Patents by Inventor Yasunari Kato

Yasunari Kato 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: 20050000269
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal is positioned at a kickdown position. Then, an output value of a measurement device of an accelerator pedal position sensor is measured. Thereafter, the measured output value of the measurement device is stored in a correction output value storage of the accelerator pedal position sensor along with a corresponding correction value, which is used to correct the measured output value of the measurement device. A couple of fully opened position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully opened position. Furthermore, a couple of fully closed position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Masahiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6802202
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal is positioned at a kickdown position. Then, an output value of a measurement device of an accelerator pedal position sensor is measured. Thereafter, the measured output value of the measurement device is stored in a correction output value storage of the accelerator pedal position sensor along with a corresponding correction value, which is used to correct the measured output value of the measurement device. A couple of fully opened position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully opened position. Furthermore, a couple of fully closed position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Masahiro Makino
  • Publication number: 20040041558
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector for improving the detection accuracy of a rotation angle has a movable shaft, a bearing portion for pivotably bearing against the movable shaft, a detection portion for detecting a rotation angle of the movable shaft, and a supporting portion for supporting the detection portion. The bearing portion and the supporting portion are integrally formed of the same material. As a result, since the bearing portion and the supporting portion are accurately aligned with each other, displacement of the movable shaft with respect to the detection portion can be prevented. Thus, the detection accuracy of the movable shaft rotation angle can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Hasegawa, Masahiro Makino, Yasunari Kato
  • Patent number: 6693424
    Abstract: A magnetic rotation angle sensor has a rotor and a stator. Magnets are disposed to supply a magnetic flux that is modulated in accordance with the rotation angle. Magnetic sensor elements detect the magnetic flux and output signals indicative of the rotation angle between the rotor and the stator. External magnetic guides are disposed on both axial sides of the cores. The external magnetic guides provide a magnetic path that runs axially to avoid the magnetic sensor elements. The external magnetic guides are distanced enough from the rotor and the stator to reduce leakage of the magnetic flux supplied by the magnets. The magnets have enough height in magnetized direction so as to reduce short-circuiting leakage of the magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Makino, Yasunari Kato
  • Publication number: 20030019278
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal is positioned at a kickdown position. Then, an output value of a measurement device of an accelerator pedal position sensor is measured. Thereafter, the measured output value of the measurement device is stored in a correction output value storage of the accelerator pedal position sensor along with a corresponding correction value, which is used to correct the measured output value of the measurement device. A couple of fully opened position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully opened position. Furthermore, a couple of fully closed position stop members is provided and is engaged with the accelerator pedal when the accelerator pedal is rotated to a fully closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Masahiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6505496
    Abstract: A support shaft is non-rotationally inserted into bearing plates of support member. Accelerator rotor is attached to support shaft and can rotate, and a driver rotates it by means of the actuation of the accelerator pedal. Sensor rotor of accelerator opening sensor is attached to support shaft and can rotate. Protruding portion of sensor rotor is engaged with recess portion formed in accelerator rotor. Because plate spring inserted into recess portion sandwiches protruding portion in a direction opposite of the direction of rotation, with respect to sensor rotor, shift or deviation in the direction of rotation of accelerator rotor is prevented. Further, with respect to sensor rotor, accelerator rotor can slide in contact with plate spring while sliding in the direction of support shaft and the radial direction of accelerator rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Takahiro Tamura, Katsumi Watanabe, Masahiro Makino
  • Publication number: 20020186009
    Abstract: A magnetic rotation angle sensor has a rotor and a stator. Magnets are disposed to supply a magnetic flux that is modulated in accordance with the rotation angle. Magnetic sensor elements detect the magnetic flux and output signals indicative of the rotation angle between the rotor and the stator. External magnetic guides are disposed on both axial sides of the cores. The external magnetic guides provide a magnetic path that runs axially to avoid the magnetic sensor elements. The external magnetic guides are distanced enough from the rotor and the stator to reduce leakage of the magnetic flux supplied by the magnets. The magnets have enough height in magnetized direction so as to reduce short-circuiting leakage of the magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Masahiro Makino, Yasunari Kato
  • Patent number: 6470768
    Abstract: In an accelerator, an acceleration rotor made of resin is rotatably supported in a support shaft, one end portion of a pedal arm is connected to an acceleration pedal, and the other end portion of the pedal arm is attached to attachment portions of the acceleration rotor. The attachment portions are provided in the acceleration rotor to be separated in a rotation direction of the acceleration rotor. For example, the attachment portions are a press-fitting portion, into which a top end part of the other end portion of the pedal arm is press-fitted, and an insertion portion, into which a bending part of the other end portion of the pedal arm is inserted. Thus, the pedal arm can be accurately readily attached to the resinous acceleration rotor to be only rotated around the support shaft of the acceleration rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Takahiro Tamura
  • Publication number: 20010007206
    Abstract: A support shaft is non-rotationally inserted into bearing plates of support member. Accelerator rotor is attached to support shaft and can rotate, and a driver rotates it by means of the actuation of the accelerator pedal. Sensor rotor of accelerator opening sensor is attached to support shaft and can rotate. Protruding portion of sensor rotor is engaged with recess portion formed in accelerator rotor. Because plate spring inserted into recess portion sandwiches protruding portion in a direction opposite of the direction of rotation, with respect to sensor rotor, shift or deviation in the direction of rotation of accelerator rotor is prevented. Further, with respect to sensor rotor, accelerator rotor can slide in contact with plate spring while sliding in the direction of support shaft and the radial direction of accelerator rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Takahiro Tamura, Katsumi Watanabe, Masahiro Makino
  • Publication number: 20010004853
    Abstract: In an accelerator, an acceleration rotor made of resin is rotatably supported in a support shaft, one end portion of a pedal arm is connected to an acceleration pedal, and the other end portion of the pedal arm is attached to attachment portions of the acceleration rotor. The attachment portions are provided in the acceleration rotor to be separated in a rotation direction of the acceleration rotor. For example, the attachment portions are a press-fitting portion, into which a top end part of the other end portion of the pedal arm is press-fitted, and an insertion portion, into which a bending part of the other end portion of the pedal arm is inserted. Thus, the pedal arm can be accurately readily attached to the resinous acceleration rotor to be only rotated around the support shaft of the acceleration rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Takahiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 5895840
    Abstract: In a vibration sensing device for sensing a knocking vibration of an engine, a piezoelectric element is connected to an output terminal through a resilient conductive member. The resilient conductive member has a fixed base part, a sliding part at a position opposite to the fixed base part, and an intermediate V-shaped part resiliently contacting the piezoelectric element. When the sliding part moves slidingly in response to vibration of the piezoelectric element, the sliding friction force which exerts on the sliding part increases the spring constant of the resilient conductive member to be larger than the stationary spring constant of the same by hysteresis characteristics, thereby reducing damage to the piezoelectric element and enhancing reliability of the electric connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Ohuchi, Yasunari Kato, Kuniaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 5544000
    Abstract: An electric control apparatus includes a magnetic flux generating device for generating a magnetic flux. A first magnetic-to-electric transducer element detects a magnitude of the magnetic flux which is responsive to a motion of a movable body. A second magnetic-to-electric transducer element detects the magnitude of the magnetic flux which is responsive to the motion of the movable body. A control signal outputting device compares a detection signal output from the first magnetic-to-electric transducer element and a detection signal output from the second magnetic-to-electric transducer element with each other. The control signal outputting device is operative to output a control signal based on a result of the comparison between the detection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Suzuki, Yasunari Kato, Kazuomi Ota, Hiroaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5529296
    Abstract: A pedal return device is provided for controlling operation of a pedal member. In particular, the pedal return device imparts a resistive force which resists movement of the pedal member. In the case of an automobile accelerator pedal, this feature allows the driver to more easily maintain a given level of pedal actuation. However, the resistive force is made dependent on whether the pedal member is actually being depressed. Accordingly, once a force applied to the pedal member is removed, the resistive force is correspondingly and assuredly eliminated to permit the pedal member to be reliably returned to an initial rest position by a restoration force generating device provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunari Kato, Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Kazuomi Ota