Patents Assigned to Alpine Electronics
  • Patent number: 11960678
    Abstract: Four infrared LEDs and two photodiodes PD are arranged below a lower side of a display surface in the order of an LED1, a PD1, an LED2, an LED3, a PD2, and an LED4. A detection signal A1 of the PD1 when the LED1 emits light, a detection signal A2 of the PD1 when the LED2 emits light, a detection signal A3 of the PD2 when the LED3 emits light, and a detection signal A4 of the PD2 when the LED4 emits light are used to estimate a reflection generation position in the left-right direction, and a threshold Th is set such that the threshold Th increases when the reflection generation position is on the left side, which is a driver's seat side. If the maximum value of A1, A2, A3, and A4 exceeds the threshold Th, the approach of the user's hand is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Teiichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11938896
    Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for the detection of unsafe cabin conditions that provides a safer passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing passenger safety includes capturing at least a set of images of one or more passengers in the vehicle, determining, based on the set of images, the occurrence of an unsafe activity in an interior of the vehicle, performing, using a neural network, a classification of the unsafe activity, and performing, based on the classification, one or more responsive actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics of Silicon Valley, Inc.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 11930329
    Abstract: Method and devices for testing a headphone with increased sensation are provided. The headphone can filter and amplify low frequency audio signals, which are then sent to a haptic device in the headphone. The haptic device can cause bass sensations at the top of the skull and at both ear cups. The testing system can evaluate the haptic and acoustic sensations produced by the headphone to evaluate if they have been properly assembled and calibrate the headphones if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11900672
    Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for an integrated internal and external camera system that enhances the passenger experience in vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing a passenger experiences includes capturing a first set of images of an area around the vehicle using an external camera system, capturing a second set of images of one or more passengers inside the vehicle using an internal camera system, recognizing at least one gesture made by the one or more passengers based on the second set of images, identifying an object or a location external to the vehicle based on the first set of images and the at least one gesture, and displaying information related to the object or the location to the one or more passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda, Diego Rodriguez Risco, Alexander Joseph Ryan, Samah Najeeb, Samir El Aouar
  • Patent number: 11898372
    Abstract: An operating device includes a lock mechanism unit that regulates relative movement of an operating unit with respect to a supporting member, and a controller that releases locking of the lock mechanism unit when input of an operator is detected by an operation detector. When contact of a finger with a surface panel is detected by a first detection member, locking of the operating unit by the lock mechanism unit is released. In addition, when a pressing operation to the operating unit is detected by a second detection member, control is performed so that a response force providing mechanism operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11886645
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and processes for gesture detection. A method includes capturing a series of images. The method includes generating motion isolation information based on the series of images. The method includes generating a composite image based on the motion isolation information. The method includes determining a gesture based on the composite image. The processes described herein may include the use of convolutional neural networks on a series of time-related images to perform gesture detection on embedded systems or devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Diego Rodriguez Risco, Samir El Aouar, Alexander Joseph Ryan
  • Patent number: 11854541
    Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for a dynamic microphone system that enhances the passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing a passenger experiences includes generating, using an artificial intelligence algorithm, a plurality of filters based on a plurality of stored waveforms previously recorded by each of one or more passengers and a plurality of recordings of one or more noise sources, capturing voice commands from at least one of the one or more passengers inside the autonomous vehicle, generating voice commands with reduced distortion based on processing the voice commands using the plurality of filters, and instructing, based on the voice commands with reduced distortion, the autonomous vehicle to perform one or more actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Yamasaki, Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Koichiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 11752880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and processes that use millimeter wave radar or other remote sensing to enhance mobility applications. Obstacles may be detected using remote sensing. Acceleration of a mobility apparatus may be controlled based on detection of the obstacle. The controlling may be performed based on characteristics of the obstacle, including location, type of obstacle, and/or trajectory of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Yamasaki, Rei Kanda, Mela Lin
  • Patent number: 11729565
    Abstract: Method and devices for processing audio signals based on sound profiles are provided. A sound profile can include data related to haptic movement of the audio data which is specific to a left ear or a right ear, demographic information, ethnicity information, age information, location information, social media information, intensity score of the audio data, previous usage information, or device information. A sound profile can be customized for individual user to include the inaudible frequency range at high frequency end and low frequency end. Audio data within the inaudible frequency range can be compensated by haptic movement corresponding to the inaudible frequency range. A sound profile can further include an audio frequency range and its lowest audible volume for a user. A sound profile can be provided to a user without any action from the user's part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Hiroyuki Toki, Koichiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 11705119
    Abstract: A guide voice output control system includes a voice output control unit having a function of outputting a guide voice in response to a trigger and a function of executing interaction related processing having a reception stage for receiving voice, a recognition stage for recognizing voice, and an output stage for outputting voice based on a recognition result, in which the voice output control unit controls the output of the guide voice according to the processing stage of the interaction related processing when the trigger is generated during the execution of the processing, and dynamically controls the output of the guide voice according to whether or not the processing stage is a stage that does not affect the accuracy of voice recognition or listening difficulty of a user even if the guide voice is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Nobunori Kudo
  • Patent number: 11661004
    Abstract: A vehicle image processing device includes a camera that images surroundings of a vehicle and outputs video data. An image extraction unit extracts an image from the video data when a predetermined operation for instructing image acquisition is performed, and an image processing unit processes the extracted image in accordance with a field of view of the user in a vehicle interior. A display processing unit and a display device display the processed image on a screen arranged at a position aligned with a line of sight of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tomoya Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11619999
    Abstract: When a gesture operation of a hand moving close to a display from left to right is performed, the return movement of the hand to the left side due to reflection by the wrist or the like may be detected. A detection control unit detects the approach of the hand to the display and notifies a data processing device of non-detection of hand approach when the amount of movement of the hand in the right direction starts to decrease after exceeding a threshold value. The data processing device accepts the right-moving gesture operation to perform a predetermined process when the amount of movement exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Ito
  • Patent number: 11599786
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for applying neural networks in resource-constrained environments. A system may include a sensor located in a resource-constrained environment configured to generate sensor data of the resource-constrained environment. The system may also include a first computing device not located in the resource-constrained environment configured to produce a neural network structure based on the sensor data. The system may further include a second computing device located in the resource-constrained environment configured to provide the sensor data as input to the neural network structure. The second computing device may be further configured to determine a state of the resource-constrained environment based on the input of the sensor data to the neural network structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda, Diego Rodriguez Risco, Alexander Joseph Ryan
  • Patent number: 11501748
    Abstract: A first cancellation signal output from a first speaker cancels noise at a first cancellation point, which is a typical position of the right ear of a user, together with a second cancellation signal output from a second speaker. In addition, the second cancellation signal output from the second speaker cancels noise at a second cancellation point, which is a typical position of the left ear of the user, together with the first cancellation signal output from the first speaker. The first speaker and the second speaker are arranged side by side on a second line segment, which passes through the midpoint of a first line segment connecting the first cancellation point and the second cancellation point to each other and is perpendicular to the first line segment, and a range where the relationship between noise and the first cancellation signal and the second cancellation signal is the same as that at the cancellation point is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Tachi
  • Patent number: 11495031
    Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for the detection of unsafe cabin conditions that provides a safer passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing passenger safety includes capturing at least a set of images of one or more passengers in the vehicle, determining, based on the set of images, the occurrence of an unsafe activity in an interior of the vehicle, performing, using a neural network, a classification of the unsafe activity, and performing, based on the classification, one or more responsive actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 11490005
    Abstract: A multi-copter on which a camera with a distance to a focal plane where the camera is in focus fixed at d is mounted detects a position of an inspection overhead line when moving to an image capture start point above the inspection overhead line, and moves to a shooting end point immediately above the inspection overhead line while capturing images of the inspection overhead line at the lower side using the camera while keeping an altitude difference d with the inspection overhead line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeo Aoyagi, Kenichiro Fujita, Yosuke Tate
  • Patent number: 11461636
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for applying neural networks in resource-constrained environments. A system may include a sensor located in a resource-constrained environment configured to generate first sensor data and second sensor data of the resource-constrained environment. The system may also include a first computing device not located in the resource-constrained environment configured to produce a neural network structure based on the first sensor data. The system may also include a second computing device configured to determine a state of the resource-constrained environment based on input of the second sensor data to the neural network structure. The system may also include a controller located in the resource-constrained environment configured to control a device in the resource-constrained environment based on the state of the resource-constrained environment determined by the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda, Diego Rodriguez Risco, Alexander Joseph Ryan, Samah Najeeb, Samir El Aouar
  • Patent number: 11442301
    Abstract: In a display unit, a display cell and a backlight device are provided in a bracket. A support member is arranged on the side of a display screen of the display unit, and the support member is provided with a support piece that can be elastically deformed in a front-rear direction. The front panel is bonded to the bracket of the display unit by a first adhesive layer and is bonded to the support piece by a second adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Takahiro Akamura
  • Patent number: D1001784
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Benny Danovi
  • Patent number: D1003864
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Benny Danovi