Patents Assigned to Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 12269391
    Abstract: A left vehicle lamp (2L) includes a lamp housing (14), a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening of the lamp housing (14), an illumination unit (3, 4) that is disposed inside a lamp chamber (S) formed by the lamp housing (14) and the lamp power bar (12), a radar (5) configured to acquire a radar data indicating a surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and a light guide member (6) that is disposed in a manner of facing the radar (5) so as to hide at least a part of the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to transmit radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The radar (5) is disposed outside the housing (S). The light guide member (6) is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi, Yuichi Watano
  • Patent number: 12269439
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaning device includes a cylinder to which a cleaning fluid is supplied; a piston slidably inserted in the cylinder; a spray nozzle unit mounted at a leading end of the piston and configured to spray the cleaning fluid toward an object-to-be-cleaned; and a cap that closes a gap between the cylinder and the piston in an opening of the cylinder through which the piston protrudes. The cap includes a tubular part inside the cylinder, and the tubular part defines an end of movement of the piston. A communication hole is provided between a communication groove provided in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular part and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder, and the gap between the cylinder and the piston communicates with the outside of the cylinder through the communication hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Sakai, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 12259101
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp includes a light source, a reflector, and a projection lens. The vehicular lamp is configured to radiate, toward front of the lamp via the projection lens, light from the light source, the light being reflected by the reflector. A reflective surface of the reflector includes a reflective region configured to illuminate a short-distance road surface within 5 m in front of the lamp. A light diffusing treatment for diffusing and reflecting emitted light from the light source is applied to the reflective region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Suzuki, Takaya Shimizu, Toshiyuki Fujimura
  • Patent number: 12259104
    Abstract: An automotive lamp includes a first lamp unit, a second lamp unit, and a third lamp unit. The first lamp unit illuminates a first region having its longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction and having its upper edge defining a horizontal cutoff line in the low-beam mode and the high-beam mode. The second lamp unit illuminates a second region having its longitudinal direction in an oblique direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and having its upper edge defining an oblique cutoff line in the low-beam mode and the high-beam mode. The third lamp unit illuminates a third region having its longitudinal direction in an oblique direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and having its lower edge parallel to the oblique cutoff line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Shoji Fujita
  • Patent number: 12262101
    Abstract: A gating camera divides a field of view in a depth direction into multiple ranges, and generates multiple slice images that correspond to the multiple ranges. An illumination apparatus emits probe light. A controller controls a timing of emission of the probe light L1 by the illumination apparatus and a timing of image capture by a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The controller controls the first image sensor and the second image sensor such that they receive reflected light from different respective ranges in response to one emission of the probe light from the illumination apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Itaba, Jun Kano
  • Publication number: 20250095106
    Abstract: An illumination device irradiates a field of view with pulsed illumination light. A camera controller controls a light emission timing of the illumination device and an exposure timing of an image sensor. An image processing device generates a composite image by synthesizing a plurality of slice images output from the image sensor. The image processing device sets, as a valid image, a range that takes a local maximum value when pixels at the same position in each of the plurality of slice images are arranged in range order. The image processing device generates a pixel value at the same position in the composite image, based on a pixel value at the same position in the slice image corresponding to the valid range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi HOSHI, Ryo OTA
  • Patent number: 12252066
    Abstract: A lamp system includes a variable light distribution lamp. The variable light distribution lamp 110 irradiates a beam having a variable light intensity distribution to a road surface. A light distribution controller controls the variable light distribution lamp. In response to the start of a predetermined event, the light distribution controller draws a pattern that corresponds to the event. In response to the end of the event, the light distribution controller extinguishes the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 12251864
    Abstract: A mold device includes a primary mold and a secondary mold. The primary mold includes a cavity mold and a primary core mold. The primary mold is configured to inject a first resin material into a first cavity to mold a primary molded product, the first cavity being formed by clamping the cavity mold and the primary core mold. The secondary mold includes the cavity mold and a secondary core mold. The secondary mold is configured to inject a second resin material into a second cavity to stack mold a secondary molded product on a peripheral edge of the primary molded product. The second cavity is formed by clamping the cavity mold and the secondary core mold. The cavity mold is configured to hold the primary molded product. The cavity mold includes a primary molded product holding portion configured to project into and retract from the first cavity, on a parting line of the primary mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Ishiwata, Noriyuki Nakajima, Jyunya Sano, Hiroya Ito
  • Publication number: 20250083525
    Abstract: A HUD includes an image generation unit and a controller. The image generation unit emits first light for generating a first virtual image object to be displayed at a position apart from a vehicle by a first distance, and second light for generating a second virtual image object to be displayed at a position apart from the vehicle by a second distance longer than the first distance. The controller controls the image generation unit. The controller causes information being displayed on at least one of the first virtual image object and the second virtual image object to be displayed on the other of the first virtual image object and the second virtual image object, based on information related to traveling of the vehicle and an instruction from an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke MOMIYAMA, Hideaki YAMAMOTO, Takuo SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20250083588
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp system is used with a visible light camera. The vehicle lamp system has a white low-beam lamp, a white high-beam lamp, and a white imaging lamp. The visible light camera has an imaging range wider than an illumination range of the low-beam lamp. The imaging lamp has an illumination range wider than the imaging range of the visible light camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki HARADA, Yoshihisa ENDO
  • Publication number: 20250085423
    Abstract: A measurement device includes: a light emitting unit configured to emit light to each of a plurality of measurement areas at different heights; an exposure unit having a plurality of exposure areas respectively corresponding to the measurement areas at different heights, and exposed to reflected light from the measurement areas by a plurality of light receiving elements respectively provided for the exposure areas; and a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance to a target in the measurement areas based on an exposure result of the exposure unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki TAKAHASHI, Kenichi HOSHI, Masatoshi SUZUKI, Koji ITABA
  • Patent number: 12246684
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaner system includes a cleaner unit discharges a cleaning fluid toward a cleaning target mounted on a vehicle; a motor pump supplies the cleaning fluid to the cleaner unit; a normally closed type solenoid valve provided between the cleaner unit and the motor pump and switches between permission and non-permission of movement of the cleaning fluid from the motor pump to the cleaner unit; and a cleaner control unit controls the motor pump and the solenoid valve. The cleaner control unit sets an operation stop time period for stopping an operation of at least one of the motor pump and the solenoid valve, and after the cleaning fluid is discharged to the cleaning target, stops the operation of at least one of the motor pump and the solenoid valve during the operation stop time period based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hikaru Nagai, Akinobu Kubota, Kazuki Kawamura, Toshihisa Hayami, Yusuke Funami, Yoshio Ito, Kazuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12250469
    Abstract: A gated camera divides a depth direction into a plurality of ranges and generates a plurality of slice images corresponding to the plurality of ranges. An illumination device radiates probe light. A controller controls a light emission timing of the illumination device and an exposure timing of an image sensor. An image processing device generates a slice image based on a sensor image transmitted from the image sensor. The image processing device selects M (M?2) pixel values in ascending order of pixel values for each line of the sensor image, calculates an average value of the M pixel values, and subtracts the average value from each pixel value of the corresponding line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Kato, Masayuki Takahashi, Koji Itaba, Shun Tanemoto
  • Patent number: 12248074
    Abstract: Provided is a LiDAR sensor unit in which even when a lens element is provided, measurement data is less likely to be affected by the lens element. A LiDAR sensor unit has: a LiDAR sensor; a lens element that is provided on an optical path of light emitted from the LiDAR sensor; and a processing unit that outputs measurement data which has been measured by the LiDAR sensor and which includes the orientation and the distance of a measurement subject. The processing unit is configured to not output measurement data of a specific orientation which is the same but the distance corresponding thereto differs before and after attachment of the lens element under the same environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Watano, Shunsuke Okamura, Yoshiaki Fushimi
  • Patent number: 12233821
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaner unit is configured to clean a cleaning object mounted near a bumper or a grille of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaner unit includes a blower configured to be attached to a rear surface of the bumper or the grille. The bumper or the grille is provided with an air outlet for jetting air blown from the blower toward the cleaning object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu Kubota, Yoshiaki Fushimi
  • Publication number: 20250061723
    Abstract: A sensing system includes an image sensor and an arithmetic processing device. The arithmetic processing device processes image data generate by the image sensor. When the arithmetic processing device detects a decrease in contrast in the same determination region of two consecutive frames of an image, the arithmetic processing device determines that a water droplet has adhered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori TOKIDA
  • Publication number: 20250058697
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular lamp having a millimeter wave radar (30) disposed in a recessed section (14a1) formed in an outer surface (14a) of an outer lens (14) covering a lamp chamber (16). The vehicular lamp comprises: a holding bracket (40) for holding the millimeter wave radar (30); and a radar cover (50) for covering the millimeter wave radar (30). The holding bracket (40): is fixed to the outer lens (14) in a state in which the holding bracket (40) holds the millimeter wave radar (30); and is fixed to the holding bracket (40) in a state in which the radar cover (50) covers the millimeter wave radar (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicants: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro KATSURADA, Kenji FURUMOTO, Eisuke IKENO
  • Patent number: 12228259
    Abstract: In a vehicle lamp configured to emit light from a plurality of light emitting elements to a lamp front via a projection lens, a horizontally-long light distribution pattern can be formed as a clear light distribution pattern even in a case where a substrate is inclined in a left-right direction with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to a lamp front-back direction. A projection lens is divided into a first lens region for controlling direct light from six first light emitting elements located closer to a front end portion of a substrate and a second lens region for controlling direct light from six second light emitting elements located closer to a back end portion of the substrate, and a focal length of the second lens region is set to a value greater than a focal length of the first lens region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiko Honda, Tatsuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20250052902
    Abstract: A measurement device includes: a light emitting unit configured to emit pulsed light; an imaging sensor configured to output a signal value corresponding to an exposure amount for each pixel; a timing control unit configured to expose the pixel of the imaging sensor to reflected light in an exposure period that is set according to a measurement target region and has an exposure width shorter than a pulse width of the pulsed light; and a calculation unit configured to calculate an arrival time of the reflected light based on signal values corresponding to three or more consecutive exposure periods that can include the pulse width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki TAKAHASHI, Yasuo NAKAMURA, Kenichi HOSHI, Daiki KATO
  • Publication number: 20250050808
    Abstract: A lighting circuit applied to a vehicle lighting tool includes: a power supply line to which power supply voltage is supplied in a first period of time out of a predetermined cycle including the first period of time and a second period of time, the supply of the power supply voltage being stopped in the second period of time; a regulator that supplies driving current to a light source based on the power supply voltage across the power supply line; a detection circuit that detects whether there is an abnormality in the light source; a signal output circuit that operates based on the power supply voltage across the power supply line and outputs a signal according to a detection result of the detection circuit; and a control circuit that stops an operation of the regulator when the signal indicating that there is an abnormality in the light source is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu OGO, Shinji OHTA