Patents by Inventor Naoki Tatara
Naoki Tatara 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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Patent number: 11951903Abstract: A driving assistance system includes an illumination apparatus and a controller. The illumination apparatus is configured to draw an avoidance pattern PTN on a road surface such that it indicates a lane in which the driver's vehicle is to travel or a direction in which the driver's vehicle is to travel. Upon detecting, by a sensor or communication, an obstacle in front of the driver's vehicle, the controller instructs the illumination apparatus to draw the avoidance pattern PTN.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi Sugimoto, Naoki Tatara
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Publication number: 20240109479Abstract: A road surface drawing system includes a road surface drawing lamp that is provided in a vehicle and illuminates a road surface with a beam, and a controller that controls the road surface drawing lamp and draws, with a beam BM, a pattern PTN on the road surface ahead of the vehicle. The controller draws a pattern PTN instructing the vehicle to stop if a signal state of an upcoming traffic signal is a red light.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki TATARA, Kiyotaka MOCHIZUKI
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Patent number: 11932166Abstract: A road surface drawing system includes a road surface drawing lamp that is provided in a vehicle and illuminates a road surface with a beam, and a controller that controls the road surface drawing lamp and draws, with a beam BM, a pattern PTN on the road surface ahead of the vehicle. The controller draws a pattern PTN instructing the vehicle to stop if a signal state of an upcoming traffic signal is a red light.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Kiyotaka Mochizuki
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Patent number: 11872604Abstract: The present invention is provided with: an outer housing configured from a housing having an opening, and a translucent cover closing the opening; a substrate disposed inside of the outer hosing; a camera module, which has an image pickup element, and is disposed on the substrate; and a light emitting element, which is provided as a light source, and is disposed on the substrate. Consequently, since the camera module and the light emitting element are disposed on the substrate that is disposed inside of the outer housing, the number of configuration components is small, thereby achieving reduction of the number of components, and size reduction.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura
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Patent number: 11850992Abstract: Provided is a lighting device capable of forming an optimal light distribution pattern in a situation in which vehicle travel is being automatically controlled. Provided is a lighting device (100) in which a region having the highest luminous intensity on a virtual projection plane (VP) when the virtual projection plane (VP) is divided into three equal parts from lowest to highest luminous intensity is isolated in the left and right directions by a V line, and at least a portion of the region having the highest luminous intensity is located in a first central portion (M1) of the virtual projection plane (VP).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura, Takeshi Masuda
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Patent number: 11820280Abstract: A lamp system is mounted on a vehicle provided with a HUD system. A variable light distribution lamp irradiates a beam to a road surface with a variable light intensity distribution so as to draw a pattern. A controller controls the variable light distribution lamp in cooperation with a HUD system.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20230331143Abstract: A lamp system includes a variable light distribution lamp. The variable light distribution lamp 110 irradiates a beam having a variable light intensity distribution to a road surface. A light distribution controller controls the variable light distribution lamp. In response to the start of a predetermined event, the light distribution controller draws a pattern that corresponds to the event. In response to the end of the event, the light distribution controller extinguishes the pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 11731554Abstract: A vehicle departure notification display device includes a road surface rendering unit which uses light to render a departure notification display having a prescribed shape on a road surface in the direction of travel of a vehicle, and a control unit which determines whether the departure notification display is required when the vehicle departs, controls the road surface rendering unit to render the departure notification display when determined to be required, and again controls the road surface rendering unit to stop the rendered departure notification display upon determining that notification of the departure notification display is to stop, wherein the control unit causes the road surface rendering unit to render the departure notification display upon detecting information indicating that a brake with which the vehicle is provided has switched from ON to OFF, serving as a determination that the departure notification display is required.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11678424Abstract: Problem: To provide an autonomous driving indication system that allows a pedestrian or another vehicle to clearly discriminate driving states of an autonomous driving vehicle and provide a vehicle communication system capable of sending an appropriate message to a pedestrian from a vehicle according to the probability of the pedestrian crossing the road. Means to Solve the Problem: Left and right headlamps (3) are each provided with a first communication lamp (6) and a second communication lamp (7) for indicating an autonomous driving state of a vehicle (1). The first and second communication lamps (6) and (7) are each comprised of a plurality of light emitting segments, and each light emitting segment is caused to flash by a lamp ECU. When flashing the light emitting segments, the lamp ECU controls the change in the brightness of the light emitting segments according to the driving state of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naoki Tatara
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Publication number: 20220410795Abstract: A road surface drawing system includes a road surface drawing lamp that is provided in a vehicle and illuminates a road surface with a beam, and a controller that controls the road surface drawing lamp and draws, with a beam BM, a pattern PTN on the road surface ahead of the vehicle. The controller draws a pattern PTN instructing the vehicle to stop if a signal state of an upcoming traffic signal is a red light.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki TATARA, Kiyotaka MOCHIZUKI
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Publication number: 20220381415Abstract: A lamp system includes a road surface drawing lamp that illuminates a road surface with a beam BM, and a lamp controlling unit that controls the road surface drawing lamp and draws, with the beam BM, a pattern PTN on the road surface ahead of a vehicle. The lamp controlling unit draws a first pattern before a start of a predetermined event and draws a second pattern at the start of the event. The first pattern includes first information to be presented in advance to a driver to allow the driver to respond to the event, and the second pattern includes second information corresponding to the event.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventor: Naoki TATARA
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Patent number: 11505110Abstract: Each of a pair of left and right vehicle head lamps includes a plurality of optical units in a lamp chamber. A variable light distribution type optical unit that changes a light distribution mode of a high beam depending on a surrounding state and a traveling state of a vehicle is disposed in a first vehicle head lamp on a passenger seat side, and a figure drawing optical unit capable of forming a desired figure on a road surface in front of the vehicle by emitted light is disposed at a position symmetrical to the variable light distribution type optical unit in a second vehicle head lamp on a driver seat side.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11506357Abstract: A vehicle head lamp includes a spatial light modulator and a control device. The vehicle head lamp forms a desired light distribution pattern by radiating light forward via the spatial light modulator, a high luminous intensity region and a low luminous intensity region adjacent to an outer edge of the high luminous intensity region are formed in the desired light distribution pattern to be irradiated by controlling the spatial light modulator, the low luminous intensity region is configured such that the luminous intensity decreases gradationally from the outer edge of the high luminous intensity region toward an outside of the low luminous intensity region, and the control device controls the spatial light modulator so as to relatively change at least one of sizes, luminous intensities, and positions of the high luminous intensity region and the low luminous intensity region based on a traveling condition of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11465553Abstract: When a pedestrian who is crossing a road or is about to cross a road is detected and it is determined that there is a risk of the own vehicle coming into contact with the pedestrian, a figure rendering forming optical unit provided in a housing of a head lamp emits a spot of light having a predetermined width and a predetermined length to a road surface ahead in a crossing direction including the pedestrian or the like. Accordingly, the pedestrian or the like knows the presence of an approaching vehicle and a driver knows the presence of the pedestrian or the like who is crossing a road or is about to cross a road.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20220219599Abstract: A vehicle departure notification display device includes a road surface rendering unit which uses light to render a departure notification display having a prescribed shape on a road surface in the direction of travel of a vehicle, and a control unit which determines whether the departure notification display is required when the vehicle departs, controls the road surface rendering unit to render the departure notification display when determined to be required, and again controls the road surface rendering unit to stop the rendered departure notification display upon determining that notification of the departure notification display is to stop, wherein the control unit causes the road surface rendering unit to render the departure notification display upon detecting information indicating that a brake with which the vehicle is provided has switched from ON to OFF, serving as a determination that the departure notification display is required.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2019Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20220055531Abstract: A driving assistance system includes an illumination apparatus and a controller. The illumination apparatus is configured to draw an avoidance pattern PTN on a road surface such that it indicates a lane in which the driver's vehicle is to travel or a direction in which the driver's vehicle is to travel. Upon detecting, by a sensor or communication, an obstacle in front of the driver's vehicle, the controller instructs the illumination apparatus to draw the avoidance pattern PTN.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Atsushi SUGIMOTO, Naoki TATARA
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Patent number: 11254258Abstract: There is provided a vehicular component which include an illumination device capable of favorably illuminating the periphery of a host vehicle. There is provided a vehicular component that includes an illumination device (3) installed on a roof part (30) and configured to cover a vehicle interior space from above. The illumination device (4) includes a light source unit (100) and a light emitting unit (300). The light emitting unit (300) configured to emit light by light emitted from the light source unit (100) is provided along an outer peripheral edge (31) of the roof part (30) in a top view of the vehicle (1).Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Tatara, Toshihiro Okamura, Takeshi Masuda, Osamu Endo
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Publication number: 20220034469Abstract: A vehicle head lamp includes a spatial light modulator and a control device. The vehicle head lamp forms a desired light distribution pattern by radiating light forward via the spatial light modulator, a high luminous intensity region and a low luminous intensity region adjacent to an outer edge of the high luminous intensity region are formed in the desired light distribution pattern to be irradiated by controlling the spatial light modulator, the low luminous intensity region is configured such that the luminous intensity decreases gradationally from the outer edge of the high luminous intensity region toward an outside of the low luminous intensity region, and the control device controls the spatial light modulator so as to relatively change at least one of sizes, luminous intensities, and positions of the high luminous intensity region and the low luminous intensity region based on a traveling condition of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2019Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka MOCHIZUKI, Naoki TATARA, Norihiko KOBAYASHI
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Publication number: 20220024422Abstract: A camera module shoots a satisfactory image by suppressing the adherence of water droplets to a part in a light transmitting cover through which imaging light is transmitted. Provided are an outer casing comprising a housing having an opening and a light transmitting cover for closing the opening; and a camera module arranged inside the outer casing. A part of the light transmitting cover is provided as a transmission window through which imaging light incident on the camera module is transmitted and a restriction part for restricting the inflow of water droplets toward the transmission window is provided to the light transmitting cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshihiro Okamura, Naoki Tatara, Akinobu Kubota
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Publication number: 20220001790Abstract: A pair of left and right vehicle headlights (1R, 1L) having a bilaterally symmetrical arrangement of optical units therein. A variable-light-distribution optical unit (ADB) is arranged inside the vehicle headlight (1R) on the passenger side and makes the high beam light distribution mode variable in accordance with the surroundings and travel state of the vehicle. A graphic drawing optical unit (RM) capable of forming a desired graphic on the road surface ahead of the vehicle, by using emitted light, is arranged at a position inside the vehicle front light (1L) on the driver side, said position corresponding to the arrangement position of the variable-light-distribution optical unit. As a result, distortion in graphics drawn on the road surface is suppressed and the impact of pitching can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyotaka MOCHIZUKI, Naoki TATARA, Norihiko KOBAYASHI