Patents by Inventor Takuto KITA

Takuto KITA 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: 11958355
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit unlocks the pedal lever when an approaching object from behind is detected during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Yuusuke Yoshida, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori, Shinji Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20240100945
    Abstract: An actuator is provided in an actuator housing. A lever is provided in the actuator housing, rotates by driving force from the actuator, contacts an arm that rotates together with the pedal, and is capable of imparting a reaction force to the pedal against a driver's depression force. A fixing member is formed so that a pedal housing and the actuator housing are fixed apart from each other, and are attachable to a vehicle. A positioning portion determines a contact position between an arm and the lever and between a rotation axis of the pedal and a rotation axis of the lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Hideyuki MORI, Tetsuo HARIU, Noriyuki INAGAKI, Rika IWATA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Takuto KITA
  • Patent number: 11938815
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever configured to perform an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. In the accelerator pedal system, a controller configured to change an energization amount to the actuator when a disturbance is detected during a vehicle traveling in the locked state. Thus, the lock state can be suitably controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Yuusuke Yoshida, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori, Shinji Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11912126
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The lock mechanism can restrict the operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit resumes the locked state by the drive of the actuator after a release from the locked state due to the step-on operation of the pedal lever during the automatic drive control in the locked state, when (i) the automatic drive control is continued or (ii) a resuming of the automatic drive control is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 11897330
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates in accordance with a step-on operation. The lock mechanism is capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever. The lock mechanism can switch a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. The ECU includes a locking operation determination unit, an actuator control unit, and an information acquisition unit. The locking operation determination unit determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a driving operation of an actuator. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when the vehicle is traveling on a specific position in an automatic driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Hideyuki Mori, Takuto Kita
  • Patent number: 11853097
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes an actuator control unit and a vehicle drive force control unit. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. When, during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state, (i) a disturbance is detected and (ii) the locked state is released, the vehicle drive control unit suppresses a vehicle drive force according to an opening degree of the pedal lever than a no disturbance situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Yuusuke Yoshida, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori, Shinji Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11813939
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20230211659
    Abstract: An accelerator device includes a pedal lever, a reaction force adjuster and a controller. The pedal lever operates according to a stepping operation. The reaction force adjuster is driven by an actuator, and is capable of adjusting a reaction force that is a force in a direction of pushing back the pedal lever. The controller includes a target operation amount setting unit and a drive control unit. The target operation amount setting unit sets a target operation amount, which is an operation amount of the pedal lever according to a vehicle speed. The drive control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The controller controls the reaction force according to the target operation amount so that the operation amount of the pedal lever is within a target range when switching from an automatic drive to a manual drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Tetsuo HARIU, Takuto KITA, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Kiyoshi KIMURA, Takehiro SAITO, Soichi KINOUCHI, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Daisuke HOKUTO
  • Publication number: 20230202297
    Abstract: A pedal device comprises a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a support member and an adjusting device. The brake pedal is operated to be depressed by a leg of a passenger, and an operation amount of a depressing operation of the brake pedal is transmitted as an electrical signal. The accelerator pedal is operated to be depressed by a leg of the passenger, and an operation amount of a depressing operation of the accelerator pedal is transmitted as an electrical signal. The support member is connected with the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, respectively, to support the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal in a rotatable manner. The adjusting device adjusts a position or a posture of the pedal unit including the brake pedal, the accelerator pedal, and the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Kiyoshi Kimura, Tetsuo Hariu, Yuusuke Yoshida, Etsugo Yanagida, Daisuke Hokuto, Takehiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20230202444
    Abstract: A brake pedal is operated by a pedal force of a driver. A sensor is capable of detecting a stroke amount of the brake pedal. A brake circuit generates braking force to apply a brake to a vehicle by applying hydraulic pressure to wheel cylinders provided to respective wheels. An electronic control device controls the braking force generated by the brake circuit based on an output signal from the sensor and a state of the vehicle. The electronic control device executes predetermined braking force control under which the braking force generated by the brake circuit is set to be predetermined braking force, when the stroke amount of the brake pedal is between a first threshold and a second threshold larger than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Daisuke HOKUTO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Tetsuo HARIU, Takuto KITA, Yuusuke YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230195157
    Abstract: A brake device for a brake-by-wire system includes a brake pedal, a sensor, a reaction force generator, and a reaction force changing mechanism. The brake pedal is rotatably mounted on a housing and not mechanically connected to a hydraulic pressure generator. The sensor outputs a signal corresponding to a stroke amount of the brake pedal to an electronic control unit. The reaction force generator has one end connected to the brake pedal and the other end connected to the housing so as to generate a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by a driver. The reaction force changing mechanism generates a reaction force against a depression force applied to the brake pedal by the driver, and is able to change a magnitude of the reaction force in advance according to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Daisuke HOKUTO, Etsugo YANAGIDA, Takuto KITA, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Tetsuo HARIU
  • Publication number: 20230066123
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates in accordance with a step-on operation. The lock mechanism is capable of restricting the operation of the pedal lever. The lock mechanism can switch a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. The ECU includes a locking operation determination unit, an actuator control unit, and an information acquisition unit. The locking operation determination unit determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a driving operation of an actuator. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when the vehicle is traveling on a specific position in an automatic driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Hideyuki MORI, Takuto KITA
  • Publication number: 20230066751
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit determines switching of the locked state and the unlocked state by the lock mechanism. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. The lock operation determination unit releases the locked state of the pedal lever when a driver's intention to accelerate is detected while a vehicle is traveling in the locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI, Shinji KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230065672
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The lock mechanism can restrict the operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit resumes the locked state by the drive of the actuator after a release from the locked state due to the step-on operation of the pedal lever during the automatic drive control in the locked state, when (i) the automatic drive control is continued or (ii) a resuming of the automatic drive control is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI
  • Publication number: 20230066414
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Soichi KINOUCHI, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI
  • Publication number: 20230065963
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict the operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU include a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit determines switching of the lock/unlock operation by the lock mechanism, in response to a voice instruction of a driver. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator according to a determination result of the lock operation determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI, Masao INO, Takehiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20230067183
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes an actuator control unit and a vehicle drive force control unit. The actuator control unit controls a drive of the actuator. When, during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state, (i) a disturbance is detected and (ii) the locked state is released, the vehicle drive control unit suppresses a vehicle drive force according to an opening degree of the pedal lever than a no disturbance situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI, Shinji KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230061325
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever configured to perform an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is free from restriction by the lock mechanism. In the accelerator pedal system, a controller configured to change an energization amount to the actuator when a disturbance is detected during a vehicle traveling in the locked state. Thus, the lock state can be suitably controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI, Shinji KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230060925
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever, a lock mechanism, an actuator, and an ECU. The pedal lever operates according to a step-on operation. The lock mechanism can restrict an operation of the pedal lever. The actuator switches between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted. The ECU includes a lock operation determination unit and an actuator control unit. The lock operation determination unit unlocks the pedal lever when an approaching object from behind is detected during a travel of a vehicle in the locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Soichi KINOUCHI, Yuusuke YOSHIDA, Takuto KITA, Hideyuki MORI, Shinji KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 11584226
    Abstract: An accelerator device includes a pad configured to receive an input force from a driver, a case attachable to a vehicle body and having a front wall facing the pad, and an internal movable mechanism housed in the case. The internal movable mechanism includes a shaft that is rotatably supported in the case and a pedal extending outward from an outer peripheral portion of the shaft. An arm is arranged to pass through an opening provided in the front wall and to connect the pad and the pedal, and a cushioning member is provided in the front wall, to be inserted between the pedal or the arm and the front wall in an accelerator fully-closed state, and to be inserted between the pad and the front wall in an accelerator fully-open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Kita, Takehiro Saitoh, Yasuhiro Otaka