Patents by Inventor Kazuhiko Ueda

Kazuhiko Ueda 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: 20240128096
    Abstract: A silicon semiconductor wafer is transported into a chamber, and preheating of the semiconductor wafer is started in a nitrogen atmosphere by irradiation with light from halogen lamps. When the temperature of the semiconductor wafer reaches a predetermined switching temperature in the course of the preheating, oxygen gas is supplied into the chamber to change the atmosphere within the chamber from the nitrogen atmosphere to an oxygen atmosphere. Thereafter, a front surface of the semiconductor wafer is heated for an extremely short time period by flash irradiation. Oxidation is suppressed when the temperature of the semiconductor wafer is relatively low below the switching temperature, and is caused after the temperature of the semiconductor wafer becomes relatively high. As a result, a dense, thin oxide film having good properties with fewer defects at an interface with a silicon base layer is formed on the front surface of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Akitsugu UEDA, Kazuhiko FUSE
  • Publication number: 20230367341
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11747838
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20230120154
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11609588
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11597370
    Abstract: An electrical device controller includes a processor, and a memory for storing a program executed by the processor. The processor controls the electrical device in multiple operation modes including an automatic mode which automatically changes the operation state of the electrical device and a stop mode which stops the electrical device, controls the electrical device in an operation mode specified with an operating member operated by an occupant when the vehicle is manually driven, controls the operation state of the electrical device in the automatic mode regardless of the operation mode specified with the operating member when the vehicle is autonomously driven, and sets the operation mode of the electrical device at least temporarily to the stop mode when the operation mode specified with the operation member is switched to the stop mode from an operation mode other than the stop mode, when the vehicle is autonomously driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ueda, Ryo Masutani
  • Publication number: 20230040632
    Abstract: The vehicle includes an operation switch for manually operating the operation state of the accessories. The vehicle control system includes a first controller that performs an evacuation traveling in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level, and a second controller that controls an operation state of the accessories based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the operation switch. The first controller is configured to transmit, to the second controller, a specific operation rejection request for performing a specific operation rejection process of rejecting the control of the accessories based on the specific operation of the operation switch in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level. The second controller is configured to perform the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11507089
    Abstract: The vehicle includes an operation switch for manually operating the operation state of the accessories. The vehicle control system includes a first controller that performs an evacuation traveling in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level, and a second controller that controls an operation state of the accessories based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the operation switch. The first controller is configured to transmit, to the second controller, a specific operation rejection request for performing a specific operation rejection process of rejecting the control of the accessories based on the specific operation of the operation switch in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level. The second controller is configured to perform the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11498589
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted equipment control device includes a controller configured to cause equipment of any of a headlight, a wiper, and an air-conditioning device to continue a visual securing operation for securing visibility of a driver of a vehicle even after driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control regardless of an operation mode of the equipment specified by an operation switch for setting an operation of the equipment when an operation mode executed by the equipment immediately before driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control is an operation mode corresponding to the visual securing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugimoto, Daigo Ishikawa, Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11472374
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a wiper switch that manually operates a wiping mode of a windshield wiper. The vehicle control system includes a first controller configured to execute an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller configured to control the wiping mode of the windshield wiper based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the wiper switch. The first controller transmits an auto-wiper request to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. Here, the auto-wiper request is a request for executing an auto-wiper process for automatically switching the wiping mode of the windshield wiper according to an external environment. The second controller executes the auto-wiper process when the auto-wiper request is received from the first controller in a state where the wiper switch is operated to the wiper-off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11327499
    Abstract: A vehicle control system that is mounted in a vehicle includes a camera and an autonomous driving control device. The camera images a situation in front of the vehicle to acquire camera imaging information indicating an imaging result. The autonomous driving control device controls autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the camera imaging information and decides a maximum speed of the vehicle in the middle of the autonomous driving. In more detail, the autonomous driving control device estimates a maximum visible distance of the camera based on the camera imaging information. Then, the autonomous driving control device variably sets the maximum speed according to the maximum visible distance such that the maximum speed in a case where the maximum visible distance is long becomes higher than the maximum speed in a case where the maximum visible distance is short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20210300317
    Abstract: An electrical device controller includes a processor, and a memory for storing a program executed by the processor. The processor controls the electrical device in multiple operation modes including an automatic mode which automatically changes the operation state of the electrical device and a stop mode which stops the electrical device, controls the electrical device in an operation mode specified with an operating member operated by an occupant when the vehicle is manually driven, controls the operation state of the electrical device in the automatic mode regardless of the operation mode specified with the operating member when the vehicle is autonomously driven, and sets the operation mode of the electrical device at least temporarily to the stop mode when the operation mode specified with the operation member is switched to the stop mode from an operation mode other than the stop mode, when the vehicle is autonomously driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko UEDA, Ryo MASUTANI
  • Publication number: 20210009165
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted equipment control device includes a controller configured to cause equipment of any of a headlight, a wiper, and an air-conditioning device to continue a visual securing operation for securing visibility of a driver of a vehicle even after driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control regardless of an operation mode of the equipment specified by an operation switch for setting an operation of the equipment when an operation mode executed by the equipment immediately before driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control is an operation mode corresponding to the visual securing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugimoto, Daigo Ishikawa, Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 10843627
    Abstract: An automated drive system comprises a first and a second system. The first system comprises a camera and an ADS-ECU (a first controller). The camera is configured to acquire front information of a vehicle. The first controller is configured to execute automated driving control of the vehicle. The first controller is configured to judge whether or not headlights are lighted based on the front information. The second system comprises a BODY-ECU (a second controller). The second controller is configured to control lighting operation of the headlights. The second controller is configured to transmit to the first controller an ACK signal about control status of the lighting operation. The first controller is configured to judge whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the second system based on judgement result signal based on the front information and the ACK signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200150658
    Abstract: The vehicle includes an operation switch for manually operating the operation state of the accessories. The vehicle control system includes a first controller that performs an evacuation traveling in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level, and a second controller that controls an operation state of the accessories based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the operation switch. The first controller is configured to transmit, to the second controller, a specific operation rejection request for performing a specific operation rejection process of rejecting the control of the accessories based on the specific operation of the operation switch in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level. The second controller is configured to perform the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200150702
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200148171
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a wiper switch that manually operates a wiping mode of a windshield wiper. The vehicle control system includes a first controller configured to execute an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller configured to control the wiping mode of the windshield wiper based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the wiper switch. The first controller transmits an auto-wiper request to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. Here, the auto-wiper request is a request for executing an auto-wiper process for automatically switching the wiping mode of the windshield wiper according to an external environment. The second controller executes the auto-wiper process when the auto-wiper request is received from the first controller in a state where the wiper switch is operated to the wiper-off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200148109
    Abstract: An automated drive system comprises a first and a second system. The first system comprises a camera and an ADS-ECU (a first controller). The camera is configured to acquire front information of a vehicle. The first controller is configured to execute automated driving control of the vehicle. The first controller is configured to judge whether or not headlights are lighted based on the front information. The second system comprises a BODY-ECU (a second controller). The second controller is configured to control lighting operation of the headlights. The second controller is configured to transmit to the first controller an ACK signal about control status of the lighting operation. The first controller is configured to judge whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the second system based on judgement result signal based on the front information and the ACK signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Publication number: 20200142423
    Abstract: A vehicle control system that is mounted in a vehicle includes a camera and an autonomous driving control device. The camera images a situation in front of the vehicle to acquire camera imaging information indicating an imaging result. The autonomous driving control device controls autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the camera imaging information and decides a maximum speed of the vehicle in the middle of the autonomous driving. In more detail, the autonomous driving control device estimates a maximum visible distance of the camera based on the camera imaging information. Then, the autonomous driving control device variably sets the maximum speed according to the maximum visible distance such that the maximum speed in a case where the maximum visible distance is long becomes higher than the maximum speed in a case where the maximum visible distance is short.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 10302191
    Abstract: A transmission is provided including a transmission case accommodating a transmission mechanism, a hydraulic controller having a valve body and a valve for controlling the transmission mechanism, the valve body formed with a valve insertion hole into which the valve is inserted, and an oil path communicating with the valve insertion hole, and an oil storage for storing oil. At least one of the valve body and the oil storage is integrally formed with the transmission case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Uesugi, Kazuhiko Ueda, Shinya Kamada, Shotaro Nagai, Koshiro Saji