Patents by Inventor Minami Sato

Minami Sato 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).

  • Patent number: 10562530
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus (12) performs a second support after forbidding acceleration by a first support, keeps forbidding the acceleration by the first support after the second support is completed and before a predetermined acceleration allowing condition is satisfied, and allows the acceleration by the first support after the acceleration allowing condition is satisfied, if both of an execution condition for the first support and an execution condition for the second support are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Miyuki Kamatani, Minami Sato, Kohei Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20200031394
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes: an assist device configured to perform a steering assist in which a steering torque for steering a vehicle in a direction away from a pedestrian is applied to the vehicle; and a canceller configured to cancel the steering assist if a cancellation condition is satisfied. The cancellation condition includes: a first condition caused by that at least a part of a traffic lane is not recognized; and a second condition caused by that a vehicle operation by a driver is performed. The canceller applies a steering torque in an opposite direction, which is opposite to a direction of the steering torque applied by the steering assist, to the vehicle if the first condition is satisfied, and is configured to increase a torque change amount per unit time of the steering torque in the opposite direction in comparison with when the second condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Miyuki KAMATANI, Minami SATO, Kazuyuki FUJITA
  • Patent number: 10421389
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes: a lighting device that emits a first light and a second light to a periphery of an own vehicle, the second light having a higher directivity than the first light; a camera to acquire image information; a detector to emit an electromagnetic wave and acquire a reflection wave; and an electronic control unit configured to detect a physical body using the image information, detect the physical body using information of the reflection wave, control the lighting device such that the first light is emitted to the physical body detected by the reflection wave, determine whether the physical body detected using the image information in a state where the first light is being emitted is an target object, and control the lighting device such that the lighting device emits the second light toward a predetermined range around the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Nagata, Shinya Kawamata, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20190217883
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an external sensor configured to acquire environmental information around a host vehicle, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control the host vehicle so that the host vehicle travels along a target travel trajectory; detect an adjacent preceding vehicle that is traveling in a lane adjacent to a lane in which the host vehicle is traveling; acquire environmental information on a road side or a lane on an opposite side of the lane in which the adjacent traveling vehicle is traveling from the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling; and generate the target travel trajectory of the host vehicle so as to move away from the adjacent preceding vehicle in a width direction of the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling, within a lane width of the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun OZAWA, Minami SATO, Shinichi NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20190092320
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes at least one electronic control unit configured to recognize at least one object, calculate a time to collision, operate first driving assistance, when the time to collision is equal to or less than a first threshold value, operate second driving assistance for avoiding the collision between the at least one object and the host vehicle or reducing damage of the collision, when the time to collision is equal to or less than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, and set, while the first driving assistance is operated, the second threshold value to a second setting value smaller than a first setting value set when the first driving assistance is not operated, when a second target object causing the second driving assistance to operate is the same object as a first target object causing the first driving assistance to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi NAGATA, Minami SATO, Miyuki KAMATANI, Akitoshi MINEMURA
  • Publication number: 20190088136
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes an electronic control unit configured to: recognize at least one object; determine a risk of the at least one object entering a course of the host vehicle; and perform, when the at least one object enters a target area set in front of the host vehicle with respect to the host vehicle, driving support. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the risk is high or low based on a relative relationship between two or more objects, and the electronic control unit is configured to set the target area to be larger when it is determined that the risk is high than when it is determined that the risk is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi NAGATA, Minami SATO, Miyuki KAMATANI, Akitoshi MINEMURA
  • Publication number: 20190061744
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an electronic control unit configured to: enlarge the detection range, when the electronic control unit determines that a current deceleration support control is control for passing the object; set a new target deceleration of the host vehicle when a new object with a possibility of collision with the host vehicle has been detected in the enlarged detection range; determine whether an interval from an ending time of the current deceleration support control to a starting time of the next deceleration support control is less than a threshold value, when the electronic control unit determines that the next deceleration support control is control for passing the new object; and perform one of the inter-vehicle distance control and acceleration support control from the ending time to the starting time, when the electronic control unit determines that the interval is less than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun OZAWA, Minami SATO, Shinichi NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20190064829
    Abstract: A control device includes an electronic control unit executes steering control for avoiding a collision with an object that has a possibility of colliding with a host vehicle. The electronic control unit sets a timing when the host vehicle is predicted to pass the object as an end timing of the steering control when the steering control is performed. The electronic control unit determines whether or not a deviation possibility is present when the electronic control unit assumes that the steering control ends at the end timing. The deviation possibility is a possibility of the host vehicle deviating from a current traveling lane accompanying an end of the steering control. The electronic control unit performs reduction processing that reduces the deviation possibility when the electronic control unit determines that the deviation possibility is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun OZAWA, Minami SATO, Shinichi NAGATA, Hiroshi IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20190061743
    Abstract: A control device includes an electronic control unit configured to expand a first detection range at least in front of a host vehicle during execution of current first steering control, determine whether next first steering control is needed to be implemented and whether a relative direction of a next second object with respect to the host vehicle is the same as a relative direction of a first object with respect to the host vehicle when the second object is detected, and perform relaxation steering control based on a target value smaller in absolute value than a return target value after an end of the current first steering control when the implementation of the next first steering control is determined to be needed and the relative directions with respect to the host vehicle are determined to be the same between the second and the first object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun OZAWA, Minami SATO, Shinichi NAGATA
  • Patent number: 10023230
    Abstract: A driving assisting section includes a collision avoidance assisting section, which performs collision avoidance assistance for avoiding collision between a vehicle to be assisted and an object by prompting turning of the vehicle. The driving assisting section further includes a lane-keeping assisting section, which performs lane keeping assistance. An assist arbitrating section arbitrates between the collision avoidance assistance by the collision avoidance assisting section and the lane keeping assistance by the lane-keeping assisting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20180170381
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus (12) performs a second support after forbidding acceleration by a first support, keeps forbidding the acceleration by the first support after the second support is completed and before a predetermined acceleration allowing condition is satisfied, and allows the acceleration by the first support after the acceleration allowing condition is satisfied, if both of an execution condition for the first support and an execution condition for the second support are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Miyuki KAMATANI, Minami SATO, Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Patent number: 9987979
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a first detection unit that detects a moving body around a host vehicle, a first determination unit that determines whether the moving body is a target to which an alert should be sent, a projection unit that can project a first pattern, which indicates first information on the host vehicle, in a predetermined range around the target, a second determination unit that determines whether another vehicle is projecting a second pattern, which indicates second information on the other vehicle, and a control unit that controls the projection unit such that the first pattern is projected at the predetermined range around the target and the first pattern does not overlap with the second pattern or such that the first pattern is not projected, when the other vehicle is projecting the second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Kawamata, Shinichi Nagata, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato
  • Patent number: 9963128
    Abstract: A travel assistance device includes an actuator and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a future position of a vehicle and an object, set an assistance range around the vehicle, determine whether an avoidance start condition is satisfied and in which of a first roadway area, a second roadway area, and a sidewalk area the object is positioned, set the avoidance start condition and a movement range of the object, so that the avoidance start condition is more easily determined to be satisfied when the object is in the first roadway area than when the object is in the second roadway area, and more easily determined to be satisfied when the object is in the second roadway area than when the object is in the sidewalk area, and perform a collision avoidance operation when the avoidance start condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Tochigi, Kazuyuki Fujita, Shinichi Nagata, Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20180022328
    Abstract: A travel assistance device includes an actuator and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a future position of a vehicle and an object, set an assistance range around the vehicle, determine whether an avoidance start condition is satisfied and in which of a first roadway area, a second roadway area, and a sidewalk area the object is positioned, set the avoidance start condition and a movement range of the object, so that the avoidance start condition is more easily determined to be satisfied when the object is in the first roadway area than when the object is in the second roadway area, and more easily determined to be satisfied when the object is in the second roadway area than when the object is in the sidewalk area, and perform a collision avoidance operation when the avoidance start condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei TOCHIGI, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Shinichi NAGATA, Minami SATO
  • Patent number: 9785042
    Abstract: A vehicular lighting apparatus is provided with: a detector configured to detect a movable body around a self-vehicle; a deteminator configured to determine whether or not the movable body is an object whose attention is to be called; and a projector configured to project predetermined visual information by using illumination light in a predetermined range around the object if it is determined by the determinator that the movable body is the object. The predetermined visual information includes first information to be presented to a driver of the self-vehicle and second information to be presented to the object. The predetermined visual information is visualized as the first information by the driver of the self-vehicle and is visualized as the second information by the object, depending on a viewpoint difference between the driver of the self-vehicle and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Shinya Kawamata, Shinichi Nagata, Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20170259728
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes: a lighting device that emits a first light and a second light to a periphery of an own vehicle, the second light having a higher directivity than the first light; a camera to acquire image information; a detector to emit an electromagnetic wave and acquire a reflection wave; and an electronic control unit configured to detect a physical body using the image information, detect the physical body using information of the reflection wave, control the lighting device such that the first light is emitted to the physical body detected by the reflection wave, determine whether the physical body detected using the image information in a state where the first light is being emitted is an target object, and control the lighting device such that the lighting device emits the second light toward a predetermined range around the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi NAGATA, Shinya KAWAMATA, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Minami SATO
  • Publication number: 20170253177
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a first detection unit that detects a moving body around a host vehicle, a first determination unit that determines whether the moving body is a target to which an alert should be sent, a projection unit that can project a first pattern, which indicates first information on the host vehicle, in a predetermined range around the target, a second determination unit that determines whether another vehicle is projecting a second pattern, which indicates second information on the other vehicle, and a control unit that controls the projection unit such that the first pattern is projected at the predetermined range around the target and the first pattern does not overlap with the second pattern or such that the first pattern is not projected, when the other vehicle is projecting the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya KAWAMATA, Shinichi NAGATA, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Minami SATO
  • Publication number: 20170255093
    Abstract: A vehicular lighting apparatus is provided with: a detector configured to detect a movable body around a self-vehicle; a determinator configured to determine whether or not the movable body is an object whose attention is to be called; and a projector configured to project predetermined visual information by using illumination light in a predetermined range around the object if it is determined by the determinator that the movable body is the object. The predetermined visual information includes first information to be presented to a driver of the self-vehicle and second information to be presented to the object. The predetermined visual information is visualized as the first information by the driver of the self-vehicle and is visualized as the second information by the object, depending on a viewpoint difference between the driver of the self-vehicle and the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki FUJITA, Shinya KAWAMATA, Shinichi NAGATA, Minami SATO
  • Patent number: 9460626
    Abstract: A driving support device and a driving support method, which can appropriately determine whether driving support is necessary and perform effective driving support, are provided. A driving support device calculates TTC, which is a time required for the vehicle to arrive at an intersection point at which the vehicle and a moving object intersect in the traveling direction of the vehicle and in a direction intersecting with the traveling direction, and TTV required for the moving object to arrive at the intersection point, and performs driving support in the vehicle based on the relative relation between TTC and TTV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minami Sato, Masayuki Shimizu, Shoichi Hayasaka
  • Publication number: 20160236684
    Abstract: Provided is a drive assist apparatus in which, when performing a linear search on search target values with respect to each of a plurality of search information items, the increase of maximum value of the total number of searches in all of the plurality of search information items can be suppressed. A drive assist apparatus 100 includes an assist determination unit 32 configured to, in calculation processing in a drive assist control of a host vehicle V, perform a linear search with respect to search information formed of a plurality of values. In a case of performing the linear search on the search target value which is the target of searching with respect to each of the plurality of search information items, the assist determination unit 32 alternately performs an ascending search and a descending search with respect to each search information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki KATOH, Minami SATO