Patents by Inventor Norihiko Kato

Norihiko Kato 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: 20240104768
    Abstract: An article detection device includes: an image acquiring unit acquiring a surroundings image; a first information image preparing unit preparing a first information image by converting information on a load/unloading target portion of the article to an easily recognizable state based on the surroundings image; a first calculation unit calculating at least one of a position and a posture of the load/unloading target portion; a second information image preparing unit preparing a second information image by converting information on a pitch angle detection portion of the article to an easily recognizable state; and a second calculation unit configured extracting at least two edge candidates for the article extending in a specific direction and included in the second information image based on a calculation result from the first calculation unit and calculating a three-dimensional direction vector indicating a pitch angle of the article from the edge candidates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicants: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Nobuyuki KITA, Takuro Kato, Daisuke Okabe, Eiichi Yoshida, Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato, Naoya Yokomachi, Tatsuya Komuro
  • Publication number: 20230110512
    Abstract: A forklift includes a vehicle body, a fork that mounts a pallet, and a sensor provided in an insertion portion of the fork. The forklift inserts the insertion portion into an insertion opening, while moving the fork. When the sensor detects a proximity state, in which the insertion portion has approached a facing surface to such an extent that a distance between the insertion portion and the facing surface is less than or equal to a specified value, the forklift executes a stopping process that stops movement of the fork. The forklift executes an avoidance process that tilts and vertically moves, after the stopping process, the fork to separate the insertion portion away from the facing surface such that a position of the insertion portion with respect to an entrance of the insertion opening does not change in an up-down direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato, Daisuke Okabe
  • Publication number: 20230092793
    Abstract: The control unit includes a retrieval target article identification unit configured to identify a retrieval target article from among the articles stored in the storage unit on the basis of retrieval information indicating a retrieval completion state, a reverse sequential operation calculation unit configured to calculate a reverse sequential operation when it is assumed that the retrieval target article is moved to the storage position in the storage unit in a reverse sequence from the retrieval completion state, and a retrieval operation calculation unit configured to calculate a retrieval operation in which the retrieval target article is moved from the storage position in the storage unit and is in the retrieval completion state by reproducing the reverse sequential operation in reverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Itsuki NODA, Akinori WAKABAYASHI, Kenji HASHIMOTO, Hideo YANAGISAWA, Ikumitsu KOHARA, Norihiko KATO
  • Publication number: 20230039143
    Abstract: An own-position estimating device for estimating an own-position of a moving body by matching a feature extracted from an acquired image with a database in which position information and the feature are associated with each other in advance, includes an estimating unit estimating the own-position of the moving body by matching the feature extracted by the extracting unit with the database, and a determination threshold value adjusting unit adjusting a determination threshold value for extracting the feature, in which the determination threshold value adjusting unit acquires the database in a state in which the determination threshold value is adjusted, and adjusts the determination threshold value on the basis of the determination threshold value linked to each of the position information items in the database, and the extracting unit extracts the feature from the image by using the determination threshold value adjusted by the determination threshold value adjusting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Tatsuya KOMURO, Norihiko KATO
  • Publication number: 20230027659
    Abstract: An own-position estimating device for estimating an own-position of a moving body by matching a feature extracted from an acquired image with a database in which position information and the feature are associated with each other in advance, includes an evaluation result acquiring unit acquiring an evaluation result obtained by evaluating matching eligibility of the feature in the database, and a processing unit processing the database on the basis of the evaluation result acquired by the evaluation result acquiring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, National Institute of advanced industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tatsuya KOMURO, Norihiko KATO, Atsuhiko BANNO, Masashi YOKOZUKA, Hiromu ONDA
  • Publication number: 20220219254
    Abstract: A method of connection to a conductive material for, such as, a switchable film, includes steps of providing a switchable film having a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a switchable layer, a second conductive layer, and a second substrate; applying a solder material to the first conductive layer with ultrasonic application to provide a first busbar; and applying the solder material to the second conductive layer with ultrasonic application to provide a second busbar. The busbars are to be connected to connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: CARLEX GLASS AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Wladislaw BRONSTEIN, Jean-Marc SOL, Norihiko KATO
  • Publication number: 20220189055
    Abstract: There is provided an item detection device that detects an item to be loaded and unloaded and includes an image acquisition unit acquiring a surrounding image obtained by capturing surroundings of the item detection device, an information image creation unit creating an information image, in which information related to a part to be loaded and unloaded in the item has been converted into an easily recognizable state, on the basis of the surrounding image, and a computing unit computing at least one of a position and a posture of the part to be loaded and unloaded on the basis of the information image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yasuyo KITA, Nobuyuki KITA, Ryuichi TAKASE, Tatsuya KOMURO, Norihiko KATO
  • Patent number: 11267458
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a body, an axle pivotally supported by the body, a lateral acceleration sensor determining lateral acceleration applied to the body when the industrial vehicle is turned, an actuator temporally restricting pivoting of the axle while the industrial vehicle is being turned, a vehicle speed limiter limiting traveling speed of the industrial vehicle when the industrial vehicle is turned, and a controller driving the actuator based on the lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor to temporally restrict pivoting of the axle and to limit traveling speed of the industrial vehicle based on the lateral acceleration. In the controller a first lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether traveling speed of the industrial vehicle should be limited is set larger than a second lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether pivoting of the axle should be temporally restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takehiro Kubotani, Norihiko Kato, Hitoshi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 10981762
    Abstract: The industrial vehicle includes a body, an axle, a lateral acceleration sensor determining lateral acceleration, an actuator temporally restricting pivoting of the axle, a vehicle speed limiter limiting vehicle traveling speed, and a controller driving the actuator based on the lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor to temporally restrict pivoting of the axle while the industrial vehicle is being turned and to limit traveling speed of the industrial vehicle based on lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor when the industrial vehicle is turned. A first lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether traveling speed of the industrial vehicle should be limited is set smaller than a second lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether pivoting of the axle should be temporally restricted. An upper limit deceleration rate is set for limiting the traveling speed of the industrial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takehiro Kubotani, Norihiko Kato, Hitoshi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 10315641
    Abstract: In the case that there is the charge record of the charger at the system startup time, the motor travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the accumulated charge ration SOC is more than or equal to the threshold value Sev, and the hybrid travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the accumulated charge ratio SOC is less than the threshold value Sev. In the case that there is no charge record of the charger, the travel mode is set in the same way as the case that there is the charge record when the hybrid travel shift flag Fhv is equal to value ‘0’, and the hybrid travel priority mode is set as the travel mode when the hybrid travel shift flag Fhv is equal to value ‘1’.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 10279811
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control device for an industrial vehicle is configured to control a vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle. The vehicle speed control device includes an operation detector that is configured to detect whether an accelerator pedal is being operated and a controller that is configured to control the vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle by controlling the rotation speed of the engine. The controller is configured to derive a vehicle speed limit value that increases during an operated state of the accelerator pedal and decreases during a non-operated state of the accelerator pedal, and set an upper limit value of the vehicle speed to the derived vehicle speed limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 10183851
    Abstract: A cargo vehicle includes a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a cargo handling apparatus operated by hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump, a cargo operating unit for performing an instruction operation to operate the cargo handling apparatus, an electromagnetic proportional control valve disposed between the hydraulic pump and the cargo handling apparatus, a valve controller that controls the electromagnetic proportional control valve depending on an operation state of the cargo operating unit, and a revolution detector that detects a revolution of the engine, wherein the valve controller controls the electromagnetic proportional control valve such that an opening degree of the electromagnetic proportional control valve is limited for a certain time when the revolution of the engine detected by the revolution detector is lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide
  • Patent number: 10053347
    Abstract: A cargo vehicle includes a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a cargo handling apparatus operated by hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump, a cargo operating unit for performing an instruction operation to operate the cargo handling apparatus, an electromagnetic proportional control valve disposed between the hydraulic pump and the cargo handling apparatus, a valve controller that controls the electromagnetic proportional control valve depending on an operation state of the cargo operating unit, and a revolution detector that detects a revolution of the engine, wherein the valve controller controls the electromagnetic proportional control valve such that an opening degree of the electromagnetic proportional control valve is limited for a certain time when the revolution of the engine detected by the revolution detector is lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide
  • Patent number: 10017206
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling steering of an industrial vehicle includes a wheel angle detector, a travel determining device, and a control calculation device that calculates a wheel angle average and a maximum variation of wheel angle in the specified period and learns a reference steering limit angle. The control calculation device determines that the steerable wheel is in a steering limit state if an actual traveling speed is maintained at the specified speed or higher for the specified period of time or longer, the average wheel angle in the specified period of time is at a specified angle or greater, and the maximum variation of wheel angle in the specified period of time is at a specified value or less. The control calculation device renews the reference steering limit angle if the steerable wheel is determined to be in the steering limit state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Gouki Kawaguchi, Norihiko Kato, Hitoshi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 10018270
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a hydraulic mechanism, an operation lever, and a pump, a hydraulic control valve unit, a lever operation detector, an internal combustion engine controller, and a valve controller that controls the hydraulic control valve unit. When the lever operation detector detects the operation of the operation lever under a situation in which a speed of the internal combustion engine is less than or equal to a predetermined speed, the valve controller operates the hydraulic control valve unit to discharge the hydraulic oil without supplying the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic mechanism and instructs the internal combustion engine controller to increase the speed of the internal combustion engine, and subsequently operates the hydraulic control valve unit to supply the hydraulic mechanism with the hydraulic oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide
  • Patent number: 10017367
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic operation device, a supply passage, a drainage passage, an unloading valve that connects the supply passage and the drainage passage to each other, and a controller that controls open/closed state of the unloading valve. If an on-load period at the time of application of load on the engine is less than a first predetermined time, the controller performs open/close control of causing the unloading valve to enter the closed state to set an on-load state, thereby increasing pressure of hydraulic oil passing through the supply passage and then causing the unloading valve to enter the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide
  • Publication number: 20180162383
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a body, an axle pivotally supported by the body, a lateral acceleration sensor determining lateral acceleration applied to the body when the industrial vehicle is turned, an actuator temporally restricting pivoting of the axle while the industrial vehicle is being turned, a vehicle speed limiter limiting traveling speed of the industrial vehicle when the industrial vehicle is turned, and a controller driving the actuator based on the lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor to temporally restrict pivoting of the axle and to limit traveling speed of the industrial vehicle based on the lateral acceleration. In the controller a first lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether traveling speed of the industrial vehicle should be limited is set larger than a second lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether pivoting of the axle should be temporally restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takehiro Kubotani, Norihiko Kato, Hitoshi Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20180162705
    Abstract: The industrial vehicle includes a body, an axle, a lateral acceleration sensor determining lateral acceleration, an actuator temporally restricting pivoting of the axle, a vehicle speed limiter limiting vehicle traveling speed, and a controller driving the actuator based on the lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor to temporally restrict pivoting of the axle while the industrial vehicle is being turned and to limit traveling speed of the industrial vehicle based on lateral acceleration determined by the lateral acceleration sensor when the industrial vehicle is turned. In the controller, a first lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether traveling speed of the industrial vehicle should be limited is set smaller than a second lateral acceleration threshold value which is used in judging whether pivoting of the axle should be temporally restricted. An upper limit value is set in deceleration in limiting traveling speed of the industrial vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takehiro KUBOTANI, Norihiko KATO, Hitoshi FUKUOKA
  • Patent number: 9959963
    Abstract: A current controller includes a current control circuit and a current detection circuit, which detects a current flowing through a solenoid of an electromagnetic proportional relief valve. The current control circuit sets a current command to a sum of a value obtained by multiplying a feedforward gain by a target current value, a value obtained by multiplying a proportional gain by a current deviation, and a value obtained by multiplying an integral gain by a current deviation integral value. The current control circuit then controls the current flowing through the solenoid in accordance with the current command. When the current detected by the current detection circuit is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the current control circuit resets the current deviation and the current deviation integral value and sets the current command based on the reset values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 9897018
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus of an industrial vehicle has a controller that determines a target engine speed by PI control based on a deviation between a target vehicle speed and an actual vehicle speed. The controller controls an upper limit of the target engine speed according to an actual engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide