speed, and the second running speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Kazuhiko Satou, Satoru Kuragaki, Shiho Izumi, Toshimichi Minowa
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Publication number: 20030090154Abstract: Highly convenient automobile engine starting uses an individual authentication device which utilizes biological information and provides a security function required when starting the engine, while protecting a sensor for receiving the biological information. An engine starting system can comprise an ignition switch for controlling a state of an automobile; a key for changing a state of the ignition switch; a registration key for registering biological information; a switch for starting an engine; a sensor for inputting biological information; a device for storing biological information; a collating unit for collating the inputted biological information with the stored biological information; and a lid for covering the sensor of an authentication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2002Publication date: May 15, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Takezaki, Naoto Miura, Takafumi Miyatake, Akio Nagasaka, Satoru Kuragaki
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Patent number: 6564137Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6554090Abstract: An automobile running control system having “Fast follow-up” and “Slow follow-up” modes controls so that the automobile may cruise at an optimum car-to-car space between the automobile and an object which is selected among those detected and faster than a preset ground velocity in the “Fast follow-up” mode. When the fast follow-up velocity of the automobile falls under the preset velocity, the system automatically enters the “Slow follow-up” mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2000Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Kuroda, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Toshimichi Minowa
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Publication number: 20030078718Abstract: A cruise control system for an automotive vehicle controls a speed of own vehicle estimating conditions not only when the own vehicle passes through the intersection but also when the preceding vehicle passes through the intersection, for permitting travel on the ordinary road with a given distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Takenaga, Satoru Kuragaki, Hiroto Morizane
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Patent number: 6542793Abstract: There is provided a pedal apparatus for vehicles, which comprises a pedal reaction-force addition means 4 for adding a reaction force to a pedal 1 of a vehicle, a pedal force detection means 2 for detecting a force added to the pedal 1, a pedal reaction-force control means 3 for adjusting the output of the pedal reaction-force addition means 4. During the running of the vehicle, the pedal reaction-force control means 3 performs the adjustment of a reaction force of the pedal on the basis of the driving environment of the vehicle and the driver's intention and judgement in pedal operation in the driving environment, whereby it is ensured that when the driver has no intention of operating the pedal, the driver can sufficiently place his or her foot on the pedal and that when he driver has any intention of operating the pedal, the driver can realize a smooth pedal operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Kojima, Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6532411Abstract: In order to judge whether a driver has pressed a brake pedal, a stroke sensor and a brake pedal pressing force sensor had to be installed in a conventional vehicle brake control device which required a complex attachment structure and time for attachment work and for attachment position adjusting work of the sensors. In the present brake booster control device, based on at least one of when an output (master cylinder pressure) larger by a predetermined amount than an output (master cylinder pressure Pr) expected from a current applied to the solenoid 6 in the brake booster 4 is obtained, when an output (master cylinder pressure) larger by a predetermined amount than a control target output (target master cylinder pressure) is obtained and when an output variation larger by a predetermined amount in an increasing direction than a variation component of the control target output (target master cylinder pressure) is obtained, it is judged that the driver has pressed the brake pedal.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Manaka, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 6516262Abstract: A cruise control system for an automotive vehicle controls the speed of the vehicle by estimating conditions for not only when the vehicle passes through an intersection but also when a preceding vehicle passes through the intersection, in order to permit travel on an ordinary road with a given following distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Takenaga, Satoru Kuragaki, Hiroto Morizane
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Patent number: 6510911Abstract: An automobile which is designed to be able to drive wheel tires by making use of a double series differential gear device 15 provided with both a first series gear constituted by a first ring gear 22A and a first drive gear 23A and a second series gear constituted by a second ring gear 22B and a second drive gear 23B, thereby, a back-up for an abnormal situation can be prepared and a high reliability is maintained, accordingly, with the use of highly reliable differential gear mechanism, an automobile in which a stable braking force is always obtained without being affected by its environmental conditions is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya Ochi
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Patent number: 6505107Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus includes a radar sensor, a vehicle speed controller, a hydraulic pump, a proportional solenoid valve and a brake controller. When the vehicle speed controller judges a braking situation based on information from the radar sensor, the brake controller actuates the hydraulic pump and the proportional solenoid valve based on a command from the vehicle speed controller, and controls a braking torque of wheels.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2002Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Kuragaki, Jiro Takezaki, Kimio Nishino, Toshimichi Minowa, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Yoshinori Endo
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Publication number: 20020180263Abstract: In a system of accelerating a car using a brake operating mechanism, the driver is required to be ready to step on the brake operating mechanism so as to rapidly decelerate the car in order to avoid danger, if necessary, while he is releasing his foot from the brake operating mechanism, which is a burden for the driver. Therefore, a footrest function range and a braking force increasing function range are provided to an operating amount or an operating force of a pedal 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20020161487Abstract: There is provided a pedal apparatus for vehicles, which comprises a pedal reaction-force addition means 4 for adding a reaction force to a pedal 1 of a vehicle, a pedal force detection means 2 for detecting a force added to the pedal 1, a pedal reaction-force control means 3 for adjusting the output of the pedal reaction-force addition means 4. During the running of the vehicle, the pedal reaction-force control means 3 performs the adjustment of a reaction force of the pedal on the basis of the driving environment of the vehicle and the driver's intention and judgement in pedal operation in the driving environment, whereby it is ensured that when the driver has no intention of operating the pedal, the driver can sufficiently place his or her foot on the pedal and that when he driver has any intention of operating the pedal, the driver can realize a smooth pedal operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Takao Kojima, Kazuhiko Satou, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Tokuji Yoshikawa