Patents by Inventor Yasumasa KAITANI

Yasumasa KAITANI 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: 20230280995
    Abstract: A method and system of over the air (OTA) reprogramming of a systems of a vehicle performed by an OTA reprogramming device are provided. For example, the method includes determining whether a vehicle ignition is on or off. When the vehicle ignition is on, the method includes sending a classic controller area network (CAN) message comprising information to operate a transmission control unit (TCU), and using the classic CAN message to operate the TCU. When the vehicle ignition is off, the method includes sending a CAN flexible-data (FD) message comprising information to reprogram the TCU, and using the CAN FD message to reprogram the TCU. The method waits until an ignition of the vehicle is off to reprogram the TCU to avoid incompatibilities with a CAN FD message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Shumpei HINO, Dylan M. KUNKEL, Yasumasa KAITANI, Blake J. DANSFIELD, Alexander P. BAKALAS, Sanath JAVAGAL
  • Patent number: 11345358
    Abstract: An engine electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle includes a non-volatile memory and a microcontroller. The non-volatile memory is configured to store an indicator of ignition status having an initial off-status. The microcontroller is coupled to the non-volatile memory and is configured to receive a SOC of a battery for the engine ECU. The microcontroller is further configured to determine the SOC is insufficient to power-up the engine ECU following a reset condition. The microcontroller is further configured to disable over-writing the indicator of ignition status in response to determining the SOC is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Blake James Dansfield, Yasumasa Kaitani, Hideaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11162444
    Abstract: Embodiments for crankshaft tooth sensing for a crank pulse wheel are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes identifying a first tooth characteristic of a tooth of a plurality of teeth on the crank pulse wheel. The first tooth characteristic is identified by a first sensor element. The method also includes identifying a second tooth characteristic of the tooth with a second sensor element. The method further includes identifying a tooth type for the tooth based on the first tooth characteristic and the second tooth characteristic. The method includes identifying a sliding buffer for a set of N teeth of the plurality of teeth on the crank pulse wheel. The method yet further includes calculating a buffer value for the sliding buffer corresponding to the N set of teeth represented in the sliding buffer. The angular position of the crank pulse wheel is determined based on the buffer value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Philip R. Weber, Yasumasa Kaitani
  • Publication number: 20210253115
    Abstract: An engine electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle includes a non-volatile memory and a microcontroller. The non-volatile memory is configured to store an indicator of ignition status having an initial off-status. The microcontroller is coupled to the non-volatile memory and is configured to receive a SOC of a battery for the engine ECU. The microcontroller is further configured to determine the SOC is insufficient to power-up the engine ECU following a reset condition. The microcontroller is further configured to disable over-writing the indicator of ignition status in response to determining the SOC is insufficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Blake James Dansfield, Yasumasa Kaitani, Hideaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20200362779
    Abstract: Embodiments for crankshaft tooth sensing for a crank pulse wheel are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes identifying a first tooth characteristic of a tooth of a plurality of teeth on the crank pulse wheel. The first tooth characteristic is identified by a first sensor element. The method also includes identifying a second tooth characteristic of the tooth with a second sensor element. The method further includes identifying a tooth type for the tooth based on the first tooth characteristic and the second tooth characteristic. The method includes identifying a sliding buffer for a set of N teeth of the plurality of teeth on the crank pulse wheel. The method yet further includes calculating a buffer value for the sliding buffer corresponding to the N set of teeth represented in the sliding buffer. The angular position of the crank pulse wheel is determined based on the buffer value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Philip R. Weber, Yasumasa Kaitani
  • Patent number: 10366816
    Abstract: A solenoid drive device includes a first solenoid drive circuit, a second solenoid drive circuit, a selection circuit, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the first switching element and the second switching element with a duty control in a control cycle according to acquired values of the first drive current and the second drive current so that a first on/off switching direction of the first switching element at a start timing of the control cycle is opposite to a second on/off switching direction of the second switching element at the start timing. The circuitry determines whether a failure in at least one of the selector, the first solenoid drive circuit, and the second solenoid drive circuit occurs based on a change in the selection detection signal in a period during which an on/off state of the first switching element is different form an on/off state of the second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamashita, Yasumasa Kaitani
  • Patent number: 10202922
    Abstract: A startup control device controls a starter motor. The startup control device includes lock determination circuitry and motor control circuitry. The lock determination circuitry estimates a current value supplied to the starter motor based on a temperature of a battery, a remaining electricity amount in the battery, and an output voltage of the battery when the battery supplies electricity to the starter motor, determines a threshold period of time according to the current value estimated, and determines that an internal combustion engine does not start if a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine does not exceed a referenced speed within the threshold period of time after starting supplying electricity to the starter motor. The motor control circuitry stops supplying electricity to the starter motor when the lock determination circuitry determines that the internal combustion engine does not start after starting supplying electricity to the starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamashita, Yasumasa Kaitani, Thomas Henry Crise
  • Publication number: 20180149104
    Abstract: A startup control device controls a starter motor. The startup control device includes lock determination circuitry and motor control circuitry. The lock determination circuitry estimates a current value supplied to the starter motor based on a temperature of a battery, a remaining electricity amount in the battery, and an output voltage of the battery when the battery supplies electricity to the starter motor, determines a threshold period of time according to the current value estimated, and determines that an internal combustion engine does not start if a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine does not exceed a referenced speed within the threshold period of time after starting supplying electricity to the starter motor. The motor control circuitry stops supplying electricity to the starter motor when the lock determination circuitry determines that the internal combustion engine does not start after starting supplying electricity to the starter motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki YAMASHITA, Yasumasa KAITANI, Thomas Henry CRISE
  • Publication number: 20170338019
    Abstract: A solenoid drive device includes a first solenoid drive circuit, a second solenoid drive circuit, a selection circuit, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the first switching element and the second switching element with a duty control in a control cycle according to acquired values of the first drive current and the second drive current so that a first on/off switching direction of the first switching element at a start timing of the control cycle is opposite to a second on/off switching direction of the second switching element at the start timing. The circuitry determines whether a failure in at least one of the selector, the first solenoid drive circuit, and the second solenoid drive circuit occurs based on a change in the selection detection signal in a period during which an on/off state of the first switching element is different form an on/off state of the second switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki YAMASHITA, Yasumasa KAITANI