Patents by Inventor Shoji Tanaka
Shoji Tanaka 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: 8515612Abstract: A route planning device that is capable of comprehending, in advance, a route clearance at a pass-through point on a planned travel route, includes a global map acquisition unit arranged to generate a global map showing an obstacle area in which an obstacle exists, an extended area generation unit arranged to generate an extended obstacle area and three extended area by extending stepwise an outline of the obstacle area contained in the global map, an integrated map generation unit arranged to generate an integrated map by superposing for integration of the extended obstacle area with the three extended areas; a movable area extraction unit arranged to extract a movable area from the integrated map and thinning the same, and a route planning unit arranged to acquire a route clearance at a sub goal according to the extended areas on the integrated map to which the sub goal on the travel route belongs, upon planning the travel route from the thinned movable area.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Hideo Shitamoto
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Patent number: 8515613Abstract: An environmental map correction device that acquires an environmental map that matches an actual ambient environment includes a conversion unit arranged to convert object existence probability information of respective grids configuring a global map into image information (shading information of a black and white image), a display unit arranged to display a global map image based on the converted image information, an operation input unit arranged to receive a correcting operation from a user, a correction unit arranged to correct the global map image displayed by the display unit according to the correcting operation by the user, and an inversion unit arranged to acquire a corrected global map by inverting the corrected global map image (shading information) into the object existence probability information.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
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Publication number: 20130116880Abstract: An autonomous mobile body includes a storage unit arranged to store a size D2 of the autonomous mobile body, a laser range sensor arranged to acquire obstacle information, an obstacle identification unit arranged to identify, based on the acquired obstacle information, edge points indicating positions of both ends of a region in which an interfering obstacle exists, the both ends being both ends on a plane parallel or substantially parallel to a passage plane in a direction which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a moving target direction of the autonomous mobile body, a direction setting unit arranged to set a pull-off direction based on the size D2 of the autonomous mobile body and the edge points, and a mobile controller arranged and programmed to control the autonomous mobile body to move toward the pull-off direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Hideo Shitamoto, Tsuyoshi Nakano, Shoji Tanaka
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Patent number: 8411884Abstract: An audio reproduction device and system are capable of realizing sounds having natural sound quality with no peculiarities, and provide an excellent audio-image ascending effect which is not varied due to differences among individual persons, thereby making audio images and images coincident with each other. A frequency characteristic correction portion forms a frequency characteristic such that a sound-pressure frequency characteristic of reproduced sound radiated to a viewing position from speakers has a first peak and a second peak, wherein the center frequency of the first peak falls within the range of 6 kHz±15%, and the center frequency of the second peak falls within the range of 13 kHz±20%.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shoji Tanaka, Ryo Ogasawara
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Publication number: 20120287279Abstract: A parking support apparatus includes: a vehicle position locating control unit for locating a present position; a parking support database in which a guideline to be displayed at parking is registered for each parking space; cameras for shooting surroundings; a parking support screen generating unit for acquiring, when parking in a parking space placed at the position located by the vehicle position locating control unit, the guideline corresponding to the parking space from the parking support database, and for generating a parking support screen by superposing the guideline upon an image or images taken with the cameras; and a display unit for displaying the parking support screen created by the parking support screen generating unit. Accordingly, it can offer a parking support apparatus capable of displaying the optimum parking support image corresponding to a parking space and improving convenience.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2009Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shoji Tanaka, Takashi Sadahiro, Tsuyoshi Sempuku, Kuniyo Ieda, Hideto Miyazaki, Toyoaki Kitano
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Publication number: 20120283905Abstract: An autonomous mobile device that moves while autonomously avoiding zones into which entry should be avoided even if no obstacle exists therein includes a laser range finder that acquires peripheral obstacle information, a storage unit that stores an environment map that shows an obstacle zone where an obstacle exists, and a no-entry zone map which shows a no-entry zone into which entry is prohibited, a self-location estimation unit that estimates the self-location of a host device by using the obstacle information acquired by the laser range finder and the environment map, and a travel control unit that controls the host device to autonomously travel to the destination by avoiding the obstacle zone and the no-entry zone based on the estimated self-location, the environment map, and the no-entry zone map.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakano, Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120271830Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing device including a data acquisition unit for acquiring data from a medium, an integrated database for integrating the data acquired by the data acquisition unit thereinto, a data analysis determination unit for analyzing the data integrated into the integrated database, a display control unit for creating an image of a side view of and an image of a bottom view of a solid expressing the data integrated into the integrated database on the basis of an analysis result acquired by the data analysis determination unit and the data, and a display unit for displaying the images created by the display control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2009Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Tomohiro Shiino, Yoko Sano, Tsuyoshi Sempuku, Hideto Miyazaki, Kuniyo Ieda, Takashi Sadahiro, Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120239240Abstract: Provided is an autonomous mobile device capable of taking action that is suitable for executing a task in accordance with the situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakano, Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120179366Abstract: A map drawing device in accordance with the present invention includes a drawing data converting unit for converting map data acquired from a map database into map data in a data format which can be drawn, and for calculating degrees of importance of map objects each of which is a road, a background face or an icon, a drawing data sorting unit for rearranging the drawing data according to the degrees of importance, and a drawing data management unit for managing the drawing data processed by the drawing data sorting unit. The map drawing device further includes a drawing data cache unit for enabling control to either display or not display each of the map objects according to whether or not the corresponding calculated degrees of importance is equal to or higher than a threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2009Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20120109516Abstract: A navigation apparatus is provided that is highly convenient for a user to view a map screen and a menu window. A display controller 15 determines a view mode of each of a map screen and a menu window, based on information about a travel condition of a moving object from a route search unit 12 and an own-vehicle location identification unit, when the menu window is displayed according to information entered from an input unit 10. A display map generator 16 generates a map screen according to information about the view mode from the display controller 15. A display menu generator 17 generates a menu window according to information about the view mode from the display controller 15. A display unit 21 displays the map screen from the display map generator 16 and the menu window from the menu generator 17.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Hideto Miyazaki, Tsuyoshi Sempuku, Shoji Tanaka, Kuniyo Ieda, Takashi Sadahiro
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Patent number: 8135164Abstract: A speaker of the present invention includes the following: a diaphragm that includes an inner periphery coupled to a voice coil, and a corrugation provided at the intermediate position between the inner periphery and an outer periphery; a speaker edge for supporting the outer periphery of the diaphragm; and a damping member attached to an outer peripheral part of the diaphragm outside the vicinity of an outer periphery of the corrugation. The effective vibration area of an inner peripheral part of the diaphragm inside an inner periphery of the corrugation is substantially half or less of the total effective vibration area. The damping member is configured as a damping portion by extending an overlap portion of the speaker edge overlapping with the diaphragm to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the corrugation.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shoji Tanaka, Hiroko Tsutsumi, Takafumi Yuasa
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Publication number: 20120050814Abstract: Error diffusion processing is performed for each pixel in each region of an image divided into a plurality of regions, by scanning in both the first and second directions different to each other. A diffusion coefficient set for diffusing, to the pixel of interest to be processed, a quantization error generated upon quantizing a pixel near the pixel of interest is set in accordance with the position of the pixel of interest in scanning in the first direction in the region of interest. The pixel of interest to which an error has been diffused from a pixel position referring to the set diffusion coefficient set is quantized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20110320117Abstract: Including a vehicle position determining unit (4, 6, 7, 11) for determining current position of a mobile unit; a map DB 15 that stores map data; a display unit 18 for displaying on its screen the map data and a vehicle mark indicating the position of the mobile unit on a map; an operation input unit 10 for inputting a user operation; a route searching unit 12 for searching for a route to a destination or a route to the destination via a spot on the route; and a map generating unit 17. When the map on the screen moves in response to operation information from the operation input unit 10, the map generating unit reads the map data from the map DB 15, generates a general map including the current position and vehicle mark, and displays it on the display unit 18 as a partial area in the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sempuku, Shoji Tanaka, Masato Hirai, Hideto Miyazaki, Kuniyo Ieda, Takashi Sadahiro
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Publication number: 20110267370Abstract: A drawing layer control device includes a drawing frequency monitoring unit 104 for monitoring drawing update frequency of each window. When drawing update frequencies of windows allocated to the same layer differ, a drawing layer managing unit 105 reallocates windows with nearly the same drawing update frequency to the same layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2009Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Shoji Tanaka
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Patent number: 8044960Abstract: A character display apparatus searches through a cache means for vector font data which match character attributes of a character to be displayed to acquire the vector font data, and, when no vector font data which match the character attributes of the character to be displayed exist in the cache means, acquires the vector font data from a large-volume storage means. If there exists no corresponding luminance image data in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires luminance image data generated from the vector font data. If there exists no corresponding display image in the cache means, the character display apparatus acquires display character image data generated from the luminance image data. The character display apparatus displays the display image which is thus acquired and which matches the character attributes of the character to be displayed on a display device.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Mitsumasa Sakurai, Yuusuke Yokosuka, Shoji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20110255559Abstract: To provide a digital data transmitting apparatus and a digital data receiving apparatus that can realize, even when a transmission channel characteristic changes because of aged deterioration or the like of a relay, improvement of a reception performance following the change. A transmitting apparatus 1 generates a multiplexing frame formed by N slots including control information, data, outer parities, stuff bits, and inner parities and added with synchronization, pilot, and a transmission control signal and a parity and transmits data of the respective slots in a Transmission system designated by the transmission control signal. In this case, pilot signals are symbols allocated to all signal points in order determined in advance for each of modulation schemes. A receiving apparatus 2 rewrites a phase error table 214 to calculate a phase error and performs synchronous detection according to the pilot signals. The receiving apparatus 2 also rewrites a likelihood table 235 to perform inner code decoding.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: NIPPON HOSO KYOKAIInventors: Akinori Hashimoto, Yoichi Suzuki, Kazuyoshi Shogen, Shoji Tanaka, Hisashi Sujikai
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Patent number: 8000220Abstract: To provide a digital data transmitting apparatus and a digital data receiving apparatus that can realize, even when a transmission channel characteristic changes because of aged deterioration or the like of a relay, improvement of a reception performance following the change. A transmitting apparatus 1 generates a multiplexing frame formed by N slots including control information, data, outer parities, stuff bits, and inner parities and added with synchronization, pilot, and a transmission control signal and a parity and transmits data of the respective slots in a transmission system designated by the transmission control signal. In this case, pilot signals are symbols allocated to all signal points in order determined in advance for each of modulation schemes. A receiving apparatus 2 rewrites a phase error table 214 to calculate a phase error and performs synchronous detection according to the pilot signals. The receiving apparatus 2 also rewrites a likelihood table 235 to perform inner code decoding.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Nippon Hoso KyokaiInventors: Akinori Hashimoto, Yoichi Suzuki, Kazuyoshi Shogen, Shoji Tanaka, Hisashi Sujikai
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Publication number: 20110178669Abstract: An electronic controller defining an autonomous mobile device a self-location estimation unit to estimate a self-location based on a local map that is created according to distance/angle information relative to an object in the vicinity and the travel distance of an omni wheel, an environmental map creation unit to create an environmental map of a mobile area based on the self-location and the local map during the guided travel with using a joystick, a registration switch to register the self-location of the autonomous mobile device as the position coordinate of the setting point when the autonomous mobile device reaches a predetermined setting point during the guided travel, a storage unit to store the environmental map and the setting point, a route planning unit to plan the travel route by using the setting point on the environmental map stored in the storage unit, and a travel control unit to control the autonomous mobile device to autonomously travel along the travel route.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
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Publication number: 20110178668Abstract: An environmental map correction device that acquires an environmental map that matches an actual ambient environment includes a conversion unit arranged to convert object existence probability information of respective grids configuring a global map into image information (shading information of a black and white image, a display unit arranged to display a global map image based on the converted image information, an operation input unit arranged to receive a correcting operation from a user, a correction unit arranged to correct the global map image displayed by the display unit according to the correcting operation by the user, and an inversion unit arranged to acquire a corrected global map by inverting the corrected global map image (shading information) into the object existence probability information.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Nakano
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Publication number: 20110166737Abstract: A route planning device that is capable of comprehending, in advance, a route clearance at a pass-through point on a planned travel route, includes a global map acquisition unit arranged to generate a global map showing an obstacle area in which an obstacle exists, an extended area generation unit arranged to generate an extended obstacle area and three extended area by extending stepwise an outline of the obstacle area contained in the global map, an integrated map generation unit arranged to generate an integrated map by superposing for integration of the extended obstacle area with the three extended areas; a movable area extraction unit arranged to extract a movable area from the integrated map and thinning the same, and a route planning unit arranged to acquire a route clearance at a sub goal according to the extended areas on the integrated map to which the sub goal on the travel route belongs, upon planning the travel route from the thinned movable area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventors: Shoji Tanaka, Hideo Shitamoto