Patents by Inventor Takanori Matsunaga

Takanori Matsunaga 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: 8046131
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular steering apparatus capable of improving a steering feeling and achieving a reduction in cost. The vehicular steering apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with an assist motor for generating an assist torque, a state quantity detector for detecting a steering shaft reaction torque and a road surface reaction torque, and a control unit for calculating a target current value of the assist motor. The control unit includes a friction compensation portion and a return compensation portion, which calculate a friction compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque and a return compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque from the steering shaft reaction torque and the road surface reaction torque respectively. The control unit compensates for an overall friction torque in a steering mechanism and a gradient of the road surface reaction torque, using the friction compensation torque and the return compensation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tanaka, Takanori Matsunaga, Masahiko Kurishige, Takayuki Kifuku
  • Publication number: 20110075583
    Abstract: A route control system includes a status measuring unit, a cost management unit, a route determining unit, and a route setting unit. The status measuring unit checks a status of each node included in a network. The status is a wake state or a sleep state. The cost management unit updates a link cost for a link connected to a node in the wake state to a value smaller than any link cost for a link connected to a node in the sleep state. The route determining unit determines an optimum route connecting a first terminal to a second terminal. A sum of the link costs for the optimum route is lowest among the link costs for other available routes connecting the first terminal to the second terminal. The route setting unit sets a requested data flow in the optimum route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi IMAI, Akiko Yamada, Takanori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7680578
    Abstract: A system 10 for determining high accuracy gradient information includes linearization means 20, a sum unit 45, and state space model and observer means 50 for calculating a road gradient ?Road. The linearization means 20 includes an air resistance calculation unit 30 and a rolling resistance calculation unit 40. The means 50 includes a state space model 60 and a state space observer 70. The sum unit 45 determines a total sum wheel force ?FLij of wheel forces FLij. The linearization means 20 calculates an air resistance force FW and a rolling resistance force FR based on a vehicle velocity vCoG using approximation equations, calculates a linearized total sum force FSum by subtracting the air resistance force FW and the rolling resistance force FR from the wheel forces FLij, and inputs the linealized total sum force FSum to the state space model and observer means 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer, Joerg Barrho
  • Publication number: 20090228168
    Abstract: A vehicle behavior detection apparatus can accurately detect an unstable state of a vehicle without making an incorrect determination even if a travel environment of the vehicle is abnormal. The apparatus includes a road surface reaction torque detecting unit that detects a road surface reaction torque which a tire of the vehicle receives from a road surface, a steering angle detecting unit that detects a steering angle of the vehicle, a vehicle speed detecting unit that detects a speed of the vehicle, a standard road surface reaction torque calculating unit that calculates a standard road surface reaction torque from the steering angle and the vehicle speed, a vehicle behavior state detecting unit that detects the unstable state of the vehicle, and a vehicle behavior detection inhibiting unit that invalidates the vehicle behavior state detecting unit based on the road surface reaction torque and the standard road surface reaction torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo HITOSUGI, Takanori Matsunaga, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090204284
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control system which can maintain stability of the vehicle with an inexpensive configuration without bringing discomfort to a driver when control intervenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Toshihide Satake, Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Masahiko Kurishige
  • Patent number: 7571033
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090000857
    Abstract: An electric power steering control apparatus can reduce a steering vibration such as shimmy vibration generated due to the structure of a vehicle without adding new mechanism elements. The apparatus includes a torque sensor for detecting steering torque generated by a driver, a torque controller for calculating an assist torque current for assisting the steering torque based on the detected steering torque, a vehicle speed detector for detecting the speed of the vehicle, a specific frequency detector for detecting a specific frequency from the detected vehicle speed, a motor angular velocity calculator for calculating a motor angular velocity from a motor angle detected by an angle detector, a phase compensator for converting a vibration frequency of the motor angular velocity, and a vibration suppression current calculator for calculating a vibration suppression current to suppress the steering vibration from respective output signals of the phase compensator and the specific frequency detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinobu Sugiyama, Takanori Matsunaga, Hideyuki Tanaka, Hiroyuki Kozuki
  • Patent number: 7454279
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7424352
    Abstract: A driving situation detection system capable of detecting driving situations swiftly with high reliability is obtained. The driving situation detection system includes real curve arithmetic means reference vehicle model and observer means, a differentiator unit, a model curve radius arithmetic means, and an assessment unit. The arithmetic means generates real curve radius signals based on wheel speeds. The reference vehicle model and observer means processes input signals utilizing a linear reference model to generate a yaw rate signal and a vehicle body side slip angle signal. The unit differentiates the vehicle body side slip angle signal to generate a vehicle body side slip rate signal. The model curve radius arithmetic means generates a model curve radius signal based on the yaw rate signal and the vehicle body side slip rate signal. The assessment unit detects undesirable driving situations by comparing the real curve radius and the model curve radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer
  • Publication number: 20080208407
    Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus can accurately detect occurrence of a disturbance even where steering torque is limited, and can achieve a low cost and simple construction. The apparatus includes a road surface reaction torque detector that detects an actual road surface reaction torque received by tires of a vehicle from a road surface, a vehicle speed detector that detects a vehicle speed, a steering wheel angle detector that detects a steering angle of a steering wheel, a target road surface reaction torque calculation section that calculates a target road surface reaction torque based on the vehicle speed and the steering wheel angle, and a disturbance occurrence detection section that detects occurrence of a disturbance to the vehicle and outputs a disturbance state signal. The disturbance occurrence detection section includes a sign comparison section that compares signs of the actual and target road surface reaction torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki TANAKA, Takanori MATSUNAGA, Kyohei KOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7412318
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7412319
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080189014
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular steering apparatus capable of improving a steering feeling and achieving a reduction in cost. The vehicular steering apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with an assist motor for generating an assist torque, a state quantity detector for detecting a steering shaft reaction torque and a road surface reaction torque, and a control unit for calculating a target current value of the assist motor. The control unit includes a friction compensation portion and a return compensation portion, which calculate a friction compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque and a return compensation torque for compensating for the assist torque from the steering shaft reaction torque and the road surface reaction torque respectively. The control unit compensates for an overall friction torque in a steering mechanism and a gradient of the road surface reaction torque, using the friction compensation torque and the return compensation torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tanaka, Takanori Matsunaga, Masahiko Kurishige, Takayuki Kifuku
  • Patent number: 7349775
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7239945
    Abstract: A system for analyzing vehicle and driver behavior includes: a data preprocessing unit that converts operation information of an in-vehicle electrical system, data available via an in-vehicle data network, and additional information available from an electrical device constituting a vehicle into a format capable of calculation therein; a vehicle model and estimation unit that estimates variables which can not be measured by means of in-vehicle sensors based on the preprocessed data; a model-based reconstruction unit that reconstructs an accident scenario by unifying the preprocessed data and the estimated variables from the vehicle model and estimation unit to a common time stamp; and an assessment unit that assesses vehicle and driver behavior based on the accident scenario reconstructed by the model-based reconstruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Marcus Hiemer, Takanori Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7212902
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7197389
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7184868
    Abstract: A vehicle dynamics behavior reproduction system capable of describing accurately behavior of a motor vehicle in a lateral direction even for nonlinear driving situation includes a vertical wheel force arithmetic module (105), a lateral wheel force arithmetic module (110), a cornering stiffness adaptation module (115), a state space model/observer unit (120), a selector (130), a delay module (135), and a tire side slip angle arithmetic module (125). Vertical wheel forces (FZij) and tire side slip angles (?ij) are determined by using sensor information and estimated values while lateral wheel forces (FYij) are determined in accordance with a relatively simple nonlinear approximation equation. The lateral wheel force (FYij) and the tire side slip angle (?ij) provide bases for adaptation of cornering stiffnesses at individual wheels. Vehicle motion is accurately described to a marginal stability by using adapted cornering stiffnesses (Cij) and other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer
  • Patent number: 7162345
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle accident analyzing apparatus in which reconstruction quality of low speed crashes is improved. An impact parameter determination apparatus 10 is provided with a triggering unit 20 which uses input signals from in-vehicle sensors, and an area determination unit 30, and a parameter calculation unit 50. The triggering unit 20 generates a trigger signal 21 based on the input signals for triggering the area determination unit 30 and the parameter calculation unit 50. The area determination unit 30 uses the input signals to calculate the most probable impact area 31. The parameter calculation unit 50 calculates the final desired crash parameters based on the input signals and the most probable impact area 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaishia
    Inventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer, Joerg Barrho
  • Publication number: 20060100762
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle accident analyzing apparatus in which reconstruction quality of low speed crashes is improved. An impact parameter determination apparatus 10 is provided with a triggering unit 20 which uses input signals from in-vehicle sensors, and an area determination unit 30, and a parameter calculation unit 50. The triggering unit 20 generates a trigger signal 21 based on the input signals for triggering the area determination unit 30 and the parameter calculation unit 50. The area determination unit 30 uses the input signals to calculate the most probable impact area 31. The parameter calculation unit 50 calculates the final desired crash parameters based on the input signals and the most probable impact area 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer, Joerg Barrho