Patents by Inventor Takahiko Kuwabara

Takahiko Kuwabara 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: 11981342
    Abstract: A display and voice output control system of a vehicle on which automated driving is performed includes a display device, a voice output device and a controller. The controller controls a notification of a recommended behavior by the display device and the voice output device. In the notification control, it is judged whether or not a notification condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied. If it is judged that the notification condition is satisfied, it is judged whether a notification relaxation condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied based on a status of a driver and a driving status of the vehicle. If it is judged that the notification relaxation conditions is satisfied, relaxation notification processing is executed. Otherwise, normal notification processing is executed. In the relaxation notification processing, an output status of the recommended behavior in the voice output device is controlled to an inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Sekine, Takahiko Kuwabara, Ko Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11897482
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is configured to request that a driver grip a steering wheel at the time of a predetermined driving scene, judge whether a steering wheel grip status is a one-handed grip status or a two-handed grip status, and judge based on the steering wheel grip status whether the status is a grip completion status where the steering wheel has finished being gripped. The control device is further configured to change whether to judge the status is a grip completion status if at least a one-handed grip status or to judge whether the status is a grip completion status only if a two-handed grip status in accordance with the driving scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Sekine, Takahiko Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 11472429
    Abstract: The vehicle controller includes a processor configured to determine whether a behavior of a driver of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined enabling condition after execution of a function of automatically stopping the vehicle. The function is executed due to not satisfying a driver-related condition for continuing the automated driving control of the vehicle. The enabling condition relates to driving control of the vehicle and is not imposed before the execution of the function. The processor is further configured to perform the automated driving control of the vehicle only when the behavior of the driver satisfies the enabling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Sekine, Takahiko Kuwabara, Taiyo Uejima, Sho Mikuriya
  • Patent number: 11453334
    Abstract: A controller executes output state control in which an output status of a sound signal outputted from a sound source device and that of a blowing sound outputted from a sounding device are controlled based on driving environment information. In the output state control, it is judged whether or not an output condition of the blowing sound is satisfied based on the driving environment information. If it is judged that the output condition is satisfied, a mute signal is outputted to a sound source device to mute the output of the sound signal and also a blowing signal including mute information is outputted to the sounding device. The mute information includes information on a start timing to output the blowing sound. The start timing is variably set in accordance with an importance of the information provided to an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ko Igarashi, Naoki Nishimura, Takahiko Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 11427247
    Abstract: A steering determination device determines a steering state in which a driver of a vehicle is steering a steering wheel of the vehicle. The device includes a torque recognition unit configured to recognize a steering torque based on a measurement result of a torque sensor provided on a steering shaft, an acceleration recognition unit configured to recognize longitudinal acceleration or lateral acceleration, a threshold value setting unit configured to set a threshold value for the determination of the steering state, based on the longitudinal acceleration or the lateral acceleration, and a steering determination unit configured to determine that the driver is in the steering state if the steering torque is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The threshold value setting unit is configured to set the threshold value such that the threshold value decreases as an absolute value of the longitudinal acceleration or the lateral acceleration decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Naoki Nishimura, Yoji Kunihiro, Takahiro Kojo, Hisaya Akatsuka, Maxime Moreillon, Tsutomu Tamura, Robert Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11249476
    Abstract: A steering holding determination device determines a steering holding state in which a driver of a vehicle holds a steering wheel of the vehicle in a steerable manner. The device includes a torque recognition unit that recognizes a steering torque based on a detection result of a torque sensor, a contact state recognition unit that recognizes a contact state or a non-contact state, a threshold value setting unit that sets a threshold value used for the steering holding state determination, based on a recognition result of the contact state recognition unit, and a steering holding determination unit that determines that the driver is in the steering holding state, when the steering torque is equal to or greater than the threshold value. When the non-contact state is recognized, the threshold value setting unit sets the threshold value to a larger value compared to a case when the contact state is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Toshihiro Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20220024462
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is configured to request that a driver grip a steering wheel at the time of a predetermined driving scene, judge whether a steering wheel grip status is a one-handed grip status or a two-handed grip status, and judge based on the steering wheel grip status whether the status is a grip completion status where the steering wheel has finished being gripped. The control device is further configured to change whether to judge the status is a grip completion status if at least a one-handed grip status or to judge whether the status is a grip completion status only if a two-handed grip status in accordance with the driving scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi SEKINE, Takahiko KUWABARA
  • Publication number: 20220001887
    Abstract: A display and voice output control system of a vehicle on which automated driving is performed includes a display device, a voice output device and a controller. The controller controls a notification of a recommended behavior by the display device and the voice output device. In the notification control, it is judged whether or not a notification condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied. If it is judged that the notification condition is satisfied, it is judged whether a notification relaxation condition of the recommended behavior is satisfied based on a status of a driver and a driving status of the vehicle. If it is judged that the notification relaxation conditions is satisfied, relaxation notification processing is executed. Otherwise, normal notification processing is executed. In the relaxation notification processing, an output status of the recommended behavior in the voice output device is controlled to an inactive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi SEKINE, Takahiko KUWABARA, Ko IGARASHI
  • Publication number: 20220001796
    Abstract: A controller executes output state control in which an output status of a sound signal outputted from a sound source device and that of a blowing sound outputted from a sounding device are controlled based on driving environment information. In the output state control, it is judged whether or not an output condition of the blowing sound is satisfied based on the driving environment information. If it is judged that the output condition is satisfied, a mute signal is outputted to a sound source device to mute the output of the sound signal and also a blowing signal including mute information is outputted to the sounding device. The mute information includes information on a start timing to output the blowing sound. The start timing is variably set in accordance with an importance of the information provided to an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ko IGARASHI, Naoki NISHIMURA, Takahiko KUWABARA
  • Publication number: 20210300403
    Abstract: The vehicle controller is configured to have a transition request notification unit which, when a first condition is satisfied, notifies a driver, by a first aspect, of a request of a driving transition from an autonomous driving mode in which operation by the driver during traveling is not necessary to a manual driving mode in which operation by the driver during traveling is necessary, and when a second condition, which has an urgency lower than the first condition, is satisfied, notifies the driver, by a second aspect having a lower strength than the first aspect, of the request of the driving transition, and when the driving transition has not been performed after a second aspect notification period has elapsed from the notification by the second aspect, notifies the request of the driving transition by the first aspect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Takahiko KUWABARA, Kiyotoshi SEKINE, Shunichiroh SAWAI
  • Publication number: 20210276581
    Abstract: The vehicle controller includes a processor configured to determine whether a behavior of a driver of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined enabling condition after execution of a function of automatically stopping the vehicle. The function is executed due to not satisfying a driver-related condition for continuing the automated driving control of the vehicle. The enabling condition relates to driving control of the vehicle and is not imposed before the execution of the function. The processor is further configured to perform the automated driving control of the vehicle only when the behavior of the driver satisfies the enabling condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi SEKINE, Takahiko KUWABARA, Taiyo UEJIMA, Sho MIKURIYA
  • Publication number: 20200172159
    Abstract: A steering determination device determines a steering state in which a driver of a vehicle is steering a steering wheel of the vehicle. The device includes a torque recognition unit configured to recognize a steering torque based on a measurement result of a torque sensor provided on a steering shaft, an acceleration recognition unit configured to recognize longitudinal acceleration or lateral acceleration, a threshold value setting unit configured to set a threshold value for the determination of the steering state, based on the longitudinal acceleration or the lateral acceleration, and a steering determination unit configured to determine that the driver is in the steering state if the steering torque is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The threshold value setting unit is configured to set the threshold value such that the threshold value decreases as an absolute value of the longitudinal acceleration or the lateral acceleration decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Takahiko KUWABARA, Naoki NISHIMURA, Yoji KUNIHIRO, Takahiro KOJO, Hisaya AKATSUKA, Maxime MOREILLON, Tsutomu TAMURA, Robert FUCHS
  • Publication number: 20200159212
    Abstract: A steering holding determination device determines a steering holding state in which a driver of a vehicle holds a steering wheel of the vehicle in a steerable manner. The device includes a torque recognition unit that recognizes a steering torque based on a detection result of a torque sensor, a contact state recognition unit that recognizes a contact state or a non-contact state, a threshold value setting unit that sets a threshold value used for the steering holding state determination, based on a recognition result of the contact state recognition unit, and a steering holding determination unit that determines that the driver is in the steering holding state, when the steering torque is equal to or greater than the threshold value. When the non-contact state is recognized, the threshold value setting unit sets the threshold value to a larger value compared to a case when the contact state is recognized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Toshihiro Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8385598
    Abstract: An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body and environmental information in a period when the moving image data is imaged, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, a unit that (i) generates feature quantity information, (ii) generates information to identify frames of the moving image data imaged at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition, (iii) obtains a length of continuous timings at which a length of the feature quantity information exceeds the predetermined condition based on to generated information, and (iv) stores the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Hitoshi Ikeda, Noriji Kato, Mihoko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20120106838
    Abstract: An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body and environmental information in a period when the moving image data is imaged, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, a unit that (i) generates feature quantity information, (ii) generates information to identify frames of the moving image data imaged at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition, (iii) obtains a length of continuous timings at which a length of the feature quantity information exceeds the predetermined condition based on to generated information, and (iv) stores the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiko KUWABARA, Hitoshi IKEDA, Noriji KATO, Mihoko WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8116517
    Abstract: An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data included in the acquired moving image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, and a unit that generates at least one of feature quantity information about an action of the predetermined portion of the human body detected in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify frame image data at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition as feature time point information. The feature time point information is applied to present the moving image data to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Hitoshi Ikeda, Noriji Kato, Mihoko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7756293
    Abstract: A movement analysis apparatus includes: a data acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of image data obtained by photographing a human body; a storing unit that stores target range designating information that designates, within the image data, a moving range of a predetermined part of the human body; a detecting unit that designates, for each set of image data included in the obtained moving image data, a plurality of image areas that correspond to the moving range of the predetermined part of the human body that is designated by the target range designating information, and detects, from the plurality of designated image areas, an image area including the predetermined part of the human body; and an output unit that outputs information representing the results detected by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Hitoshi Ikeda, Noriji Kato
  • Patent number: 7650014
    Abstract: An image analysis apparatus includes a unit that accepts plural dynamic image data obtained by imaging a subject to be recognized from positions different from each other, a unit that detects a part to be detected of the subject to be recognized from series of frame image data respectively included in the plural dynamic image data, and a correction unit that compares information of a detection position of the part to be detected from the respective dynamic image data and corrects at least a part of the information of the detection position of the part to be detected from the respective dynamic image data on a basis of a result of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ikeda, Motofumi Fukui, Takahiko Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20070206093
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: plural detection units that detect an object from image data by detection processing of different types; inclination estimation unit that estimates inclination of the object to a reference position based on the difference between detection results of the object, the detection results being detected by each of the plural detection units; and output unit that outputs information including estimated inclination of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Noriji Kato, Hitoshi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20060280367
    Abstract: An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data included in the acquired moving image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, and a unit that generates at least one of feature quantity information about an action of the predetermined portion of the human body detected in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify frame image data at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition as feature time point information. The feature time point information is applied to present the moving image data to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiko Kuwabara, Hitoshi Ikeda, Noriji Kato, Mihoko Watanabe