Patents by Inventor Kenji Mito

Kenji Mito 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: 11971487
    Abstract: An advanced map DB 43 stored on a server device 4 includes pulse type information that is configuration information for detecting a landmark using a LIDAR 2. By sending request information D1 including own vehicle position information, the vehicle mounted device 1 receives response information D2 including pulse type information corresponding to a landmark around the own vehicle position and controls the LIDAR 2 on the basis of the received pulse type information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji Muramatsu, Yoshinori Abe, Kazutoshi Kitano, Kenji Mito, Takeshi Koda
  • Patent number: 11947360
    Abstract: A server device 2 stores a distribution map DB 21 including autonomous driving regulatory information Ir for regulating autonomous driving of a vehicle in a predetermined section, and sends map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir to a driving assistance device 1. Then, the driving assistance device 1 receives the map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir and controls the autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the received autonomous driving regulatory information Ir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION, GEOTECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito, Kazuhiro Nakao, Makoto Hatano
  • Patent number: 11536575
    Abstract: A server device stores on a storage unit an advanced map database which includes feature information associated with a feature. The server device receives, from vehicle mounted devices equipped with external sensors which measure features, difference information indicative of a difference between feature information and the actual feature corresponding to the feature information. In accordance with the degree of reliability which is calculated based on a plurality of the difference information, the server device sends to the vehicle mounted device a raw data request signal for requesting the transmission of raw data which is measurement data of the actual feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito
  • Publication number: 20220100202
    Abstract: A server device 2 stores a distribution map DB 21 including autonomous driving regulatory information Ir for regulating autonomous driving of a vehicle in a predetermined section, and sends map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir to a driving assistance device 1. Then, the driving assistance device 1 receives the map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir and controls the autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the received autonomous driving regulatory information Ir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO, Kazuhiro NAKAO, Makoto HATANO
  • Patent number: 11237571
    Abstract: A server device 2 stores a distribution map DB 21 including autonomous driving regulatory information Ir for regulating autonomous driving of a vehicle in a predetermined section, and sends map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir to a driving assistance device 1. Then, the driving assistance device 1 receives the map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir and controls the autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the received autonomous driving regulatory information Ir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito, Kazuhiro Nakao, Makoto Hatano
  • Patent number: 11199850
    Abstract: Provided is an estimation device capable of estimating a current position with a high degree of accuracy. A driving support system includes: a vehicle mounted device 1 that is mounted on a vehicle and performs a control concerning vehicle driving support; a LIDAR 2; a gyroscope sensor 3; and a vehicle speed sensor 4. The vehicle mounted device 1 acquires, from the LIDAR 2, a measurement value ztk indicating a positional relationship between a reference landmark Lk of an index k and the own vehicle. The vehicle mounted device 1 calculates a post estimated value x{circumflex over (?)}t by correcting a prior estimated value x?t estimated, on the basis of the measurement value ztk and a position vector mk of the reference landmark Lk included in a map DB 10, from a moving speed measured by the vehicle speed sensor 4 and an angular rate measured by the gyroscope sensor 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Suzuki, Kenji Mito, Hitoshi Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20210200216
    Abstract: A driving assistance device performs autonomous driving based on an output from a sensor unit that acquires information on surroundings of a vehicle or information on the state of the vehicle. The driving assistance device stores an autonomous driving determination table based on autonomous driving compatibility information. By referring to the autonomous driving determination table based on sensor information on the sensor unit and road element information on a predetermined road section, the driving assistance device 1 determines a set of an autonomous driving function and an automation level that can be performed in the predetermined road section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO, Kazuhiro NAKAO, Makoto HATANO
  • Publication number: 20210156698
    Abstract: A server device stores on a storage unit an advanced map database which includes feature information associated with a feature. The server device receives, from vehicle mounted devices equipped with external sensors which measure features, difference information indicative of a difference between feature information and the actual feature corresponding to the feature information. In accordance with the degree of reliability which is calculated based on a plurality of the difference information, the server device sends to the vehicle mounted device a raw data request signal for requesting the transmission of raw data which is measurement data of the actual feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO
  • Patent number: 10942031
    Abstract: A server device 4 stores on a storage unit 42 an advanced map database 43 which includes feature information associated with a feature. The server device 4 receives, from vehicle mounted devices 1 equipped with external sensors 31 which measure features, difference information Idf indicative of a difference between feature information and the actual feature corresponding to the feature information. In accordance with the degree of reliability Rdf which is calculated based on a plurality of the difference information Idf, the server device 4 sends to the vehicle mounted device 1 a raw data request signal SR for requesting the transmission of raw data which is measurement data of the actual feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito
  • Patent number: 10942517
    Abstract: A driving assistance device 1 performs autonomous driving based on an output from a sensor unit 13 that acquires information on surroundings of a vehicle or information on the state of the vehicle. The driving assistance device 1 stores an autonomous driving determination table Tj based on autonomous driving compatibility information 24. By referring to the autonomous driving determination table Tj based on sensor information 23 on the sensor unit 13 and road element information Ie on a predetermined road section, the driving assistance device 1 determines a set of an autonomous driving function Fc and an automation level Lv that can be performed in the predetermined road section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION, INCREMENT P CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Koda, Kenji Mito, Kazuhiro Nakao, Makoto Hatano
  • Publication number: 20200088527
    Abstract: An information processing device is provided capable of preventing tightening on a communication bandwidth due to an increase in communication amount. In the information processing device , a sensor data cache unit acquires a detection result from a sensor, and a position derivation unit and an object detection unit acquire host vehicle position/posture reliability information and object reliability information, respectively. The object detection unit next generates difference information on the basis of a high accuracy map and the object reliability information, and a transmission unit transmits the difference information. Then a confidence level generation unit generates a confidence level from the host vehicle position/posture reliability information and the object reliability information, and a data utilization determination unit determines whether or not to upload the difference information on the basis of the confidence level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO
  • Publication number: 20190316915
    Abstract: A server device 4 stores on a storage unit 42 an advanced map database 43 which includes feature information associated with a feature. The server device 4 receives, from vehicle mounted devices 1 equipped with external sensors 31 which measure features, difference information Idf indicative of a difference between feature information and the actual feature corresponding to the feature information. In accordance with the degree of reliability Rdf which is calculated based on a plurality of the difference information Idf, the server device 4 sends to the vehicle mounted device 1 a raw data request signal SR for requesting the transmission of raw data which is measurement data of the actual feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO
  • Publication number: 20190293760
    Abstract: Feature information IF for each target feature of detection by an external sensor 31 of a vehicle mounted device 1 is registered in an advanced map DB 43 stored on a server device 4. The data structure of the feature information IF is provided with sensor attribute fields that include configuration information or environment information related to feature detection. The server device 4 updates the sensor attribute field through statistical analysis on condition information IC that indicates conditions at the time of feature detection and that is received from a plurality of vehicle mounted devices 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO
  • Publication number: 20190041523
    Abstract: An advanced map DB 43 stored on a server device 4 includes pulse type information that is configuration information for detecting a landmark using a LIDAR 2. By sending request information D1 including own vehicle position information, the vehicle mounted device 1 receives response information D2 including pulse type information corresponding to a landmark around the own vehicle position and controls the LIDAR 2 on the basis of the received pulse type information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Eiji MURAMATSU, Yoshinori ABE, Kazutoshi KITANO, Kenji MITO, Takeshi KODA
  • Publication number: 20180253105
    Abstract: Provided is an estimation device capable of estimating a current position with a high degree of accuracy. A driving support system includes: a vehicle mounted device 1 that is mounted on a vehicle and performs a control concerning vehicle driving support; a LIDAR 2; a gyroscope sensor 3; and a vehicle speed sensor 4. The vehicle mounted device 1 acquires, from the LIDAR 2, a measurement value ztk indicating a positional relationship between a reference landmark Lk of an index k and the own vehicle. The vehicle mounted device 1 calculates a post estimated value x?t by correcting a prior estimated value x t estimated, on the basis of the measurement value ztk and a position vector mk of the reference landmark Lk included in a map DB 10, from a moving speed measured by the vehicle speed sensor 4 and an angular rate measured by the gyroscope sensor 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Masami SUZUKI, Kenji MITO, Hitoshi KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20180113460
    Abstract: A driving assistance device 1 performs autonomous driving based on an output from a sensor unit 13 that acquires information on surroundings of a vehicle or information on the state of the vehicle. The driving assistance device 1 stores an autonomous driving determination table Tj based on autonomous driving compatibility information 24. By referring to the autonomous driving determination table Tj based on sensor information 23 on the sensor unit 13 and road element information Ie on a predetermined road section, the driving assistance device 1 determines a set of an autonomous driving function Fc and an automation level Lv that can be performed in the predetermined road section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO, Kazuhiro NAKAO, Makoto HATANO
  • Publication number: 20180113474
    Abstract: A server device 2 stores a distribution map DB 21 including autonomous driving regulatory information Ir for regulating autonomous driving of a vehicle in a predetermined section, and sends map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir to a driving assistance device 1. Then, the driving assistance device 1 receives the map data D1 including the autonomous driving regulatory information Ir and controls the autonomous driving of the vehicle based on the received autonomous driving regulatory information Ir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Takeshi KODA, Kenji MITO, Kazuhiro NAKAO, Makoto HATANO
  • Patent number: 8284223
    Abstract: A thermal printing mechanism includes a head unit having a heating element; an energizing unit that energizes the heating element; and an energizing control unit that controls the energizing unit to energize the heating element for a total energization time set according to a color density of a pixel so that the higher the color density is, the longer the total energization time becomes. The energizing control unit divides the total time period into energization time units, based on printing speed; specifies energization time units for energization so that a sum thereof is equivalent to the total energization time; and performs control so that if the printing speed is lower than a first printing speed, the energization time units appear continuous, and if the printing speed is equal to or higher than the first printing speed, the energization time units do not appear continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Systems Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Mito
  • Patent number: 8026938
    Abstract: When printing is performed by dividing a thermal printer head into segmented blocks, the number of dots to be printed in one line is changed, depending on the case, high-speed printing with a small division number of the segmented blocks, or low-speed printing with a large division number of the segmented blocks. When the division number of the segmented blocks is large and printing is performed at a low speed, paper feeding within one line is performed by multiple pitches to prevent the paper sheet from halting in one line, and energization is performed for each pitch to prevent occurrence of gaps between dots and between lines, by increasing the number of dots to be printed in one line. In the multiple pitches in one line, the ratio of energization amount to be fed in each pitch is changed to reduce a difference in density among pitches in one line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Mito
  • Publication number: 20110181678
    Abstract: A thermal printing mechanism includes a head unit having a heating element; an energizing unit that energizes the heating element; and an energizing control unit that controls the energizing unit to energize the heating element for a total energization time set according to a color density of a pixel so that the higher the color density is, the longer the total energization time becomes. The energizing control unit divides the total time period into energization time units, based on printing speed; specifies energization time units for energization so that a sum thereof is equivalent to the total energization time; and performs control so that if the printing speed is lower than a first printing speed, the energization time units appear continuous, and if the printing speed is equal to or higher than the first printing speed, the energization time units do not appear continuous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji MITO