Patents by Inventor Satoru Niwa

Satoru Niwa 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: 7692534
    Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the close interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7542840
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road; a driving road departure warning device for issuing a warning of a departure from the driving road on the basis of a position of the vehicle relative to the driving road; and a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device or the driving road departure warning device. Where the setting device sets a need for execution of the control, the control of the driving road keeping device is executed when an activation condition of the driving road keeping device is met and when a cruise control device is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7509211
    Abstract: An apparatus for warning deviation from a lane has a deviation evaluation ECU 1. The deviation evaluation ECU 1 has a deviation evaluator 14 for performing an evaluation on a deviation by comparing a future position of a host vehicle with a lane future position. Before this deviation evaluation, a mask processor 13 determines whether a yaw angle of the host vehicle and a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a driving lane exceed their respective thresholds preliminarily determined. When either one or the both are not more than the thresholds, the mask processor 13 performs a mask process, without performing the deviation evaluation. A deviation evaluator 14 performs the deviation evaluation when the yaw angle and the lateral position relative to the driving lane both exceed their respective thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7454291
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road, a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device, and a cruise control device for controlling a driving force or speed of the vehicle so as to keep the vehicle in a predetermined driving state. A need or no need for execution of the control of the driving road keeping device is determined based on a setting state of the setting device and a control state of the cruise control device. A display indicating that the control of the driving road keeping device is ready is presented when the control of the driving road keeping device is in an executable state upon a state change of either the setting state of the setting device or the control state of the cruise control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7391304
    Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a Close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the Close interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7389167
    Abstract: A driving support system according to the present invention is provided with an actuator for steering steered wheels of a vehicle and is used for supporting driving of the vehicle by making use of steering by means of the actuator. The driving support system has an image taking device for taking a forward image ahead the vehicle, a determiner for determining a controlled variable of the actuator on the basis of the forward image acquired by the image taking device, a limiter for limiting the controlled variable when a time change of the controlled variable of the actuator determined by the determiner is off a predetermined range, and a controller for controlling the actuator. The limiter sets a limit value for limiting the time change of the controlled variable of the actuator so that the limit value at a start (or at an end) of the driving support control is different from the limit value in continuation of the driving support control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20080117033
    Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the close interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 7373230
    Abstract: Characteristic lines A to D of lateral acceleration G-required torque T in determination of required torque T are used as switched according to increase/decrease of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration, and the direction thereof. The lines A, C used in increase of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration G are so set that the absolute value of required torque T becomes larger at the same lateral acceleration G (G?0) than that with the lines B, D used in decrease of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration G. The difference between line A and line B (the difference between line C and line D as well) at the same lateral acceleration G is so set that the difference near the lateral acceleration of 0 is smaller than that in the other regions. Particularly, it is preferable to set the required torque T to 0 at the lateral acceleration G of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chumsamutr Rattapon, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7069129
    Abstract: A driving support system according to the present invention is provided with an actuator for steering steered wheels and performs a driving support control of a vehicle to apply an additional torque to a steering mechanism incorporating the steered wheels, by means of the actuator to steer the steered wheels. The driving support system has an image taking device for taking a forward image ahead the vehicle, a controller for driving the actuator to generate the torque on the steering mechanism on the basis of the forward image acquired by the image taking device, to perform the driving support control, a steering wheel torque detector for detecting a steering wheel torque on a steering wheel, and a control suppressor for prioritizing a steering operation by a driver to the driving support control when a magnitude of the steering wheel torque is not less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050278096
    Abstract: A driving support system according to the present invention is provided with an actuator for steering steered wheels of a vehicle and is used for supporting driving of the vehicle by making use of steering by means of the actuator. The driving support system has an image taking device for taking a forward image ahead the vehicle, a determiner for determining a controlled variable of the actuator on the basis of the forward image acquired by the image taking device, a limiter for limiting the controlled variable when a time change of the controlled variable of the actuator determined by the determiner is off a predetermined range, and a controller for controlling the actuator. The limiter sets a limit value for limiting the time change of the controlled variable of the actuator so that the limit value at a start (or at an end) of the driving support control is different from the limit value in continuation of the driving support control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050273262
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road; a driving road departure warning device for issuing a warning of a departure from the driving road on the basis of a position of the vehicle relative to the driving road; and a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device or the driving road departure warning device. Where the setting device sets a need for execution of the control, the control of the driving road keeping device is executed when an activation condition of the driving road keeping device is met and when a cruise control device is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050273261
    Abstract: An apparatus for warning deviation from a lane has a deviation evaluation ECU 1. The deviation evaluation ECU 1 has a deviation evaluator 14 for performing an evaluation on a deviation by comparing a future position of a host vehicle with a lane future position. Before this deviation evaluation, a mask processor 13 determines whether a yaw angle of the host vehicle and a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a driving lane exceed their respective thresholds preliminarily determined. When either one or the both are not more than the thresholds, the mask processor 13 performs a mask process, without performing the deviation evaluation. A deviation evaluator 14 performs the deviation evaluation when the yaw angle and the lateral position relative to the driving lane both exceed their respective thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050270145
    Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a Close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the Close interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050273234
    Abstract: Characteristic lines A to D of lateral acceleration G-required torque T in determination of required torque T are used as switched according to increase/decrease of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration, and the direction thereof. The lines A, C used in increase of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration G are so set that the absolute value of required torque T becomes larger at the same lateral acceleration G (G?0) than that with the lines B, D used in decrease of the absolute value of the lateral acceleration G. The difference between line A and line B (the difference between line C and line D as well) at the same lateral acceleration G is so set that the difference near the lateral acceleration of 0 is smaller than that in the other regions. Particularly, it is preferable to set the required torque T to 0 at the lateral acceleration G of 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chumsamutr Rattapon, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20050267661
    Abstract: A driving support system according to the present invention is provided with an actuator for steering steered wheels and performs a driving support control of a vehicle to apply an additional torque to a steering mechanism incorporating the steered wheels, by means of the actuator to steer the steered wheels. The driving support system has an image taking device for taking a forward image ahead the vehicle, a controller for driving the actuator to generate the torque on the steering mechanism on the basis of the forward image acquired by the image taking device, to perform the driving support control, a steering wheel torque detector for detecting a steering wheel torque on a steering wheel, and a control suppressor for prioritizing a steering operation by a driver to the driving support control when a magnitude of the steering wheel torque is not less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20050267684
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road, a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device, and a cruise control device for controlling a driving force or speed of the vehicle so as to keep the vehicle in a predetermined driving state. A need or no need for execution of the control of the driving road keeping device is determined based on a setting state of the setting device and a control state of the cruise control device. A display indicating that the control of the driving road keeping device is ready is presented when the control of the driving road keeping device is in an executable state upon a state change of either the setting state of the setting device or the control state of the cruise control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 6749269
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrically controlled braking system including an electrically controlled brake for braking a vehicle wheel, an electric power source device, and a brake control apparatus for controlling an electric energy to be supplied from the electric power source device to the brake, for thereby controlling an operation of the brake, when a brake operating member is operated. A switching device is disposed between the electric power source device and the brake control apparatus. The switching device is turned on for connecting the electric power source device to the brake control apparatus, in response to an operation of the brake operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Niwa
  • Patent number: 6598945
    Abstract: A braking and driving force control apparatus and method are for a vehicle having a frictional braking device for applying a braking force individually to each wheel and a regenerative braking device for generating a common braking force to a plurality of wheels. A target braking force is calculated on the basis of a driver's braking operation or traction control. The regenerative braking device is controlled so as to achieve the smallest target braking force of the target braking forces of the plurality of wheels. The frictional braking device is controlled so as to achieve the target braking force of another wheel, different from the wheel having the smallest target braking force, in cooperation with the regenerative braking device. Thus, the efficiency of regenerating energy is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michihito Shimada, Satoru Niwa, Junichi Sakamoto, Masahiro Hara
  • Patent number: 6476515
    Abstract: An electric control system for an automotive vehicle, including a peripheral control device for electrically controlling an actuator device, a central control device connected to the peripheral control device, and an input device, wherein the central control device and the peripheral control device cooperate with each other to control the actuator device on the basis of an output of the input device. The input device is connected to both of the central control device and the peripheral control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Satoru Niwa, Naoki Sawada, Hiroaki Aizawa, Seiichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 6454364
    Abstract: A braking force control apparatus and method control a braking force of a motor vehicle that has (a) regenerative braking devices for front wheels and rear wheels, respectively, and (b) a friction braking device for each of the front wheels and the rear wheels. A target braking force of the front wheels and a target braking force of the rear wheels are calculated, based on a braking requirement made by a driver of the vehicle and a ratio of braking forces of the front wheels and the rear wheels. Initially, the regenerative braking devices are controlled to generate regenerative braking forces at the front wheels and the rear wheels, and then, if necessary, the friction braking device is controlled to generate a friction braking force at each of the front wheels and rear wheels, so that a total braking force applied to the front wheels and a total braking force applied to the rear wheels are controlled to the front-wheel target braking force and the rear-wheel target braking force, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Michihito Shimada, Junichi Sakamoto