Patents Assigned to Alpine Electronics
  • Patent number: 11205065
    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: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS OF SILICON VALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Diego Rodriguez Risco, Samir El Aouar, Alexander Joseph Ryan
  • Patent number: 11193785
    Abstract: A relationship between a relative position with respect to a section where a progressing direction changes on a route and an arrangement height is set such that the arrangement height gradually increases from zero to MaxH. Then, the arrangement height gradually decreases from MaxH to zero along the route from a point on the near side of the section where the progressing direction changes (FIGS. 3B and 3G and FIGS. 4B and 4C). When traveling in the section where the progressing direction changes, a direction mark representing the progressing direction at each point on a road surface is displayed using a heads-up display so as to overlap with a position on an upper side, by an arrangement height set based on a relative position of the point with respect to the section and a set relationship, from the point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11186282
    Abstract: Driver assistance systems and autonomous driving systems have been attractive to researchers in the automotive industry to reduce the number of accidents and to increase driving efficiency. One of the most challenging tasks to safely and effectively automate is changing between traffic lanes. The systems and methods of the present application include applications of the Dynamic Windows Approach algorithm to guide a vehicle through an automated lane change procedure with improved safety and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Khoder Hammoud
  • Patent number: 11181386
    Abstract: A navigation device for guiding a moving body to a destination is provided. The navigation device includes: a position detecting unit configured to detect a position of the moving body; a first determining unit configured to determine whether or not the moving body has arrived at the destination based on the position detected by the position detecting unit; a second determining unit configured to determine whether or not the destination can be entered when it is determined that the moving body has arrived at the destination; and a destination setting unit configured to choose an alternate destination when it is determined by the second determining unit that the destination cannot be entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11181953
    Abstract: A display device has a first elastic member and a second elastic member between an outer support member and an extension portion outside an image display area of a front panel. The second elastic member is disposed at the position closest to an operation portion provided on the front panel in three directions. An elastic member pressing area is provided on a lower support plate of the outer support member. The second elastic member has a high compression ratio in the front-back direction, so the second elastic member acts as a pressure resistive portion. When the front panel is pressed with a finger in the operation portion, the strain of the front panel can be suppressed to a minimum due to a pressure resistive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Toshio Haruki
  • Patent number: 11158196
    Abstract: A flight plan changing method performed by an apparatus includes reading a flight log of an unmanned aircraft that flies flight routes connecting multiple way points included in a flight plan and captures image data of an object located between the way points; identifying, based on the flight log, coordinates of a position of the unmanned aircraft at which the capturing of the image data of the object is interrupted; and generating a changed flight plan including way points that are newly determined based on the identified coordinates of the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Minoru Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11158316
    Abstract: An in-vehicle device includes: a first speech recognition unit configured to recognize a word indicating the in-vehicle device and a word indicating a first instruction type by speech recognition, from first voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the first instruction type being one of instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device; and a second speech recognition unit configured, in response to the word indicating the in-vehicle device being recognized from the first voice data by the first speech recognition unit, to recognize a word indicating a second instruction type by speech recognition, from second voice data input to the in-vehicle device, the second voice data being input after the first voice data, and the second instruction type being one of the instruction types for operating the in-vehicle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Arikita, Masaaki Ohira
  • Patent number: 11137852
    Abstract: A pressing operation detection device includes a pressing operation determination unit determining whether a pressing operation has been performed based on a touch on an operation unit and a pressing amount, an increase-and-decrease frequency detection unit detecting occurrence frequency of increase and decrease of a pressing amount every predetermined period of time, and a determination controller changing content of the determination process of the pressing operation determination unit based on the occurrence frequency detected while a touch on the operation unit is not detected. When a pressing amount is detected although the operation unit is not touched, assuming that increase and decrease of the pressing amount is caused by vibration, content of the determination process is changed such that influence of the vibration is reduced so that detection of a pressing operation which brings a feeling of strangeness to the user which is caused by the vibration may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Shunichi Suto
  • Publication number: 20210303076
    Abstract: A spatial sensing region is set in accordance with a spatial sensing function of a first operation detection unit included in a first operation device, and another spatial sensing region is set in accordance with a spatial sensing function of a second operation detection unit included in a second operation device. The first operation device and the second operation device are arranged in a vehicle interior. For example, when the second operation detection unit of the second operation device detects a forward movement of a hand, it is determined that an operator intends to operate the first operation device and control is performed such that a display screen of the first operation device is turned on, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Keisuke Abe
  • Patent number: 11132817
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to obtain an image of a first camera disposed on a vehicle such that an imaging range of the first camera includes a portion of a vehicle body and images of a second and third cameras that image an area of a blind spot caused by the portion of the vehicle body, combine a blind spot image corresponding to the area of the blind spot in the image of the second camera with the image of the first camera, obtain three-dimensional information of a rear vehicle with stereo vision of the second and third cameras, and store rear vehicle shape information, wherein the processor determines three-dimensional information corresponding to a portion of the rear vehicle, and combines the blind spot image with the image of the first camera using the determined three-dimensional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryohei Suda
  • Publication number: 20210291853
    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: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tomoya Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210293945
    Abstract: A displacement measuring apparatus includes a plurality of reflective members disposed at a detection target such as a seat in a vehicle. A signal source and a transmitting antenna transmit a radio wave of a predetermined frequency that can pass through a human body to each of the plurality of reflective members, and a receiving antenna and a mixer receive the radio wave reflected by each of the plurality of reflective members and returned. A distance calculation unit calculates information on distances to the plurality of reflective members based on information on a time until the transmitted radio wave returns, and a displacement-distribution measuring unit calculates a displacement of each of the plurality of reflective members based on the information on the distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Hideki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11127389
    Abstract: An active noise control unit generates a noise canceling sound of a single frequency that cancels engine sound heard by an occupant and outputs the noise canceling sound to a speaker through an amplifier. A second harmonic detector and a third harmonic detector detect a magnitude of a harmonic component of the noise canceling sound included in sound collected by a microphone. A controller controls a frequency of the noise canceling sound generated by the active noise control unit to a fundamental frequency of the engine sound based on a rotation frequency of the engine, and in addition, causes an output level control unit to control a level of the noise canceling sound to be output to the amplifier so that the level of the noise canceling sound becomes higher when the magnitude of the harmonic component exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Taku Sugai
  • Patent number: 11118934
    Abstract: A method and system of route guidance for a vehicle alerts traffic restriction considering its towing status. The vehicle's towing status may be obtained either by automatically detecting a towed vehicle or manually setting such status by a user. When it is determined that the vehicle is towing another vehicle, traffic restriction information such as a speed limit and a dimension limit associated with each link in a route is obtained by accessing to a map database including such traffic restriction information. Based on the traffic restriction information, it is possible to provide the best route with a more correctly estimated time of arrival, while avoiding links which have dimension limits not suitable for the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsu Ohba
  • Publication number: 20210278907
    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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Masato Ito
  • Patent number: 11112633
    Abstract: A frame-shaped reinforcement member is bonded and fixed to a rear surface of a cover panel, such as a glass plate. The reinforcement member has a rigidity higher than that of the cover panel. Since the reinforcement member is provided, the flatness of flat portions of the cover panel can be maintained at a high level. The reinforcement member is bonded and fixed to a rear support member after display cell elements are bonded to the flat portions and backlights are fixed to the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mochiji, Satoshi Hara
  • Publication number: 20210232259
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Teiichi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11073931
    Abstract: In determining a definitive value, if a measured value detected at one timing changes by an amount less than a reference amount from a definitive value generated at a timing one cycle before the one timing, a definitive-value determination unit of a press detection apparatus determines the measured value detected at the one timing as a definitive value at the one timing, and if the measured value detected at the one timing has changed by an amount equal to or more than the reference amount from the definitive value at the preceding timing, the definitive-value determination unit determines a value obtained by adding the reference amount to the definitive value at the preceding timing as a definitive value at the one timing. This allows a value in which the influence of vibration is limited to be used in a determination of a pressing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Shunichi Suto
  • Publication number: 20210225351
    Abstract: An active noise control unit generates a noise canceling sound of a single frequency that cancels engine sound heard by an occupant and outputs the noise canceling sound to a speaker through an amplifier. A second harmonic detector and a third harmonic detector detect a magnitude of a harmonic component of the noise canceling sound included in sound collected by a microphone. A controller controls a frequency of the noise canceling sound generated by the active noise control unit to a fundamental frequency of the engine sound based on a rotation frequency of the engine, and in addition, causes an output level control unit to control a level of the noise canceling sound to be output to the amplifier so that the level of the noise canceling sound becomes higher when the magnitude of the harmonic component exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Taku Sugai
  • Publication number: 20210222457
    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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Tomoki Otsuka