Patents by Inventor Yosuke Hirate

Yosuke Hirate 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: 20230264696
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a road surface condition includes the steps of obtaining detailed information on a road surface condition set for each inspection point based on a traveling record of a vehicle, and information on an own position of the vehicle, generating an inspection execution plan of the vehicle in the inspection point when the inspection point is included in a predetermined range in an advancing direction of the vehicle with the own position as a reference, performing evaluation of a road surface condition in the inspection point based on a traveling condition of the vehicle that is obtained during the inspection execution plan, and updating the detailed information on a road surface condition set for the inspection point based on latest information on the road surface condition the evaluation of which is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Kosuke FUTAGAMI, Yoshinori WATANABE, Atsushi SONE, Sho AMAGAI, Atsushi KODAMA, Yosuke HIRATE, Taichi KAWANAI, Nobuhide KAMATA
  • Publication number: 20230135494
    Abstract: Processing to set a control mode of driving control is performed. In this setting processing, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition in which a tracking performance of a vehicle state with respect to a target vehicle state decreases is satisfied. Then, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the control mode is switched from a normal mode to a temporary mode. In the temporary mode, generation of a driving plan is stopped. Alternatively, updating or referring to the driving plan generated while it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied is prohibited. Alternatively, an instruction value for control calculated using a target control value and a current vehicle state in the driving plan generated while it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied is modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Yoshinori WATANABE, Sho AMAGAI, Atsushi SONE, Atsushi KODAMA, Kosuke FUTAGAMI, Yosuke HIRATE
  • Patent number: 11299203
    Abstract: In a cruise assist system, a turning angle controller executes at least one of an automatic cruise control task that automatically controls a turning angle of the vehicle, and an assist control task that controls the turning angle of the vehicle in accordance with an occupant's operation of the steering wheel. A holding determiner includes an input detector detecting an occupant's physical input to a steering shaft via a steering wheel based on at least one of a first type physical quantity and second type physical quantities. Each of the first and second physical quantities depends on rotational movement of the steering shaft. The first type physical quantity contains the occupant's physical input, and a disturbance input, which is different therefrom, to the steering shaft. The second type physical quantities have a physical relationship therebetween, which is changed depending on the occupant's physical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun Shimizu, Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Toshiya Kabayama, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 10864939
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus on a vehicle is provided, including a steering drive unit that drives a steering apparatus; a steering control unit that executes an automatic steering mode in which the steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to accomplish the determined turning angle; and a transmission ratio determining unit that determines, based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or the road information, a first transmission ratio in the automatic steering mode to be a value different from a second transmission ratio in a manual steering mode in which the steering apparatus operates in accordance with the steering angle inputted via a steering input apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka, Toshiya Kabayama
  • Patent number: 10843726
    Abstract: In a vehicle, an amount of change of a turning angle of a turning mechanism to an amount of change of a steering angle of a steering input device is defined as a transfer ratio, the turning mechanism is rotationally driven by a turning drive unit, and a driver's body posture parameter is detected by a body posture parameter detector. An apparatus for steering the vehicle includes a controller that executes an automatic steering mode that determines a target value for the turning angle of the turning mechanism based on a travelling condition of the vehicle and/or information about a road on which the vehicle is travelling, and controls the turning mechanism to adjust the turning angle of the turning mechanism to the target value. A transfer ratio adjuster adjusts the transfer ratio in accordance with the body posture parameter during execution of the automatic steering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 10745046
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus is provided with a steering drive unit driving a steering apparatus, a steering control unit executing an automatic steering mode where a steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to produce the determined turning angle, and a target differential angle control unit determining a target differential angle. The target differential angle control unit determines the target differential angle to be close to an automatic steering target differential angle used for the automatic steering mode, when input variation through a steering input apparatus is not detected during a transition period from a manual steering mode where the steering apparatus operates in response to the steering angle inputted through the steering input apparatus to the automatic steering mode or during an elapsed period after completing the transition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka, Toshiya Kabayama
  • Patent number: 10654519
    Abstract: In a steering assistance apparatus mounted in a vehicle, a steering input device and a turning device differentiate at a transmission ratio that is a ratio of an amount of change in the turning angle to an amount of change in the steering angle. A turning device actuator actuates the turning device. A controller executes an automatic steering mode, in which the controller determines the turning angle based on at least one of a travel condition and travel path information of the vehicle and controls the turning device actuator so as to achieve the determined turning angle. If detecting an input variation from the steering input device during execution of the automatic steering mode, the controller changes the transmission ratio to a value less than the transmission ratio in the automatic steering mode and prioritizes a manual steering mode over the automatic steering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka, Toshiya Kabayama
  • Patent number: 10589777
    Abstract: A motor controller of a steering control apparatus is configured to drive, based on an assist command and a tracking command, a motor to thereby generate assist torque and automatic steering torque. A state determiner of the steering control apparatus is configured to determine at least whether a driver's steering state is a biased steering state or a return steering state in accordance with a first parameter associated with steering torque based on the driver's steering, and a second parameter associated with an angular velocity of the motor. A ratio changer of the steering control apparatus is configured to change a ratio of the assist torque to the automatic steering torque in accordance with a determination result of the state determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 10370029
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls an assistance torque outputted by a motor connected to a steering system mechanism that generates a steering torque. In the steering control apparatus, a load calculating unit estimates or detects a load acting on a steering shaft of the steering system mechanism. A target steering torque calculating unit calculates a target steering torque that is a target value of the steering torque, based on the estimated or detected load. A servo controller calculates a command value of the assistance torque such that a torque deviation that is a difference between the steering torque and the target steering torque is zero. A band correcting unit includes a band correction filter that extracts a component of a specific frequency band during a process of calculation from the load to the target steering torque, and corrects a gain of a predetermined transfer function at the extracted band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
  • Patent number: 10358161
    Abstract: A steering controller that controls a motor to output an assist torque to steer a steering member, including a steer property calculator calculating a steer state quantity that is an index of a steering state indicating one of (i) a steer-away state, (ii) a steer-back state, or (iii) a stay-still state, an adjusted torque calculator calculating an adjusted torque based on the steer state quantity, and an instruction value calculator calculating an assist torque instruction that is an instruction value regarding a drive of the motor by using the adjusted torque. In such manner, the steer state quantity, the steer-back operation, the stay-still operation of a steering wheel, and the adjusted torque are appropriately calculated, thereby enabling an appropriate adjustment of a steering feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
  • Patent number: 10259489
    Abstract: An electric steering control device controls a steering characteristic by outputting an assist torque using a motor, and the assist torque corresponds to a detection value of a steering torque which is applied to a steering shaft. The electric steering control device includes a steering target value generation unit generating a target value of the steering torque based on a state amount estimated from the target value of the steering torque and the assist torque, a command value generation unit generating a command value for controlling the motor to reduce a deviation between the target value of the steering torque and the detection value of the steering torque to a level lower than a predetermined threshold, and a motor drive unit driving the motor based on the command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuichi Minamiguchi, Motoaki Kataoka, Yosuke Hirate
  • Publication number: 20180362080
    Abstract: In a cruise assist system, a turning angle controller executes at least one of an automatic cruise control task that automatically controls a turning angle of the vehicle, and an assist control task that controls the turning angle of the vehicle in accordance with an occupant's operation of the steering wheel. A holding determiner includes an input detector detecting an occupant's physical input to a steering shaft via a steering wheel based on at least one of a first type physical quantity and second type physical quantities. Each of the first and second physical quantities depends on rotational movement of the steering shaft. The first type physical quantity contains the occupant's physical input, and a disturbance input, which is different therefrom, to the steering shaft. The second type physical quantities have a physical relationship therebetween, which is changed depending on the occupant's physical input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Shun SHIMIZU, Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Toshiya KABAYAMA, Hisaya AKATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20180362073
    Abstract: In a vehicle, an amount of change of a turning angle of a turning mechanism to an amount of change of a steering angle of a steering input device is defined as a transfer ratio, the turning mechanism is rotationally driven by a turning drive unit, and a driver's body posture parameter is detected by a body posture parameter detector. An apparatus for steering the vehicle includes a controller that executes an automatic steering mode that determines a target value for the turning angle of the turning mechanism based on a travelling condition of the vehicle and/or information about a road on which the vehicle is travelling, and controls the turning mechanism to adjust the turning angle of the turning mechanism to the target value. A transfer ratio adjuster adjusts the transfer ratio in accordance with the body posture parameter during execution of the automatic steering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Hisaya AKATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20180304920
    Abstract: In a steering assistance apparatus mounted in a vehicle, a steering input device and a turning device differentiate at a transmission ratio that is a ratio of an amount of change in the turning angle to an amount of change in the steering angle. A turning device actuator actuates the turning device. A controller executes an automatic steering mode, in which the controller determines the turning angle based on at least one of a travel condition and travel path information of the vehicle and controls the turning device actuator so as to achieve the determined turning angle. If detecting an input variation from the steering input device during execution of the automatic steering mode, the controller changes the transmission ratio to a value less than the transmission ratio in the automatic steering mode and prioritizes a manual steering mode over the automatic steering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Hisaya AKATSUKA, Toshiya KABAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180304921
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus on a vehicle is provided, including a steering drive unit that drives a steering apparatus; a steering control unit that executes an automatic steering mode in which the steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to accomplish the determined turning angle; and a transmission ratio determining unit that determines, based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or the road information, a first transmission ratio in the automatic steering mode to be a value different from a second transmission ratio in a manual steering mode in which the steering apparatus operates in accordance with the steering angle inputted via a steering input apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Hisaya AKATSUKA, Toshiya KABAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20180304922
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus is provided with a steering drive unit driving a steering apparatus, a steering control unit executing an automatic steering mode where a steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to produce the determined turning angle, and a target differential angle control unit determining a target differential angle. The target differential angle control unit determines the target differential angle to be close to an automatic steering target differential angle used for the automatic steering mode, when input variation through a steering input apparatus is not detected during a transition period from a manual steering mode where the steering apparatus operates in response to the steering angle inputted through the steering input apparatus to the automatic steering mode or during an elapsed period after completing the transition period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke HIRATE, Daiji WATANABE, Hisaya AKATSUKA, Toshiya KABAYAMA
  • Patent number: 9988074
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls steering characteristics by controlling a motor to output assist torque, which is generated corresponding to a steering torque applied to a steering shaft. The steering control apparatus includes a torque deviation generator generating a torque deviation between the steering torque applied to the steering shaft and a target steering torque and a command value generator generating an assist torque command value for controlling the motor based on a basic command value. The basic command value controls the torque deviation to become zero. The command value generator includes an integrator integrating and outputting the torque deviation and an output limiter setting an output limit to an immediately previous basic command value obtained immediately before the basic command value. The output limiter generates the assist torque command value using the immediately previous basic command value to which the output limit is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Motoaki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20180065657
    Abstract: A motor controller of a steering control apparatus is configured to drive, based on an assist command and a tracking command, a motor to thereby generate assist torque and automatic steering torque. A state determiner of the steering control apparatus is configured to determine at least whether a driver's steering state is a biased steering state or a return steering state in accordance with a first parameter associated with steering torque based on the driver's steering, and a second parameter associated with an angular velocity of the motor. A ratio changer of the steering control apparatus is configured to change a ratio of the assist torque to the automatic steering torque in accordance with a determination result of the state determiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Publication number: 20180022384
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls an assistance torque outputted by a motor connected to a steering system mechanism that generates a steering torque. In the steering control apparatus, a load calculating unit estimates or detects a load acting on a steering shaft of the steering system mechanism. A target steering torque calculating unit calculates a target steering torque that is a target value of the steering torque, based on the estimated or detected load. A servo controller calculates a command value of the assistance torque such that a torque deviation that is a difference between the steering torque and the target steering torque is zero. A band correcting unit includes a band correction filter that extracts a component of a specific frequency band during a process of calculation from the load to the target steering torque, and corrects a gain of a predetermined transfer function at the extracted band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Motoaki KATAOKA, Yosuke HIRATE
  • Patent number: 9855967
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls includes a steering quantity generation unit generating a steering quantity indicative of an operation performed on the steering member, an adjustment torque generation unit generating an adjustment torque and adjusting a mechanical impedance corresponding to the adjustment torque, and a command value generation unit generating a command value and controlling the motor according to the command value using the adjustment torque generated by the adjustment torque generation unit. The steering quantity is a physical quantity that has different values at least in a state of rotating the steering member, a state of returning the steering member, or a state of retaining the steering member, and the steering quantity indicates an operation amount of rotating the steering member or an operation amount of returning the steering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Motoaki Kataoka