Patents by Inventor Tomohiko Endo

Tomohiko Endo 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: 20060251264
    Abstract: Resonant frequencies f2 and f3 detected in a resonant space are determined as center frequencies of a dip. Based on measurement values at a speaker and a microphone in the resonant space, a basic amplitude frequency characteristic Ca and a target amplitude frequency characteristic Cd are found. A smoothness degree on a frequency axis is larger in the target amplitude frequency characteristic Cd than the basic amplitude frequency characteristic Ca. A damping level and quality factor of the dip are determined based on a difference between the basic amplitude frequency characteristic Ca and the target amplitude frequency characteristic Cd in the center frequencies f2 and f3 of the dip and frequencies near the center frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicants: TOA CORPORATION, ETANI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Higashihara, Shokichiro Hino, Koichi Tsuchiya, Tomohiko Endo
  • Patent number: 7127339
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus for a vehicle which calculates a path by an algorithm suitable for real-time path calculation in a vehicle-installed computing device is provided. A basic path that changes the deflection angle of the vehicle to 0 is computed from an initial vehicle position. From the basic path, a target path is computed, for example, by adding straight-line paths to the two opposite ends of the basic path. On the basis of the target path, a driving assist is performed. During the driving assist, a basic path is re-calculated. If it is determined that a similarity-enlarged path obtained through similarity enlargement of the basic path can be used to reach the target position point, a target path is re-set on the basis of the similarity-enlarged path. Then a driving assist is performed on the basis of the re-set target path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Tomohiko Endo, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7117073
    Abstract: A parking-assist device for an automotive vehicle comprises an imaging unit which creates an image of an exterior behind the vehicle. A target-parking-position input unit inputs a target parking position to park the vehicle when requested. A target-parking-position memory access unit stores the target parking position and reads the stored target parking position when requested. A vehicle-travel-amount detection unit detects an amount of travel of the vehicle. A parking-route determining unit calculates a parking route from a current position of the vehicle to the target parking position. A display unit displays the created image and displays one of the target parking position inputted and the stored target parking position read on the created image in a superimposed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    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, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7103461
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus and method for a vehicle capable of guiding the vehicle at appropriate vehicle speed in accordance with the path is provided. The alarm vehicle speed for informing a driver of overspeed during driving assist is set lower for a changing steer region than for a fixed steer region. The lower alarm vehicle speed is set before the changing steer region is entered. Therefore, in the changing steer region, the vehicle speed can be sufficiently reduced, so that a set amount of steering can be accomplished. In the fixed steer region, the vehicle speed can be increased so as to reduce the time of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Tomohiko Endo, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7099758
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus includes an initial traveling locus calculator for calculating an initial traveling locus, a new traveling locus calculating a new traveling locus when a deviation amount of the present vehicle position from a current traveling locus is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value, and a parking assist for performing a parking assist to guide the vehicle along the traveling locus. The parking assist apparatus further includes an initial traveling locus deviation calculator for calculating the deviation amount of the present vehicle position from the initial traveling locus generated by the calculation of the initial traveling locus calculator. The parking assist stops performing the parking assist when the deviation amount calculated by the initial traveling locus deviation calculator is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value which is smaller than the fist predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    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
  • Patent number: 7085634
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus allows a target parking position to be set by a user moving a target parking frame displayed together with an actual image of surroundings of a vehicle, and automatically guides the vehicle to the set target parking position. In the parking assist apparatus, the target parking frame is initially displayed through the use of past setting of the target parking position by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Endo, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7075456
    Abstract: A parking assist device includes a leading path generation judging device for judging whether an effective leading path to a target parking position is generated. According to the parking assist device, a parking assist for leading a vehicle to the target parking position is conducted in accordance with a judged result of the leading path generation judging device. The leading path generation judging device includes a first judging device for judging whether the leading path is generated when an initial steering angle of the vehicle is determined as a steering angle initial value, and a second judging device for judging whether the leading path is generated when a steering angle other than the initial steering angle is determined as the steering angle initial value in case it is judged that the leading path is not generated by the first judging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    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: 20060140414
    Abstract: A device 1 for measuring a propagation time of a sound wave comprises a sound source means 11 and a calculation means 12. The sound source means 11 outputs a time stretched pulse as a sound source signal input to a speaker 3. The calculation means 12 calculates a cross-correlation function of the time stretched pulse and the sound signal which is output from the speaker 3 and is received in a microphone 4. Based on the cross-correlation function, the propagation time of the sound wave between the speaker 3 and the microphone 4 is found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicants: TOA CORPORATION, ETANI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Higashihara, Shokichiro Hino, Koichi Tsuchiya, Tomohiko Endo
  • Patent number: 7053794
    Abstract: A parking assist device (1) includes a camera (3) for capturing an image of an exterior of a vehicle, and a monitor (4) for displaying the captured image, and sets a target parking position by moving a target parking frame (11) displayed on a screen of the monitor (4). A default position of the target parking frame (11) is determined based on a target parking position (P2) which is a relative position with respect to a parking preparation position (P1). The target parking position (P2) is estimated based on a running state of the vehicle until the vehicle reaches the parking preparation position (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Tomohiko Endo, Hisashi Satonaka, Mitsuhiko Morita, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7043346
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus includes a display unit that displays a target parking frame to be superimposed on an actual image around a vehicle with its position adjustable by a user, a position determining unit that determines a target parking position corresponding to the position of the target parking frame displayed on the actual image, and a parking assist control unit that controls to guide the vehicle to the target parking position on a target path. The parking assist apparatus further includes a feature determining unit that determines a feature on the actual image through an image recognition, and a path correction unit that automatically corrects the target path such that a correlation between the target parking position upon start of a parking assist control and the feature is maintained during execution of the parking assist control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Kubota, Hisashi Satonaka, Tomohiko Endo, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Patent number: 7039504
    Abstract: A vehicle backward movement assist device includes a vehicle path determining means for determining a path from a current position of the vehicle moved at a moving amount detected by a vehicle moving amount detecting means to a first target position or a second target position, the vehicle path determining means determining the path by repeatedly calculating the path, and a displaying means for displaying an image of a rear view from a captured by an image capturing means, the displaying means superimposing the first or second target position of the vehicle moved based upon the first or second target position and the detected moving amount on the image of the rear view from the vehicle, the second target position calculated by updating the first target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Hisashi Satonaka, Tomohiko Endo, Yuichi Kubota, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7012550
    Abstract: Parking assist apparatus and method cause a vehicle driver to set a target parking position in which the vehicle is to be parked by prompting the driver to specify the position of a parking space frame in the screen of a touch display by touch-operating arrow button switches shown in the screen, and then calculate a path to the target parking position. If a path to the target parking position is not generated by calculation, the arrow button switches for moving the parking space frame in such directions that a path will not be generated (i.e., the vehicle cannot be parked), among all the arrow button switches, are made non-displayed or are displayed dimmer than the other arrow button switches, and are disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Iwakiri, Hisashi Satonaka, Yuichi Kubota, Tomohiko Endo, Akira Matsui, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka, Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata
  • Publication number: 20050264432
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus for a vehicle includes a recognizing apparatus for recognizing a target position for parking the vehicle, a calculating apparatus for calculating a course for parking the vehicle from a current vehicle position to the target position recognized by the recognizing apparatus during the vehicle being moving and an informing apparatus for informing a user of the vehicle that the vehicle can be parked at the recognized target position when the course of the vehicle has been correctly calculated by the calculating apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Tomohiko Endo, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Yoichi Iwata, Hisashi Satonaka, Takuya Itoh
  • Patent number: 6950035
    Abstract: A parking assist system includes an image obtaining means for obtaining an image of a view from a vehicle, a displaying means for displaying the image obtained by the image obtaining means in a monitor display provided in the vehicle, an inputting means for inputting a target parking position, at which the vehicle is parked, on the monitor display, a detecting means for detecting a relative relationship between the vehicle and the target parking position, and a judging means for judging whether or not the vehicle can be parked at the target parking position based upon the relative relationship detected by the detecting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Hisashi Satonaka, Tomohiko Endo, Mitsuhiko Morita, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Seiji Kawakami, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6929082
    Abstract: In a parking assist apparatus that assists with moving, by automatic steering, a vehicle from an arbitrary stopping position to a target parking position set by the driver, a setting portion (i.e., a parking assist ECU) sets both a path from the stopping position to the target parking position and a steering operation necessary to bring the vehicle along that path. When this path cannot be set with the steering angle in the stopping position set as the initial steering angle, and when the path can be set with another steering angle as the initial steering angle, an instruction portion (i.e., a monitor or a speaker) instructs the driver to turn the steering wheel to this other steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aishin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Hisashi Satonaka, Seiji Kawakami, Mitsuhiko Morita, Tomohiko Endo, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Yoshifumi Iwata, Yuu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20050169488
    Abstract: An improved acoustic characteristic adjustment device comprises signal processing units including high frequency convolution arithmetic sections, low frequency convolution arithmetic sections, and delay sections. The device further comprises: an operation section from which a listener inputs a target characteristic in order to adjust a desired acoustic characteristic; an impulse characteristic control section; and a delay time control section. The impulse characteristic control section calculates impulse response data to effect convolution arithmetics. The delay time control section calculates alignment delay times necessary for sounds emitted from the speakers to reach a listening position. The delay time control section also calculates correction times for compensating various phase deviations. Times obtained by correcting the alignment delay times with the correction times are set as the delay times of the delay sections, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Shinjiro Kato, Akira Shimizu, Moriyuki Oshima, Mitsuo Nakazato, Shigeki Kobayashi, Kunio Toyoda, Koji Takano, Shokichiro Hino, Tomohiko Endo, Kouichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6919822
    Abstract: According to a parking assist device and a method for assisting parking of the invention, when a parking assist is canceled after a start of the parking assist, and the parking assist is restarted, a target parking position (P2B) is reset at a reset position (P1B). In the invention, at this time, the target parking position (P2B) is determined based on a target parking position (P2A) which is set at a parking preparation position (P1A), and the determined target parking position (P2B) is displayed on a screen of a monitor (4) as a default display position of a target parking frame (11) at a reset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Tomohiko Endo, Hisashi Satonaka, Mitsuhiko Morita, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20050057374
    Abstract: A parking assist device includes a leading path generation judging device for judging whether an effective leading path to a target parking position is generated. According to the parking assist device, a parking assist for leading a vehicle to the target parking position is conducted in accordance with a judged result of the leading path generation judging device. The leading path generation judging device includes a first judging device for judging whether the leading path is generated when an initial steering angle of the vehicle is determined as a steering angle initial value, and a second judging device for judging whether the leading path is generated when a steering angle other than the initial steering angle is determined as the steering angle initial value in case it is judged that the leading path is not generated by the first judging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    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: 20050060073
    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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    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: 20050055139
    Abstract: A vehicle backward movement assist device includes a vehicle path determining means for determining a path from a current position of the vehicle moved at a moving amount detected by a vehicle moving amount detecting means to a first target position or a second target position, the vehicle path determining means determining the path by repeatedly calculating the path, and a displaying means for displaying an image of a rear view from a captured by an image capturing means, the displaying means superimposing the first or second target position of the vehicle moved based upon the first or second target position and the detected moving amount on the image of the rear view from the vehicle, the second target position calculated by updating the first target position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Yuu Tanaka, Yoshifumi Iwata, Hisashi Satonaka, Tomohiko Endo, Yuichi Kubota, Akira Matsui, Hideyuki Iwakiri, Toru Sugiyama, Seiji Kawakami, Katsuhiko Iwazaki, Hiroaki Kataoka