Patents by Inventor Theerawat Limpibunterng
Theerawat Limpibunterng 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: 9884642Abstract: In order to provide a steering device capable of inhibiting generation of abnormal sound without a complicated structure, the steering device is provided with a wheel gear connected to an output shaft which transmits an output to a turning wheel and a worm gear engaging with the wheel gear and capable of transmitting power generated by a motor to the wheel gear, and a rotational speed of the motor is made lower than that during normal operation, at the time driving of the stopped motor is started or at the time a rotational direction of the worm gear is reversed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toru Takashima, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Patent number: 9707996Abstract: A vehicle drive-control device which executes trajectory control in which steered wheels are controlled so as to make the vehicle travel along a target trajectory. When the possibility exists that the travel direction of the vehicle may be changed by the trajectory control, at least one of an operation position of a steering input unit operated by a driver; a yaw angle of the vehicle; and a lateral position of the vehicle with respect to a lane is changed before a change in the travel direction is made, thereby giving occupants in the vehicle advance notice of the possibility of a change in vehicle travel direction caused by the trajectory control.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masao Ueyama, Yoji Kunihiro, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Takahiro Kojo
-
Patent number: 9327764Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle provided with a steering force applying device capable of applying steering force to induce a change in a steering angle of a steered wheel to the steered wheel, includes a difference detecting device that detects a positional difference that determines a relative positional relationship between a target running path to be maintained and the vehicle; a determining device that determines a control amount of the steering force applying device based on the detected positional difference; a controller that maintains a running path of the vehicle on the target running path by controlling the steering force applying device according to the determined control amount; a steering input detecting device that detects a steering input to a steering input device by a driver; and a correcting device that corrects a determining reference of the control amount of the steering force applying device such that, when a steering input is detected while the running path is maintaType: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Theerawat Limpibunterng, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Hirofumi Nitta, Shoji Asai
-
Patent number: 9321480Abstract: A vehicle steering control apparatus (100) in a vehicle (10), which is provided with: a steering system including at least a rudder angle varying device (400, 700) capable of changing a relation between a steering angle, which is a rotation angle of a steering wheel (12), and a rudder angle of steered wheels and a steering torque assisting device (500) capable of assisting a driver steering torque; and a power supply source (800) for supplying electric power to the steering system, is provided with: a limiting device for limiting electric current consumption of the steering torque assisting device if a consumption current value of the steering system is greater than a maximum allowable current value in a case where supply capacity of supplying an electric current in the power supply source is reduced with respect to a reference; and a controlling device for matching a neutral position of the steering wheel with a neutral position of the steered wheels in a situation in which the electric current consumption oType: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Toru Takashima, Takahiro Kojo, Taro Hirose, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Masahiro Miyata, Susumu Fujii
-
Publication number: 20150068833Abstract: In order to provide a steering device capable of inhibiting generation of abnormal sound without a complicated structure, the steering device is provided with a wheel gear connected to an output shaft which transmits an output to a turning wheel and a worm gear engaging with the wheel gear and capable of transmitting power generated by a motor to the wheel gear, and a rotational speed of the motor is made lower than that during normal operation, at the time driving of the stopped motor is started or at the time a rotational direction of the worm gear is reversed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toru Takashima, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Patent number: 8977432Abstract: An ECU executes steering control in a vehicle including an electronic control power steering apparatus. In the steering control, it is determined that an assist motor is in a power generating state when a motor rotation speed ? which is the rotation speed of the assist motor is greater than an upper limit rotation speed ?1 set according to a motor command voltage Vq that is the driving voltage of the assist motor. When the assist motor is in the power generating state, the ECU interrupts the supply of current to the assist motor by controlling a relay portion of a drive apparatus that drives the assist motor so that it is open, thereby reducing the amount of power that is generated to zero. Also, when returning to an assist possible state, assist torque Tm is changed gradually with zero as the initial value in order to prevent it from changing suddenly.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Theerawat Limpibunterng, Takahiro Kojo
-
Patent number: 8948455Abstract: A characteristic point extraction section acquires an image captured by an image capture device and extracts characteristic points from the captured image, a vehicle lane boundary point selection section selects vehicle lane boundary points that indicate vehicle lanes from the extracted characteristic points, a distribution determination section determines the distribution of the vehicle lane boundary points, a system noise setting section sets each system noise based on the distribution of vehicle lane boundary points, and a travel path parameter estimation section stably predicts travel path parameters based on the vehicle lane boundary points, past estimation results, and the system noise that has been set.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Watanabe, Takahiro Kojo, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya
-
Patent number: 8825297Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle provided with: a steering angle control device that alters the relationship between the amount of steering operation of a driver and the steering angle of steerable wheels; a trajectory control device that controls the travel trajectory of the vehicle by means of controlling the steering angle of the steerable wheels; and a turning condition control device that determines a target turning condition control level for causing the turning condition of the vehicle to be a target turning condition, and controls the turning condition of the vehicle on the basis of the target turning condition control level. A turning condition control device calculates the target turning condition control level on the basis of the amount of steering operation of the driver and the control level of the trajectory control device, and thereby reflects in the target turning condition control level changes to the steering angle resulting from the control of the traveling trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsutaka Tanimoto, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Publication number: 20140229068Abstract: A vehicle drive-control device which executes trajectory control in which steered wheels are controlled so as to make the vehicle travel along a target trajectory. When the possibility exists that the travel direction of the vehicle may be changed by the trajectory control, at least one of an operation position of a steering input unit operated by a driver; a yaw angle of the vehicle; and a lateral position of the vehicle with respect to a lane is changed before a change in the travel direction is made, thereby giving occupants in the vehicle advance notice of the possibility of a change in vehicle travel direction caused by the trajectory control.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masao Ueyama, Yoji Kunihiro, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Takahiro Kojo
-
Patent number: 8762005Abstract: In control of a vehicle that is provided with a steering torque supply device that supplies a steering torque to a steering device coupled to a steered wheel and a steering transmission ratio variation device that changes a steering transmission ratio, the control includes: setting a target state quantity for keeping the vehicle in a target lane; controlling the steering transmission ratio variation device so that a state quantity of the vehicle becomes the set target state quantity; controlling the steering torque supply device so that a steering reaction restriction torque that restricts a steering reaction torque generated in the steering device is supplied with the steering device as the steering torque when the vehicle is kept within the target lane; and correcting the steering reaction restriction torque on the basis of a steering input when the steering input from a driver of the vehicle is produced.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Theerawat Limpibunterng, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Shoji Asai
-
Patent number: 8688327Abstract: A driving support apparatus of a vehicle supports driving of the vehicle, the vehicle includes a rudder angle varying device capable of changing a relative relation between a steering angle and a rudder angle. The driving support apparatus includes a following control device for controlling the rudder angle varying device such that the vehicle follows a target driving route; a steering angle specifying device for specifying the steering angle; and a judging device for judging whether or not overriding performed by a driver takes place on the basis of the specified steering angle and a reference steering angle which is the steering angle in making the vehicle follow the target driving route. The following control device stops the vehicle following for the target driving route if it is judged that the overriding takes place.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Theerawat Limpibunterng, Takahiro Kojo, Hirofumi Nitta, Shoji Asai
-
Patent number: 8612095Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided at least with: a rudder angle varying device capable of changing a relation between a steering angle, which is a rotation angle of a steering input shaft, and a rudder angle, which is a rotation angle of steered wheels; and a trajectory controlling device for determining a control amount and controlling the rudder angle varying device such that a trajectory of a vehicle approaches a target driving route of the vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus is further provided with a correcting device for correcting (i) a rate of change in the rudder angle with respect to a steering amount of the steering input or (ii) the determined control amount, in accordance with whether or not a steering direction of the steering input inputted to the steering input shaft through a steering member by a driver of the vehicle is identical with a rudder angle control direction of the control amount determined by the trajectory controlling device.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Kojo, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Patent number: 8594888Abstract: A steering control apparatus (100) controls a steering mechanism to limit a behavior of a vehicle in the vehicle (10) equipped with the steering mechanism (200) which can independently steer front wheels and rear wheels. The steering control apparatus is provided with: a controlling device for controlling the steering mechanism such that a rudder angle of the front wheels and a rudder angle of the rear wheels are reverse-phased and such that a rudder angle speed of the front wheels is higher than a rudder angle speed of the rear wheels.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshitaka Fujita, Taro Hirose, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Patent number: 8565976Abstract: An object of the present invention is to cover a drop in turning responsiveness of a vehicle to a driver's steering operation caused by a limit on the operating speed of a steerable wheel turning unit by a turn assist yaw moment independent of turn lateral forces of steerable wheels to thereby prevent the drop in turning responsiveness of the vehicle when the operating speed of the steerable wheel turning unit is limited. A vehicle travel control device comprises a steerable wheel turning unit capable of turning steerable wheels to steer independently of steering of a driver and a braking unit as a turn assist yaw moment generating means capable of generating a turn assist yaw moment independently of turn lateral forces of the steerable wheels.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Kojo, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Patent number: 8511420Abstract: A vehicle steering control device includes an electric power steering unit, a steering ratio varying unit which drives an output member relative to an input member driven by steering operation of a driver to vary a steering ratio, and a control unit which controls the steering ratio varying unit. The control unit decreases in magnitude the relative drive velocity of the output member driven by the steering ratio varying unit relative to the input member when the magnitude of a difference between the maximum value of the steering drive velocity range of said steerable wheels which allows said power steering unit to generate a required steering assisting power and an actual steering drive velocity of said steerable wheels is small in contrast to the large difference.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Kojo, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Publication number: 20130190988Abstract: In control of a vehicle that is provided with a steering torque supply device that supplies a steering torque to a steering device coupled to a steered wheel and a steering transmission ratio variation device that changes a steering transmission ratio, the control includes: setting a target state quantity for keeping the vehicle in a target lane; controlling the steering transmission ratio variation device so that a state quantity of the vehicle becomes the set target state quantity; controlling the steering torque supply device so that a steering reaction restriction torque that restricts a steering reaction torque generated in the steering device is supplied with the steering device as the steering torque when the vehicle is kept within the target lane; and correcting the steering reaction restriction torque on the basis of a steering input when the steering input from a driver of the vehicle is produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Theerawat Limpibunterng, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Shoji Asai
-
Publication number: 20130177211Abstract: A characteristic point extraction section acquires an image captured by an image capture device and extracts characteristic points from the captured image, a vehicle lane boundary point selection section selects vehicle lane boundary points that indicate vehicle lanes from the extracted characteristic points, a distribution determination section determines the distribution of the vehicle lane boundary points, a system noise setting section sets each system noise based on the distribution of vehicle lane boundary points, and a travel path parameter estimation section stably predicts travel path parameters based on the vehicle lane boundary points, past estimation results, and the system noise that has been set.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2011Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akihiro Watanabe, Takahiro Kojo, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya
-
Publication number: 20130124045Abstract: A vehicle steering control apparatus (100) in a vehicle (10), which is provided with: a steering system including at least a rudder angle varying device (400, 700) capable of changing a relation between a steering angle, which is a rotation angle of a steering wheel (12), and a rudder angle of steered wheels and a steering torque assisting device (500) capable of assisting a driver steering torque; and a power supply source (800) for supplying electric power to the steering system, is provided with: a limiting device for limiting electric current consumption of the steering torque assisting device if a consumption current value of the steering system is greater than a maximum allowable current value in a case where supply capacity of supplying an electric current in the power supply source is reduced with respect to a reference; and a controlling device for matching a neutral position of the steering wheel with a neutral position of the steered wheels in a situation in which the electric current consumption oType: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Yoshiaki Suzuki, Theerawat Limpibunterng, Toru Takashima, Takahiro Kojo, Taro Hirose, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Masahiro Miyata, Susumu Fujii
-
Publication number: 20120215406Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle provided with: a steering angle control device that alters the relationship between the amount of steering operation of a driver and the steering angle of steerable wheels; a trajectory control device that controls the travel trajectory of the vehicle by means of controlling the steering angle of the steerable wheels; and a turning condition control device that determines a target turning condition control level for causing the turning condition of the vehicle to be a target turning condition, and controls the turning condition of the vehicle on the basis of the target turning condition control level. A turning condition control device calculates the target turning condition control level on the basis of the amount of steering operation of the driver and the control level of the trajectory control device, and thereby reflects in the target turning condition control level changes to the steering angle resulting from the control of the traveling trajectory.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Mitsutaka Tanimoto, Theerawat Limpibunterng
-
Publication number: 20120203431Abstract: A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided at least with: a rudder angle varying device capable of changing a relation between a steering angle, which is a rotation angle of a steering input shaft, and a rudder angle, which is a rotation angle of steered wheels; and a trajectory controlling device for determining a control amount and controlling the rudder angle varying device such that a trajectory of a vehicle approaches a target driving route of the vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus is further provided with a correcting device for correcting (i) a rate of change in the rudder angle with respect to a steering amount of the steering input or (ii) the determined control amount, in accordance with whether or not a steering direction of the steering input inputted to the steering input shaft through a steering member by a driver of the vehicle is identical with a rudder angle control direction of the control amount determined by the trajectory controlling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiro Kojo, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya, Theerawat Limpibunterng