Patents by Inventor Kentaro Ichikawa
Kentaro Ichikawa 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: 20170369077Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control device capable of switching a driving state of the vehicle, including a switch pedal configured to be provided on a left side of the vehicle rather than an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal of the vehicle; a stepped state detection unit configured to detect a stepped state of the switch pedal; and a driving state switching unit configured to switch the driving state of the vehicle to an automatic driving state, a cooperative driving state and a manual driving state, wherein the driving state switching unit is configured to switch the driving state to the cooperative driving state in a case where stepping of the switch pedal is detected by the stepped state detection unit when the driving state is the automatic driving state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Maiko HIRANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Hiromitsu URANO
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Patent number: 9845096Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Toshiki Kindo
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Publication number: 20170334458Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving device that executes autonomous drive control; a track generation section that generates a travel track of the vehicle based on an estimation result by a self-position estimation section and a recognition result by an object recognition section; an actuator that moves the vehicle so that the vehicle travels along the travel track; a trigger input pedal disposed at a left side from an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal 102, seen from a driver; and an autonomous drive control start determination section that starts the autonomous drive control when an autonomous drive control start trigger is inputted via the trigger input pedal and it is determined that start of the autonomous drive control is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Kunihito Sato, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Maiko Hirano, Bunyo Okumura
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Publication number: 20170315550Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus executes an autonomous driving control of a vehicle. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes: a first determination unit configured to determine whether the autonomous driving control can be engaged or not; an autonomous driving control engage trigger input unit; a triggered engage mode configured to engage the autonomous driving control when an autonomous driving control engage trigger is input by a driver to the autonomous driving control engage trigger input unit after the first determination unit determines that the autonomous driving control can be engaged; an automatic engage mode configured to automatically engage the autonomous driving control when the first determination unit determines that the autonomous driving control can be engaged; and a switching unit configured to switch between the triggered engage mode and the automatic engage mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Bunyo OKUMURA
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Patent number: 9802608Abstract: Provided is a driving assist device 10 that recognizes an object in the vicinity of a moving body, and assists a driver in driving the moving body, the apparatus including: an object detecting unit 12 that detects the object in the vicinity of the moving body; a three dimensional object detecting unit 13 that detects a three dimensional object in the vicinity of the moving body; and an object recognition unit 18 that recognizes the object at a predetermined detection position as a non-obstacle when the object information storing unit 16 stores the position of the object, and the three dimensional object information storing unit 17 does not store the position of the three dimensional object at the predetermined position in which detection is performed by both of the object detecting unit 12 and the three dimensional object detecting unit 13.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Katsuhiro Sakai, Toshiki Kindo, Kentaro Ichikawa, Masahiro Harada
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Publication number: 20170308093Abstract: An automatic operation control system of a mobile object includes an environment map storage unit configured to store environment map information and an electronic control unit configured to include an impassable region determining unit. The environment map information includes position information indicating a plurality of positions in a space and a state quantity variability of each of the plurality of positions, the state quantity variability is correlated with the corresponding position information, and the state quantity variability indicates a variation tendency of a state quantity of the corresponding position with respect to time. The impassable region determining unit is configured to determine an impassable region which is unsuitable for movement of the mobile object on the basis of the state quantity variability of the environment map information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Kunihito SATO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Kohei OTSUKA, Bunyo OKUMURA, Maiko HIRANO
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Publication number: 20170299397Abstract: A data structure of an environment map includes: position information indicating a position in a space; and a state quantity variability of the position. The state quantity variability is correlated with the position information, and the state quantity variability indicates a variation tendency of a state quantity of the position with respect to time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Hiromitsu URANO, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Maiko HIRANO, Bunyo OKUMURA
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Publication number: 20170261981Abstract: An autonomous driving control device capable of starting an autonomous driving control without an operation of a driver and reducing a possibility that the driver can not start manual driving. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when a determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a first threshold, before a predetermined time elapses since the autonomous driving control is automatically started. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when the determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, after the predetermined time elapses.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Maiko HIRANO, Bunyo OKUMURA
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Publication number: 20170261984Abstract: An automatic driving system includes an actuator and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to recognize a position, a surrounding environment, a state of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a first traveling plan based on the recognized position, the recognized surrounding environment, and the recognized state of the vehicle and calculate reliability of the first traveling plan. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a second traveling plan of the vehicle based on one or two of the recognized position, the recognized surrounding environment, and the recognized state of the vehicle and calculate reliability of the second traveling plan. The electronic control unit is configured to select a traveling plan having the higher reliability out of the first traveling plan and the second traveling plan, and control the traveling of the vehicle by the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Toshiki Kindo, Sho Otaki, Yasuo Sakaguchi, Bunyo Okumura
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Publication number: 20170248954Abstract: An autonomous driving apparatus executes an autonomous driving control of a vehicle. When an override occurs during the autonomous driving control, switching from the autonomous driving control to manual driving is executed. A first determination condition is for determining that the autonomous driving control can be resumed, when the driver is estimated to have a continued operation intention, which is an intention to continue the manual driving, after the switching from the autonomous driving control to the manual driving is executed. A second determination condition is for determining that the autonomous driving control can be resumed, when the driver is estimated not to have the continued operation intention after the switching from the autonomous driving control to the manual driving is executed. The first determination condition is less likely to be met than the second determination condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Ikuma Suzuki, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Watanabe, Bunyo Okumura
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Patent number: 9644058Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin in which the physical properties (especially liquid permeability) are improved and maintained even in large scale production. The method for producing a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin, which sequentially includes a polymerization step, in which a monomer aqueous solution having acrylic acid (salt) as a main component is polymerized, a drying step, in which a water-containing gel-like crosslinked polymer obtained in the polymerization step is dried, and a classification step, in which a polymer obtained in the drying step is classified, wherein a rocking-type sieve classification apparatus is used in the classification step, and the rocking-type sieve classification apparatus has a sieve net having a trajectory and a rotation speed in the following ranges; radial gradient R: from 5 to 40 mm, tangential gradient T: from 0.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Matsumoto, Seiji Kato, Shinichi Fujino, Noboru Nabara, Ryuichi Otani, Yasuhiro Kawaguchi, Narimasa Okugawa, Kentaro Ichikawa, Makoto Eto
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Publication number: 20170017233Abstract: An automatic driving system includes an electronic control device configured to: detect a driving operation input amount during an automatic driving control for a vehicle; determine whether the driver is able to start manual driving during the automatic driving control for the vehicle; output a signal for performing switching from automatic driving to the manual driving based on a result of a comparison between the driving operation input amount and a driving switching threshold that is a threshold for the switching from the automatic driving to the manual driving; set the driving switching threshold to a first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is able to start the manual driving; and set the driving switching threshold to a second driving switching threshold exceeding the first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is not able to start the manual driving.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Taisuke SUGAIWA
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Publication number: 20160355180Abstract: Provided is a driving assist device 10 that recognizes an object in the vicinity of a moving body, and assists a driver in driving the moving body, the apparatus including: an object detecting unit 12 that detects the object in the vicinity of the moving body; a three dimensional object detecting unit 13 that detects a three dimensional object in the vicinity of the moving body; and an object recognition unit 18 that recognizes the object at a predetermined detection position as a non-obstacle when the object information storing unit 16 stores the position of the object, and the three dimensional object information storing unit 17 does not store the position of the three dimensional object at the predetermined position in which detection is performed by both of the object detecting unit 12 and the three dimensional object detecting unit 13.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Katsuhiro SAKAI, Toshiki KINDO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Masahiro HARADA
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Patent number: 9495873Abstract: An other-vehicle detector 18 of an other-vehicle detection device 10a detects an other-vehicle VO around a host vehicle VM based on the predetermined feature amount. A detection reference value adjustment unit 16 of the other-vehicle detection device 10a, regarding the feature amount for detecting the other-vehicle VO around the host vehicle VM, changes a threshold value of the feature amount for detecting the other-vehicle VO, and detects the other-vehicle VO, based on a relative positional relationship between the other-vehicle VO and the host vehicle VM. In this way, it is possible to detect the existence of the other-vehicle VO according to the situation more.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Katsuhiro Sakai, Toshiki Kindo, Kentaro Ichikawa, Masahiro Harada
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Publication number: 20160282879Abstract: A computer-readable detailed map format is disclosed. The map format can be used in the operation of an autonomous vehicle. The detailed map format includes a plurality of lane segments and a plurality of lane links. Each of the lane links can extend between two lane segments across a traffic intersection. Each of the lane links can also be associated with one of a plurality of traffic signals. A transition rule is associated with a first lane link and based on information associated with the one of the plurality of traffic signals associated with the first lane link. An interlock rule can be based on information associated with the one of the plurality of traffic signals associated with a second lane link. The first lane link and second lane link can be associated with different traffic signals and can extend between different lane segments across the traffic intersection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Michael J. Delp
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Patent number: 9446711Abstract: Provided is a driving assist device 10 that recognizes an object in the vicinity of a moving body, and assists a driver in driving the moving body, the apparatus including: an object detecting unit 12 that detects the object in the vicinity of the moving body; a three dimensional object detecting unit 13 that detects a three dimensional object in the vicinity of the moving body; and an object recognition unit 18 that recognizes the object at a predetermined detection position as a non-obstacle when the object information storing unit 16 stores the position of the object, and the three dimensional object information storing unit 17 does not store the position of the three dimensional object at the predetermined position in which detection is performed by both of the object detecting unit 12 and the three dimensional object detecting unit 13.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Katsuhiro Sakai, Toshiki Kindo, Kentaro Ichikawa, Masahiro Harada
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Publication number: 20160207538Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Toshiki KINDO
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Publication number: 20160207537Abstract: A vehicle system includes a driving operation information acquisition unit acquiring an operation amount of a driver's driving operation, a driving state switching unit switching a driving state of a vehicle between a first driving state and a second driving state based on a relationship between the operation amount and a first threshold, the first driving state including at least one of an autonomous driving state and a cooperative driving state, and the second driving state allowing the driver's driving operation to be reflected in the traveling of the vehicle, and a notification unit notifying a driver of a relationship between the first threshold and a state of the operation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Toshiki KINDO
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Publication number: 20160170410Abstract: A driving assistance device, including an automated driving switch; an emergency button; and a controller configured to provide either automated driving in which travel is performed along a current travel path of a host vehicle or automated stopping in response to manipulation by a driver of the automated driving switch or of the emergency button.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Toshiki KINDO
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Publication number: 20160139598Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle system includes: a surrounding information detection unit that is configured to detect surrounding information on a vehicle; and at least one electronic control unit including: a travel plan generation unit configured to generate a travel plan along a pre-set target route based on the surrounding information and map information; a traveling control unit configured to autonomously control a traveling of the vehicle based on the travel plan; and a warning light control unit configured to turn on a warning light earlier than a start time of a braking of the vehicle in the travel plan, the warning light informing a following vehicle about the braking.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Toshiki KINDO, Katsuhiro SAKAI, Masahiro HARADA, Hiromitsu URANO