Patents by Inventor Kiwamu Kobayashi

Kiwamu Kobayashi 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: 20240136840
    Abstract: The charge-discharge control device includes an alternating current-direct current converter that converts AC power from a primary side into DC power, a direct current bus that distributes power from the alternating current-direct current converter, a plurality of channels connected in parallel to the direct current bus, and a processor configured to control a current of charging or discharging of a secondary battery connected to the channel so as to minimize power supplied from the primary side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori OKURA, Kiwamu KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11955777
    Abstract: An optical combiner includes: a plurality of first input optical fibers that each include a core; a bridge fiber that includes a bridge input surface connected to the cores of the plurality of first input optical fibers, a diameter reduction portion having a diameter that decreases away from the bridge input surface along an optical axis of the optical combiner, and a bridge output surface located opposite to the bridge input surface along the optical axis; an intermediate optical fiber that includes a core connected to the bridge output surface of the bridge fiber; a second input optical fiber that includes a core; and an output optical fiber that includes a first optical waveguide connected to the core of the intermediate optical fiber, and a second optical waveguide connected to the core of the second input optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Fujita, Ryokichi Matsumoto, Yutaka Yamaguchi, Takuya Kobayashi, Kiwamu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11838674
    Abstract: The image processing system acquires a foreground mask from a captured image acquired by capturing an object with an image capturing unit whose exposure value is set relatively higher or lower than that of another image capturing unit, acquires an inappropriate area mask by detecting an area whose exposure value is inappropriate in the captured image, and generates shape data representing a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the foreground mask and the inappropriate area mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11798233
    Abstract: A generation device of a three-dimensional model including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first mask image indicating a structure area, which is an object still within each image captured from a plurality of viewpoints, and a second mask image indicating a foreground area, which is a moving object within each image captured from the plurality of viewpoints; a combination unit configured to generate a third mask image that integrates the structure area and the foreground area within the image captured from the plurality of viewpoints by combining the first mask image and the second mask image both acquired; and a generation unit configured to generate a three-dimensional model including the structure and the foreground by a visual volume intersection method using the third mask image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Morisawa, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11784361
    Abstract: A battery manufacturing method includes assembling a plurality of flat batteries; and binding a battery stack including the plurality of assembled batteries arranged in one direction by a binding member and blowing cooling fluid on the battery stack through a fluid supplying part to cool the battery stack. The method includes causing cooling fluid discharged from a fluid supplying part through a first discharging part and cooling fluid discharged from the fluid supplying part through a second discharging part to collide and merge together, and then flow outward in the second direction through the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naotaka Ide, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11361448
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising: one or more memories that store a set of instructions; and one or more processors that execute the instructions to obtain a plurality of inputted images that are contiguously captured, perform determination of a first region based on the obtained inputted images, the first region being formed from pixels each having a change in pixel value below a predetermined threshold in a predetermined period, the determination being performed in each of a plurality of the continuous predetermined periods, determine a second region based on a plurality of the first regions determined in the plurality of the continuous predetermined periods, respectively, determine a third region by subjecting image data representing the determined second region to image processing, and update a background image based on the obtained inputted images and any of the determined third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kobayashi, Akihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11355795
    Abstract: A battery manufacturing apparatus includes a binding member for bounding a battery stack and a fluid supplying part for blowing cooling fluid onto the bound battery stack. The binding member includes a first both-side part for bounding batteries from both sides by applying a load thereon in a first direction in which the batteries are arranged, and a second both-side part to be placed on both sides of the batteries to face both side surfaces of the batteries in a second direction different from the first direction. The binding member is formed with apertures through which the cooling fluid flows outward in the second direction. The fluid supplying part includes a first discharging part and a second discharging part for discharging the cooling fluid from both sides in a third direction different from both the first direction and the second direction toward the battery stack bound by the binding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naotaka Ide, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11340302
    Abstract: By a first energization process of applying a voltage with the power supply to cause a current for charging the electrical storage device to flow through the circuit and a second energization process of, when a transition condition is satisfied during the first energization process, decreasing the voltage of the power supply to cause the current to further flow, a condition of an electrical storage is determined. An effective resistance value of the circuit is set to 0.1? or below. A decrease in the voltage of the power supply in transition from the first energization process to the second energization process is set such that the effective resistance value in the second energization process is an intermediate value between a parasitic resistance value of the circuit and the effective resistance value in the first energization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio Matsuyama, Ruri Tanaka, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220109198
    Abstract: A battery manufacturing method includes assembling a plurality of flat batteries; and binding a battery stack including the plurality of assembled batteries arranged in one direction by a binding member and blowing cooling fluid on the battery stack through a fluid supplying part to cool the battery stack. The method includes causing cooling fluid discharged from a fluid supplying part through a first discharging part and cooling fluid discharged from the fluid supplying part through a second discharging part to collide and merge together, and then flow outward in the second direction through the apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naotaka IDE, Kiwamu KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11221371
    Abstract: A power storage device inspecting method of inspecting a power storage device for an internal short circuit that includes: detecting an external resistance Re which is generated in an external circuit in a state in which probes of an external power supply are connected to external terminals of the power storage device; applying an initial output voltage VS(0) with which an initial device current IB(0) of a device current IB(t) is zero; applying an output voltage VS(t) from the external power supply to the power storage device; and determining an internal short circuit of the power storage device based on a change with time of the device current IB(t) or a stabilized device current IBs of the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kobayashi, Takeshi Goto, Naotaka Ide, Ruri Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20220005276
    Abstract: A generation device of a three-dimensional model including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first mask image indicating a structure area, which is an object still within each image captured from a plurality of viewpoints, and a second mask image indicating a foreground area, which is a moving object within each image captured from the plurality of viewpoints; a combination unit configured to generate a third mask image that integrates the structure area and the foreground area within the image captured from the plurality of viewpoints by combining the first mask image and the second mask image both acquired; and a generation unit configured to generate a three-dimensional model including the structure and the foreground by a visual volume intersection method using the third mask image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Keisuke Morisawa, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11193980
    Abstract: An inspection method of a present electrical storage device includes: constituting a circuit with the electrical storage device being charged and a power supply, and passing a current by the power supply to the circuit in a direction of charging or discharging the electrical storage device; and in passing the current, determining the quality of the electrical storage device based on a converging state of the passing current. In passing the current, an output voltage of the power supply is changed from an initial value with the passage of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kobayashi, Takeshi Goto
  • Patent number: 11151787
    Abstract: A generation device of a three-dimensional model including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first mask image indicating a structure area, which is an object still within each image captured from a plurality of viewpoints, and a second mask image indicating a foreground area, which is a moving object within each image captured from the plurality of viewpoints; a combination unit configured to generate a third mask image that integrates the structure area and the foreground area within the image captured from the plurality of viewpoints by combining the first mask image and the second mask image both acquired; and a generation unit configured to generate a three-dimensional model including the structure and the foreground by a visual volume intersection method using the third mask image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Morisawa, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11127141
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus generates an image indicating a foreground area of a captured image, based on (i) a threshold value corresponding to both luminance difference between the captured image and a background image and luminance of one of the captured image and the background image, (ii) obtained luminance of one of the captured image and the background image, and (iii) obtained luminance difference between the captured image and the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsushita, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11074742
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus 200 includes: a first saturation information obtaining unit 306 configured to obtain saturation of a frame image; a second saturation information obtaining unit 309 configured to obtain saturation of a background image; and a threshold value determining unit 311 configured to determine a threshold value, which is used for checking a difference in color information, for each pixel, based on the saturation obtained by each of the first saturation information obtaining unit 306 and the second saturation information obtaining unit 309. A hue foreground area estimating unit 312 is configured to estimate a foreground area by use of the threshold value determined by the threshold value determining unit 311 as well as color information of the frame image and color information of the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsushita, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210173013
    Abstract: By a first energization process of applying a voltage with the power supply to cause a current for charging the electrical storage device to flow through the circuit and a second energization process of, when a transition condition is satisfied during the first energization process, decreasing the voltage of the power supply to cause the current to further flow, a condition of an electrical storage is determined. An effective resistance value of the circuit is set to 0.1? or below. A decrease in the voltage of the power supply in transition from the first energization process to the second energization process is set such that the effective resistance value in the second energization process is an intermediate value between a parasitic resistance value of the circuit and the effective resistance value in the first energization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio MATSUYAMA, Ruri TANAKA, Kiwamu KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11011785
    Abstract: Provided is an electricity storage device testing method including: building a closed circuit by connecting an external power source to a charged electricity storage device such that the direction of voltage of the external power source is opposite from that of the electricity storage device; measuring a circuit current while applying to the closed circuit a voltage in an opposite direction from a voltage of the electricity storage device by the external power source; calculating a voltage to be output by the external power source, based on the value of the circuit current measured and a resistance value of the closed circuit. The output voltage of the external power source is changed according to a result of the calculation. A time interval at which the calculation is set to be shorter at an early stage and longer at a late stage of the measuring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10928460
    Abstract: A circuit is formed by connecting positive terminals and negative terminals of a power storage device and an external power supply, and a resistor and a switch are arranged in series between a positive-side conductor and a negative-side conductor. An ON time for which the switch is temporarily closed before start of inspection is made longer as the capacity of the power storage device is larger. An ON voltage between the positive-side and negative-side conductors within the ON time, and an OFF voltage between these conductors at a time other than the ON time are obtained, and a parasitic resistance value of the circuit is calculated based on the ON and OFF voltages and a resistance value of the resistor. During the inspection, the voltage of the external power supply, which is applied to the power storage device, is increased according to the parasitic resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Goto, Kiwamu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20210011087
    Abstract: A power storage device inspecting method of inspecting a power storage device for an internal short circuit includes: detecting an external resistance Re which is generated in an external circuit in a state in which probes of an external power supply are connected to external terminals of the power storage device; applying an initial output voltage VS(0) with which an initial device current IB(0) of a device current IB(t) is zero; applying an output voltage VS(t) expressed by Equation (1) from the external power supply to the power storage device; and determining an internal short circuit of the power storage device based on a change with time of the device current IB(t) or a stabilized device current IBs. VS(t)=VS(0)+(Re?Ro1)·IB(t)??(1) Here, a first virtual external resistance Ro1 is a constant satisfying 0<Ro1<Re.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiwamu KOBAYASHI, Takeshi GOTO, Naotaka IDE, Ruri TANAKA
  • Patent number: 10884064
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus including the power supply device, positive and negative conductive lines, connected to the power supply device and having corresponding first and second probes, at corresponding front ends, a resistor and a switch serially disposed between the positive conductive line and the negative conductive line, a circuit resistance calculation unit that calculates a circuit resistance value based on a difference in voltage between when the switch is turned off and turned on, an inspection unit configured to inspect the electrical storage device, and a virtual resistance setting unit that increases the output voltage after the start of inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKT KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kobayashi, Takeshi Goto