Patents by Inventor Takeshi Senba

Takeshi Senba 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: 10093352
    Abstract: A motor controller, an electric power steering device using the motor controller, and a vehicle using the motor controller are provided. The motor controller includes plural hardware sets configured to operate in a normal state and to output a motor current, a control operation device configured to control the plurality of hardware sets commonly, an electric motor configured to operate with motor current output from each of the plurality of hardware sets, and an abnormality diagnosis unit configured to diagnose an abnormality of each of the plurality of hardware sets. In the control device, when there is an abnormal hardware set that has been diagnosed by the abnormality diagnosis unit, the control operation device stops an operation of the abnormal hardware set that has been diagnosed, and continues driving of the electric motor with a normal hardware set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Mori, Kotaro Tagami, Hiroki Sugawara, Shigeo Shinohara, Takaaki Sekine, Takeshi Senba, Shuji Endo
  • Patent number: 9771099
    Abstract: A motor controller includes: a main motor drive circuit configured to control driving of a multi-phase electric motor; a backup motor drive circuit configured to control driving of the multi-phase electric motor, when an abnormality occurs at the main motor drive circuit; and an abnormality diagnosis unit configured to diagnose the abnormality of the main and backup motor drive circuits. In a normal drive state, only the main motor drive circuit is configured to drive the multi-phase electric motor, and in a backup drive state, when the abnormality diagnosis unit diagnoses that the abnormality occurs at the main motor drive circuit as a diagnoses result, a motor current of a phase output unit where the abnormality occurs is cut off, and the phase output unit that has been cut off is replaced with another phase output unit of a same phase in the backup motor drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Mori, Takeshi Senba, Shigeo Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9634587
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a motor current shutoff unit inserted between a multi-phase inverter circuit and a multi-phase electric motor to shut off a current for each of plural phases, the inverter circuit including an arm for each of the plural phases, a redundant arm unit including one or more arms, a connection selecting unit selecting which one of windings of the electric motor is to be connected to each of the one or more arms of the redundant arm unit, an abnormal arm detection unit detecting an abnormality in each of the plural phases of the inverter circuit, and an abnormality control unit shutting off connection between an abnormal arm and the motor when the abnormal arm detection unit detects the abnormal arm, and connecting the one or more arms of the redundant arm unit to a winding of the motor shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kikuchi, Atsushi Horikoshi, Satoshi Ozaki, Yoshihiro Aosaki, Takeshi Senba, Hisayoshi Koiwai, Shigeo Shinohara, Kenji Mori, Masahiro Okutani, Takaaki Sekine
  • Patent number: 9505915
    Abstract: A fastening component is a molded article of a mixture in which microfibrillated cellulose fibers are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin has a melting point of between 150 and 200° C., and wherein when the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100 mass %, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is greater than 20 mass % and less than 60 mass %. When the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100%, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is preferably equal to or greater than 30 mass % and equal to or less than 50 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture, YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Senba, Kazuo Kitagawa, Akihiro Itou, Kazuya Mizumoto
  • Publication number: 20160339949
    Abstract: A motor controller includes: a main motor drive circuit configured to control driving of a multi-phase electric motor; a backup motor drive circuit configured to control driving of the multi-phase electric motor, when an abnormality occurs at the main motor drive circuit; and an abnormality diagnosis unit configured to diagnose the abnormality of the main and backup motor drive circuits. In a normal drive state, only the main motor drive circuit is configured to drive the multi-phase electric motor, and in a backup drive state, when the abnormality diagnosis unit diagnoses that the abnormality occurs at the main motor drive circuit as a diagnoses result, a motor current of a phase output unit where the abnormality occurs is cut off, and the phase output unit that has been cut off is replaced with another phase output unit of a same phase in the backup motor drive circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji MORI, Takeshi SENBA, Shigeo SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 9469750
    Abstract: A fastening component is a molded article of a mixture in which microfibrillated cellulose fibers are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin has a melting point of between 150 and 200° C., and wherein when the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100 mass %, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is greater than 20 mass % and less than 60 mass %. When the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100%, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is preferably equal to or greater than 30 mass % and equal to or less than 50 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture, YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Senba, Kazuo Kitagawa, Akihiro Itou, Kazuya Mizumoto
  • Publication number: 20160200355
    Abstract: A motor controller, an electric power steering device using the motor controller, and a vehicle using the motor controller are provided. The motor controller includes plural hardware sets configured to operate in a normal state and to output a motor current, a control operation device configured to control the plurality of hardware sets commonly, an electric motor configured to operate with motor current output from each of the plurality of hardware sets, and an abnormality diagnosis unit configured to diagnose an abnormality of each of the plurality of hardware sets. In the control device, when there is an abnormal hardware set that has been diagnosed by the abnormality diagnosis unit, the control operation device stops an operation of the abnormal hardware set that has been diagnosed, and continues driving of the electric motor with a normal hardware set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kenji MORI, Kotaro TAGAMI, Hiroki SUGAWARA, Shigeo SHINOHARA, Takaaki SEKINE, Takeshi SENBA, Shuji ENDO
  • Publication number: 20160134212
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a motor current shutoff unit inserted between a multi-phase inverter circuit and a multi-phase electric motor to shut off a current for each of plural phases, the inverter circuit including an arm for each of the plural phases, a redundant arm unit including one or more arms, a connection selecting unit selecting which one of windings of the electric motor is to be connected to each of the one or more arms of the redundant arm unit, an abnormal arm detection unit detecting an abnormality in each of the plural phases of the inverter circuit, and an abnormality control unit shutting off connection between an abnormal arm and the motor when the abnormal arm detection unit detects the abnormal arm, and connecting the one or more arms of the redundant arm unit to a winding of the motor shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Yusuke Kikuchi, Atsushi Horikoshi, Satoshi Ozaki, Yoshihiro Aosaki, Takeshi Senba, Hisayoshi Koiwai, Shigeo Shinohara, Kenji Mori, Masahiro Okutani, Takaaki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20150148460
    Abstract: A fastening component is a molded article of a mixture in which microfibrillated cellulose fibers are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin has a melting point of between 150 and 200° C., and wherein when the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100 mass %, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is greater than 20 mass % and less than 60 mass %. When the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100%, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is preferably equal to or greater than 30 mass % and equal to or less than 50 mass %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Senba, Kazuo Kitagawa, Akihiro Itou, Kazuya Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 8102138
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a steering column having inserted therein a steering shaft to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box coupled to the steering shaft, and an electric motor that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. The electric motor and its control unit including a control board mounted with a control circuit, are provided side by side in the reduction gear box. A connection terminal of the electric motor is electrically connected to the control unit directly. This minimizes a connection distance between the control unit and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Naoki Hyoudou, Shigeru Endo, Atsushi Horikoshi, Keiji Kashimoto, Tamotsu Oumi, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba, Mitsuo Shimoda
  • Patent number: 7886865
    Abstract: To provide an electric power steering apparatus in which it is possible to reduce a size of the entire structure of a control unit while sufficiently showing a heat radiation effect of heat generating members. The electric power steering apparatus includes a steering column 3 having inserted therein a steering shaft 2 to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box 4 coupled to the steering shaft 2, and an electric motor 5 that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft 2 via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. In the reduction gear box 4, a motor mounting section 17 for mounting the electric motor 5 is formed at an end face in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the steering shaft 2 and a control-unit mounting section 20 for mounting a control unit 19 for controlling to drive the electric motor 5 is formed near the motor mounting section 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Keiji Kashimoto, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba
  • Publication number: 20090295325
    Abstract: To provide an electric power steering apparatus in which it is possible to minimize a connection distance between a control unit and an electric motor and surely prevent electric noise from mixing between the control unit and the electric motor as well as to minimize electric resistance and minimize an electric loss by directly connecting the control unit and connection terminals of the electric motor and a torque sensor. A motor control apparatus includes a steering column 3 having inserted therein a steering shaft 2 to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box 4 coupled to the steering shaft 2, and an electric motor 5 that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft 2 via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Shimizu, Naoki Hyoudou, Shigeru Endo, Atsushi Horikoshi, Keiji Kashimoto, Tamotsu Oumi, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba, Mitsuo Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20090272599
    Abstract: To provide an electric power steering apparatus in which it is possible to reduce a size of the entire structure of a control unit while sufficiently showing a heat radiation effect of heat generating members. The electric power steering apparatus includes a steering column 3 having inserted therein a steering shaft 2 to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box 4 coupled to the steering shaft 2, and an electric motor 5 that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft 2 via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. In the reduction gear box 4, a motor mounting section 17 for mounting the electric motor 5 is formed at an end face in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the steering shaft 2 and a control-unit mounting section 20 for mounting a control unit 19 for controlling to drive the electric motor 5 is formed near the motor mounting section 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sekine, Atsushi Ooshima, Tetsuya Kodama, Seiichi Kobayashi, Keiji Kashimoto, Hideaki Kawada, Shigeo Shinohara, Takeshi Senba