Patents Assigned to Alpine Electronics, Inc
  • Patent number: 10250970
    Abstract: An acoustic apparatus may include a frame having an axially-opening annular open portion; a diaphragm supported by being attached to the annular open portion via a flexible edge member so as to be capable of vibrating in the axial direction; and a driving unit connected, at a connection portion at a center portion of the diaphragm, to the diaphragm to apply an axial-direction driving force to the diaphragm. The diaphragm includes first and second diaphragms that are mutually adjacent in the axial direction and joined together. When viewed in the axial direction, the second diaphragm has an outer diameter smaller than that of the first diaphragm. Each diaphragm includes a sheet member having an orientation dispersion structure including a shape-anisotropic filler dispersed in a resin with the long axis thereof oriented in a predetermined direction. The orientation directions of the sheet members of the first and second diaphragms mutually intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kei Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10250478
    Abstract: There are provided a first communication time ascertaining unit that ascertains with a ping command communication delay time in communication with a smartphone, a communication state determining unit that determines whether a communication state is satisfactory in the communication with the smartphone based on the ascertained communication delay time, and a communication switching unit that switches a communication channel used for the communication with the smartphone, from one communication channel to another communication channel when the communication state in the communication with the smartphone is determined to be unsatisfactory. Therefore, the switching of the communication channel is performed only when it is ascertained that the communication state with the smartphone is unsatisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Shunichi Suto
  • Publication number: 20190082263
    Abstract: A speaker includes spacers that are disposed between a front end portion of a top yoke, which serves as a first member, and a back end portion of a back portion of a frame, which serves as a second member, to form a gap that defines an air passage. When a bobbin and a vibrating plate vibrate in a front-back direction, an airflow through the air passage, which faces a voice coil, is formed between the space around a magnetic gap and the outside. Accordingly, the voice coil is cooled over the entire circumference thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kei Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20190071095
    Abstract: A driver monitoring apparatus has a photographing means for taking a picture of a driver's face, an illumination means for emitting light to the driver's face, a light amount control means for setting the amount of light from the illumination means to a first or second amount of light, a differential image creating means for comparing image information about one image on which the driver's face to which the first amount of light was emitted is photographed with image information about another image on which the driver's face to which the second amount of light was emitted is photographed and then creating a differential image from differential information about brightness of corresponding pixels, a detecting means for detecting the driver's eyes from the differential image created by the differential image creating means, and a state detecting means for detecting the driver' state according to an image of the driver's eyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Shinya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10222801
    Abstract: A movement route generating apparatus includes an angle calculating unit calculating an angle formed by a vehicle travel direction at a target position compared with that at the current position, a graph generating unit generating a graph that has most gentle inclinations by plotting the curvature of a travel trajectory matching the steering angle of the vehicle and a distance traveled on two axes, under the condition that the area of a graph generated in correspondence to a travel trajectory from the current position to the target position is equal to the angle and other conditions, and a route setting unit setting a travel trajectory represented by the graph as the movement route of the vehicle. Accordingly, a travel trajectory with the smallest degree of change in curvature per unit distance traveled, that is, a low horizontal angular velocity caused by vehicle steering, can be set as a movement route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Oba, Kosuke Munakata, Tetsuro Yabe
  • Publication number: 20190054500
    Abstract: A drive waveform setting unit sets a drive waveform of a drive signal, and a drive current is applied to a drive coil provided in a response force generation mechanism in accordance with the drive waveform. The drive waveform has a first drive section in which a signal intensity increases linearly and a second drive section including a peak. An increase rate of the signal intensity in the second drive section is lower than that in the first drive section. As a result, it is easy to follow the frequency characteristics of a driver circuit, and it is possible to increase a voltage to be applied to a drive coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shirashima
  • Patent number: 10204277
    Abstract: An electronic device having a function of identifying a lane on which a vehicle is traveling based on imaging data includes a white line recognition unit for recognizing a white line based on imaging data taken by a rear camera, a lane width detection unit for detecting a lane width by measuring distances from the vehicle to the right white line and to the left white line, a lane change detection unit for detecting a lane change based on the detection result by the lane width detection unit, a lane number increase detection unit for detection an increase in the number of lanes based on the detection result by the lane width detection unit, and a traveling lane identifying unit for identifying a lane on which the vehicle is traveling based on the detection results of the lane width detection unit and the lane number increase detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Kushida, Tomohiro Hakozaki, Shuichi Suto
  • Patent number: 10192438
    Abstract: Lane travel limit zones (between a lane route deviation point and a first lane change limit point and between the lane route deviation point and a second lane change limit point), in which a lane change to a route is prohibited, are set according to the lane. If a vehicle may enter a set lane travel limit zone, a guide is provided to prompt the vehicle to make a lane change or maintain the traveling lane, according to the vehicle position and the lane on which the vehicle is traveling. To set lane travel limit zones, the lane route deviation point, which is an end point of a lane on which the vehicle can travel, the first and second lane route deviation points, which are limit points to assure that the vehicle completes a lane change before reaching the lane route deviation point, are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Shuichi Suto
  • Patent number: 10191349
    Abstract: A reflective display apparatus includes an image display panel including a liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit, a half mirror, and an electrochromic panel arranged in a layered manner. When the image display panel stops operating and power supply to the electrochromic panel is stopped, the half mirror reflects light coming from the rear of a vehicle and the reflected light is directed rearward. The reflected light enables a driver to check a situation behind the vehicle under such conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Yasumoto
  • Patent number: 10189501
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus includes a parking range identification unit that identifies a current parking range using vehicle speed information and steering angle information acquired from a vehicle along with movement of the vehicle, a display control unit that causes an image indicating the identified current parking range to be displayed in such a manner as to be superimposed on a vehicle-surroundings image, an estimated movement range calculation unit that, when no vehicle speed information can be acquired in a process of a gradual reduction in vehicle speed, calculates an estimated movement range of the vehicle using deceleration of the vehicle based on vehicle speed information acquired before a time when no vehicle speed information can be acquired, and the steering angle information, and an estimated movement range display unit that displays, around the image indicating the current parking range, an image indicating the calculated estimated movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Suda, Kosuke Munakata
  • Publication number: 20190025577
    Abstract: Implementations of an in-vehicle display system may include: a first display device configured to irradiate a first area of a windshield of a vehicle with a first light constituting a first image and to display the first image as a virtual image of the first image in front of the first area; a second display device configured to display a second image as a real image in a second area of the windshield that is wider than the first area; and a control device configured to control the first display device and the second display device based on a travel state of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Tamura, Tsuyoshi Kimura, Kenji Shida, Yu Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20180370439
    Abstract: A display control apparatus connected to an imaging apparatus installed in a vehicle includes an obtaining unit which obtains image data obtained by the imaging apparatus capturing an image of a portion on a rear side of the vehicle, a specifying unit which specifies, as a compression region, a pixel region which does not include image elements indicating straight objects extending along a traveling direction of the vehicle in a pixel region in a lower portion in the image data, a generation unit which generates display image data of a predetermined display size by compressing the specified compression region in the image data, and a controller which performs control so that the generated display image data is visually recognized through an electronic mirror disposed as a rearview mirror of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsuyama, Keita Taniguchi, Daisuke Omori
  • Patent number: 10165278
    Abstract: An image compression device includes a basic unit setting unit configured to set a basic unit of compression by using each of a plurality of color elements forming colors of pixels of image data independently or combining the plurality of color elements arbitrarily and a compression process unit configured to compress a value of the set basic unit according to an encoding process base on a predetermined rule. A complex process is not executed differently from a video codec or a still image codec according to the related art and the compression is performed by a simple process for encoding values of basic units set for the plurality of color elements forming the colors of the individual pixels, on the basis of the predetermined rule. As a result, a process load of the extension can be reduced as compared with the related art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 10151800
    Abstract: A supply-voltage-fluctuation detecting apparatus includes a first detecting unit, a second detecting unit, a capacitor, and a fluctuation detecting unit. The first detecting unit and the second detecting unit detect fluctuations in voltage at a detected voltage input with respect to a detected ground input. A load unit that operates with power supplied from a battery and the first detecting unit are connected in parallel. A detected voltage input of the second detecting unit connects to a positive electrode of the battery. A detected ground input of the second detecting unit connects to a detected ground input of the first detecting unit via an impedance component. The capacitor is connected in parallel to the second detecting unit. The fluctuation detecting unit detects fluctuations in supply voltage when at least one of the first detecting unit or the second detecting unit detects fluctuations in voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Koichi Narita
  • Publication number: 20180352336
    Abstract: A cap member is attached to an opening end portion of a bobbin on which a voice coil is wound. The cap member includes a bobbin reinforcement portion including a cylindrical portion and a bottom surface portion. The cylindrical portion opposes an inner surface of the bobbin, and the cylindrical portion and the inner surface of the bobbin are fixed to each other in at least a vibration plate fixed portion and a damper member fixed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Masaru Yamagami
  • Patent number: 10146497
    Abstract: A two-layer image display device includes a back side LCD, a transparent screen, and a lower side LCD. The back side LCD displays an image on a display screen. The transparent screen is disposed on a front side of the display screen of an image display device. The lower side LCD projects an image from a lower position of the transparent screen. The transparent screen reflects, with directivity, light incident at a predetermined angle and includes an anisotropic optical film which transmits light incident at an angle other than the predetermined incident angle. The lower side LCD is disposed at a position where the image incident at the predetermined angle is projected and reflected on the transparent screen. The back side LCD is disposed at a position where incident light from an image displayed on the display screen transmits through the transparent screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shunichi Imanishi
  • Patent number: 10149059
    Abstract: A speaker device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a magnetic circuit having a magnetic gap, a ribbon-like diaphragm disposed in a magnetic field in the magnetic gap, a plurality of parallel conductors provided on the diaphragm and extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the magnetic field, and a driving unit that supplies driving currents in the same direction to the plurality of parallel conductors. Both end portions of the diaphragm are continuous via a pivoting board disposed so as to bypass the magnetic gap, and connection conductors for spirally connecting the plurality of parallel conductors are provided on the pivoting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Maeda
  • Patent number: 10139883
    Abstract: A power system includes a voltage detection IC which outputs a reset signal to a microcomputer when an input voltage is equal to or lower than a reset release voltage, releases outputting of the reset signal when the input voltage exceeds the reset release voltage, and outputs the reset signal to the microcomputer again after the input voltage exceeds the reset release voltage when the input voltage is equal to or lower than a reset detection voltage which is lower than the reset release voltage and a voltage conversion circuit which sets a first voltage associated with a change of a power voltage as the input voltage before start of operation of the microcomputer and sets a second voltage which is associated with a change of the power voltage and is lower than the first voltage as the input voltage after the start of operation the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideaki Sato
  • Patent number: 10127193
    Abstract: A text display control apparatus includes a text determination unit that determines whether an input text can be displayed within the width of a text display area, a space selection unit that, if the text cannot be displayed within the width of the text display area, sequentially selects spaces from an end of the text to a beginning, a partial text determination unit that determines whether a part of the text before a selected space can be displayed within the width of the text display area, and a newline insertion unit that, if the part of the text before the space can be displayed within the width of the text display area, inserts a newline character into the text at the space. If the input text cannot be displayed within the width of the text display area, a new line automatically starts in the text at the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomomi Kajimoto
  • Patent number: D838713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Masatada Muramoto