Patents by Inventor Toshiro Maeda

Toshiro Maeda 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: 20140005897
    Abstract: An open/close actuating mechanism control device for a vehicle includes: an actuating mechanism (24, 30) that is exposed to outside air and that opens or closes on the basis of whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; an open/close failure determining unit (32) that determines whether an open/close failure of the actuating mechanism (24, 30), in which the actuating mechanism (24, 30) fails to open or close, has occurred; an outside air temperature detecting unit (36, 32) that detects an outside air temperature; and a determination timing changing unit (32) that changes timing, at which the open/close failure determining unit (32) determines that the open/close failure of the actuating mechanism (24, 30) has occurred, on the basis of the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting unit (36, 32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Hayakawa, Toshiro Maeda, Hitoshi Takayanagi, Yoshimasa Asano, Takashi Kawato, Morio Sakai
  • Publication number: 20130249266
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle seat is provided. This control device for the vehicle seat is provided with a control unit. In order to improve the performance of getting into and out of a vehicle, the control unit executes an away movement for moving the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle when a preset away condition is satisfied, and when a preset return condition is satisfied in this state, executes a return movement for moving the vehicle seat to the front of the vehicle. The return condition includes, as a first return condition, a vehicle door being closed with a portable key in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Fujii, Toshiro Maeda, Hiroki Kino, Soichiro Hozumi
  • Publication number: 20130253779
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a seating surface adjustment mechanism provided with an actuator and moving a seating surface of a vehicle seat in an up-down direction, a seat position adjustment mechanism for moving the vehicle seat in a vehicle front-rear direction, a seat position detection portion for detecting a front-rear direction position of the vehicle seat, a vehicle egress intention detection portion for detecting an intention of an occupant of the vehicle to get off the vehicle, and a drive control portion for performing a vehicle egress seating surface control in a case where the vehicle egress intention detection portion detects the intention of the occupant to get off the vehicle, the vehicle egress seating surface control controlling the seating surface adjustment mechanism so that the seating surface is positioned at a seating surface position set to correspond to the front-rear direction position of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki FUJII, Hiroki KINO, Toshiro MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8496219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Okada, Soichiro Hozumi, Koichi Hirota, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130154328
    Abstract: A vehicle seat device including a drive device, a control unit, and seating detection unit. The drive device is configured to move a seat cushion having a seat surface on which a vehicle occupant is seated in a vertical direction. The control unit controls the drive device. The seating detection unit detects a seating action of the vehicle occupant on the seat cushion. The control unit controls the drive device to move the seat cushion downward when the seating detection unit detects the seating action of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiro Maeda, Hiroki Kino
  • Publication number: 20120173089
    Abstract: A power seat device includes a motor, an adjustment operation member, a Hall sensor, an ECU, a memory, and a single request operation member. The adjustment operation member adjusts a seat position. The Hall sensor detects a seat position. The ECU drives and controls the motor in accordance with an operation of the adjustment operation member to adjust the seat position. The memory stores two seat positions adjusted by the adjustment operation member. The request operation member sequentially retrieves the two seat positions stored in the memory when pushed. The ECU drives and controls the motor to reinstate the seat position retrieved by the operation of the request operation member. The ECU automatically stores a seat position before the reinstatement of the retrieved seat position is started in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiro Maeda, Soichiro Hozumi
  • Publication number: 20120145868
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Okada, Soichiro Hozumi, Koichi Hirota, Toshiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8042868
    Abstract: A power seat system for a vehicle, includes an operational switch configured to be operated by an occupant for changing positions and attitudes of a vehicle seat whose positions and attitudes are electrically adjusted, a sensor portion positioned in the vicinity of the operational switch and detecting a hand of the occupant approaching the operational switch without contacting the hand of the occupant, and a control portion changing the positions and attitudes of the vehicle seat by actuating an actuator on the basis of an output from the operational switch, the control portion configured to display an operational display indicating adjusting portions and directions of the vehicle seat, which is adjustable by means of the operational switch on the basis of the output from the sensor portion, at an display device provided in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Masaki Mori, Toshiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 8036796
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a side support portion moved in first and second directions, a driving device moving the side support portion in the first direction and in the second direction, a vehicle location obtaining means for obtaining vehicle location information including a present location of the vehicle, a curve information preliminarily obtaining means for preliminarily obtaining curve information on a map data including a curve starting point located in an area existing a first predetermined distance ahead from the present location of the vehicle, a control starting point determining means for determining a point existing a second predetermined distance closer to the vehicle than the curve starting point as a control starting point, a control starting point memorizing means for memorizing the control starting point, and a drive control means for starting control on the driving device when the vehicle reaches the control starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Aoki, Koji Hattori, Fumiharu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8032284
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for controlling a side support portion on the basis of a road shape includes a control program cooperating with a car navigation system, a self-directed control program, a sensor error detecting program, and a map matching error detecting program, wherein, during the side support portion is executed by the control program cooperating with the car navigation system, when the error is detected, the control program cooperating with the car navigation system is changed to the self-directed control program, and during the side support portion is controlled by the self-directed control program, when the error is not detected, the self-directed control program is changed the control program cooperating with the car navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Hattori
  • Patent number: 7997655
    Abstract: A seat driving apparatus includes: a gear transmission mechanism, preventing a backlash by means of the wedge member applied with a biasing force of a biasing member and transmitting a torque; an actuator, operating a seatback of a seat; and a control unit, controlling driving of the actuator. The control unit includes a seat operation mode in which the actuator is driven to operate the seatback at a predetermined speed and a creep mode in which the actuator is driven at a slower speed than a speed in the seat operation mode. The actuator is driven in the creep mode until a load for releasing the holding of the gear transmission mechanism is applied to the wedge member and subsequently the actuator is driven in the seat operation mode when the seatback is operated in an opposite direction from the previous operational direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Toshiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7918302
    Abstract: A seat apparatus includes a seat adapted to be arranged on a floor of a vehicle, a motor driving the seat to move, and a control unit supplying electric power to the motor by controlling a duty ratio with duty cycle control. The control unit determines an initial start-up time in which the duty ratio is defined as a first duty ratio over a period between the time the motor is started up after being powered by the control unit and the time before the seat driven by the motor starts moving. The control unit reduces the duty ratio when the initial start-up time elapses and sets the duty ratio to a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the seat starts moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Toshiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7917264
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle having a side support portion that is controlled depending on a road condition, includes a distance calculating means for calculating a distance of a straight portion between a first curve, on which a vehicle is supposed to be driven, and a second curve, on which the vehicle is supposed to be driven after the first curve, based on an electronic map data, a first controlling level calculating means for calculating a first controlling level at which the side support portion is controlled when the vehicle is driven on the first curve, a second controlling level calculating means for calculating a second controlling level at which the side support portion is controlled when the vehicle is driven on the straight portion, and a driving means for operating the side support portion based on the first controlling level and the second controlling level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Aoki, Koji Hattori
  • Patent number: 7856300
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle including a motor for operating a side support portion, includes, a sensor for detecting that the vehicle is driven on a curve, a distance between curves calculating program for calculating a distance between curves, and a control state determining program for determining a control state of the vehicle, the control state being set to one of an unexecuted state, an executed state and a standby state, wherein the motor operates the side support portion so as to be retained to a supporting position when the control state of the vehicle is set to the executed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Yuki Fujii, Koji Hattori, Tomonori Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100066137
    Abstract: A power seat system for a vehicle, includes an operational switch configured to be operated by an occupant for changing positions and attitudes of a vehicle seat whose positions and attitudes are electrically adjusted, a sensor portion positioned in the vicinity of the operational switch and detecting a hand of the occupant approaching the operational switch without contacting the hand of the occupant, and a control portion changing the positions and attitudes of the vehicle seat by actuating an actuator on the basis of an output from the operational switch, the control portion configured to display an operational display indicating adjusting portions and directions of the vehicle seat, which is adjustable by means of the operational switch on the basis of the output from the sensor portion, at an display device provided in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Masaki Mori, Toshiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7656279
    Abstract: A glass breakage detecting sensor includes a strain detecting portion by which breakage of a window glass, which is provided at a door of a vehicle, is detected based on changes of an amount of strain, and an attaching portion attached to at least one of an opening and closing mechanism, which freely movably supports the window glass, and an inner panel to which the opening and closing mechanism is arranged within the door, the opening and closing mechanism and the inner panel functioning as an attached portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Okada, Katsuyoshi Shirai, Koji Aoki, Hironori Ochiai, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090284062
    Abstract: A seat driving apparatus includes: a gear transmission mechanism, preventing a backlash by means of the wedge member applied with a biasing force of a biasing member and transmitting a torque; an actuator, operating a seatback of a seat; and a control unit, controlling driving of the actuator. The control unit includes a seat operation mode in which the actuator is driven to operate the seatback at a predetermined speed and a creep mode in which the actuator is driven at a slower speed than a speed in the seat operation mode. The actuator is driven in the creep mode until a load for releasing the holding of the gear transmission mechanism is applied to the wedge member and subsequently the actuator is driven in the seat operation mode when the seatback is operated in an opposite direction from the previous operational direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morio SAKAI, Toshiro MAEDA
  • Publication number: 20090243353
    Abstract: A seat apparatus includes a seat adapted to be arranged on a floor of a vehicle, a motor driving the seat to move, and a control unit supplying electric power to the motor by controlling a duty ratio with duty cycle control. The control unit determines an initial start-up time in which the duty ratio is defined as a first duty ratio over a period between the time the motor is started up after being powered by the control unit and the time before the seat driven by the motor starts moving. The control unit reduces the duty ratio when the initial start-up time elapses and sets the duty ratio to a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio when the seat starts moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morio Sakai, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20080177448
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a vehicle information acquisition portion for acquiring information on a lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle and a steering angular velocity, a calculation portion for calculating a lateral acceleration for control used to calculate a control quantity for operating a side supporting portion by multiplying the lateral acceleration by a weighting coefficient when the steering angular velocity is equal to or greater than a threshold value, an output portion for outputting the lateral acceleration for control, and a control portion for calculating the control quantity for operating the side supporting portion and actuating the side supporting portion to be movable between a closed position and an open position in response to a support request based on the control quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro HOZUMI, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Hattori
  • Publication number: 20080133092
    Abstract: A seat apparatus for a vehicle includes a side support portion moved in first and second directions, a driving device moving the side support portion in the first direction and in the second direction, a vehicle location obtaining means for obtaining vehicle location information including a present location of the vehicle, a curve information preliminarily obtaining means for preliminarily obtaining curve information on a map data including a curve starting point located in an area existing a first predetermined distance ahead from the present location of the vehicle, a control starting point determining means for determining a point existing a second predetermined distance closer to the vehicle than the curve starting point as a control starting point, a control starting point memorizing means for memorizing the control starting point, and a drive control means for starting control on the driving device when the vehicle reaches the control starting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Toshiro Maeda, Koji Aoki, Koji Hattori, Fumiharu Ogawa