Patents by Inventor Yasuhito Nakakuki

Yasuhito Nakakuki 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: 20240367712
    Abstract: A steering reaction force control device, a steering reaction force control method, and a steering reaction force control system according to the present invention determine an amount of torque of a steering reaction force imparted by the reaction force actuator and a direction of torque for returning the steering operation input member to a neutral position from a physical quantity related to a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a physical quantity related to the operation information of the steering operation input member, and output a control signal based on the amount of torque and the direction of torque to the reaction force actuator. As a result, it is possible to prevent the hunting of the operating position of the steering operation input member when the steering operation input member is retained in a given steering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi HIRATA, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Publication number: 20240308579
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire control device according to the present invention includes a control device that controls a first motor that operates a steering wheel of a vehicle and a second motor that controls steering operation of a wheel. Before making a transition to an automatic driving mode of the vehicle, the control device applies input torque to the steering wheel by the first motor in a forward rotation direction and a backward rotation direction of rotation directions of the first motor, acquires behavior information of the steering wheel obtained by application of the input torque, and determines whether or not to estimate a control parameter of the steering wheel based on the behavior information. The behavior information includes at least one of a value of a rotation angle of a steering wheel and a value obtained by time-differentiating a rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke ARITOMI, Tadaharu YOKOTA, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Atsushi HIRATA, Takahiro ITO, Kenta MAEDA
  • Patent number: 12091101
    Abstract: A steering input device for steer-by-wire, according to the present invention, includes a steering shaft that is mechanically separated from a steered wheel, a reaction force motor that applies a steering load to the steering shaft, a lock mechanism that regulates rotation of the steering shaft, a steering amount sensor that detects an operation amount of the steering shaft and outputs an operation amount signal, and a controller. The controller increases the reaction torque generated by the reaction force motor after the starting switch of the vehicle is switched to an OFF state, and after the reaction torque is increased, switches the lock mechanism to a locked state. Thereby, it is possible to suppress an uncomfortable sensation of the driver in steering, while suppressing occurrence of a phase shift between the steering wheel and the steered wheel when the starting switch of the vehicle is switched to the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Nakakuki, Makoto Kimura, Huajun Liu, Atsushi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20240278824
    Abstract: In one mode of a steer-by-wire system, a steer-by-wire control apparatus, and a steer-by-wire control method according to the present invention, when a vehicle is undergoing skid, a reaction force generation apparatus decreases or increases reaction force torque from basic reaction force torque calculated from a steering angle of a steering wheel, based on the steering angle, a vehicle speed of the vehicle, and motor torque of a turning motor, and outputs the calculated reaction force torque as skid reaction force torque. In this way, the driver can be appropriately notified of a vehicle skid state via the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Huajun LIU, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Publication number: 20240262417
    Abstract: A control device method for steer by wire, the control device including a first motor controlling steering via an FBA and a second motor controlling a steering angle of a wheel via an RWA and being capable of bidirectionally controlling the first motor and the second motor includes a base SAT that obtains a reference torque based on an angle of the first motor and a vehicle speed, and a rack force estimation portion that estimates rack force as a reaction force based on a steering angle of a wheel and an RWA. A first control mode controls a reference torque of the first motor and a second control mode controls the first motor based on a reaction force estimation by the rack force estimation portion, the first and second control modes are switched based on output of the base SAT and output of the rack force estimation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Kim TANG, Kenta MAEDA, Huajun LIU, Atsushi HIRATA, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Publication number: 20240025475
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering apparatus according to the present invention includes: a reaction force actuator control section that controls an output amount of a reaction force actuator; a steering actuator control section that controls a steering actuator in response to a manipulation of a steering operation input member, the steering actuator steering steered wheels via a steering unit; a deviation recognition section that recognizes a deviation between a manipulation amount of the steering operation input member and a steering amount of the steering unit; and a reaction force actuator output boost section that, when the deviation increases, increases the output amount of the reaction force actuator. Thus, the steering reaction force can be appropriately controlled in correspondence with a response delay in the steering amount of the steering unit with respect to the manipulation amount of the steering operation input member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi HIRATA, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Tsukasa MIYAJIMA, Huajun LIU
  • Patent number: 11845499
    Abstract: A control device for a power steering device includes a low-pass filter unit including a cutoff frequency adjustment unit configured to adjust a cutoff frequency for partially attenuating a component of an input signal, set the cutoff frequency to a first cutoff frequency when a steering torque signal is lower than a first predetermined torque value, and to set the cutoff frequency to a second cutoff frequency lower than the first cutoff frequency when the steering torque signal is equal to or higher than the first predetermined torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Nakakuki, Kazuya Yamano, Atsushi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11685437
    Abstract: The steering control device includes an automatic steering controller that generates an automatic steering control amount and a manual steering controller that generates a manual steering control amount, and selects either one of an automatic steering mode and a manual steering mode to control an electric motor. When steering torque exceeds a predetermined value during the control in the automatic steering mode, the manual steering controller generates a manual steering control amount change based on the change in the manual operation amount with reference to the time of exceeding, generates the manual steering control amount based on the steering torque, controls the electric motor based on a control amount obtained by adding the manual steering control amount change to the automatic steering control amount at the time of exceeding, and then controls the electric motor in the manual steering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Itou, Kazuya Yamano, Yasuhito Nakakuki
  • Publication number: 20230059965
    Abstract: A steering input device for steer-by-wire, according to the present invention, includes a steering shaft that is mechanically separated from a steered wheel, a reaction force motor that applies a steering load to the steering shaft, a lock mechanism that regulates rotation of the steering shaft, a steering amount sensor that detects an operation amount of the steering shaft and outputs an operation amount signal, and a controller. The controller increases the reaction torque generated by the reaction force motor after the starting switch of the vehicle is switched to an OFF state, and after the reaction torque is increased, switches the lock mechanism to a locked state. Thereby, it is possible to suppress an uncomfortable sensation of the driver in steering, while suppressing occurrence of a phase shift between the steering wheel and the steered wheel when the starting switch of the vehicle is switched to the OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Makoto KIMURA, Huajun LIU, Atsushi HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20220001916
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a first CAN communication line provided between a steering input mechanism and a steering mechanism controller and configured to output a first steering operation amount signal output from a first steering operation amount signal output portion to the steering mechanism controller, and a communication line provided between the steering input mechanism and the steering mechanism controller and configured to output a second steering operation amount signal to the steering mechanism controller without intervention of a first microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto KIMURA, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Kohtaro SHIINO
  • Publication number: 20210206424
    Abstract: A control device for a power steering device includes a low-pass filter unit including a cutoff frequency adjustment unit configured to adjust a cutoff frequency for partially attenuating a component of an input signal, set the cutoff frequency to a first cutoff frequency when a steering torque signal is lower than a first predetermined torque value, and to set the cutoff frequency to a second cutoff frequency lower than the first cutoff frequency when the steering torque signal is equal to or higher than the first predetermined torque value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Kazuya YAMANO, Atsushi ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10899381
    Abstract: A steering device is provided to perform a safe transition from an automatic driving mode to a manual driving mode when necessary. When it is determined necessary to transition from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode during the automatic driving mode, a transition period before an end time point of the automatic driving mode is set, a driving operation reliability indicative of whether or not it is possible to perform the transition is determined, and the transition when it is determined that it is possible to perform the transition to the manual driving mode during the automatic driving mode. Consequently, the transition can be controlled so that transition is not performed instantly, such as, for example, in a case where a driver is not driving during the automatic driving mode and is not accustomed to manual driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Itou, Kazuya Yamano, Yasuhito Nakakuki
  • Patent number: 10589787
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a power steering apparatus control device in which it is possible to suppress generation of the canceling of the automatic steering unintended by the driver. The present invention provides a control device controlling the operation of a power steering apparatus in which there is selected either an assist control (28) in which a steering force is assisted based on a steering torque input through the operation of a steering wheel or an automatic steering control (29) in which a steering angle of a turning wheel is controlled based on a steering angle command value. When, in the state in which the automatic steering control (29) is selected, the steering torque exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the automatic steering control (29) is canceled and the assist control (28) is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Itou, Kenta Maeda, Kazuya Yamano, Yasuhito Nakakuki
  • Publication number: 20190276077
    Abstract: The steering control device includes an automatic steering controller that generates an automatic steering control amount and a manual steering controller that generates a manual steering control amount, and selects either one of an automatic steering mode and a manual steering mode to control an electric motor. When steering torque exceeds a predetermined value during the control in the automatic steering mode, the manual steering controller generates a manual steering control amount change based on the change in the manual operation amount with reference to the time of exceeding, generates the manual steering control amount based on the steering torque, controls the electric motor based on a control amount obtained by adding the manual steering control amount change to the automatic steering control amount at the time of exceeding, and then controls the electric motor in the manual steering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro ITOU, Kazuya YAMANO, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Publication number: 20190270482
    Abstract: There is provided a control device for a power steering device that provides stable steering feeling in the vicinity of a stroke end. The control device for the power steering device is configured to calculate a stopper torque that is a steering force in a direction opposite to a direction causing a turning angle to approach a stopper angle, based on a steering torque signal, when the turning angle approaches the stopper angle accompanied with a steering operation of a steering wheel, and configured to calculate a motor command signal that is used to drive a power-driven motor, based on a driving condition of a vehicle and the stopper torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Kazuya YAMANO, Masaki KODATO
  • Publication number: 20190202494
    Abstract: There is provided a novel steering device capable of perform safe transition from an automatic driving mode to a manual driving mode in a case where it is necessary to perform transition from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode. In a case where it is determined that it is necessary to perform transition from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode (S8) during the automatic driving mode (S1), a transition period Lth before an end time point of the automatic driving mode (S1) is set, the driving operation reliability (S5) as to whether or not it is possible to perform the transition to the manual driving mode during the transition period is determined, and the transition from the automatic driving mode (S1) to the manual driving mode (S8) is performed in a case where it is determined that it is possible to perform the transition to the manual driving mode (S8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro ITOU, Kazuya YAMANO, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Publication number: 20180186406
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a power steering apparatus control device in which it is possible to suppress generation of the canceling of the automatic steering unintended by the driver. The present invention provides a control device controlling the operation of a power steering apparatus in which there is selected either an assist control (28) in which a steering force is assisted based on a steering torque input through the operation of a steering wheel or an automatic steering control (29) in which a steering angle of a turning wheel is controlled based on a steering angle command value. When, in the state in which the automatic steering control (29) is selected, the steering torque exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the automatic steering control (29) is canceled and the assist control (28) is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro ITOU, Kenta MAEDA, Kazuya YAMANO, Yasuhito NAKAKUKI
  • Patent number: 9862408
    Abstract: A transverse gradient current Ic which is larger than a basic assist current Ib is outputted, as a current command value, to motor driving section when direction correspondence judgment section 11 judges that rotation directions of first and second rotation angle signals ?1 and ?2 correspond with each other, when an advancing phase judgment section 12 judges that a phase of the second rotation angle signal is advanced, and when a phase variation judgment section 14 judges that a phase advance state of the second rotation angle signal ?2 continues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Nakakuki, Masaki Kodato, Kazuya Yamano, Yoshitaka Sugiyama, Tsukasa Miyajima, Masahiko Ushimura
  • Patent number: 9796414
    Abstract: In order to suppress an electric power steering device from generating a contact noise due to operation of a mechanical stopper and a rack stopper, there is provided a control unit in which a command signal Io applied to an electric motor used for assisting the steering power is calculated taking into consideration both a rack stopper side damping correction represented by a rack side damping correction signal Dr calculated in a rack side damping correction amount calculation part 21 and a mechanical stopper side damping correction represented by a mechanical side damping correction signal Dm calculated in a mechanical side damping correction amount calculation part 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Nakakuki, Kazuya Yamano
  • Publication number: 20160368531
    Abstract: A transverse gradient current Ic which is larger than a basic assist current Ib is outputted, as a current command value, to motor driving section when direction correspondence judgment section 11 judges that rotation directions of first and second rotation angle signals ?1 and ?2 correspond with each other, when an advancing phase judgment section 12 judges that a phase of the second rotation angle signal is advanced, and when a phase variation judgment section 14 judges that a phase advance state of the second rotation angle signal ?2 continues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhito NAKAKUKI, Masaki KODATO, Kazuya YAMANO, Yoshitaka SUGIYAMA, Tsukasa MIYAJIMA, Masahiko USHIMURA