Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Niino

Hiroaki Niino 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: 20190084581
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes a driving support unit, a switching control unit, a reliability detection unit, and a threshold lowering unit. The switching control unit ceases driving support by the driving support unit and switches a driving state from driving in which the driving support is performed to manual driving, according to input from an operation detection unit when operating force or an operation amount exceeds a threshold. The reliability detection unit detects degradation of reliability of the driving support by the driving support unit. The threshold lowering unit lowers the threshold when the reliability detection unit detects the degradation of the reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi MIURA, Masayoshi OISHI, Hiroaki NIINO, Koji FUJIKI, Shotaro FUKUDA
  • Publication number: 20190077411
    Abstract: A traveling assist device includes a recognition unit, a traveling control unit, a sensor determination unit, and a control decision unit. The sensor determination unit determines whether surrounding detection sensors are normal or not. The control decision unit decides whether the traveling control unit controls a lane change based on the result of determination by the sensor determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Masayoshi OISHI, Koji FUJIKI, Hiroaki NIINO
  • Publication number: 20190016336
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first obtainer obtains a first travelling-condition parameter of a target vehicle. The first travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the target vehicle is travelling on the road. A second obtainer obtains a second travelling-condition parameter of a preceding vehicle travelling on the road immediately ahead of the target vehicle. The second travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the preceding vehicle is travelling on the road. A deviation calculator calculates a deviation between the first and second travelling-condition parameters. A behavior deter miner deter mines a recommended behavior of the target vehicle in response to the calculated deviation. A controller controls a device, which is associated with a behavior of the target vehicle, according to the recommended behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIINO, Masao OOOKA, Shotaro FUKUDA, Takahiro NARITA
  • Publication number: 20190005823
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lane change assistance device, including: a change time setting unit configured to set a change time required for the lane change; a yaw angle acquisition unit configured to acquire a yaw angle of an own vehicle before starting the lane change; and a steering control unit configured to control a steering unit of the own vehicle to perform the lane change in the change time set by the change time setting unit, wherein when the yaw angle acquired by the yaw angle acquisition unit is a yaw angle in a state where the own vehicle approaches a target lane designated during the lane change, the change time setting unit sets the change time shorter than in other states, and when the yaw angle acquired by the yaw angle acquisition unit is a yaw angle in a state where the own vehicle stays away from the target lane, the change time setting unit sets the change time longer than in the other states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Koji FUJIKI, Hiroaki NIINO
  • Publication number: 20180341260
    Abstract: In a driving assist system, a driving assist device as a control device acquires driving control information to be used for performing a driving control process in which an own vehicle follows a preceding vehicle running on the same lane of the own vehicle in front of the own vehicle. The driving assist device performs the driving control process of the own vehicle based on the acquired driving control information. The driving assist device detects an interruption of a preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle. In the preceding-vehicle following, the own vehicle follows the preceding vehicle running on the same lane. The driving assist device decelerates a vehicle speed of the own vehicle by using a predetermined braking force when detecting the interruption of the preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle during the preceding-vehicle following.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIINO, Masayoshi OOISHI, Hiroshi ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10134287
    Abstract: An automatic following control execution unit recognizes a preceding vehicle of the own vehicle and performs automatic following control of causing the own vehicle to automatically follow the preceding vehicle. A start-command acquisition unit acquires a start command to initiate the automatic following control. An automatic following control starting unit starts the automatic following control, when the brake is switched from on to off after satisfaction of a first to fifth conditions. The first condition is that the own vehicle is not under the automatic following control. The second condition is that a brake of the own vehicle is in an on state. The third condition is that the own vehicle is at rest. The fourth condition is that the preceding vehicle has been recognized. The fifth condition is that the start command acquisition means has acquired the start command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masayoshi Ooishi, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10106163
    Abstract: In assisting merging vehicles on the road, a own vehicle is accelerated to target speed on a first lane. The own vehicle accelerated to the target speed is caused to change a travel lane from the first lane into a second lane. A distance A from the own vehicle to a reference position is acquired in the first lane, and speed of the own vehicle is also acquired. A traveling distance B required for the own vehicle to stop is calculated under a condition where the own vehicle traveling at speed acquired starts to slow down at predetermined deceleration. Assisting in merging is performed, on condition that a value obtained by subtracting the calculated distance B from the acquired distance A is smaller than a predetermined threshold value during a period from a start time of the acceleration to a start time of changing the travel lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Fujiki, Hiroaki Niino, Shotaro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10099691
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first obtainer obtains a first travelling-condition parameter of a target vehicle. The first travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the target vehicle is travelling on the road. A second obtainer obtains a second travelling-condition parameter of a preceding vehicle travelling on the road immediately ahead of the target vehicle. The second travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the preceding vehicle is travelling on the road. A deviation calculator calculates a deviation between the first and second travelling-condition parameters. A behavior deter miner determines a recommended behavior of the target vehicle in response to the calculated deviation. A controller controls a device, which is associated with a behavior of the target vehicle, according to the recommended behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masao Oooka, Shotaro Fukuda, Takahiro Narita
  • Patent number: 10073452
    Abstract: In a driving assist system, a driving assist device as a control device acquires driving control information to be used for performing a driving control process in which an own vehicle follows a preceding vehicle running on the same lane of the own vehicle in front of the own vehicle. The driving assist device performs the driving control process of the own vehicle based on the acquired driving control information. The driving assist device detects an interruption of a preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle. In the preceding-vehicle following, the own vehicle follows the preceding vehicle running on the same lane. The driving assist device decelerates a vehicle speed of the own vehicle by using a predetermined braking force when detecting the interruption of the preceding-vehicle following of the own vehicle during the preceding-vehicle following.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masayoshi Ooishi, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9944284
    Abstract: A recognition support system includes: an object detection device detecting an object that is located in a periphery of a host vehicle; a direction sensing device sensing a direction to which a driver intends to turn the host vehicle; a range setting device setting a notification range based on the direction sensed by the direction sensing device; a selecting device defining the object, which is detected by the object detecting device, as a specified object when the object moves independently from the host vehicle, and selecting the specified object, which is located within the notification range, to be presented to the driver based on a state of the specified object; and an information presenting device presenting an information enabling the driver to recognize the specified object selected by the selecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideshi Izuhara, Hiroaki Niino, Yousuke Hattori, Masayoshi Ooishi, Hiroki Tomabechi
  • Publication number: 20180099668
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first obtainer obtains a first travelling-condition parameter of a target vehicle. The first travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the target vehicle is travelling on the road. A second obtainer obtains a second travelling-condition parameter of a preceding vehicle travelling on the road immediately ahead of the target vehicle. The second travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the preceding vehicle is travelling on the road. A deviation calculator calculates a deviation between the first and second travelling-condition parameters. A behavior deter miner determines a recommended behavior of the target vehicle in response to the calculated deviation. A controller controls a device, which is associated with a behavior of the target vehicle, according to the recommended behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIINO, Masao OOOKA, Shotaro FUKUDA, Takahiro NARITA
  • Publication number: 20180099662
    Abstract: An evacuation travel assist apparatus includes a stop lane determination section that determines a stop lane and an evacuation place in the stop lane in which an own vehicle should be urgently stopped when the vehicle drive is detected to be in a state of being not able to drive the own vehicle properly, and a transverse position determination section that determines, as a stop transverse position, a position in a transverse direction of the evacuation place in the stop lane so as to ensure a space for the vehicle driver and passengers to get in and out of the own vehicle safely at a side of the own vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi Miura, Masao Oooka, Hiroaki Niino
  • Patent number: 9902395
    Abstract: An evacuation travel assist apparatus includes a stop lane determination section that determines a stop lane and an evacuation place in the stop lane in which an own vehicle should be urgently stopped when the vehicle drive is detected to be in a state of being not able to drive the own vehicle properly, and a transverse position determination section that determines, as a stop transverse position, a position in a transverse direction of the evacuation place in the stop lane so as to ensure a space for the vehicle driver and passengers to get in and out of the own vehicle safely at a side of the own vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Miura, Masao Oooka, Hiroaki Niino
  • Publication number: 20180029604
    Abstract: An evacuation control apparatus includes a decrease detecting unit, a rear monitoring unit, and an evacuation control unit. The decrease detecting unit detects decrease in a consciousness level of a driver of an own vehicle. The rear monitoring unit monitors a state behind the own vehicle. The evacuation control unit outputs control information for making the own vehicle perform an emergency evacuation based on monitoring results of the rear monitoring unit, when the decrease detecting unit detects decrease in the consciousness level of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroaki NIINO, Masao OOOKA, Takeshi MIURA, Hitoshi WADA
  • Patent number: 9878712
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first obtainer obtains a first travelling-condition parameter of a target vehicle. The first travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the target vehicle is travelling on the road. A second obtainer obtains a second travelling-condition parameter of a preceding vehicle travelling on the road immediately ahead of the target vehicle. The second travelling-condition parameter shows one or more conditions under which the preceding vehicle is travelling on the road. A deviation calculator calculates a deviation between the first and second travelling-condition parameters. A behavior determiner determines a recommended behavior of the target vehicle in response to the calculated deviation. A controller controls a device, which is associated with a behavior of the target vehicle, according to the recommended behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masao Oooka, Shotaro Fukuda, Takahiro Narita
  • Patent number: 9873432
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry calculates a target torque such that the greater the amount of brake operation is, the smaller the target torque becomes. The processing circuitry controls the drive motor such that the creep torque is smaller when brake operation is being performed by the driver than when the brake operation is not being performed by the driver. The control circuitry controls the brake device such that, when the brake operation is being performed by the driver, the brake torque approaches a target brake torque. The processing circuitry sets a decrease gradient of the creep torque to be smaller than a decrease gradient of the target torque when the brake operation amount is increased under a condition in which the creep torque is being output by the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Naito, Tomokazu Kato, Kousuke Baba, Hiroaki Niino, Masayoshi Ooishi
  • Publication number: 20170313311
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is mounted in an own vehicle and performs driving assistance for the own vehicle. The driving assistance apparatus determines a travel recommended lane in which the own vehicle is to travel, based on a comparison of a preset vehicle speed set in advance to allow the own vehicle to travel at a constant speed, to a travel state of a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the own vehicle in a travel lane in which the own vehicle is traveling and a travel state of an adjacent vehicle traveling ahead of the own vehicle in an adjacent lane that is adjacent to the travel lane. The driving assistance apparatus performs output based on the travel recommended lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masao Oooka, Shotaro Fukuda, Aki Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9766085
    Abstract: In an evacuation travelling assistance apparatus, a risk determining unit determines, when a driver is not in a state capable of appropriately performing driving operations, a risk involved in stopping at a location and a risk involved in passing through the location, for each of a plurality of locations that may serve as an advancing destination of the own vehicle, based on map information, own vehicle information, and peripheral environment information. The risk determining unit evaluates, for each of the plurality of locations, at least one evaluation subject among a plurality of evaluation subject including: a risk occurrence frequency at the location; a risk avoidability at the location; and a level of danger of the risk occurring at the location, based on a plurality of levels, and determines the risk involved in stopping at each location and the risk involved in passing through each location, based on evaluation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Oooka, Takeshi Miura, Hiroaki Niino, Hiroshi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20170249848
    Abstract: An automatic following control execution unit recognizes a preceding vehicle of the own vehicle and performs automatic following control of causing the own vehicle to automatically follow the preceding vehicle. A start-command acquisition unit acquires a start command to initiate the automatic following control. An automatic following control starting unit starts the automatic following control, when the brake is switched from on to off after satisfaction of a first to fifth conditions. The first condition is that the own vehicle is not under the automatic following control. The second condition is that a brake of the own vehicle is in an on state. The third condition is that the own vehicle is at rest. The fourth condition is that the preceding vehicle has been recognized. The fifth condition is that the start command acquisition means has acquired the start command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Masayoshi Ooishi, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9731719
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is mounted to an own vehicle and controls the own vehicle such that an inter-vehicle distance between a preceding vehicle and the own vehicle becomes a reference distance. The vehicle control apparatus acquires passing suitability information indicating whether or not the own vehicle is able to pass the preceding vehicle. When the own vehicle is not able to pass the preceding vehicle, the vehicle control apparatus corrects the inter-vehicle distance by adding a correction distance to a reference distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Shotaro Fukuda, Takahiro Narita, Masao Oooka