Patents by Inventor Toshihisa Nihei
Toshihisa Nihei 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).
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Patent number: 9128816Abstract: A control state of the vehicle is switched upon operation of a control switch. Besides, a mode of travel for a travel of a vehicle is selected by operation of a travel mode selection portion. Then, it is determined whether the recommended control state recommended for the selected mode of travel and the actual control state are the same. If it is determined that they are not the same, that is, that there is a deviation between the recommended control state and the actual control state, an operation method for a control switch for realizing the control state recommended for the selected mode of travel is presented to a driver.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Yasushi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8751130Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus executes turning facilitation control that controls wheel longitudinal force such that the longitudinal force of a turning path inner side wheel becomes smaller than the longitudinal force of a turning path outer side wheel, and vehicle dynamics control that controls wheel longitudinal force so as to stabilize the turning motion of the vehicle. The vehicle speed range in which to permit the turning facilitation control is lower than the vehicle speed range in which to permit the vehicle dynamics control.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Takashi Nonaka
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Publication number: 20130179004Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus executes turning facilitation control that controls wheel longitudinal force such that the longitudinal force of a turning path inner side wheel becomes smaller than the longitudinal force of a turning path outer side wheel, and vehicle dynamics control that controls wheel longitudinal force so as to stabilize the turning motion of the vehicle. The vehicle speed range in which to permit the turning facilitation control is lower than the vehicle speed range in which to permit the vehicle dynamics control.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicants: ADVICS CO., Ltd, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Takashi Nonaka
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Patent number: 8447460Abstract: A control state of the vehicle is switched upon operation of a control switch. Besides, a mode of travel for a travel of a vehicle is selected by operation of a travel mode selection portion. Then, it is determined whether the recommended control state recommended for the selected mode of travel and the actual control state are the same. If it is determined that they are not the same, that is, that there is a deviation between the recommended control state and the actual control state, an operation method for a control switch for realizing the control state recommended for the selected mode of travel is presented to a driver.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Yasushi Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20120083981Abstract: A vehicle running control apparatus for executing a turn assist control which controls longitudinal forces of wheels so that longitudinal force of a turning inner wheel is lower than longitudinal force of a turning outer wheel by lowering the longitudinal force of the turning inner wheel. The lowering of the longitudinal force of the turning inner wheel is made more difficult to be started and a lowering amount of the longitudinal force of the turning inner wheel is set smaller when difficulty in driving vehicle by wheel drive forces is high as compared with the case where the difficulty in driving vehicle is low. The difficulty in driving vehicle includes at least one of resistance against vehicle movement by wheel drive forces and difficulty in transmitting driving forces from wheels to road surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihisa NIHEI
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Patent number: 7979189Abstract: A vehicle behavior control system includes: a first drive power control unit that executes a turning control over right and left drive wheels of a vehicle to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle based on a drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels; a second drive power control unit that executes a traction control when any drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels exists, in order to reduce the existing drive power difference; and a traction control restriction unit that restricts the traction control from being executed when the turning control over the right and left drive wheels is executed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshihisa Nihei
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Publication number: 20100250049Abstract: A control state of the vehicle is switched upon operation of a control switch. Besides, a mode of travel for a travel of a vehicle is selected by operation of a travel mode selection portion. Then, it is determined whether the recommended control state recommended for the selected mode of travel and the actual control state are the same. If it is determined that they are not the same, that is, that there is a deviation between the recommended control state and the actual control state, an operation method for a control switch for realizing the control state recommended for the selected mode of travel is presented to a driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Yasushi Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20080120003Abstract: A vehicle behavior control system includes: a first drive power control unit that executes a turning control over right and left drive wheels of a vehicle to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle based on a drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels; a second drive power control unit that executes a traction control when any drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels exists, in order to reduce the existing drive power difference; and a traction control restriction unit that restricts the traction control from being executed when the turning control over the right and left drive wheels is executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshihisa NIHEI
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Patent number: 7168769Abstract: The brake system of the invention, during the ABS control mode, corrects the target slip rate in accordance with the turning of the vehicle, and determines whether the vehicle is running on a poor surface road. If the vehicle is running on a poor surface road, the system sets a target slip rate that provides a greater longitudinal force than the aforementioned target slip rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Masahiro Hara, Masahiro Matsuura, Akifumi Doura
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Patent number: 7119532Abstract: A magnetic rotation detector includes a magnetic rotor having magnetic bodies, a detecting body that detects a change in magnetic flux that is caused by the magnetic bodies as the magnetic rotor rotates; and an abnormality determination portion that monitors an apparent fluctuation in rotational speed of the magnetic rotor based on a result detected by the detecting body and that determines that the magnetic rotor is in an abnormal state if the fluctuation occurs at a specific position of the magnetic rotor. The abnormality determination portion detects the occurrence of the fluctuation at the specific position of the magnetic rotor by making a determination on a distance between apparent positions of the magnetic bodies which correspond to the apparent fluctuation in rotational speed and calculates the distance on the basis of a product of an interval of generation of noise in an output signal detected by the detecting body and a rotational speed of the magnetic rotor at the time of generation of noise.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Toyoharu Katsukura, Junji Mizutani
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Patent number: 6976741Abstract: In a brake control system for a vehicle, a target wheel cylinder pressure of each wheel is calculated in accordance with a braking force applied by the driver, a brake control mode is determined to be one of an increase pressure mode, a decrease pressure mode, or a maintain pressure mode, and a target increase/decrease force slope is calculated in accordance with a slip amount of the wheel. In particular, the target wheel cylinder pressure is calculated based on actual wheel cylinder pressure and the target increase/decrease pressure slope, set on the target increase/decrease force slope when starting anti-skid control, the target wheel cylinder pressure is calculated after starting the anti-skid control based on the most recent target wheel cylinder pressure and the target increase/decrease pressure slope, and the wheel cylinder pressure Pi is controlled so as to become equal to the target wheel cylinder pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura
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Patent number: 6957874Abstract: Each of target braking forces for front and rear wheels of a vehicle is calculated based on an amount of braking performed by a driver and a predetermined braking force distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels. Each of the target regenerative braking forces for the front and rear wheels, respectively, is calculated based on a corresponding one of the target braking forces such that a maximum regeneration efficiency is obtained. If the driver has performed an abrupt braking operation, if the driver has performed a braking operation when the vehicle runs at a high deceleration, or if the vehicle runs at a high lateral speed, it is quite likely that anti-skid control will be started afterwards. Therefore, the target regenerative braking forces are gradually reduced, and target frictional braking forces are gradually increased. If anti-skid control is started, the target regenerative braking forces are set as 0.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura
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Patent number: 6928355Abstract: If a condition for starting a yaw control during an antiskid control is met while the antiskid control is being executed on one of right and left front wheels during braking on a uneven friction-coeffient road surface, the reference value for making the determination to start the antiskid control on the other one of the front wheels is reduced, and therefore the antiskid control is started at an earlier timing. If the antiskid control is executed on the wheel, the brake pressure of the wheel is controlled in a pre-set specific pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Satoshi Udaka, Yoshinori Suzuki, Akifumi Doura, Yasuhisa Kuwahata
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Patent number: 6880900Abstract: A target wheel cylinder pressure for each wheel is calculated according to an amount of braking operation performed by a vehicle operator. When anti-skid control is required, the wheel cylinder pressure is controlled to be equal to the target wheel cylinder pressure for reducing the brake slip of the wheel. When one of the rear-left and the rear-right wheels is anti-skid controlled, the target wheel cylinder pressure for the other wheel for which the anti-skid control is not performed is set to the same value as the target wheel cylinder pressure for the wheel for which the anti-skid control is performed. Linear valves are controlled based on the target wheel cylinder pressure, controlling the wheel cylinder pressures for the rear-left and the rear-right wheels to have substantially the same value.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura
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Publication number: 20040263160Abstract: As a magnetic rotor rotates, magnets disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic rotor move, whereby a change in magnetic flux around a pick-up is caused. The pick-up then outputs a signal. If the signal output from the pick-up fluctuates due to a certain one of the magnets which is located at a specific position on the magnetic rotor, it is determined that the magnetic rotor is in an abnormal state such as adhesion of iron fragments to the magnets or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Toyoharu Katsukura, Junji Mizutani
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Publication number: 20040124701Abstract: The brake system of the invention, during the ABS control mode, corrects the target slip rate in accordance with the turning of the vehicle, and determines whether the vehicle is running on a poor surface road. If the vehicle is running on a poor surface road, the system sets a target slip rate that provides a greater longitudinal force than the aforementioned target slip rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Masahiro Hara, Masahiro Matsuura, Akifumi Doura
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Publication number: 20040128052Abstract: If a condition for starting a yaw control during an antiskid control is met while the antiskid control is being executed on one of right and left front wheels during braking on a uneven friction-coeffient road surface, the reference value for making the determination to start the antiskid control on the other one of the front wheels is reduced, and therefore the antiskid control is started at an earlier timing. If the antiskid control is executed on the wheel, the brake pressure of the wheel is controlled in a pre-set specific pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihisa Nihei, Satoshi Udaka, Yoshinori Suzuki, Akifumi Doura, Yasuhisa Kuwahata
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Patent number: 6595600Abstract: The present invention is directed to a front-rear braking force distribution control system for a vehicle. The system includes a wheel brake cylinders operatively associated with front and rear wheels of the vehicle, a pressure generator for pressurizing brake fluid in response to operation of a brake pedal to generate a hydraulic braking pressure and supply it to each of the wheel brake cylinders, and a pressure control device disposed between the pressure generator and the wheel brake cylinders for controlling the braking pressure in each of the wheel brake cylinders. A pressure sensor is provided for detecting the braking pressure generated by the pressure generator, and the detected braking pressure is compared with a predetermined threshold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Banno, Shigeru Mashimo, Toshihisa Nihei
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Publication number: 20020180262Abstract: In a brake control system for a vehicle, a target wheel cylinder pressure of each wheel is calculated in accordance with a braking force applied by the driver, a brake control mode is determined to be one of an increase pressure mode, a decrease pressure mode, or a maintain pressure mode, and a target increase/decrease force slope is calculated in accordance with a slip amount of the wheel. In particular, the target wheel cylinder pressure is calculated based on actual wheel cylinder pressure and the target increase/decrease pressure slope when starting anti-skid control, the target wheel cylinder pressure is calculated after starting the anti-skid control based on the most recent target wheel cylinder pressure and the target increase/decrease pressure slope, and the wheel cylinder pressure Pi is controlled so as to become equal to the target wheel cylinder pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura
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Publication number: 20020180266Abstract: Each of target braking forces for front and rear wheels of a vehicle is calculated based on an amount of braking performed by a driver and a predetermined braking force distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels. Each of the target regenerative braking forces for the front and rear wheels, respectively, is calculated based on a corresponding one of the target braking forces such that a maximum regeneration efficiency is obtained. If the driver has performed an abrupt braking operation, if the driver has performed a braking operation when the vehicle runs at a high deceleration, or if the vehicle runs at a high lateral speed, it is quite likely that anti-skid control will be started afterwards. Therefore, the target regenerative braking forces are gradually reduced, and target frictional braking forces are gradually increased. If anti-skid control is started, the target regenerative braking forces are set as 0.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura