Patents by Inventor Hidefumi Ishimoto

Hidefumi Ishimoto 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: 20150175071
    Abstract: A plurality of images captured by a plurality of cameras respectively to create a plurality of upper viewpoint images. Display images are extracted from the upper viewpoint images, and the extracted display images are synthesized to create an overhead image or bird's eye view image of surroundings, which has an image corresponding to an operating machine at a center of the bird's eye view image. When extracting each of the display images, a region of the display image extracted from the upper viewpoint image is expanded beyond the size of a standard extraction region on the basis of the set height of a mating face. Each of the extracted display images is adjusted to the size of the standard extraction region, and synthesized. Thus, any three-dimensional object (obstacle) present near the boundary between display images constituting the bird's eye view image is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Yoichi Kowatari, Yoshihiro Inanobe
  • Publication number: 20150138356
    Abstract: A bird's eye view image is displayed to be recognized by an operator intuitively and precisely, irrespective of the displayed direction of the bird's eye view image. The display device has a plurality of cameras having optical axis directed obliquely downward to take images around a self-propelled industrial machine. A view point converting section converts the camera images to an upper view point to create bird's eye images, and an image composing section creates a composite bird's eye view image by composing respective bird's eye images around a symbol image of a dump truck. A direction superposing section superposes a forward direction indicator to indicate the forward direction of the dump truck on the composite bird's eye view image, and a monitor mounted in a cab of the dump truck displays the composite bird's eye image in an arbitral direction which is composited with the forward direction indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kowatari, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Hidefumi Ishimoto, Yoshiyuki Nagano, Masayoshi Hayasaka, Eitaro Ito, Takaaki Ishii, Kenta Tsukijishin
  • Publication number: 20150138360
    Abstract: This invention has an object to assist for traveling operation of a self-propelled industrial machine to display underneath image of the self-propelled industrial machine on a monitor of a display device mounted in a operator's cab. The display device of the self-propelled industrial machine according to the present invention is provided for a dump truck, which comprises cameras having field of view to underneath of the dump truck, a symbol image storage section to store a symbol image which is symbolized the dump truck, a superposing process section to make transparent with a predetermined transparent ratio in the symbol image as a transparent region and to superpose an image taken by the camera on the area corresponding to the transparent region as underneath image, and a monitor mounted in a cab of the dump truck for displaying the symbol image composed by the superposing process section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi Kowatari, Naokazu Oda, Katsuhiko Shimizu, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20150116495
    Abstract: The underneath image of a self-propelled industrial machine is displayed with as wide a range as possible on a monitor with cameras that take images around the self-propelled industrial machine in the form of bird's eye view images. A view point conversion section creates the bird's eye view image by converting images from plural cameras provided on a dump truck; and a superposing process section processes the images to make the underneath area in a symbol image a transparent region corresponding to the position in the bird's eye view. An image composing section sets the symbol image at the center position and the respective bird's eye view images around the symbol image. A monitor displays the composite image composed by the image composing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi Kowatari, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Katsuhiko Shimizu, Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20150112537
    Abstract: Provided is a navigation system for autonomous dump trucks capable of preventing a dump truck from autonomously traveling on a carrying passage differing from the actual carrying passage even when the carrying passages for the dump truck have been altered. The navigation system is based on map data created by digitizing a map of roads on which the dump truck can travel. A control unit executes switching control between an autonomous mode to be selected when the autonomous traveling of the dump truck should be performed and a maneuver mode to be selected when the dump truck should travel according to an operator, based on version information of the map data used by the dump truck for the autonomous traveling and version information of master map data created by digitizing a map of the latest roads on which the dump truck can travel, managed by a control center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Yukihiro KAWAMATA, Hiroto MORIZANE, Tomoyuki HAMADA, Hidefumi ISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150009329
    Abstract: A surroundings monitoring device (200) provided on machinery which changes its vehicle body height. The surroundings monitoring device includes a plurality of cameras (30) that image the surroundings thereof, a unit for converting the original images (31) taken by the cameras (30) to overhead viewpoint images (35), a unit for combining the overhead viewpoint images (35) to generate a bird's-eye image (300), a unit for displaying the bird's-eye image (300), and a unit for detecting the positions of the cameras. The bird's-eye image-generating unit adjusts the display region (e) for each overhead viewpoint image (35) on the basis of the detected height of the camera concerned, and combines the overhead viewpoint images. It is therefore possible to always generate and display an accurate bird's-eye image (300) even when the vehicle body height changes significantly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140375814
    Abstract: This invention discloses an around surveillance device for an automotive industrial machine to display camera images taken by plural cameras disposed on the automotive industrial machine having a display controller which comprises a view point convertor to convert the view point of the camera images to upper view point to create a bird's eye image, an image selector one or more images to be displayed on the monitor from a plural number of camera images and the bird's eye image, an image composite devise to compose an icon to indicate the position of the camera to be selected image from the image selector, and an image creator to create an composite image of the image composited said icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Youichi Kowatari, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Eitaro Ito, Kenta Tsukijishin, Takaaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20140354813
    Abstract: [Problem] The present invention has an object to improve the safety and the efficiency of the work by making surveillance of the situation around a work machine more precisely with excellent visibility. [Solution] There is provided plural cameras mounted on said swiveling structure 5, respective two cameras being partially overlapped their view fields with each other, a view point converter 23 to generate virtual view point images from camera images of respective cameras by converting their view points, an image composer 24 to compose a composite image of respective virtual view point images from the view point convertor 23 to address respectively to corresponding display areas, a display image creator 25 to generate a display image, in addition to the composite image as a first image, a second image taken by one of the cameras including opposite boundaries of said virtual view point images, and a monitor 14 to display of the images on the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140354816
    Abstract: This invention comprises, for the sake of improving the safety at the time of traveling a transportation vehicle by displaying an image corresponding to the traveling direction of the dump truck 1, cameras 4B, 4L and 4R having the field of visions at least rear side, left side and right side of the dump truck 1, respectively, a monitor 14 disposed in an operator's cab 7 of the dump truck 1, the operator's cab 7 is further comprises a shift lever 21 for operating the forward and rearward traveling direction, a vehicle controller20 and a display controller 30 being also provided for displaying one or plurality of camera image on the monitor in accordance with the traveling direction of the dump truck 1, on the basis of steering information of left or right traveling direction of the dump truck 1 and information from the shift lever 21.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inanobe, Yoichi Kowatari, Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140111648
    Abstract: An around view monitor system for monitoring surroundings of the working machine includes a plurality of cameras arranged on the upper swiveling unit, each two of which are arranged such that view field ranges thereof partially overlap with each other; an image transformation device to convert camera images of respective cameras to viewpoint transformation such that upper viewpoint images; an image composing device for addressing to respective display areas; and a display image pattern converting device for changing boundary positions between the display areas for the respective virtual viewpoint images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Contruction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20140088824
    Abstract: Upon displaying, on a monitor, camera images obtained by cameras mounted on a vehicle front section and vehicle rear section, the vehicle rear section with an operator's cab mounted thereon is displayed as a fixed character image while the vehicle front section is displayed as a movable character image bendable relative to the fixed character image. Around a vehicle image displayed as described above, a composite bird's eye view image, which has been composed from individual bird's eye view images obtained by subjecting the camera images to coordinate transformation such that upper viewpoint images are formed is displayed, so that the individual bird's eye view images acquired from the cameras mounted on the vehicle front section are changed in display range when the vehicle front section and vehicle rear section are bent about a pivot pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20130222573
    Abstract: This invention includes: an obstacle detection unit 400 that detects obstacles present around the working machine, by use of an image acquired by a camera 13; a position calculating unit 500 that calculates positions of each of the detected obstacles; a hazard zone calculating unit 700 that calculates a hazard zone based upon an attitude and motion of the working machine; a determining unit 800 that determines whether further obstacles are present in the calculated hazard zone; a risk level setting unit 2000 that sets a contact risk level for each of any obstacles present in the hazard zone; an image generating unit 600 that converts the camera image into a bird's-eye image centering upon the working machine, and then generates an image inclusive of all elements of the working machine and hazard zone on the bird's-eye image by further imaging the bird's-eye image diagonally from above an obstacle for which the highest contact risk level has been set by the risk level setting unit; and a display device 1300 th
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Chieko Onuma, Ryo Yumiba, Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20130182066
    Abstract: A back camera 13B, left-side and right-side cameras 13L and 13R, and a front camera 13F are provided on an upper swiveling body 3. By converting viewpoints of camera images obtained by the cameras 13B, 13L, and 13R, individual over view images are generated and are combined with one another to form a surveillance panorama image disposed around a display character 21. The surveillance panorama image is displayed, together with a camera image, which is an image obtained by the front camera 13F, in an image display section 20a of a monitor 20. By appropriately operating switches SW1 through SW5 provided in an operation panel section 20b, a camera image which has not been converted into one of the individual over view images is displayed in an enlarged state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Publication number: 20130088593
    Abstract: A surrounding area monitoring device for monitoring an area around a work machine displays an immediate range display image as a bird's eye view image indicating the immediate area surrounding the work machine from above the work machine and a wide range display image indicating a wide area including a predetermined range outside the immediate area, selectively. The wide range display image is displayed if a position of a worker is not located within a monitoring area. The immediate range display image is displayed if the position of the worker is located within the monitoring area. The immediate range display image is the bird's eye view image set around the schematic graphic image of the work machine. The wide range display image is an image including a reduced immediate range display image and an image showing the conditions outside the immediate area in the schematic graphic representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidefumi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 7672768
    Abstract: An operation assist apparatus includes a display device installed in an operator's cab of a construction machine, at which at least operating procedures for the construction machine are displayed with text and illustrations; an image processing device that generates images; and a control device that engages the image processing device to generate an image of an operating procedure corresponding to an operation of the construction machine and engages the display device to display the image generated by the image processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Narisawa, Toshiyuki Miyamoto, Kenichi Sagiya, Hidefumi Ishimoto, Sumio Morita, Kouichi Madarame, Kenya Shyouji, Hiroshi Ogura, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7289895
    Abstract: In an electronic control system for a construction machine, a governor control unit, an excavator body control unit, and an electric lever control unit are interconnected for transmission and reception of data. A universal communication line is connected to the governor control unit and is adapted for an interface in conformity with universal communication standards A dedicated communication line is connected to the excavator body control unit and the electric lever control unit and is adapted for an interface in conformity with dedicated communication standards different from the univeral communication standards. A communication relay control unit is used for, converting and transmitting communication data received from one of two systems of the communication lines to be in conformity with the communication standards of the other communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Yoshinori Eguchi, Takao Kurosawa, Hiroshi Ogura, Junichi Narisawa
  • Publication number: 20050192732
    Abstract: An operation assist apparatus includes a display device installed in an operator's cab of a construction machine, at which at least operating procedures for the construction machine are displayed with text and illustrations; an image processing device that generates images; and a control device that engages the image processing device to generate an image of an operating procedure corresponding to an operation of the construction machine and engages the display device to display the image generated by the image processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: Junichi Narisawa, Toshiyuki Miyamoto, Kenichi Sagiya, Hidefumi Ishimoto, Sumio Morita, Kouichi Madarame, Kenya Shyouji, Hiroshi Ogura, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6826465
    Abstract: An information display unit is provided inside a cab of a hydraulic excavator and has a display portion capable of displaying plural kinds of information including body information and maintenance information. A screen image has one main screen and a plurality of sub-screens. The main screen displays information regarding one of a plurality of information categories in detail and the plurality of sub-screens respectively correspond to th plurality of information categories. The information category displayed on the main screen can be selected and changed with key manipulation made on an operating portion. As a result, plural kinds of information can be displayed in a combined and selective manner, and an operator is able to confirm the information with higher efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Hiroshi Ogura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Hiroyuki Adachi, Tsuyoshi Sakyou
  • Patent number: D715808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Yoichi Kowatari, Eitaro Ito, Kenta Tsukijishin, Takaaki Ishii
  • Patent number: D724604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hidefumi Ishimoto, Yoshihiro Inanobe, Yoichi Kowatari, Eitaro Ito, Kenta Tsukijishin, Takaaki Ishii