Patents by Inventor Toshiya Inai

Toshiya Inai 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: 9079651
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes multiple propulsion devices, multiple operation levers, and multiple lever position sensors arranged to detect the positions of the multiple operation levers, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to control, based on detection results from the multiple lever position sensors, the shift states of the respective propulsion devices and to change the steering angle of at least one of the propulsion devices. The control unit may be arranged to change the steering angles of the propulsion devices to facilitate the behavior of the hull corresponding to the shift states of the respective propulsion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinori Nose, Toshiya Inai, Yoshiyuki Ichikawa, Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8521347
    Abstract: A marine vessel steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism arranged to be operable by an operator, a steering unit arranged to turn a pivoting unit mounted pivotally on a marine vessel, a detecting unit arranged to detect if an actual pivoting angle, the turning angle of the pivoting unit, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, a locking unit arranged to lock the turning of the steering mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting angle based on the turning state of the steering mechanism and to drive the steering unit to make the actual pivoting angle equal to the target pivoting angle. The control unit is also programmed, when the detecting unit detects that the actual pivoting angle becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined angle, to drive the locking unit to lock the turning of the steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Toshiya Inai, Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8428801
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinori Nose, Toshiya Inai, Yoshiyuki Ichikawa, Makoto Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20130096742
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers relative to each other and set a target travel speed according to amounts of displacement of the first and second operation levers with respect to neutral positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukinori NOSE, Toshiya INAI, Yoshiyuki ICHIKAWA, Makoto MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 8234024
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices arranged to be mounted on a hull, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the second propulsion device. A control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting speed according to the positions of the first and second operation levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinori Nose, Toshiya Inai, Yoshiyuki Ichikawa, Makoto Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20100250035
    Abstract: A marine vessel steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism arranged to be operable by an operator, a steering unit arranged to turn a pivoting unit mounted pivotally on a marine vessel, a detecting unit arranged to detect if an actual pivoting angle, the turning angle of the pivoting unit, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, a locking unit arranged to lock the turning of the steering mechanism, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to set a target pivoting angle based on the turning state of the steering mechanism and to drive the steering unit to make the actual pivoting angle equal to the target pivoting angle. The control unit is also programmed, when the detecting unit detects that the actual pivoting angle becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined angle, to drive the locking unit to lock the turning of the steering mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto ITO, Toshiya INAI, Makoto MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20100191396
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes multiple propulsion devices, multiple operation levers, and multiple lever position sensors arranged to detect the positions of the multiple operation levers, and a control unit. The control unit is programmed to control, based on detection results from the multiple lever position sensors, the shift states of the respective propulsion devices and to change the steering angle of at least one of the propulsion devices. The control unit may be arranged to change the steering angles of the propulsion devices to facilitate the behavior of the hull corresponding to the shift states of the respective propulsion devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinori NOSE, Toshiya INAI, Yoshiyuki ICHIKAWA, Makoto MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20100191397
    Abstract: A marine vessel propulsion system includes first and second propulsion devices arranged to be mounted on a hull so as to enable a steering angle to change, a first operation lever arranged to be operated by a marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the first propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the first propulsion device, a second operation lever arranged to be operated by the marine vessel maneuvering operator to control the second propulsion device to have a shift state selected from among a forward drive state, a neutral state, and a reverse drive state and to control a power output of the second propulsion device, a first lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the first operation lever, a second lever position sensor arranged to detect a position of the second operation lever, and a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukinori NOSE, Toshiya INAI, Yoshiyuki ICHIKAWA, Makoto MIZUTANI