Patents by Inventor Toshifumi Kawasaki

Toshifumi Kawasaki 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: 11993237
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune Kakeshita, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Kohei Morotomi
  • Publication number: 20240109535
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus comprises a sensor for detecting an object, and a controller for prohibiting a collision control when an override condition is satisfied. The controller executes the collision control in a case where the override condition is satisfied during an erroneous operation, determines that an acceleration operation is the erroneous operation in a case where a predetermined normal erroneous operation condition is satisfied, or in a case where a predetermined relaxation erroneous operation condition is satisfied when a predetermined relaxation condition is satisfied, and determines that the relaxation condition is satisfied when a number of executions of the collision control during the erroneous operation in one trip is greater than or equal to a first threshold number or when a number of determinations that the acceleration operation is the erroneous operation in one trip is greater than or equal to a second threshold number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune KAKESHITA, Toshifumi KAWASAKI
  • Patent number: 11834072
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus executes an autonomous braking control when a predetermined autonomous stop condition becomes satisfied, executes a stopped state keeping control to keep the own vehicle stopped after stopping the own vehicle by the autonomous braking control, and terminates executing the stopped state keeping control when a predetermined stopped state keeping termination condition becomes satisfied while executing the stopped state keeping control. The driving assist apparatus executes a driving force limitation control to limit a driving force generated to move the own vehicle to a value smaller than the driving force which depends on an amount of operating the acceleration pedal when determining that the predetermined stopped state keeping termination condition is satisfied, and a mistaken pressing operation occurs. The mistaken pressing operation is an operation performed by a driver to mistakenly press an acceleration pedal with an intention to press a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuto Shimbo, Yuma Hoshikawa, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Ryota Murakami
  • Patent number: 11778697
    Abstract: A window glass apparatus includes a heater for heating a part of a windshield which is a particular part of a window glass of a host vehicle, and a control ECU configured to control an amount of the electric power supplied to the heater. The control ECU detects a preceding vehicle and controls the amount of the electric power supplied to the heater in such a manner that the amount of the electric power supplied to the heater is reduced as compared with a case where the preceding vehicle is not detected, using information on the detected preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Murasato, Takahiro Adachi, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Masami Nagano
  • Publication number: 20220340106
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune KAKESHITA, Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Kohei MOROTOMI
  • Patent number: 11433861
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune Kakeshita, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Kohei Morotomi
  • Publication number: 20220176982
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus selects a control target object, based on object information and executes a collision avoidance control when a predetermined execution condition is satisfied. The vehicle control apparatus determines that a driver of an own vehicle carries out a first mistaken operation when a predetermined first pressing condition that the driver of the own vehicle strongly operates the acceleration operator, is satisfied, and a magnitude of the steering angle is greater than a predetermined first steering angle threshold, and permits executing the collision avoidance control when a first situation that the driver of the own vehicle carries out the first mistaken operation, and a distance between the own vehicle and the control target object is shorter than a predetermined first distance threshold, arises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune KAKESHITA, Toshifumi KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20220169221
    Abstract: A braking force control apparatus performs a brake assist control for assisting braking of a vehicle when there is an obstacle ahead of the vehicle and when a driver-deceleration, which is a deceleration corresponding to an operation of a brake pedal by a driver, is less than a necessary-deceleration, which is a deceleration needed to avoid the vehicle colliding with the obstacle. The braking force control apparatus includes: a calculator configured to calculate a deceleration profile in which a deceleration increases with time, as a part of the brake assist control, in order to stop the vehicle at a target position without the vehicle colliding with the obstacle; and an output device configured to output a target-deceleration based on the deceleration profile, as a requested-deceleration, as another part of the brake assist control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Yusuke Imura, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Kazuki Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20210213974
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus executes an autonomous braking control when a predetermined autonomous stop condition becomes satisfied, executes a stopped state keeping control to keep the own vehicle stopped after stopping the own vehicle by the autonomous braking control, and terminates executing the stopped state keeping control when a predetermined stopped state keeping termination condition becomes satisfied while executing the stopped state keeping control. The driving assist apparatus executes a driving force limitation control to limit a driving force generated to move the own vehicle to a value smaller than the driving force which depends on an amount of operating the acceleration pedal when determining that the predetermined stopped state keeping termination condition is satisfied, and a mistaken pressing operation occurs. The mistaken pressing operation is an operation performed by a driver to mistakenly press an acceleration pedal with an intention to press a brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuto Shimbo, Yuma Hoshikawa, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Ryota Murakami
  • Publication number: 20210179039
    Abstract: A braking assistance apparatus for a vehicle that calculates a first target deceleration of a host vehicle for avoiding a collision based on a relative distance and a relative speed between an obstacle and the host vehicle, calculates a second target deceleration of the host vehicle based on an assist level indicating the risk of the host vehicle colliding with the obstacle and a master cylinder pressure that is a braking operation related quantity, calculates a final target deceleration on the basis of a weighted sum of the target decelerations in which a weight of larger one of the target decelerations is set larger than the other weight so as not to exceed the larger one of the target decelerations, and performs braking assistance by controlling the braking device so that a deceleration of the host vehicle becomes the final target deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune KAKESHITA, Toshifumi Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20210105870
    Abstract: A window glass apparatus includes a heater for heating a part of a windshield which is a particular part of a window glass of a host vehicle, and a control ECU configured to control an amount of the electric power supplied to the heater. The control ECU detects a preceding vehicle and controls the amount of the electric power supplied to the heater in such a manner that the amount of the electric power supplied to the heater is reduced as compared with a case where the preceding vehicle is not detected, using information on the detected preceding vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki MURASATO, Takahiro ADACHI, Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Masami NAGANO
  • Publication number: 20210039613
    Abstract: A drive assistance device includes an automatic brake unit configured to perform automatic brake control, a brake hold unit configured to perform a brake hold control keeping the vehicle stopped, a brake hold cancel unit configured to cancel the brake hold control when it is determined that a predetermined cancel condition is satisfied, a surroundings information obtaining unit configured to obtain surroundings information indicating a situation around the vehicle, a maneuver information obtaining unit configured to obtain maneuver information about a driving maneuver performed by a driver of the vehicle, a maneuver determination unit configured to determine, based on the surroundings information and the maneuver information whether the driving maneuver performed during the brake hold control is appropriate for the situation around the vehicle, and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit cancelling the brake hold control as long as it is determined that the driving maneuver is inappropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mafune KAKESHITA, Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Kohei MOROTOMI
  • Patent number: 10640090
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical unit that is disposed with a closed space interposed between the optical unit and a windshield glass and is configured to acquire information of an outside of a vehicle cabin through the windshield glass, a heating unit that heats the closed space, an opening and closing unit that is disposed in an air flow path between the closed space and a vehicle cabin internal space and controls communication of air between the closed space and the vehicle cabin internal space, and a controller that controls an open and closed state of the opening and closing unit based on either an outside air temperature of a vehicle or a difference in humidity acquired by subtracting a humidity of the vehicle cabin internal space from a humidity of the closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Adachi, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Yasutomo Morii, Takeki Mori, Kazumi Chida
  • Patent number: 10501075
    Abstract: A vehicular braking/driving-force control apparatus includes an accelerator operation detection part configured to detect an accelerator operation; a driving-force limiting apparatus configured to carry out driving-force limiting control of limiting driving force of an own vehicle in such a manner that an upper-limit speed that is set will not be exceeded; an automatic braking control apparatus configured to carry out automatic braking control of automatically generating braking force in the own vehicle based on a relative distance or a relative speed between an obstacle in front of the own vehicle and the own vehicle, and have a cancellation function of inhibiting a start of the automatic braking control based on the accelerator operation; and a control part configured to inhibit the cancellation function from being executed when the driving-force limiting apparatus is in an activated state where the driving-force limiting apparatus is allowed to carry out the driving-force limiting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Harada, Naoki Taki, Masaaki Uechi, Kumiko Kondo, Hideaki Hayashi, Akio Kimura, Atsutoshi Sakaguchi, Toshifumi Kawasaki, Tomohiko Futatsugi
  • Publication number: 20180229690
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical unit that is disposed with a closed space interposed between the optical unit and a windshield glass and is configured to acquire information of an outside of a vehicle cabin through the windshield glass, a heating unit that heats the closed space, an opening and closing unit that is disposed in an air flow path between the closed space and a vehicle cabin internal space and controls communication of air between the closed space and the vehicle cabin internal space, and a controller that controls an open and closed state of the opening and closing unit based on either an outside air temperature of a vehicle or a difference in humidity acquired by subtracting a humidity of the vehicle cabin internal space from a humidity of the closed space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro ADACHI, Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Yasutomo MORII, Takeki MORI, Kazumi CHIDA
  • Patent number: 9908481
    Abstract: A vehicle forward information acquiring device includes a bracket fixed to a windshield, a cover mounted to the bracket by being moved along the bracket in one direction, and a vehicle forward information acquiring sensor accommodated between the bracket and the cover. The cover is mounted to the bracket while being pressed against the bracket by a first elastic force and a second elastic force generated when a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed on the cover are respectively engaged with a first engaged portion and a second engaged portion formed on the bracket. A position of the cover on the bracket when the first elastic force becomes a maximum value is different from a position of the cover on the bracket when the second elastic force becomes a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Hayashi, Atsutoshi Sakaguchi, Tomohiko Futatsugi, Masaaki Uechi, Naoki Taki, Akio Kimura, Kumiko Kondo, Hiroshi Harada, Toshifumi Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20180043885
    Abstract: A vehicular braking/driving-force control apparatus includes an accelerator operation detection part configured to detect an accelerator operation; a driving-force limiting apparatus configured to carry out driving-force limiting control of limiting driving force of an own vehicle in such a manner that an upper-limit speed that is set will not be exceeded; an automatic braking control apparatus configured to carry out automatic braking control of automatically generating braking force in the own vehicle based on a relative distance or a relative speed between an obstacle in front of the own vehicle and the own vehicle, and have a cancellation function of inhibiting a start of the automatic braking control based on the accelerator operation; and a control part configured to inhibit the cancellation function from being executed when the driving-force limiting apparatus is in an activated state where the driving-force limiting apparatus is allowed to carry out the driving-force limiting control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi HARADA, Naoki TAKI, Masaaki UECHI, Kumiko KONDO, Hideaki HAYASHI, Akio KIMURA, Atsutoshi SAKAGUCHI, Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Tomohiko FUTATSUGI
  • Publication number: 20160229355
    Abstract: A vehicle forward information acquiring device includes a bracket fixed to a windshield, a cover mounted to the bracket by being moved along the bracket in one direction, and a vehicle forward information acquiring sensor accommodated between the bracket and the cover. The cover is mounted to the bracket while being pressed against the bracket by a first elastic force and a second elastic force generated when a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed on the cover are respectively engaged with a first engaged portion and a second engaged portion formed on the bracket. A position of the cover on the bracket when the first elastic force becomes a maximum value is different from a position of the cover on the bracket when the second elastic force becomes a maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki HAYASHI, Atsutoshi SAKAGUCHI, Tomohiko FUTATSUGI, Masaaki UECHI, Naoki TAKI, Akio KIMURA, Kumiko KONDO, Hiroshi HARADA, Toshifumi KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20160114799
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control apparatus is provided which includes: an automatic brake control part configured to perform an automatic brake control that automatically applies a brake force to a host vehicle when there is a probability of collision with an obstacle in front of the host vehicle; and a drive force recovery control part configured to increase, in response to an accelerator operation by a driver, a target drive force to a demand drive force from the driver by a predetermined increase amount per unit time after having performed the automatic brake control. The drive force recovery control part determines the predetermined increase amount per unit time such that the predetermined increase amount per unit time becomes greater as the brake force applied by the automatic brake control part during the automatic brake control is smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Toshifumi KAWASAKI, Masaaki UECHI, Naoki TAKI, Kumiko KONDO, Hiroshi HARADA, Akio KIMURA, Hideaki HAYASHI, Atsutoshi SAKAGUCHI, Tomohiko FUTATSUGI
  • Patent number: 8491236
    Abstract: Provided is a method for machining a tooth plane that is formed on a circumferential surface of a cylindrical toothed member and that extends along a center axis of the toothed member. The method includes: cutting the tooth plane by a peripheral cutting edge of an end mill while keeping a rotation axis of the end mill at a predetermined steady orientation and moving the end mill parallel to the center axis of the toothed member; rotating the toothed member by a predetermined angle around the center axis of the toothed member; and cutting the tooth plane by the peripheral cutting edge of the end mill while keeping the rotation axis of the end mill at the steady orientation and moving the end mill parallel to the center axis of the toothed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kawasaki, Masaki Kato, Toru Ikegawa