Patents by Inventor Kota Irie

Kota Irie 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: 20130235201
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle peripheral area observation system that can, with a simple configuration, detect a pedestrian who has a possibility of hitting against the vehicle by removing an appearance motion due to water vapor or a light source fluctuation. A water vapor region is detected from motion information and luminance information from videos captured with an on-vehicle camera, and recognition of a moving object in the water vapor region is invalidated for a given period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro KIYOHARA, Yoshitaka UCHIDA, Shoji MURAMATSU, Kota IRIE
  • Patent number: 8421863
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle image display device capable of providing, from among images of the peripheral area of a vehicle that can change in accordance with the driving state, an image of a part needed by the driver at an appropriate timing so that the driver can recognize the positional relationship between the vehicle and the peripheral area of the vehicle. Images captured with in-vehicle cameras are acquired, and a vehicle periphery image is generated from such images. Then, a collision-warned part of the vehicle that has a possibility of hitting a nearby object is selected based on the vehicle driving state, and the acquired image is processed to generate an enlarged image of the peripheral area of the collision-warned part of the vehicle selected by the collision-warned part selection part. Then, a composite display image, in which the positions of the enlarged image and the vehicle periphery image are displayed in a correlated manner, is generated and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Yumiba, Masahiro Kiyohara, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Publication number: 20120327236
    Abstract: With a simple configuration, a vehicle periphery monitoring system that easily detects pedestrian that has a possibility to collide with a vehicle to which the monitoring system is installed. Based on a change rate in the size of the image of the observation object captured at a preset time interval by an onboard camera 111 and the presence or absence of the deformation of the observation object image between the captured images, it is determined whether the observation object is a pedestrian relatively approaching the vehicle to which the monitoring system is installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro KIYOHARA, Shoji Muramatsu, Kota Irie, Yoshitaka Uchida
  • Publication number: 20120269382
    Abstract: An object recognition device includes; an image-capturing unit mounted to a mobile body; an image generation unit that converts images captured by the image-capturing unit at different time points to corresponding synthesized images as seen vertically downwards from above; a detection unit that compares together a plurality of the synthesized images and detects corresponding regions; and a recognition unit that recognizes an object present upon the road surface from a difference between the corresponding regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyohara, Kota Irie, Naoki Kourogi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Yoshitaka Takahashi, Shoji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8289391
    Abstract: There is provided apparatus for vehicle surroundings monitorings that assists so as to make it possible for a driver to check the periphery of the vehicle with ease. Plural images are obtained by capturing the periphery of the vehicle with mutually differing exposure. A process of image recognition is then performed for a target within the thus obtained images. The images are then compared, and images for which the accuracy of image recognition of the target is favorable are selected from among the images. The selected images are joined and composited to generate a host vehicle periphery composite image. Thus, an image with a wide dynamic range and high visibility is generated, thereby making it easier for the driver to check the periphery of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyohara, Ryo Yumiba, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Publication number: 20120224747
    Abstract: An in-vehicle running-environment recognition apparatus including an input unit for inputting an image signal from in-vehicle imaging devices for photographing external environment of a vehicle, an image processing unit for detecting a first image area by processing the image signal, the first image area having a factor which prevents recognition of the external environment, an image determination unit for determining a second image area based on at least any one of size of the first image area, position thereof, and set-up positions of the in-vehicle imaging devices having the first image area, an environment recognition processing being performed in the second image area, the first image area being detected by the image processing unit, and an environment recognition unit for recognizing the external environment of the vehicle based on the second image area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai HIGUCHI, Yuji Otsuka, Takeshi Shima, Kimiyoshi Machii, Shoji Muramatsu, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 8212878
    Abstract: An on-vehicle camera calibration apparatus includes: an on-vehicle camera; a camera parameter calculation unit configured to calculate camera parameters from a characteristic amount of a road surface sign photographed by the on-vehicle camera and recognized by an image processing and to output the camera parameters, wherein the camera parameters include an installation height and installation angle of the on-vehicle camera in photographing; and a camera parameter calibration unit configured to perform optical axis calibration control of the on-vehicle camera by the camera parameters output from the camera parameter calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Shoji Muramatsu, Yuji Otsuka, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Patent number: 8204276
    Abstract: An in-vehicle running-environment recognition apparatus including an input unit for inputting an image signal from in-vehicle imaging devices for photographing external environment of a vehicle, an image processing unit for detecting a first image area by processing the image signal, the first image area having a factor which prevents recognition of the external environment, an image determination unit for determining a second image area based on at least any one of size of the first image area, position thereof, and set-up positions of the in-vehicle imaging devices having the first image area, an environment recognition processing being performed in the second image area, the first image area being detected by the image processing unit, and an environment recognition unit for recognizing the external environment of the vehicle based on the second image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai Higuchi, Yuji Otsuka, Takeshi Shima, Kimiyoshi Machii, Shoji Muramatsu, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 8184860
    Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention performs a task to execute an image processing This image processing device comprises a picture frame assigning unit that assigns an identification number to the image data to be collected by a picture collection device, an image capture requested picture of checking unit that checks whether the image data to which the identification number is assigned is identical with the image data that is requested by the task, an requested picture frame image collection notification unit that notifies the task of the image data having been collected which the task requests, if the image data to which the picture frame number is assigned is identical with the image data which the task requests, and an image capture requested picture frame receiving unit receives an image collection request from the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Tstsuaki Nakamikawa, Takeshi Shima, Yuji Otsuka, Mirai Higuchi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Patent number: 8081800
    Abstract: A detection system of vehicle interior condition includes an illumination unit for illuminating a plurality of mutually different illumination regions including at least one seat of a vehicle and a surrounding region thereof so as to have different illumination time durations shifted by a predetermined time. An imaging unit photographs an occupant and/or an object on the seat upon each illumination of the illumination unit. A control processor compares a plurality of images photographed by the imaging unit, and generates information indicative of a condition of the occupant or object, based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota Irie, Isao Furusawa, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Publication number: 20110234761
    Abstract: Provided is a three-dimensional object emergence detecting device capable of detecting the emergence of a three-dimensional object rapidly and correctly at low costs. Based on a bird's-eye view image 30 taken by a camera 21 mounted in a vehicle 20, the three-dimensional object emergence detecting device detects the emergence of a three-dimensional object 22 in the vicinity of the vehicle. From the bird's-eye view image 30, the three-dimensional object emergence detecting device extracts orthogonal-direction characteristic components 46 and 47, which are on the bird's-eye view image 30 and has directions 36 and 37 orthogonal to a view direction 33 of the camera 21, and based on amounts of the extracted orthogonal-direction characteristic components 46 and 47, detects the emergence of the three-dimensional object 22. This prevents from erroneously detecting incidental changes in the image, such as sway of sunshine or movement of a shadow, as the emergence of the three-dimensional object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Ryo Yumiba, Masahiro Kiyohara, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 7957559
    Abstract: In conventional systems using an onboard camera disposed rearward of a vehicle for recognizing an object surrounding the vehicle, the object is recognized by the camera disposed rearward of the vehicle. In the image recognized by the camera, a road surface marking taken by the camera appears at a lower end of a screen of the image, which makes it difficult to predict a specific position in the screen from which the road surface marking appears. Further, an angle of depression of the camera is large, and it is a short period of time to acquire the object. Therefore, it is difficult to improve a recognition rate and to reduce false recognition. Results of recognition (type, position, angle, recognition time) made by a camera disposed forward of the vehicle, are used to predict a specific timing and a specific position of a field of view of a camera disposed rearward of the vehicle, at which the object appears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Shoji Muramatsu, Yuji Otsuka, Kimiyoshi Machii, Mirai Higuchi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Patent number: 7948397
    Abstract: Image information apparatuses, methods, and programs acquire image information of a plurality of frames of images sensed at predetermined regular time intervals. The apparatuses, methods, and programs detect a leading and trailing end of a lane mark included in a detection area defined in each frame of the image information. The apparatuses, methods, and programs detect a detected distance from one of the leading and trailing end of the lane mark to the other one as a detected distance based on the speed of the vehicle and the number of frames between a frame in which one of the leading end and the trailing end of the lane mark is detected and a frame in which the other one of the leading end and the trailing end of the lane mark is detected and determine a lane mark type of the lane mark on the basis of the detected distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Nakamura, Tomoaki Ishikawa, Osamu Aisaka, Kota Irie, Naoki Kourogi, Takeshi Shima, Masahiro Kiyohara
  • Publication number: 20110074957
    Abstract: There is provided apparatus for vehicle surroundings monitorings that assists so as to make it possible for a driver to check the periphery of the vehicle with ease. Plural images are obtained by capturing the periphery of the vehicle with mutually differing exposure. A process of image recognition is then performed for a target within the thus obtained images. The images are then compared, and images for which the accuracy of image recognition of the target is favorable are selected from among the images. The selected images are joined and composited to generate a host vehicle periphery composite image. Thus, an image with a wide dynamic range and high visibility is generated, thereby making it easier for the driver to check the periphery of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyohara, Ryo Yumiba, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Publication number: 20110025848
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle image display device capable of providing, from among images of the peripheral area of a vehicle that can change in accordance with the driving state, an image of a part needed by the driver at an appropriate timing so that the driver can recognize the positional relationship between the vehicle and the peripheral area of the vehicle. Images captured with in-vehicle cameras are acquired, and a vehicle periphery image is generated from such images. Then, a collision-warned part of the vehicle that has a possibility of hitting a nearby object is selected based on the vehicle driving state, and the acquired image is processed to generate an enlarged image of the peripheral area of the collision-warned part of the vehicle selected by the collision-warned part selection part. Then, a composite display image, in which the positions of the enlarged image and the vehicle periphery image are displayed in a correlated manner, is generated and displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo YUMIBA, Masahiro Kiyohara, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Publication number: 20100040289
    Abstract: A road sign recognition apparatus generates a mosaic image formed by connecting accumulated images from a camera in time-series order, determines multiple road signs contained in the mosaic image by template matching, and generates positional information for the use of knowing a relative position of a vehicle to the road sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota IRIE, Masahiro KIYOHARA, Naoki KOUROGI
  • Publication number: 20090174577
    Abstract: Image information apparatuses, methods, and programs acquire image information of a plurality of frames of images sensed at predetermined regular time intervals. The apparatuses, methods, and programs detect a leading and trailing end of a lane mark included in a detection area defined in each frame of the image information. The apparatuses, methods, and programs detect a detected distance from one of the leading and trailing end of the lane mark to the other one as a detected distance based on the speed of the vehicle and the number of frames between a frame in which one of the leading end and the trailing end of the lane mark is detected and a frame in which the other one of the leading end and the trailing end of the lane mark is detected and determine a lane mark type of the lane mark on the basis of the detected distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Nakamura, Tomoaki Ishikawa, Osamu Aisaka, Kota Irie, Naoki Kourogi, Takeshi Shima, Masahiro Kiyohara
  • Publication number: 20080192984
    Abstract: An in-vehicle running-environment recognition apparatus including an input unit for inputting an image signal from in-vehicle imaging devices for photographing external environment of a vehicle, an image processing unit for detecting a first image area by processing the image signal, the first image area having a factor which prevents recognition of the external environment, an image determination unit for determining a second image area based on at least any one of size of the first image area, position thereof, and set-up positions of the in-vehicle imaging devices having the first image area, an environment recognition processing being performed in the second image area, the first image area being detected by the image processing unit, and an environment recognition unit for recognizing the external environment of the vehicle based on the second image area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai HIGUCHI, Yuji Otsuka, Takeshi Shima, Kimiyoshi Machii, Shoji Muramatsu, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Publication number: 20080025597
    Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention performs a task to execute an image processing This image processing device comprises a picture frame assigning unit that assigns an identification number to the image data to be collected by a picture collection device, an image capture requested picture of checking unit that checks whether the image data to which the identification number is assigned is identical with the image data that is requested by the task, an requested picture frame image collection notification unit that notifies the task of the image data having been collected which the task requests, if the image data to which the picture frame number is assigned is identical with the image data which the task requests, and an image capture requested picture frame receiving unit receives an image collection request from the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Tstsuaki Nakamikawa, Takeshi Shima, Yuji Otsuka, Mirai Higuchi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie
  • Publication number: 20080013789
    Abstract: In conventional systems using an onboard camera disposed rearward of a vehicle for recognizing an object surrounding the vehicle, the object is recognized by the camera disposed rearward of the vehicle. In the image recognized by the camera, a road surface marking taken by the camera appears at a lower end of a screen of the image, which makes it difficult to predict a specific position in the screen from which the road surface marking appears. Further, an angle of depression of the camera is large, and it is a short period of time to acquire the object. Therefore, it is difficult to improve a recognition rate and to reduce false recognition. Results of recognition (type, position, angle, recognition time) made by a camera disposed forward of the vehicle, are used to predict a specific timing and a specific position of a field of view of a camera disposed rearward of the vehicle, at which the object appears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi SHIMA, Shoji Muramatsu, Yuji Otsuka, Kimiyoshi Machii, Mirai Higuchi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Kota Irie