Patents by Inventor Kentaro Asai

Kentaro Asai 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: 20240142852
    Abstract: A waveguide device includes: a photonic crystal layer having holes periodically formed in an electro-optical crystal substrate; a line-defect optical waveguide formed in the photonic crystal layer; a first electrode arranged above the electro-optical crystal substrate, the first electrode being transparent to light; and a second electrode arranged below the electro-optical crystal substrate. Each of an optical scanning device and an optical modulation device includes the above-mentioned waveguide device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Kentaro TANI, Jungo KONDO, Keiichiro ASAI, Shuhei HIGASHIHARA, Naoki FUJITA
  • Publication number: 20230286464
    Abstract: In a technique for determining a seating position of each of users in a vehicle based on wireless signals from mobile devices carried by the users, a controller identifies a position of a mobile device within a distance from a door outside the vehicle via communication between exterior communicators and the mobile devices. When receiving a signal of boarding, the controller determines whether the mobile device is present in the vehicle via communication between an interior communicator and the mobile device. When the mobile device is determined to be present in the vehicle, the controller determines that a seat corresponding to the position of the mobile device is a seating position of a user corresponding to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Kentaro ASAI, Arata SATO
  • Patent number: 11513236
    Abstract: A positioning device measures a position of a vehicle by including a controller. The controller provides (i) a first positioning system to obtain a first positioning result having a first accuracy by performing positioning using a signal from a GNSS satellite and (ii) a second positioning system to obtain a second positioning result having a second accuracy higher than the first accuracy, by using acquired vehicle-related information, instead of or in addition to the first positioning result. The controller selects, as a selected positioning system to obtain a selected positioning result, either (i) the first positioning system or (ii) the second positioning system. In response to determining that the second accuracy of the second positioning result is lower than the first accuracy of the first positioning result, the controller is configured to switch the selected positioning system to select the first positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Miyao, Kentaro Asai, Yosuke Moriuchi
  • Publication number: 20220150688
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a controller configured to: determine whether a terminal apparatus is present in a vehicle with reference to first positional data that indicates a position of the vehicle and second positional data that indicates a position of the terminal apparatus; and in a case in which the terminal apparatus is determined as being present in the vehicle, determine, according to a driving state of the vehicle, whether to prohibit a first operation to be performed on the terminal apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro ASAI
  • Patent number: 11320271
    Abstract: A positioning device performs positioning to measure a position of a vehicle. The positioning device receives a signal transmitted from a GNSS satellite. The positioning device perform a positioning calculation using the signal. The positioning device communicates with a positioning server. The positioning device selects, as a system for the positioning, one of a first positioning system and a second positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Miyao, Kentaro Asai, Yosuke Moriuchi
  • Patent number: 11208161
    Abstract: In a vehicle system, a driver information acquisition unit acquires information about a driver of a vehicle. A detection unit detects that there is a possibility that the vehicle has been damaged. An identification unit identifies a driver of the vehicle when it is detected that there is a possibility that the vehicle has been damaged, based on the acquired driver information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Asai
  • Publication number: 20200406866
    Abstract: In a car wash judgment system, an acquirer acquires a captured image of a vehicle. An image analyzer analyzes the degree of dirt on a vehicle based on a vehicle image included in a captured image. A judgment unit judges whether or not the vehicle needs to be washed based on an analysis result from the image analyzer. The acquirer acquires a first captured image captured by a vehicle-mounted camera, and a second captured image captured by a mounted camera mounted on an object other than a vehicle. The image analyzer analyzes the degree of dirt on a vehicle based on a vehicle image included in the first captured image and the second captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro ASAI
  • Publication number: 20200401159
    Abstract: In a car wash judgment system, an acquirer acquires traveling information of a vehicle. A condition retaining unit retains a certain car wash condition. A judgment unit judges whether or not traveling information acquired at the acquirer satisfies the certain car wash condition. An unpaved road information retaining unit retains unpaved road information indicating the position of an unpaved road. The certain car wash condition includes traveling on an unpaved road by the vehicle. When a vehicle that has transmitted traveling information is an automated driving vehicle capable of performing automated driving and when the traveling information of the automated driving vehicle satisfies the certain car wash condition, a car wash instruction unit transmits an instruction signal for moving the automated driving vehicle to a car wash station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro ASAI
  • Publication number: 20200326190
    Abstract: A positioning device performs positioning to measure a position of a vehicle. The positioning device receives a signal transmitted from a GNSS satellite. The positioning device perform a positioning calculation using the signal. The positioning device communicates with a positioning server. The positioning device selects, as a system for the positioning, one of a first positioning system and a second positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori MIYAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yosuke MORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200319351
    Abstract: A positioning device measures a position of a vehicle by including a controller. The controller provides (i) a first positioning system to obtain a first positioning result having a first accuracy by performing positioning using a signal from a GNSS satellite and (ii) a second positioning system to obtain a second positioning result having a second accuracy higher than the first accuracy, by using acquired vehicle-related information, instead of or in addition to the first positioning result. The controller selects, as a selected positioning system to obtain a selected positioning result, either (i) the first positioning system or (ii) the second positioning system. In response to determining that the second accuracy of the second positioning result is lower than the first accuracy of the first positioning result, the controller is configured to switch the selected positioning system to select the first positioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori MIYAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yosuke MORIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10761178
    Abstract: An in-vehicle system includes: a position information reception unit configured to receive position information from a satellite positioning system; a first control unit; a communication line connected to the first control unit; and a second control unit that is connected to the first control unit through the communication line and has a first conversion process unit configured to convert a datum of the position information. The first control unit is configured to transmit the position information received by the position information reception unit to the second control unit through the communication line, and the second control unit is configured to convert a datum of the position information received from the first control unit by the first conversion process unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kuniaki Tanaka, Kentaro Asai
  • Publication number: 20200269809
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant information acquisition system including an onboard device mounted to a vehicle and at least one vehicular portable device associated with the onboard device is provided. The vehicular portable device has a function of performing short-range communication with portable terminals, determines a holder's terminal based on a variation in received signal strength indication of a signal sent from each portable terminal, and sends a holder information signal identifying the holder's terminal to the onboard device. The onboard device identifies a user holding the vehicular portable device based on the holder information signal sent from the vehicular portable device, and identifies a portable device location by receiving a response signal. A seat determined based on the portable device location is determined to be a seated location of the user acting as the portable device holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kenichiro SANJI, Noritaka HIRAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yasuhiro TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20200262495
    Abstract: In a vehicle system, a driver information acquisition unit acquires information about a driver of a vehicle. A detection unit detects that there is a possibility that the vehicle has been damaged. An identification unit identifies a driver of the vehicle when it is detected that there is a possibility that the vehicle has been damaged, based on the acquired driver information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro ASAI
  • Publication number: 20200252848
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle communication device, a position acquisition unit acquires vehicle position information. A communication controller is communicable in any one of a first communication system and a second communication system. An area information holding unit holds area information indicating a communication area where communication in the first communication system is possible. A switching deciding unit decides switching between the first communication system and the second communication system based on the vehicle position information and the area information and decides the switching from the second communication system to the first communication system before a vehicle enters the communication area. The communication controller completes the switching to the first communication system before the vehicle enters the communication area in response to the deciding of the switching deciding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro ASAI
  • Publication number: 20190170850
    Abstract: An in-vehicle system includes: a position information reception unit configured to receive position information from a satellite positioning system; a first control unit; a communication line connected to the first control unit; and a second control unit that is connected to the first control unit through the communication line and has a first conversion process unit configured to convert a datum of the position information. The first control unit is configured to transmit the position information received by the position information reception unit to the second control unit through the communication line, and the second control unit is configured to convert a datum of the position information received from the first control unit by the first conversion process unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kuniaki TANAKA, Kentaro ASAI
  • Patent number: 9731618
    Abstract: An information provision apparatus including: a provision control unit (40, 30) configured to provide a vehicle passenger with energy replenishment information relating to energy replenishment of a vehicle-driving energy supply source (20) that is capable of storing regenerative energy regenerated from rotational energy of a vehicle wheel, when a remaining energy amount of the energy supply source (20) falls below a determination reference value; and a modification unit (40) configured to modify a provision condition that is a condition on which the provision control unit (40, 30) provides the energy replenishment information, so that after the energy replenishment information is once provided when the remaining energy amount falls below the determination reference value, the energy replenishment information is less likely to be provided than before the energy replenishment information is once provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Asai, Toshiyuki Aga, Masamichi Tani
  • Publication number: 20140371969
    Abstract: An information provision apparatus including: a provision control unit (40, 30) configured to provide a vehicle passenger with energy replenishment information relating to energy replenishment of a vehicle-driving energy supply source (20) that is capable of storing regenerative energy regenerated from rotational energy of a vehicle wheel, when a remaining energy amount of the energy supply source (20) falls below a determination reference value; and a modification unit (40) configured to modify a provision condition that is a condition on which the provision control unit (40, 30) provides the energy replenishment information, so that after the energy replenishment information is once provided when the remaining energy amount falls below the determination reference value, the energy replenishment information is less likely to be provided than before the energy replenishment information is once provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Asai, Toshiyuki Aga, Masamichi Tani
  • Publication number: 20140232730
    Abstract: Based on whether a display region of a display for displaying information provided from an information providing center is large or small, in a state in which a display area is small (display pixel is small or number of characters that can be displayed in character array direction is small), an information presentation ECU requests the information providing center to provide mobile-ready information to be displayed in the state in which the display area is small by access in a mobile user agent. Meanwhile, in a state in which the display area is large (display pixel is large or number of characters that can be displayed in character array direction is large), the information presentation ECU requests the information providing center to provide PC-ready information to be displayed in the state in which the display area is large by access in a PC user agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kentaro Asai
  • Patent number: 7651785
    Abstract: There is provided a tin-plated product which has a small deterioration of contact resistance with age, an excellent wear resistance and a low coefficient of friction. A coating of a composite material, which contains 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of carbon particles dispersed in a tin layer and which has a thickness of 0.5 to 10.0 ?m, preferably 1.0 to 5.0 ?m, is formed as the outermost layer of a substrate. Thus, the coefficient of dynamic friction between the tin-plated products of the same kind is 0.20 or less, and the coefficient of dynamic friction between the tin-plated product and a reflow tin-plated product is 0.20 or less, while the contact resistance is 1 m? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Takei, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Kentaro Asai
  • Patent number: 7346006
    Abstract: A transmission system is provided which includes a transmitter working to transmit data on a frame basis and a receiver. If two frames having the same data are inputted in sequence to the receiver, the receiver decides that it is unnecessary to decode a following one of the frames and stops receiving or decoding it. This results in decreases in operation load and power consumption of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gorou Inoue, Akihiro Sasaki, Kentaro Asai