Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Kitano

Hiroaki Kitano 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).

  • Patent number: 11964712
    Abstract: A steering control device is provided with at least one of a first torque correction computing part and a second torque correction computing part; wherein the first torque correction computing part is equipped with a weight computing part which computes an increment of weight based on a magnitude of the driver torque, and accumulates the increment of weight to generate a weight, a clip value computing part which computes an automatic driver torque clip value according to the weight, and a clip processing part which clip processes the automatic driver torque with the automatic driver torque clip value; and the second torque correction computing part is equipped with a gain computing part which computes an increment of gain according to the driver torque, and accumulates the increment of gain to generate a gain, and a gain processing part which outputs an automatic driver torque multiplied by the gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Tominaga, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Michihiro Ogata, Masaya Endo, Hiroaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20230322228
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle control apparatus that can correctly determine that lane changing is possible in a situation that by accelerating or decelerating, an ego vehicle can perform the lane changing without interfering with an obstacle, and that raises the comfortability for the drier. In the vehicle control apparatus, a target trajectory for performing lane changing under restriction of not entering an entry prohibition region is calculated; a determination section determines whether or not lane changing is possible, based on at least information on a position of the ego vehicle in the target trajectory; in the case where it is determined that lane changing is possible, the ego vehicle is made to change a lane, by use of the target trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta TOMINAGA, Takayuki TANAKA, Hiroaki KITANO, Shogo OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20230274644
    Abstract: An action planning device includes a plane-coordinate-system movement predictor that predicts the movement of an obstacle detected around the periphery of a moving object by an external sensor mounted on the moving object, in accordance with plane-coordinate-system obstacle information that expresses the obstacle in a plane coordinate system, and outputs a result of prediction as plane-coordinate-system obstacle movement information, a scene judgement part that judges the condition of the obstacle and outputs a situation in the moving object as scene information, and an action determination part that determines the action of the moving object in accordance with the scene information and outputs a result of determination as an action determination result. The control arithmetic device calculates a target value used to control the moving object, in accordance with the action determination result output from the action planning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shota KAMEOKA, Rin ITO, Hiroaki KITANO
  • Publication number: 20230258826
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device including: a satellite positioning result processing part obtaining first data from the satellite positioning device, and outputting the first data as a satellite positioning result; a sensor correction part obtaining second data from an autonomous sensor, and correcting a first error to output the corrected second data as corrected data; an inertial positioning part performing an inertial positioning calculation and outputting an inertial positioning result; an observation value prediction part performing a positioning calculation using the inertial positioning result, and calculating a prediction observation value to output the prediction observation value; an error estimation part estimating an error between the prediction observation value and a satellite positioning result to output the error as a second error; a positioning correction part correcting the prediction observation value, and outputting the prediction observation value as a corrected
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki KITANO, Shota KAMEOKA
  • Publication number: 20230135242
    Abstract: It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a travel path generation apparatus and a travel path generation method enabling generation of a travel path not including a curve having a small radius of curvature. A travel path generation apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a parameter determination unit to determine a cutoff frequency based on spacing between points of a sequence of points each having location information and a predetermined threshold of a radius of curvature, the sequence of points representing a shape of a lane in which a vehicle travels in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and a filtering unit to perform low-pass filtering using the cutoff frequency determined by the parameter determination unit on the location information of each of the points of the sequence of points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Rin ITO, Hiroaki KITANO
  • Patent number: 11634176
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a traveling route generation device and a vehicle control device. A traveling route generation device according to the present invention includes: a travel region information acquisition unit acquiring travel region information; and a traveling route generation unit generating information of a curved line expressing a route along which the vehicle should proceed based on the travel region information, wherein an output of the traveling route generation unit is supplied to a vehicle controller performing steering control of the vehicle, and the traveling route generation unit increases weight of the travel region information in a range used for the steering control in the travel region information to be larger than weight of the travel region information in a range which is not used for the steering control to generate information of the curved line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20230068573
    Abstract: A steering control device is provided with at least one of a first torque correction computing part and a second torque correction computing part; wherein the first torque correction computing part is equipped with a weight computing part which computes an increment of weight based on a magnitude of the driver torque, and accumulates the increment of weight to generate a weight, a clip value computing part which computes an automatic driver torque clip value according to the weight, and a clip processing part which clip processes the automatic driver torque with the automatic driver torque clip value; and the second torque correction computing part is equipped with a gain computing part which computes an increment of gain according to the driver torque, and accumulates the increment of gain to generate a gain, and a gain processing part which outputs an automatic driver torque multiplied by the gain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta TOMINAGA, Hiroyuki KOBAYASHI, Michihiro OGATA, Masaya ENDO, Hiroaki KITANO
  • Patent number: 11546347
    Abstract: There is provided a verification apparatus including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire each of control data that causes artificial intelligence to function in an apparatus and learning data of the control data; and a verification unit configured to verify the acquired control data on the basis of the control data obtained as a result of performing learning with use of the acquired learning data, and on the basis of the acquired control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 11464436
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technique capable of accurately determining an awakening degree. An awakening degree determination apparatus includes a change amount acquisition unit, a frequency calculation unit, and an awakening degree determination unit. The change amount acquisition unit acquires an angle change amount, an inclination change amount, and a position change amount. The frequency calculation unit calculates an angle frequency, an inclination frequency, and a position frequency. When at least one of the angle frequency, the inclination frequency, and the position frequency exceeds a fourth threshold value, a fifth threshold value, and a sixth threshold value, the awakening degree determination unit determines that an awakening degree of a driver of the vehicle decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Tominaga, Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 11181377
    Abstract: A travel direction estimation device mounted on a vehicle including a position detector and an angular velocity detector to estimate a travel direction of the vehicle includes: a first angle processor calculating a first angle based on a change of a position of the vehicle being detected in the position detector and updated at a predetermined time interval, a second angle processor calculating a second angle based on a rotational angular velocity of the vehicle being detected in the angular velocity detector and a detection interval of the position of the vehicle in the position detector, and a travel direction processor calculating the travel direction of the vehicle based on the first angle and the second angle. The travel direction estimation device can estimate a travel direction of a vehicle with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kitano, Yukiyasu Akemi, Masaya Endo, Kazuo Hitosugi
  • Publication number: 20210300470
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a traveling route generation device and a vehicle control device. A traveling route generation device according to the present invention includes: a travel region information acquisition unit acquiring travel region information; and a traveling route generation unit generating information of a curved line expressing a route along which the vehicle should proceed based on the travel region information, wherein an output of the traveling route generation unit is supplied to a vehicle controller performing steering control of the vehicle, and the traveling route generation unit increases weight of the travel region information in a range used for the steering control in the travel region information to be larger than weight of the travel region information in a range which is not used for the steering control to generate information of the curved line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki KITANO
  • Publication number: 20210150405
    Abstract: There is provided a providing device including a processing unit that enables acquisition of one or both of control information for causing artificial intelligence to function in a device and information for specifying the control information from a distributed network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200259842
    Abstract: There is provided a verification apparatus including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire each of control data that causes artificial intelligence to function in an apparatus and learning data of the control data; and a verification unit configured to verify the acquired control data on the basis of the control data obtained as a result of performing learning with use of the acquired learning data, and on the basis of the acquired control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitano
  • Publication number: 20200205715
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technique capable of accurately determining an awakening degree. An awakening degree determination apparatus includes a change amount acquisition unit, a frequency calculation unit, and an awakening degree determination unit. The change amount acquisition unit acquires an angle change amount, an inclination change amount, and a position change amount. The frequency calculation unit calculates an angle frequency, an inclination frequency, and a position frequency. When at least one of the angle frequency, the inclination frequency, and the position frequency exceeds a fourth threshold value, a fifth threshold value, and a sixth threshold value, the awakening degree determination unit determines that an awakening degree of a driver of the vehicle decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta TOMINAGA, Hiroaki KITANO
  • Publication number: 20200204874
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of analyzing a user evaluation on a part of a content, and generating preference information capable of realizing satisfying content recommendation. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit configured to generate a user evaluation on a chronologically-separated part of a media content, on the basis of sensor data on a user, the sensor data being acquired in relation to listening and viewing of the media content, and store media preference information including at least the generated user evaluation in a storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro SASAKI, Hiroaki KITANO
  • Patent number: 10594762
    Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment, an information processing system is provided. The information processing system includes at least one control unit to designate a user-access position within sequential content at which a user accesses the sequential content, and to associate the user with other users who each access the sequential content at a position that is the same, or close to, the user-access position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kitano
  • Patent number: 10343715
    Abstract: When an adjustment information input unit (1) acquires one of information of a feeling value and steering control information, a steering control information calculation unit (2) calculates data of a control characteristic graph visually representing control characteristics of steering using the acquired information. An adjustment information display unit (3) displays, on the same screen, a control characteristic graph in accordance with the data of the control characteristic graph and a feeling value operation section visually showing the feeling value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Reiko Sakata, Yoshimichi Umeki, Tsutomu Matsubara, Yoshiki Ono, Hiroaki Kitano, Masaya Endo
  • Patent number: 10247161
    Abstract: Provided is a motor generator, which is always connected to an engine via a belt, and is configured to carry out start control of the engine and power generation control, the motor generator having a two-output power transmission mechanism including: a belt driving mechanism, which is configured to drive the engine through the belt; and a gear driving mechanism, which includes a pinion gear to be coupled to a ring gear on the engine side in accordance with an external instruction, and is configured to drive the engine by the pinion gear being coupled to the ring gear, in which an output of the belt driving mechanism and an output of the gear driving mechanism are arranged at positions opposing each other in an axial direction of a rotor of the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Mizuno, Hiroaki Kitano, Koichiro Kamei, Kensuke Kato, Kazuhiro Odahara, Naohito Kaneda
  • Patent number: 10240572
    Abstract: The rotation speed and the crank position of an engine in an engine stopping process are detected; then, in the case where when the detected crank position is at an intermediate point between the top dead center of any one of the cylinders and the top dead center of the cylinder following said one of the cylinders, it is determined that the engine rotation speed is within a predetermined range, drive of the starter is prohibited for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Kamei, Daisuke Mizuno, Hiroaki Kitano, Naohito Kaneda, Kazuhiro Odahara
  • Publication number: 20190072391
    Abstract: A travel direction estimation device mounted on a vehicle including a position detector and an angular velocity detector to estimate a travel direction of the vehicle includes: a first angle processor calculating a first angle based on a change of a position of the vehicle being detected in the position detector and updated at a predetermined time interval, a second angle processor calculating a second angle based on a rotational angular velocity of the vehicle being detected in the angular velocity detector and a detection interval of the position of the vehicle in the position detector, and a travel direction processor calculating the travel direction of the vehicle based on the first angle and the second angle. The travel direction estimation device can estimate a travel direction of a vehicle with a high degree of accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki KITANO, Yukiyasu AKEMI, Masaya ENDO, Kazuo HITOSUGI