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).
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Publication number: 20240142852Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Inventors: Kentaro TANI, Jungo KONDO, Keiichiro ASAI, Shuhei HIGASHIHARA, Naoki FUJITA
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Publication number: 20230286464Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Kentaro ASAI, Arata SATO
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Patent number: 11513236Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masanori Miyao, Kentaro Asai, Yosuke Moriuchi
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Publication number: 20220150688Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro ASAI
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Patent number: 11320271Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masanori Miyao, Kentaro Asai, Yosuke Moriuchi
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Patent number: 11208161Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro Asai
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Publication number: 20200406866Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro ASAI
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Publication number: 20200401159Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro ASAI
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Publication number: 20200326190Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Masanori MIYAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yosuke MORIUCHI
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Publication number: 20200319351Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Masanori MIYAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yosuke MORIUCHI
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Patent number: 10761178Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kuniaki Tanaka, Kentaro Asai
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Publication number: 20200269809Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2016Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Kenichiro SANJI, Noritaka HIRAO, Kentaro ASAI, Yasuhiro TANAKA
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Publication number: 20200262495Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro ASAI
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Publication number: 20200252848Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro ASAI
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Publication number: 20190170850Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kuniaki TANAKA, Kentaro ASAI
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Patent number: 9731618Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION, AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Kentaro Asai, Toshiyuki Aga, Masamichi Tani
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Publication number: 20140371969Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD., DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kentaro Asai, Toshiyuki Aga, Masamichi Tani
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Publication number: 20140232730Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kentaro Asai
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Patent number: 7651785Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hirofumi Takei, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Kentaro Asai
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Patent number: 7346006Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Gorou Inoue, Akihiro Sasaki, Kentaro Asai