Patents Assigned to Alpine Electronics, Inc
  • Patent number: 10034090
    Abstract: A first fixed filter extracts high-frequency and low-frequency sound signals outside the audible band, and a level integrator integrates levels of the sound signals to obtain a first integrated value. With a second fixed filter, the level integrator integrates levels of sound signals in a low frequency band within the audible band to obtain a second integrated value. A control unit determines whether the high-frequency sound signals are dominant by comparing the first integrated value with the second integrated value. When the high-frequency sound signals are dominant, the control unit attenuates high-frequency speaker drive signals using a variable filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Maeda, Minoru Matsuyama, Masashi Saito
  • Patent number: 9963083
    Abstract: Forms of a vehicle loudspeaker system may include: a vehicle interior space defined on an inner side of a front windshield, a vehicle exterior storage space defined on a front side of the vehicle interior space such that a partition is disposed between the vehicle exterior storage space and the vehicle interior space, a cowl box disposed between an upper end of the partition and a lower end of the front windshield, and a loudspeaker including a diaphragm. The loudspeaker may be disposed in the cowl box such that sound pressure generated by the diaphragm is emitted to the vehicle interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Alpine Electronics, Inc., Blueprint Acoustics Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Ito, Arata Tada, Keita Tanno
  • Patent number: 9939283
    Abstract: When an instruction to start a setting operation for a destination is provided by a user during a period in which a navigation server is not available for a mobile device while a navigation function, which uses the navigation server providing distribution function of map data and route search function, of the mobile device is being utilized in a navigation device, the navigation function provided in the navigation device itself is activated and is caused to perform destination setting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9927245
    Abstract: A map scrolling method and apparatus for a navigation system prevents from displaying certain icons while displaying other icons based on conditions and settings of the navigation system during a transition period of a map scrolling operation. The map scrolling method includes the steps of: detecting activation of a map scrolling operation; checking whether there is any limit condition attached to icons as to remove them from a map image; scrolling the map image while removing the icons to which the limit condition is attached from the map image during a transition period of the map scrolling operation; and displaying all of the icons when the map scrolling operation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Schaaf, Andrew S. de Silva
  • Patent number: 9927251
    Abstract: A method detects a particular freeway-ramp-freeway situation in a calculated route and corrects the route by replacing the freeway-ramp-freeway situation with all-freeway segments. The method includes the steps of: establishing a calculated route to a destination; examining the calculated route to detect whether there is a first point where the calculated route exits a freeway and a second point where the calculated route enters a freeway; evaluating map data to determine whether the freeway exited and the freeway entered are the same freeway; and replacing road segments of the calculated route between the first point and the second point constituting the freeway-ramp-freeway situation with freeway segments between the first point and the second point, thereby avoiding the freeway-ramp-freeway situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tien Vu, Shinobu Doi
  • Patent number: 9923653
    Abstract: A digital tuner in a broadcasting receiving unit outputs audio data at a sample rate of Fs+dr (Hz), and an ASRC rate-converts audio data to audio data at a sample rate of Fs+ds (Hz) and transmits the resulting audio data to an audio processing unit. A DAC in the audio processing unit analog-converts the received audio data at an output rate of Fs+da (Hz) and outputs the resulting audio data to a speaker. The sample rate Fs+ds and the output rate Fs+da are synchronized with a SYNC transmitted from the broadcasting receiving unit to the audio processing unit on a 125 ms cycle. For the sample rate Fs+ds and the output rate Fs+da, a relationship of (da?ds)×0.125<1 is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Ise
  • Publication number: 20170359639
    Abstract: A loudspeaker system for a vehicle may include a vehicle partition panel that separates an interior space and an exterior space; a loudspeaker device comprising a frame, a diaphragm elastically supported at the frame, and a driving device that is configured to provide driving power for operating the diaphragm; and an air chamber disposed between the diaphragm and the vehicle partition panel. The frame delimits a chamber side opening of the air chamber facing the vehicle partition panel, where the vehicle partition panel comprises a vehicle partition panel opening. The vehicle partition panel opening has an extension which is smaller than the diameter of the diaphragm and smaller than an extension of the chamber side opening. The loudspeaker device is fixed to the vehicle partition panel such that the chamber side opening and the vehicle partition panel opening overlap in an overlapping area and the chamber side opening adjoins the vehicle partition panel opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicants: Alpine Electronics, Inc., Blueprint Acoustics Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Esser Timo, Arata Tada
  • Patent number: 9835459
    Abstract: An electronic device including a navigation function, includes a display unit configured to display road map data on a display screen, a scroll unit configured to scroll a road map screen display on the display screen in response to a user input, a determination unit configured to determine if the scrolling has stopped, an identification unit configured to identify, when it is determined that the scrolling has stopped, a search object candidate specified by a position at which the scrolling has stopped, a selection unit configured to select a search object candidate, an acquisition unit configured to acquire name data of the search object candidate, and a synthesis and display unit configured to synthesize and display the name data onto the road map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tadao Shibata
  • Publication number: 20170345442
    Abstract: An upper limit of a frequency range of audio indicated by input audio data is detected. A representative point extraction unit downsamples the input audio data to a sampling rate set to be less than or equal to twice the detected upper limit to obtain representative-point audio data. An interpolation processing unit upsamples the representative-point audio data by using a fractal interpolation function (FIF) that uses a mapping function calculated by a mapping function calculation unit, while using the input audio data, if necessary, to generate high-frequency interpolated audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Tachi
  • Publication number: 20170341592
    Abstract: Forms of a vehicle loudspeaker system may include: a vehicle interior space defined on an inner side of a front windshield, a vehicle exterior storage space defined on a front side of the vehicle interior space such that a partition is disposed between the vehicle exterior storage space and the vehicle interior space, a cowl box disposed between an upper end of the partition and a lower end of the front windshield, and a loudspeaker including a diaphragm. The loudspeaker may be disposed in the cowl box such that sound pressure generated by the diaphragm is emitted to the vehicle interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: Alpine Electronics, Inc., Blueprint Acoustics Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Ito, Arata Tada, Keita Tanno
  • Patent number: 9829328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of calculating a route involving a freeway junction determines an undesired freeway junction that can pose a driving difficulty, and performs route recalculation that avoids the undesired freeway junction. A distance from a freeway entry to a freeway junction, or a number of freeway entries up to the freeway junction are used to determine the undesired freeway junction. A distance from the freeway junction to a freeway exit is also used to determine the undesired freeway junction. An intermediate point is set to recalculate a route that does not involve the freeway junction to create an overall route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamukai
  • Patent number: 9830073
    Abstract: A method of pointing a first object on a screen of an infotainment system is provided. The first object on the screen is displayed on the screen and, a location of a second object related to a user and a first predetermined gesture executed by the second object by one or more sensors can be detected. Coordinates of a center of the first object on the screen can be calculated based on the detected location of the second object where the coordinates cause a distance between the center of the first object and the second object substantially minimum, and a size of the first object associated with a distance between the detected location of second object and the screen is calculated. The first object with the calculated size at the calculated coordinates is displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Inchang Jung
  • Publication number: 20170323566
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Shuichi Suto
  • Patent number: 9786263
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus with a noise reduction function includes a microphone for inputting an external sound signal inside a vehicle, a DSP for generating a noise reduction signal in order to reduce noise of the external sound signal, a determination unit for determining a driving state of the vehicle, a correction unit for relatively increasing a degree of noise reduction when it is determined that the vehicle is in automatic driving and relatively decreasing a degree of noise reduction when it is determined that the vehicle is in manual driving, and a speaker for outputting the corrected noise reduction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kurosawa
  • Publication number: 20170264384
    Abstract: A digital tuner in a broadcasting receiving unit outputs audio data at a sample rate of Fs+dr (Hz), and an ASRC rate-converts audio data to audio data at a sample rate of Fs+ds (Hz) and transmits the resulting audio data to an audio processing unit. A DAC in the audio processing unit analog-converts the received audio data at an output rate of Fs+da (Hz) and outputs the resulting audio data to a speaker. The sample rate Fs+ds and the output rate Fs +da are synchronized with a SYNC transmitted from the broadcasting receiving unit to the audio processing unit on a 125 ms cycle. For the sample rate Fs+ds and the output rate Fs+da, a relationship of (da?ds)×0.125<1 is assured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohiko Ise
  • Patent number: 9756746
    Abstract: An upper guide and a lower guide are provided on an escutcheon integrally attached to the chassis. An upper movable pin engageable with and disengageable from the upper guide, a lower movable pin engageable with and disengageable from the lower guide, and a fulcrum switching mechanism that reciprocates the upper movable pin and lower movable pin in the left-right direction are attached to a display body disposed in front of the escutcheon. The fulcrum switching mechanism makes the rotational fulcrum of the display body switchable between a first pivoting state, in which the upper movable pin is engaged with the upper guide and the lower movable pin is disengaged from the lower guide, and a second pivoting state, in which the lower movable pin is engaged with the lower guide and the upper movable pin is disengaged from the upper guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiminori Yabuki, Akira Homma
  • Patent number: 9743163
    Abstract: A loudspeaker unit includes a voice coil, a diaphragm, a damper, a frame supporting an outer edge of the diaphragm and an outer edge of the damper, and a duct projecting from an outer surface of the frame, with air moved by vibration of the diaphragm flowing into and out of the loudspeaker unit through the duct. The frame has an aperture that communicates with a space inside the frame. The duct, serving as a separate member, is attached to the frame so as to cover the aperture. The frame further includes a support tab that projects into the aperture. Link terminals are attached to the support tab. Before the duct is attached to the frame, lead wires extending from the voice coil are formed into a predetermined shape and are then connected to the link terminals in a space within the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Ito
  • Patent number: 9710301
    Abstract: A computer program, an information processing system, and an information processing method are capable of properly managing the connection state of communication connection with an external device. When an operating system shifts an application to a background state, the operating system provides the application with a background shift notification. In the case where communication connection, targeted for management, between the application and an external accessory system is in an active state, the application having received the background shift notification cuts off, via the operating system, the communication connection established between the application and the accessory system, and switches the state of the communication connection, targeted for management, to an inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Muneyuki Shida
  • Patent number: 9712471
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted apparatus includes a mail receiving processing unit configured to receive an electronic mail, a received mail determination unit configured to determine, after a first electronic mail is received by the mail receiving processing unit, whether a second electronic mail associated with the first electronic mail is received by the mail receiving processing unit, and a notification processing unit configured to perform, when it is determined by the received mail determination unit that the first electronic mail and the second electronic mail are associated with each other, notification of these two electronic mails simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michinao Asano
  • Publication number: 20170199243
    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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Narita