Patents by Inventor Takao Akiyama

Takao Akiyama 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).

  • Publication number: 20190017894
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a test piece characteristic estimation method capable of quickly measuring the moment of inertia of a test piece while taking loss resulting from rotational friction of the test piece into consideration. This test piece characteristic estimation method is provided with a step (S1) for measuring a first transfer function G1 from a torque current command for a dynamometer to output from a shaft torque sensor by vibrationally operating the dynamometer, a step (S2) for measuring a second transfer function G2 from the torque current command to the output of a dynamo rotation speed sensor by vibrationally operating the dynamometer, and steps (S3 and S4) for calculating the value of a ratio obtained by dividing the second transfer function G2 by the first transfer function G1 at a prescribed measurement frequency ?k and using the ratio value to calculate a moment of inertia Jeg and a rotational friction Ceg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: Takao AKIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10151666
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a torque command generation device for generating a motor-generated-torque command that makes it possible to maximize excitation force while ensuring necessary acceleration, and the like, within a limited motor torque range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayasu Kanke, Masami Nishihara, Kenji Kawakubo, Takao Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20180328815
    Abstract: Provided is a dynamometer-system dynamo control device that can appropriately suppress the occurrence of resonance phenomena and can realize a no-load state, even in a case where an engine the inertia of which is unknown is connected. The dynamometer system comprises a dynamometer and a shaft torque meter. A dynamo control device 6 in the dynamometer system generates a torque current command signal on the basis of a torque detection signal and a torque command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Takao AKIYAMA
  • Patent number: 10041858
    Abstract: To provide a dynamometer control device whereby excitation control can be performed so that a resonance phenomenon does not occur even when the moment of inertia of an engine is unknown. A dynamometer control device 6 is provided with an excitation signal generating unit 61 for generating a randomly or periodically fluctuating excitation signal, a speed controller 62 for generating an input signal to a dynamometer whereby a dynamo rotation speed matches a predetermined dynamo command rotation speed, a shaft torque compensator 64 for generating an input signal to the dynamometer whereby vibration of a shaft for connecting an engine and the dynamometer is suppressed using the detection value of a shaft torque sensor, and an adder 65 for generating a torque electric current command signal by adding the input signals generated by the speed controller 62 and the shaft torque compensator 64 to the excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Nobuhiko Asakura
  • Publication number: 20180003589
    Abstract: To provide a dynamometer control device whereby excitation control can be performed so that a resonance phenomenon does not occur even when the moment of inertia of an engine is unknown. A dynamometer control device 6 is provided with an excitation signal generating unit 61 for generating a randomly or periodically fluctuating excitation signal, a speed controller 62 for generating an input signal to a dynamometer whereby a dynamo rotation speed matches a predetermined dynamo command rotation speed, a shaft torque compensator 64 for generating an input signal to the dynamometer whereby vibration of a shaft for connecting an engine and the dynamometer is suppressed using the detection value of a shaft torque sensor, and an adder 65 for generating a torque electric current command signal by adding the input signals generated by the speed controller 62 and the shaft torque compensator 64 to the excitation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Takao AKIYAMA, Nobuhiko ASAKURA
  • Publication number: 20170350775
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a control device for a dynamometer system, with which, by a simple method, an unloaded state can be reproduced highly accurately when a test piece is started. A dynamo control device 6 is provided with: an integral control input computation unit 611 for computing the integral value of axle torque deviation, and multiplying the sum thereof and a correction value by an integral gain to compute an integral control input; a correction value computation unit 612 for multiplying an inertia compensation quantity Jcmp by the dynamo rotation frequency to compute a correction value; a non-integral control input computation unit 613 for designating, as a non-integral control input, the output of a prescribed transmission function Ge0(s) having axle torque deviation as input; and a totaling unit 614 for totaling the integral control input and the non-integral control input in order to generate a torque current command signal to the dynamometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Takao AKIYAMA, Nobuhiko ASAKURA
  • Patent number: 9778140
    Abstract: An engine testing apparatus is provided with a memory portion for storing a control command value obtained when the rotation speed of a dynamometer is changed by the control command value in accordance with the change of the engine rotation speed in a real vehicle in a period in which the engine behavior in a real vehicle is reproduced without connecting the dynamometer to an engine under test. The engine testing apparatus is provided with an output portion that supplies the control command value stored in the memory portion to the dynamometer with reference to an engine output signal showing the start of the reproducing period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Suzuki, Takuya Kusakabe, Masato Hayasaka, Yoshinao Sato, Nobuhiko Asakura, Sou Shimizu, Yoshimasa Sawada, Takao Akiyama, Shinya Nagao, Yoshiharu Kido
  • Publication number: 20170254725
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a torque command generation device for generating a motor-generated-torque command that makes it possible to maximize excitation force while ensuring necessary acceleration, and the like, within a limited motor torque range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Masayasu KANKE, Masami NISHIHARA, Kenji KAWAKUBO, Takao AKIYAMA
  • Patent number: 9739687
    Abstract: Provided is a dynamometer system dynamo control device that can accurately reproduce a no-load state. The dynamo control device includes controllers that are designed, using a H-infinity control or a ?-design method, such that, for a generalized plant that outputs observation output and a controlled variable from external input and from control input, the response from the input until the variable is shortened. The generalized plant includes a dynamic characteristics model wherein the characteristics of a dynamometer system are identified such that the angular acceleration is output from the external input and the control input. The controlled variable is the difference between the angular acceleration calculated for an engine alone on the basis of the external input and the angular acceleration calculated by the dynamic characteristics model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada, Nobuhiko Asakura
  • Patent number: 9689774
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a torque command generation device for generating a motor-generated-torque command that makes it possible to maximize excitation force while ensuring necessary acceleration, and the like, within a limited motor torque range. A torque command generation device is provided with: a maximum torque calculation unit for calculating, according to a motor speed, a maximum torque value for a motor-generated-torque-command signal value; a DC component limiter for calculating a DC signal value; a surplus amplitude calculation unit for calculating a surplus amplitude by subtracting the maximum torque value from the sum of the DC component value; a sine-wave transmitter for generating a sine wave having an amplitude obtained by subtracting the surplus amplitude from a base amplitude; and a summing unit for calculating the motor-generated-torque-command signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayasu Kanke, Masami Nishihara, Kenji Kawakubo, Takao Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9459181
    Abstract: Provided is a testing system which is able to reproduce road surfaces in different states between both right and left tires. A testing system is provided with: a tire speed calculation unit which calculates virtual left and right tire speed values; a vehicle speed calculation unit which calculates a virtual vehicle speed value; a vehicle drive torque calculation unit which calculates left and right vehicle drive torque values; a differential torque calculation unit which calculates left and right differential torque values; and a speed control device which outputs a torque current command signal such that a deviation between a speed command value and a value detected by an encoder is eliminated. The tire speed calculation unit calculates the tire speed value on the basis of the differential torque values and the vehicle drive torque values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada
  • Publication number: 20160252428
    Abstract: Provided is a dynamometer system dynamo control device that can accurately reproduce a no-load state. The dynamo control device includes controllers that are designed, using a H-infinity control or a ?-design method, such that, for a generalized plant that outputs observation output and a controlled variable from external input and from control input, the response from the input until the variable is shortened. The generalized plant includes a dynamic characteristics model wherein the characteristics of a dynamometer system are identified such that the angular acceleration is output from the external input and the control input. The controlled variable is the difference between the angular acceleration calculated for an engine alone on the basis of the external input and the angular acceleration calculated by the dynamic characteristics model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Takao AKIYAMA, Yoshimasa SAWADA, Nobuhiko ASAKURA
  • Patent number: 9400231
    Abstract: Provided is an engine bench system capable of performing a racing test with good precision. A test body is separated into an engine main body and intermediate coupling body for connecting a crankshaft and an output shaft of the dynamometer. The engine bench system is provided with: a shaft torque sensor for detecting torsional torque; a shaft torque command generation apparatus for calculating a dynamo-side shaft torque command value by summing an engine-side shaft torque command value, and a torque value proportional to the moment of inertia of the intermediate coupling body; and a shaft torque controller for generating a torque control signal on the basis of the dynamo-side shaft torque command value and the output value of the shaft torque sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada, Nobuhiko Asakura
  • Publication number: 20160139002
    Abstract: Provided is a testing system which is able to reproduce road surfaces in different states between both right and left tires. A testing system is provided with: a tire speed calculation unit which calculates virtual left and right tire speed values; a vehicle speed calculation unit which calculates a virtual vehicle speed value; a vehicle drive torque calculation unit which calculates left and right vehicle drive torque values; a differential torque calculation unit which calculates left and right differential torque values; and a speed control device which outputs a torque current command signal such that a deviation between a speed command value and a value detected by an encoder is eliminated. The tire speed calculation unit calculates the tire speed value on the basis of the differential torque values and the vehicle drive torque values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao AKIYAMA, Yoshimasa SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20160109328
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a torque command generation device for generating a motor-generated-torque command that makes it possible to maximize excitation force while ensuring necessary acceleration, and the like, within a limited motor torque range. A torque command generation device is provided with: a maximum torque calculation unit for calculating, according to a motor speed, a maximum torque value for a motor-generated-torque-command signal value; a DC component limiter for calculating a DC signal value; a surplus amplitude calculation unit for calculating a surplus amplitude by subtracting the maximum torque value from the sum of the DC component value; a sine-wave transmitter for generating a sine wave having an amplitude obtained by subtracting the surplus amplitude from a base amplitude; and a summing unit for calculating the motor-generated-torque-command signal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Masayasu KANKE, Masami NISHIHARA, Kenji KAWAKUBO, Takao AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160084735
    Abstract: Provided is an engine bench system capable of performing a racing test with good precision. A test body is separated into an engine main body and intermediate coupling body for connecting a crankshaft and an output shaft of the dynamometer. The engine bench system is provided with: a shaft torque sensor for detecting torsional torque; a shaft torque command generation apparatus for calculating a dynamo-side shaft torque command value by summing an engine-side shaft torque command value, and a torque value proportional to the moment of inertia of the intermediate coupling body; and a shaft torque controller for generating a torque control signal on the basis of the dynamo-side shaft torque command value and the output value of the shaft torque sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Takao AKIYAMA, Yoshimasa SAWADA, Nobuhiko ASAKURA
  • Patent number: 9234820
    Abstract: Provided is a testing system for a drivetrain, the testing system capable of simulating the slip behavior of a tire. A testing system is provided with: tire speed calculation units; a vehicle speed calculation unit; vehicle driving torque calculation units which calculate vehicle driving torque values; and speed control devices which output command signals such that the deviations between command values and output values from encoders are eliminated, respectively. The tire speed calculation units calculate the tire speed values on the basis of tire driving torque values obtained by subtracting the vehicle driving torque values from output values from shaft torque meters, respectively, and the vehicle speed calculation unit calculates the vehicle speed value on the basis of the vehicle driving torque values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada
  • Patent number: 9207149
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drive-train testing system that is capable of generating a large drive torque without increasing the size of a motor that simulates an engine. The drive-train testing system inputs a drive torque, which is generated according to a torque command which contains an alternating-current component having an excitation frequency, to an input shaft of a workpiece in order to evaluate the performance of said workpiece. This system is equipped with a first motor, a second motor, a torque meter for detecting a torque which acts upon the shaft between the workpiece and the second motor, and a resonance suppression circuit that divides the torque command into a first torque command and a second torque command so as to suppress torsional resonance on the basis of a value detected by the torque meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayasu Kanke, Takao Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9116062
    Abstract: Provided is a test system capable of stable torque control. A test system is provided with: an excitation torque command calculation unit which calculates an excitation torque command value; a shaft torque command calculation unit which defines a value obtained by adding up a base torque command value and the excitation torque command value as a torque command value; a controller which determines a first control input value such that a shaft torque detection value becomes the shaft torque command value; a feedforward input calculation unit which defines a value obtained by removing components equal to or less than a predetermined frequency from the shaft torque command value as a second control input value; and an addition unit which defines a value obtained by adding up the first and second control input values as a torque current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada
  • Publication number: 20150219529
    Abstract: Provided is a testing system for a drivetrain, the testing system capable of simulating the slip behavior of a tire. A testing system is provided with: tire speed calculation units; a vehicle speed calculation unit; vehicle driving torque calculation units which calculate vehicle driving torque values; and speed control devices which output command signals such that the deviations between command values and output values from encoders are eliminated, respectively. The tire speed calculation units calculate the tire speed values on the basis of tire driving torque values obtained by subtracting the vehicle driving torque values from output values from shaft torque meters, respectively, and the vehicle speed calculation unit calculates the vehicle speed value on the basis of the vehicle driving torque values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Takao Akiyama, Yoshimasa Sawada