Patents by Inventor Masaru Sawaki

Masaru Sawaki 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: 20210229677
    Abstract: A disturbance degree calculation system includes a sensor that acquires data on a factor that hinders safe driving of a driver, and a disturbance degree calculation unit that calculates a disturbance degree indicating a degree of disturbance to the driver's safe driving based on the factor hindering the safe driving of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Takaaki SUGIYAMA, Masahiko KAWAMOTO, Yoshinori KAWABATA, Toshihiro SHINTAI, Akemi KOGA, Masaru SAWAKI
  • Publication number: 20200319786
    Abstract: In a vehicular display apparatus, in response to that a rotation operation is detected, a view of a plurality of items displayed on a circular ring-shaped second display area is rotated along the outer periphery of a circle-shaped first display area. An item displayed at a predetermined position among the plurality of items displayed on the second display area is determined as a processing target item. Processing is executed for inputting a character on a character input screen on the first display area according to the determined processing target item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Masaru SAWAKI, Ichiro YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 7903843
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus uses a bird's eye image for supporting a backing operation of a vehicle for parking. The bird's eye image is processed to display an area view that at least includes a parking lot captured in the image. Then, the area view is displayed in a display space in a display unit of the image processing apparatus for representing a parking area and related information. In this manner, the area view excludes unnecessary part from the bird's eye image for effectively providing a visual support for the backing operation by a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Sawaki, Masatoshi Aboh, Takemi Ueno, Yoshinori Watanabe, Hidehiko Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7647170
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus for a vehicle displays, based on map information, a map image for vicinity of a present position of the vehicle and a guidance route in superimposition in a display device. An end point relative to a moving arrow is defined as being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the route; a start point is defined as being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the route. The navigation apparatus is further configured to superimpose, on the displayed route, the moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, such that the arrowhead moves from the start point to the end point along the route when a distance to a nearest guidance point is smaller than a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Sawaki, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7580780
    Abstract: A vehicle position detector in a vehicle on a road leading to a junction predictably evaluates road attributes for determining false map matching possibility before the vehicle actually reaches the junction. The evaluation is based on, for example, an attribute such as a direction of the road, an incline of the road or the like. The position of the vehicle in association with the traveling road in a map matching process is stochastically determined and is used for controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Sawaki
  • Patent number: 7488906
    Abstract: A steering switch device has an operation member to be operated on a steering wheel of a vehicle. An operation condition of the operation member is controlled by a control unit when the steering wheel is rotated. The operation member is for example a cylindrical member and disposed operable in a rotation manner. When the steering switch is rotated, a rotating operation of the cylindrical operation member is restricted by the control unit. Alternatively, the rotating operation of the operation member is controlled to be loaded. In a case that the operation member is a button member for indicating a direction, a pressing operation of the button member is controlled so as not to be pressed or to be loaded by the control unit when the steering wheel is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Taguchi, Masaru Sawaki, Tetsuya Enokizaka, Tsuneo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20090030601
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus for a vehicle displays, based on map information, a map image for vicinity of a present position of the vehicle and a guidance route in superimposition in a display device. An end point relative to a moving arrow is defined as being a predetermined first distance ahead of the present position along the route; a start point is defined as being a predetermined second distance smaller than the first distance ahead of the present position along the route. The navigation apparatus is further configured to superimpose, on the displayed route, the moving arrow which includes an arrowhead and a line between the arrowhead and the present position, such that the arrowhead moves from the start point to the end point along the route when a distance to a nearest guidance point is smaller than a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Sawaki, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080084417
    Abstract: A character input apparatus includes a display device, list display control means, a storage device, operation means, and retrieval means. The list display control means displays selectable characters in a one-dimensional character list display area defined in a character input screen. The list display control means is configured to display a certain number of characters in the character list display area. The storage device stores dictionary data. The operation means selects and inputs one of the characters. The retrieval means retrieves a character string from the dictionary data. The list display control means displays only an associated character in the character list display area in accordance with a retrieval by the retrieval means. Here, the associated character may follow the character string that has been already inputted. The list display control means omits a display of an other character other than the associated character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Sawaki, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070230745
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus uses a bird's eye image for supporting a backing operation of a vehicle for parking. The bird's eye image is processed to display an area view that at least includes a parking lot captured in the image. Then, the area view is displayed in a display space in a display unit of the image processing apparatus for representing a parking area and related information. In this manner, the area view excludes unnecessary part from the bird's eye image for effectively providing a visual support for the backing operation by a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Sawaki, Masatoshi Aboh, Takemi Ueno, Yoshinori Watanabe, Hidehiko Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20070078598
    Abstract: A display device for a vehicle has a display unit that has a meter display area and a navigation display area. The meter display area displays vehicle operation condition, and the navigation display area displays travel route guidance. When a display color changes in the travel route guidance in the navigation display area, color of the vehicle operation condition in the meter display area is also changed so that the color of the travel route guidance becomes more eye-catching than the vehicle operation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Watanabe, Miki Kato, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Masaru Sawaki, Hidehiko Kawakami, Hirokazu Shibata
  • Publication number: 20070068336
    Abstract: A steering switch device has an operation member to be operated on a steering wheel of a vehicle. An operation condition of the operation member is controlled by a control unit when the steering wheel is rotated. The operation member is for example a cylindrical member and disposed operable in a rotation manner. When the steering switch is rotated, a rotating operation of the cylindrical operation member is restricted by the control unit. Alternatively, the rotating operation of the operation member is controlled to be loaded. In a case that the operation member is a button member for indicating a direction, a pressing operation of the button member is controlled so as not to be pressed or to be loaded by the control unit when the steering wheel is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Taguchi, Masaru Sawaki, Tetsuya Enokizaka, Tsuneo Uchida
  • Publication number: 20060293844
    Abstract: A vehicle position detector in a vehicle on a road leading to a junction predictably evaluates road attributes for determining false map matching possibility before the vehicle actually reaches the junction. The evaluation is based on, for example, an attribute such as a direction of the road, an incline of the road or the like. The position of the vehicle in association with the traveling road in a map matching process is stochastically determined and is used for controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Sawaki