Patents by Inventor Taichi Kitamura

Taichi Kitamura 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: 12194805
    Abstract: It is intended to sufficiently apply a wheel pressure to a drive wheel. An upper unit is configured to be attached to a mobile object. A drive wheel is disposed to be movable in an up-and-down direction with respect to the upper unit. A drive source is configured to drive the drive wheel. A support arm is pivotably attached to the upper unit. The support arm extends slantingly downward from the upper unit. The support arm supports the drive wheel. An urging mechanism urges the support arm downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Taichi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 12134322
    Abstract: A mobile object control device controls an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object. The mobile object control device includes a rolling resistance calculation section, a power loss calculation section, and an assist force calculation section. The rolling resistance calculation section calculates a rolling resistance based on a set weight set by a user. The power loss calculation section calculates a power loss caused until a power outputted from the electric motor is transmitted to a drive wheel. The assist force calculation section calculates an assist force of the electric motor based on an acceleration of the mobile object, the set weight, the rolling resistance calculated by the rolling resistance calculation section, the power loss calculated by the power loss calculation section, and an assist ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohashi, Taichi Kitamura, Hitoshi Katsura
  • Patent number: 12122385
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle control device and method for controlling a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a gear shift member, having a parking brake keeping a vehicle in a stationary state, a drive gear keeping driving the vehicle, and a park gear keeping the vehicle in a parked state; a control switch configured to be able to control the parking brake and shift to the park gear; a control member performing following controls when the vehicle is in the parked state: when the control switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a prescribed time, the control member shifts to the park gear and executes linked parking that links an operation of the parking brake, and during the execution of the linked parking, when the control switch is operated for a period of time longer than the prescribed time, the control member releases the parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Takada, Katsuhito Kambe, Kazuya Moriyama, Naoki Tsuchiya, Fumitaka Abe, Yosuke Horiuchi, Yurina Morimoto, Taichi Kitamura, Shun Saigusa, Ikuo Nonaga
  • Publication number: 20240326542
    Abstract: A drive unit as disclosed is capable of changing the magnitude of a wheel pressure acting on a drive wheel in accordance with the weight of a mobile object. A link mechanism includes a first link, a second link, and a first joint. The first link is pivotably attached to an upper unit. The first link extends from the upper unit both downward and in a second direction that is oriented opposite to a first direction. The second link is pivotably attached to a lower unit. The second link extends from the lower unit both upward and in the second direction. The first joint connects the first and second links therethrough to each other. An operating member is configured to move the first joint in the first direction when a human drive force is inputted thereto in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventor: Taichi KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20240326772
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a gear changing part having a parking brake holding the vehicle in a stationary state, a driving gear that maintains driving the vehicle, and a parking gear that holds a parked state; a control switch disposed in the gear changing part and able to perform actuation of the parking brake and the parking gear simultaneously through an operation of pressing the control switch; a braking force holding part holding a braking force when the vehicle generates the braking force based on at least one of a driver operating a brake or operating the control switch; and a control part performing: when the control switch is pressed, performing a linked parking control so that the parking brake performs a linked actuation while the gear changing part is shifted to the parking gear. After the linked parking control ends, the holding of the braking force is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi KANEKO, Taichi KITAMURA, Kazuya MORIYAMA, Yurina MORIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240326812
    Abstract: A vehicle control device and method includes: a gear shift member having a parking brake, a drive gear, and a park gear; a hydraulic brake decelerating the vehicle; a vehicle speed detection member; a control switch, which, when pressed, simultaneously activating the parking brake and the park gear; a control member. When the control member determines the vehicle speed exceeds a first threshold during an operation of the control switch, the vehicle remains in a drive gear state, and the hydraulic brake is activated to decelerate the vehicle; when the control member determines the vehicle speed is lower than the first threshold, the vehicle stays in the drive gear state, and the parking brake is activated. When the vehicle speed changes from the first to a second threshold, the hydraulic brake stops operating, the gear shift member shifts to the park gear, and the parking brake is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo TAKADA, Katsuhito KAMBE, Kazuya MORIYAMA, Naoki TSUCHIYA, Fumitaka ABE, Yosuke HORIUCHI, Yurina MORIMOTO, Taichi KITAMURA, Shun SAIGUSA, Ikuo NONAGA
  • Publication number: 20240326532
    Abstract: It is intended to sufficiently apply a wheel pressure to a drive wheel. An upper unit is configured to be attached to a mobile object. A drive wheel is disposed to be movable in an up-and-down direction with respect to the upper unit. A drive source is configured to drive the drive wheel. A support arm is pivotably attached to the upper unit. The support arm extends slantingly downward from the upper unit. The support arm supports the drive wheel. An urging mechanism urges the support arm downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventor: Taichi KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20240326819
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle control device and method for controlling a vehicle. The vehicle control device includes a gear shift member, having a parking brake keeping a vehicle in a stationary state, a drive gear keeping driving the vehicle, and a park gear keeping the vehicle in a parked state; a control switch configured to be able to control the parking brake and shift to the park gear; a control member performing following controls when the vehicle is in the parked state: when the control switch is operated for a period of time shorter than a prescribed time, the control member shifts to the park gear and executes linked parking that links an operation of the parking brake, and during the execution of the linked parking, when the control switch is operated for a period of time longer than the prescribed time, the control member releases the parking brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo TAKADA, Katsuhito KAMBE, Kazuya MORIYAMA, Naoki TSUCHIYA, Fumitaka ABE, Yosuke HORIUCHI, Yurina MORIMOTO, Taichi KITAMURA, Shun SAIGUSA, Ikuo NONAGA
  • Patent number: 12005947
    Abstract: A drive unit includes a support frame, a drive wheel and a prime mover. The support frame is disposed to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The drive wheel is supported by the support frame. The prime mover is supported by the support frame. The prime mover drives the drive wheel. The support frame and at least one member form a pivot unit. The at least one member pivots together with the support frame. The pivot unit has a center of gravity disposed on the opposite side of the pivot axis with respect to the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Katsura, Taichi Kitamura, Chika Baba
  • Patent number: 11993300
    Abstract: An assist control device controls an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object. The assist control device includes an operating switch and a control part. The operating switch is configured to be turned on when operated by a user. The operating switch is configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user. The control part controls the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohashi, Taichi Kitamura, Hitoshi Katsura
  • Patent number: 11858499
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a shift-position-switching acceptance unit that accepts switching operation of the shift position of the transmission but does not accept switching operation from a shift position other than the first forward position and the second forward position to the second forward position without via the first forward position; and an automatic-parking control unit that, in a case of moving the vehicle forward during execution of automatic parking control in a state in which the shift position of the transmission is set at a shift position other than the first forward position and the second forward position, sets the shift position of the transmission to the first forward position to move the vehicle forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yurina Morimoto, Yuki Nakada, Taichi Kitamura, Toshimi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20230371207
    Abstract: A thermal dissipation structure includes a housing, a thermal dissipation mechanism, and a seal member. The housing accommodates a heat-generating element. The thermal dissipation mechanism includes a thermal transfer part and a thermal dissipation part. The thermal transfer part is disposed inside the housing. The thermal transfer part is configured to transfer heat generated by the heat-generating element. The thermal dissipation part is disposed outside the housing. The seal member seals between the housing and the thermal dissipation mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Taichi OHNO, Taichi KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20230235819
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided. The vehicle control system includes a shift-by-wire device for shifting a shift gear of a speed variator mounted in a vehicle according to a requirement of an electrical signal; a vehicle speed detecting member for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle; a seat belt detecting member for detecting whether a seat belt provided in the vehicle is fastened or taken off; a door open/close member for detecting whether a door provided in the vehicle is opened or closed; a presence detecting member for detecting a presence state of a passenger in the vehicle; and an automatic parking control device for controlling the shift-by-wire device to shift the shift gear to a park gear when output results of one of the door open/close member and the presence detecting member, the vehicle speed detecting member, and the seat belt detecting member satisfy predetermined conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yurina MORIMOTO, Taichi KITAMURA, Shinichiro WATANABE, Toshimi KANEKO
  • Patent number: 11692627
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a transmission selector for a vehicle. The transmission selector for a vehicle includes: a transmission selector element including a first switch and a second switch, and a control circuit. When the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a first threshold, the control circuit switches the current gear to D in response to the selection operation received by the first switch, and the control circuit switches the current gear to R in response to the selection operation received by the second switch. When the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first threshold and the vehicle meets the specified conditions, the control circuit controls the vehicle to switch the current gear in response to a long-press operation whose execution of the selection operation received by the first switch or the second switch reaches a first specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Kaneko, Taichi Kitamura, Yurina Morimoto
  • Publication number: 20230063733
    Abstract: A mobile object control device controls an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object. The mobile object control device includes a rolling resistance calculation section, a power loss calculation section, and an assist force calculation section. The rolling resistance calculation section calculates a rolling resistance based on a set weight set by a user. The power loss calculation section calculates a power loss caused until a power outputted from the electric motor is transmitted to a drive wheel. The assist force calculation section calculates an assist force of the electric motor based on an acceleration of the mobile object, the set weight, the rolling resistance calculated by the rolling resistance calculation section, the power loss calculated by the power loss calculation section, and an assist ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke OHASHI, Taichi KITAMURA, Hitoshi KATSURA
  • Publication number: 20230068277
    Abstract: A brake control device includes an operating switch and a control part. The operating switch is configured to be turned on when operated by a user. The operating switch is configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user. The control part executes first brake processing for stopping the mobile object when the operating switch is switched off from on during traveling of a mobile object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke OHASHI, Taichi KITAMURA, Hitoshi KATSURA
  • Publication number: 20230060504
    Abstract: An assist control device controls an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object. The assist control device includes an operating switch and a control part. The operating switch is configured to be turned on when operated by a user. The operating switch is configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user. The control part controls the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke OHASHI, Taichi KITAMURA, Hitoshi KATSURA
  • Patent number: 11569766
    Abstract: A drive unit attached to a mobile entity is disclosed. The drive unit includes a motor, a first detector, and a controller. The first detector detects vehicle speed information regarding a vehicle speed of the mobile entity. The controller performs PWM control for the motor. The controller controls a duty cycle of a PWM signal in accordance with the vehicle speed information detected by the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Ito, Hitoshi Katsura, Taichi Kitamura, Chika Baba
  • Publication number: 20220297677
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a shift-position-switching acceptance unit that accepts switching operation of the shift position of the transmission but does not accept switching operation from a shift position other than the first forward position and the second forward position to the second forward position without via the first forward position; and an automatic-parking control unit that, in a case of moving the vehicle forward during execution of automatic parking control in a state in which the shift position of the transmission is set at a shift position other than the first forward position and the second forward position, sets the shift position of the transmission to the first forward position to move the vehicle forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yurina Morimoto, Yuki Nakada, Taichi Kitamura, Toshimi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11427241
    Abstract: A drive unit includes a drive wheel, a prime mover, a coupling mechanism and a support frame. The coupling mechanism includes first and second coupling members. The first coupling member includes a first opposed surface. The second coupling member includes a second opposed surface opposed to the first opposed surface. The second coupling member is attached to the first coupling member in a detachable manner. The support frame is attached to the coupling mechanism. The support frame supports the drive wheel and the prime mover. The first coupling member includes a first vertical groove and a first transverse groove on the first opposed surface. The second coupling member includes a second vertical groove and a second transverse groove on the second opposed surface. The second vertical groove is opposed to the first vertical groove. The second transverse groove is opposed to the first transverse groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Katsura, Taichi Kitamura, Chika Baba