Patents by Inventor Kenjiro Shimada

Kenjiro Shimada 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: 20210165414
    Abstract: A system includes a conveyance vehicle, and a work machine that loads materials onto the conveyance vehicle. A first processor of a work machine determines a target stop position of a conveyance vehicle based on a position of the work machine, a target offset distance, and the direction of the loading position. A second processor of the conveyance vehicle acquires data indicative of the target stop position of the conveyance vehicle from the work machine. The second processor controls the conveyance vehicle to move the conveyance vehicle to the target stop position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Masanori AIZAWA, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20210148093
    Abstract: A system includes a receiver mounted on a work machine, and a processor. The receiver receives a signal usable to identify a position of the work machine. The processor acquires a position of the receiver from the signal received by the receiver. The processor acquires a calculated position of a calibration point in the work machine by calculating a position of the calibration point from the position of the receiver. The processor acquires an actual position of the calibration point. The processor generates calibration data usable to calibrate a position of a reference point in the work machine by comparing the actual position with the calculated position of the calibration point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Patent number: 10968607
    Abstract: When correcting an error caused by deviation of an attitude detection device with respect to a work machine including a swing body which swings, a working implement being attached to the swing body, the attitude detection device outputting an attitude of the work machine, the error is corrected by using a first position which is a position of a part of the work machine when the work machine is in a first attitude and a second position which is a position of the part when the work machine is in a second attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Iwamura, Masanobu Seki, Masashi Ichihara, Kenjiro Shimada, Satoru Shintani, Yuki Shimano, Eiji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10968598
    Abstract: A controller is configured to acquire current terrain information indicating the current terrain in the travel direction of a work vehicle. The controller is configured to generate an inclined virtual surface extending from the current position of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to decide the soil volume of the current terrain located above the virtual surface. The controller is configured to set the virtual surface in which the soil volume of the current terrain becomes a predetermined target soil volume to be a virtual design surface. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the virtual design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 10954651
    Abstract: A terrain information acquisition device acquires terrain information about a work site. A controller is configured to decide an inclination angle of the current terrain along a travel direction of the work vehicle from the terrain information. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is inclined at an inclination angle smaller than the inclination angle of the current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the inclined virtual design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20210079629
    Abstract: A control system for a work includes an operating device and a controller. The operating device outputs an operation signal indicative of an operation by an operator. The controller is in communication with the operating device. The controller determines a target profile of a terrain to be worked on. The controller generates a command signal to operate the work implement according to the target profile. The controller receives the operation signal from the operating device. The controller determines an operation of the work implement based on the operation signal. The controller corrects the target profile according to the operation by the operator when the operation of the work implement by the operator is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Toshihiro KAWANO, Yosuke YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210010237
    Abstract: A work machine loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. A system for controlling the work machine includes a detection device that detects an operation of the conveyance vehicle, and a controller that controls the work machine. The work machine includes a work implement attached to a rotating body. The controller acquires operation data indicative of an operation of the conveyance vehicle from the detection device. The controller causes the rotating body to rotate toward a predetermined unloading position. The controller determines whether the conveyance vehicle is stopped at a predetermined loading position based on the operation data. The controller causes the work implement to wait on standby at the unloading position upon determining that the conveyance vehicle is operating. The controller controls the work machine to unload materials at the unloading position upon determining that the conveyance vehicle is stopped at the loading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Masanori AIZAWA, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20200407949
    Abstract: A work machine includes a work implement, a rotating body to which the work implement is attached; a topography sensor configured to measure a topography, and a controller. The controller determines a digging start point of the work implement based on topographical data indicative of the topography measured by the topography sensor. The controller moves the work implement from a current position of the work implement to the digging start point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori AIZAWA, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Tomoki KONDA
  • Publication number: 20200407939
    Abstract: A work machine loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The work machine includes a work implement having a bucket, a topography sensor configured to measure a topography and a controller. The controller determines a target digging path of the bucket based on topographical data indicative of the topography measured by the topography sensor. The controller acquires an actual digging path based on positions of the bucket during digging. The controller is calculates at least one of a viscosity and a hardness of materials based on a difference between the target digging path and the actual digging path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori AIZAWA, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20200392701
    Abstract: A system controls a work machine that loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The system includes a controller and a detection device. The controller controls the work machine in an automatic control mode in which work is performed automatically. The detection device detects a presence of a person in a peripheral region of the work machine. The automatic control mode includes a loading mode in which the work machine is caused to move to perform loading work for loading onto the conveyance vehicle, and an other mode other than the loading mode. The controller causes the automatic control mode to transition from the other mode to the loading mode when a predetermined transition condition is satisfied. The predetermined transition condition includes non-detection of a person by the detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori AIZAWA, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Patent number: 10669699
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information. The current terrain information indicates the current terrain to be worked, and includes the height of the current terrain at a plurality of points. A controller is configured to decide the smoothed height for each of the plurality of points. The controller is configured to decide a smoothed current terrain that includes the smoothed height of the plurality of points. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface on the basis of the smoothed current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the virtual design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada, Kota Beppu, Masayuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10671074
    Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor outputs a signal indicating an actual traveling direction of the work vehicle. The controller communicates with the sensor. The controller is programmed so as to execute the following processing. The controller acquires the actual traveling direction of the work vehicle. The controller sets the actual traveling direction as a target traveling direction when a condition that indicates that the work vehicle has started straight travel has been met. The controller calculates a bearing difference between the target traveling direction and the actual traveling direction. The controller moves the work implement at a target tilt angle corresponding to the bearing difference so as to reduce the bearing difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada, Kazuhiko Hayashi, Yousuke Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10604912
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information indicating a current terrain to be worked. A controller is configured to generate an inclined virtual surface extending from a current position of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to decide an estimated held soil volume of a work implement of the work vehicle when the work implement is moved along the virtual surface in the current terrain. The controller is configured to decide whether the estimated held soil volume has reached a predetermined held soil volume threshold. The controller is configured to set the virtual surface extending from the current position of the work vehicle when the estimated held soil volume has reached the held soil volume threshold as a first virtual design surface, and generate a command signal to the work implement to move the work implement along the virtual design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada, Kota Beppu
  • Patent number: 10563374
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information indicating the current terrain to be worked. A controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is located below the current terrain and has an inclination angle. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to the work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the virtual design surface. The controller is configured to update the current terrain information with the current terrain acquisition device as the movement proceeds, and change the inclination angle with the updated current terrain information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20190049973
    Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor outputs a signal indicating an actual traveling direction of the work vehicle. The controller communicates with the sensor. The controller is programmed so as to execute the following processing. The controller acquires the actual traveling direction of the work vehicle. The controller sets the actual traveling direction as a target traveling direction when a condition that indicates that the work vehicle has started straight travel has been met. The controller calculates a bearing difference between the target traveling direction and the actual traveling direction. The controller moves the work implement at a target tilt angle corresponding to the bearing difference so as to reduce the bearing difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kazuhiko HAYASHI, Yousuke YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20180171598
    Abstract: When correcting an error caused by deviation of an attitude detection device with respect to a work machine including a swing body which swings, a working implement being attached to the swing body, the attitude detection device outputting an attitude of the work machine, the error is corrected by using a first position which is a position of a part of the work machine when the work machine is in a first attitude and a second position which is a position of the part when the work machine is in a second attitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Tsutomu IWAMURA, Masanobu SEKI, Masashi ICHIHARA, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Satoru SHINTANI, Yuki SHIMANO, Eiji ISHIBASHI
  • Publication number: 20180038070
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information indicating a current terrain to be worked. A controller is configured to generate an inclined virtual surface extending from a current position of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to decide an estimated held soil volume of a work implement of the work vehicle when the work implement is moved along the virtual surface in the current terrain. The controller is configured to decide whether the estimated held soil volume has reached a predetermined held soil volume threshold. The controller is configured to set the virtual surface extending from the current position of the work vehicle when the estimated held soil volume has reached the held soil volume threshold as a first virtual design surface, and generate a command signal to the work implement to move the work implement along the virtual design surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kota BEPPU
  • Publication number: 20180038068
    Abstract: A terrain information acquisition device acquires terrain information about a work site. A controller is configured to decide an inclination angle of the current terrain along a travel direction of the work vehicle from the terrain information. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is inclined at an inclination angle smaller than the inclination angle of the current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the inclined virtual design surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20180038082
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information. The current terrain information indicates the current terrain to be worked, and includes the height of the current terrain at a plurality of points. A controller is configured to decide the smoothed height for each of the plurality of points. The controller is configured to decide a smoothed current terrain that includes the smoothed height of the plurality of points. The controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface on the basis of the smoothed current terrain. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to a work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the virtual design surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kota BEPPU, Masayuki NAKAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180038069
    Abstract: A current terrain acquisition device acquires current terrain information indicating the current terrain to be worked. A controller is configured to decide a virtual design surface that is located below the current terrain and has an inclination angle. The controller is configured to generate a command signal to the work implement of the work vehicle to move the work implement along the virtual design surface. The controller is configured to update the current terrain information with the current terrain acquisition device as the movement proceeds, and change the inclination angle with the updated current terrain information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro HASHIMOTO, Kenjiro SHIMADA