Patents by Inventor Seiji Kawakami

Seiji Kawakami 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: 20240120733
    Abstract: A cutoff control apparatus controls a cutoff unit in a vehicle-mounted system which includes: a power storage unit; a power line between the power storage unit and a load; and the cutoff unit that switches between a cutoff state that cuts off supplying of power on the power line from the power storage unit side to the load side and a canceled state where the cutoff state is canceled. In the vehicle-mounted system, the cutoff unit includes a first cutoff unit and a second cutoff unit, and the second cutoff unit enters the cutoff state when a first overcurrent state has occurred on the power line with the first cutoff unit in the canceled state. The cutoff control apparatus includes a control apparatus that instructs the first cutoff unit to switch to the cutoff state when the power line is in a second overcurrent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Junji TSUCHIYA, Takafumi KAWAKAMI, Seiji TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 10596941
    Abstract: A headrest includes: (a) a headrest frame, (b) a speaker unit supported by the headrest frame and having a speaker box, a speaker attached to the speaker box, and a megaphone-shaped tube attached to the speaker box, (c) a cushion material, (d) a skin material having an opening, sewed into a pouch shape, and covering the headrest frame, the speaker unit, and the cushion material, and (e) a ring-shaped member securing the entire opening-side end portion of the skin material sandwiched between the ring-shaped member and the megaphone-shaped tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: TACHI-S ENGINEERING U.S.A. INC., BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Kakishima, Ravi Krishnan, Dave Hamel, Barry McLean, Seiji Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20190184881
    Abstract: A headrest includes: (a) a headrest frame, (b) a speaker unit supported by the headrest frame and having a speaker box, a speaker attached to the speaker box, and a megaphone-shaped tube attached to the speaker box, (c) a cushion material, (d) a skin material having an opening, sewed into a pouch shape, and covering the headrest frame, the speaker unit, and the cushion material, and (e) a ring-shaped member securing the entire opening-side end portion of the skin material sandwiched between the ring-shaped member and the megaphone-shaped tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Yasuo KAKISHIMA, Ravi KRISHNAN, Dave HAMEL, Barry McLEAN, Seiji KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8676441
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering assist device which can perform steering assist control having excellent capability to follow up a traveling path by increasing the steering amount in the steering control at a curve entrance. A steering assist device of the present invention is a steering assist device 1 for calculating a steering target value based on a shape of a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, and assisting steering according to the steering target value, wherein it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance of the traveling path, and when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance, a change in the steering target value is increased compared with the case of traveling a part of the path other than a curve entrance. As a result, a steering amount to turn the steering wheel can be increased at a curve entrance, and a delay in the turning of the steering wheel at a curve entrance can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Quy Hung Nguyen Van, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8150581
    Abstract: In a driving assistance system having an actuator (16) for steering steered wheels of a vehicle, a positional deviation detecting unit (9) detects a deviation of a position of the vehicle from a forward travel path of the vehicle based on information around the vehicle. A steering control variable determination unit (2) determines a steering control variable to cancel the deviation. If a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed detecting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed, the steering control variable determined by a steering control variable determination unit (2) decreases with an increase of the vehicle speed under the condition that the deviation of the position of the vehicle from the forward travel path is same. The driving assistance system can reduce a driver's discomfort caused by the steering control through the actuator (16) when the vehicle is running at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 8118126
    Abstract: A steering assist system for applying a steering torque reduces the influence of a time-dependent steering control amount on an assist steering torque when a predetermined driving operation by a driver is detected. Thus, the influence of the time-dependent steering control amount on the applied steering torque, which increases when the period of time over which actual moving state deviates from the target moving state increases is reduced when the driver makes the predetermined driving operation. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem where steering feel degrades because the steering torque increases over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chumsamutr Rattapon, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8086372
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a steering assistance apparatus which can accurately detect a curve exit of a running path and perform steering assistance control with an excellent running path following capability. The steering assistance apparatus of the present invention is a steering assistance apparatus 1 for providing a steering mechanism with a steering torque such that a vehicle runs along a running path according to an image capturing the running path in front of the vehicle, which estimates a curve direction of the running path by processing the image, estimates a steering direction of a driver of the vehicle according to a steering operation of the driver, and determines that the vehicle is running through a curve exit according to a fact that the estimated curve direction and steering direction do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to determine the curve exit of the running path accurately and perform appropriate steering assistance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Okuda, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7692534
    Abstract: In deviation prevention support ECU 10 in driving operation support system 1, an applied torque by steering torque applier 17 is set based on a vehicle speed of a vehicle. The applied torque is set to increase with increase of the vehicle speed. An upper limit according to the vehicle speed is set for this applied torque. Furthermore, in a Start interval in application of the applied torque, a rate of increasing to reach a maximum is determined according to the maximum of the applied torque. In a close interval, the applied torque is decreased at a rate different from that in the Start interval, and the absolute rate of increasing the torque in the Start interval is set to be larger than the absolute rate of decreasing the torque in the close interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7688186
    Abstract: A vehicle speed V is read (step S1), V is compared with a first threshold Vth1 (step S2), and, when V is not less than Vth1, a warning torque is set smaller with increase in V (step S3). When V is less than Vth1, V is further compared with a second threshold Vth2 (step S4), and when V is less than Vth2, the warning torque is set approximately in proportion to the vehicle speed (step S5); when V is not less than Vth2 and is less than Vth1, the warning torque is set at a predetermined constant value (step S6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20100004822
    Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a steering assistance apparatus which can accurately detect a curve exit of a running path and perform steering assistance control with an excellent running path following capability. The steering assistance apparatus of the present invention is a steering assistance apparatus 1 for providing a steering mechanism with a steering torque such that a vehicle runs along a running path according to an image capturing the running path in front of the vehicle, which estimates a curve direction of the running path by processing the image, estimates a steering direction of a driver of the vehicle according to a steering operation of the driver, and determines that the vehicle is running through a curve exit according to a fact that the estimated curve direction and steering direction do not coincide with each other. This makes it possible to determine the curve exit of the running path accurately and perform appropriate steering assistance control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Okuda, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Publication number: 20090265062
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering assist device which can perform steering assist control having excellent capability to follow up a traveling path by increasing the steering amount in the steering control at a curve entrance. A steering assist device of the present invention is a steering assist device 1 for calculating a steering target value based on a shape of a traveling path on which a vehicle travels, and assisting steering according to the steering target value, wherein it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance of the traveling path, and when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling a curve entrance, a change in the steering target value is increased compared with the case of traveling a part of the path other than a curve entrance. As a result, a steering amount to turn the steering wheel can be increased at a curve entrance, and a delay in the turning of the steering wheel at a curve entrance can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Quy Hung Nguyen Van, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7599773
    Abstract: A parking assist device for assisting parking operation to a target parking position includes an initial position setting device for setting an initial position of the target parking position to park a vehicle, a designation display showing the target parking position, a display position calculation device for calculating an initial display position of the designation display showing the target parking position at a screen showing vehicle surroundings based on the initial position determined by the initial position setting device, and an initial display position shifting device for shifting the initial display position of the designation display to a position within a display range on the screen in case the initial display position calculated by the display position calculation device is positioned outside of the display range on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Tomohiko Endo, Akira Matsui, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20090194350
    Abstract: A steering assist system for applying a steering torque reduces the influence of a time-dependent steering control amount on an assist steering torque when a predetermined driving operation by a driver is detected. Thus, the influence of the time-dependent steering control amount on the applied steering torque, which increases when the period of time over which actual moving state deviates from the target moving state increases is reduced when the driver makes the predetermined driving operation. Thus, it is possible to avoid the problem where steering feel degrades because the steering torque increases over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Chumsamutr Rattapon, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7557732
    Abstract: A vehicle speed V is compared with a threshold Vth; when V is less than Vth, TLC is set to an initial value t0; when V is not less than Vth, TLC is set shorter with increase in V. Then TLC is compared with a predetermined value t th, and when TLC is less than t th, TLC is replaced by t th being a lower limit. This improves compatibility between a reduction in an occurrence frequency of needless warnings and a guarantee of a deviation margin time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7555379
    Abstract: A guiding device is disclosed for guiding a vehicle to a target position by controlling the steering angle while estimating the vehicle position at least based on a steering angle value, characterized in that, in estimating the vehicle position, a slowing operation with respect to a change dp in a moving distance of the vehicle is applied to a turning curvature g(Str(p)) estimated based on the steering angle value in order to compensate for the delay due to tire deformation, whereby the delay-compensated turning curvature y(p) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Endo, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7542840
    Abstract: A driving control apparatus of the present invention has a driving road keeping device for providing a torque to a steering mechanism so as to keep a vehicle traveling at a predetermined position on a driving road; a driving road departure warning device for issuing a warning of a departure from the driving road on the basis of a position of the vehicle relative to the driving road; and a setting device for setting a need or no need for execution of a control of the driving road keeping device or the driving road departure warning device. Where the setting device sets a need for execution of the control, the control of the driving road keeping device is executed when an activation condition of the driving road keeping device is met and when a cruise control device is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Kawakami, Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7532981
    Abstract: Lane width information Winf acquired by a traffic lane detector is retrieved (step S1); when a value of the lane width information Winf is within a predetermined range of change amount relative to a lane width output Wout_old at a previous time step, i.e., not less than (Wout_old+Wdec) nor more than (Wout_old+Winc), Winf is used directly as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S9?S11?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf is off the predetermined range, i.e., less than (Wout_old+Wdec), (Wout_old+Wdec) is outputted as the lane width output value Wout (steps S5?S9?S10?S8); when the value of lane width information Winf exceeds (Wout_old+Winc), (Wout_old+Winc) is outputted as the lane width output Wout (steps S5?S6?S8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7526368
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus performs a guidance of a vehicle toward a target parking position, even after the guidance has been canceled. The target parking position is set in accordance with an operation applied to a target parking position designation display that is displayed on a screen showing a periphery of the vehicle. It is determined whether a cancellation condition of canceling the guidance of the vehicle toward the target parking position is established. A memory continuously holds target parking position information even after the cancellation condition is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Endo, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7509211
    Abstract: An apparatus for warning deviation from a lane has a deviation evaluation ECU 1. The deviation evaluation ECU 1 has a deviation evaluator 14 for performing an evaluation on a deviation by comparing a future position of a host vehicle with a lane future position. Before this deviation evaluation, a mask processor 13 determines whether a yaw angle of the host vehicle and a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a driving lane exceed their respective thresholds preliminarily determined. When either one or the both are not more than the thresholds, the mask processor 13 performs a mask process, without performing the deviation evaluation. A deviation evaluator 14 performs the deviation evaluation when the yaw angle and the lateral position relative to the driving lane both exceed their respective thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Niwa, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Chumsamutr Rattapon
  • Patent number: 7501962
    Abstract: A vehicle speed V is compared with a threshold Vth; when V is less than Vth, TLC is set to an initial value t0; when V is not less than Vth, TLC is set shorter with increase in V. Then TLC is compared with a predetermined value t th, and when TLC is less than t th, TLC is replaced by t th being a lower limit. This improves compatibility between a reduction in an occurrence frequency of needless warnings and a guarantee of a deviation margin time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Chumsamutr Rattapon