Patents Assigned to Koito Manufacturing Co.
  • Lamp control module, vehicle lamp, and signal processing device
    Patent number: 11638343
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a turn signal lamp, a daytime running lamp, and a position lamp. A first driving circuit drives a first light source that is the turn signal lamp. A second driving circuit drives a second light source that serves as both the daytime running lamp and the position lamp. A signal processing device executes a software program to control the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit based on the turn synchronization signal, the first switch-on request, and the second switch-on request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Miyashita
  • Vehicle detecting device, vehicle lamp system, vehicle detecting method, light distribution controlling device, and light distribution controlling method
    Patent number: 11628762
    Abstract: A vehicle detecting device includes: a camera that includes an image sensor and a first filter, the image sensor including a plurality of imaging elements including a first imaging element group and a second imaging element group, the first filter keeping an amount of light entering the first imaging element group lower than an amount of light entering the second imaging element group; an image generating unit that generates a first image based on information obtained from the first imaging element group and a second image based on information obtained from the second imaging element group; and a detecting unit that detects a front vehicle based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehito Iriba
  • Sensor system
    Patent number: 11623558
    Abstract: A left front camera (11) is adapted to be mounted on a left front lamp (1LF) of a vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle. A right front LiDAR sensor (12), a type of which is different from the camera (11), is adapted to be mounted on a right front lamp (1RF) of the vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fushimi, Takashi Hori, Teruaki Yamamoto, Yusuke Kasaba
  • LIGHT SOURCE MODULE AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20230104593
    Abstract: A first light emitting unit includes M (M?2) first light emitting elements provided in series. A second light emitting unit including N (N<M) second light emitting elements and a switching transistor are provided on a path parallel to the first light emitting unit. A constant-current driver is connected in series to both the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, and generates a drive current. A drive circuit includes a capacitor provided between a gate and a drain of the switching transistor, and causes the gate of the switching transistor to generate a drive signal according to a switching signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Toru ITO, Atsushi OZAWA
  • SENSING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230105832
    Abstract: A sensing system provided in a vehicle capable of running in an autonomous driving mode, includes: a LiDAR unit configured to acquire point group data indicating surrounding environment of the vehicle; and a LiDAR control module configured to identify information associated with a target object existing around the vehicle, based on the point group data acquired from the LiDAR unit. The LiDAR control module is configured to control the LiDAR unit so as to increase a scanning resolution of the LiDAR unit in a first angular area in a detection area of the LiDAR unit, wherein the first angular area is an area where the target object exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuki YAMAMOTO, Toru NAGASHIMA, Misako KAMIYA, Shunsuke OKAMURA
  • VEHICULAR LAMP SYSTEM, POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20230108612
    Abstract: An array-type light-emitting device includes multiple pixel circuits electrically coupled in parallel and spatially arranged in a matrix. A power supply circuit supplies electric power to the array-type light-emitting device. A DC/DC converter has an output coupled to a power supply terminal of the array-type light-emitting device via a power supply line. A power supply control circuit sets a target value that corresponds to a light distribution pattern, and controls the DC/DC converter such that the control target voltage approaches the target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu OTA, Masashi KATO, Shohei YANAGIZU, Satoshi KIKUCHI
  • LIGHT SOURCE MODULE AND LIGHTING CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20230104439
    Abstract: An LED string includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series, and is divided into a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. An LED driver circuit receives a power supply voltage according to a battery voltage, and supplies a drive current stabilized at a target current to the LED string. A first bypass circuit is provided in parallel to the first portion and generates a bypass current having a current amount according to the power supply voltage. A second bypass circuit includes a bypass switch provided in parallel to the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki ICHIKAWA, Ryota FUWA, Atsushi OZAWA
  • CHECK VALVE, CHECK VALVE-EQUIPPED BRANCHING TOOL, AND CLEANER DEVICE
    Publication number: 20230095379
    Abstract: A branching tool serving as a check valve incorporated in a cleaner device includes: a main unit provided with an inflow channel and a first outflow channel; a sealing member that allows a flow of cleaning fluid from the inflow channel to the first outflow channel when the cleaner device is in operation and that is formed to seal a backflow of the cleaning fluid from the first outflow channel to the inflow channel when the cleaner device is not in operation; and a lid member that is combined with the main unit so as to form a housing chamber for the sealing member. The lid member has a communication hole that allows the housing chamber to communicate with the outside. The lid member or the main unit is provided with a water receiving recess arranged around the communication hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro MATSUNAGA, Masaru SAKAI, Yasuhiro ICHIKAWA
  • SENSOR SYSTEM, CONTROL DEVICE, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
    Publication number: 20230094075
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a cover, and a control device. The first sensor detects, with first light, a state of a first area located outside a vehicle and outputs first detecting information corresponding to the state. The second sensor detects, with second light, a state of a second area located outside the vehicle and at least partially overlapping with the first area, and outputs second detecting information corresponding to the state. The cover covers at least one of the first and second sensors while forming a part of an outer face of the vehicle and allows passage of at least one of the first and second light. The control device detects an abnormality of the cover based on an inconsistency between the first and second detecting information that are outputted for an area where the first area and the second area overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Totsuka
  • VEHICLE LAMP SYSTEM AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20230096367
    Abstract: A light distribution controller controls a light distribution variable lamp including a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. The processor executes the software program to generate at least one image defining the light distribution of the light distribution variable lamp, and writes the image in the volatile memory. A monitoring microcontroller detects an abnormality of the processor. A hardware logic circuit (i) generates a light distribution image data to be output to the light distribution variable lamp on the basis of at least one image written in the volatile memory in a normal state of the processor, and (ii) generates a light distribution image data on the basis of the generated auxiliary image without depending on the processor in an abnormal state of the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu MANO, Hirotaka SAWADA, Naoki KAWABATA, Keisuke INAGAKI
  • VEHICLE HEADLIGHT
    Publication number: 20230098917
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight (1) includes a first lamp unit (10) that includes a light distribution pattern forming unit (12) which forms a predetermined light distribution pattern (P1) according to the light amount of the light emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements (13), and a second lamp unit (20), in which a light distribution pattern (PL) of a low beam is formed by light emitted from the first lamp unit (10) and light emitted from the second lamp unit (20), and in the light distribution pattern (PL) of the low beam, the elbow point (EP) is included in a predetermined region (CA) formed by light including the light from the first lamp unit (10), and a first side region (SA1) and a second side region (SA2) sandwiching the predetermined region (CA) are formed by the light emitted from the second lamp unit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma MOCHIZUKI, Atsushi SUGIMOTO, Tomoyuki OHNO, Takashi TERAYAMA
  • Lighting circuit for automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11617247
    Abstract: Multiple current sources are coupled in series to corresponding light-emitting elements. Switching converter supplies driving voltage to the multiple light-emitting elements and current sources. Pulse modulator generates pulse signal that transits to on level when the smallest from among voltages across both ends of the multiple current sources falls to bottom limit voltage, and subsequently transits to off level. Frequency stabilization circuit controls pulse modulator such that the frequency of pulse signal approaches its target. Dummy load circuit is configured to lower driving voltage in the enable state, to be set to the enable state when switching transistor continues to be off for a predetermined time, and to be set to the disable state in response to the next turn-on of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norito Takahashi, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • Vehicle illumination lamp
    Patent number: 11614212
    Abstract: A vehicle headlight (1), which is one aspect of a vehicle illumination lamp, includes: light sources (52R, 52G, 52B), and diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) for diffracting light incident from the light sources (52R, 52G, 52B). The light diffracted by the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) is irradiated in a predetermined light distribution pattern. A projection area (AR) to which are projected components (LCR, LCG, LCB) advancing and passing through the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) among the light incident on the diffraction gratings (54R, 54G, 54B) is positioned below the light distribution pattern and within a range (RNG) in which a field of view of a driver of a vehicle is obstructed by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Uchida, Masanori Kito
  • AUTOMOTIVE LAMP SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230093633
    Abstract: A variable light distribution light source includes an array-type light-emitting device. The array-type light-emitting device includes a power supply terminal and multiple pixel circuits electrically coupled and spatially arranged in a matrix. A power supply circuit includes a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the array-type light-emitting device. An output of a DC/DC converter is coupled to the power supply terminal VDD of the array-type light-emitting device via an output terminal. A voltage setting circuit generates a controllable correction voltage. A feedback circuit generates a feedback voltage based on the correction voltage and the control target voltage that corresponds to the output voltage of the DC/DC converter, and supplies the feedback voltage to a feedback pin of a converter controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu OTA, Masashi Kato, Shohei Yanagizu, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL DEVICE, VEHICULAR LAMP SYSTEM, AND LIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONTROL METHOD
    Publication number: 20230088603
    Abstract: A light distribution control device controls a variable light distribution lamp based on images repeatedly obtained from an imaging device. The light distribution control device controls the variable light distribution lamp to form a light distribution pattern determined by a plurality of items of first light distribution pattern information based on the respective images, the first light distribution pattern information including, when the image includes a predetermined light spot, a light shielding part determined based on the light spot and not including a light shielding part when the image does not include a light spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuya KATAOKA
  • Automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11612034
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on multiple semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled in series with a corresponding one from among the semiconductor light sources. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits formed of the multiple semiconductor light sources and the multiple current sources. A converter controller controls a switching transistor of the switching converter based on a relation between a voltage across one from among the multiple current sources and a reference voltage having a positive correlation with the temperature Tj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi, Ryosuke Matsuhana
  • VEHICLE HEADLAMP
    Publication number: 20230084809
    Abstract: A vehicle headlamp (1) includes a lamp fitting (10), and a control unit (CO) configured to, when a signal indicating detection of a preceding vehicle (80) is input, control the lamp fitting (10) such that a total luminous flux amount of light emitted to a first region (211) and a second region (212), and widths (W211 and W212) in the first region (211) and the second region (212) change according to a position of the preceding vehicle (80) with respect to a vehicle (100), in which the first region (211) overlaps a whole of a visual recognition unit of the preceding vehicle (80), and edges (212R and 212L) of the second region (212) on both sides in the left-right direction are located on a preceding vehicle (80) side with respect to edges (211R and 211L) of the first region (211) on both sides in the left-right direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta MARUYAMA
  • VEHICLE LAMP
    Publication number: 20230081252
    Abstract: The vehicle lamp includes a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit each including a first light source configured to emit an emission beam (visible light), a second light source configured to emit infrared light for sensing having a peak wavelength different from that of the first light source, and a light receiving unit configured to detect an intensity of reflected light of the infrared light emitted from the second light source. The light distribution control is performed on the light emitted from the first light source in accordance with the intensity of the reflected light detected by the light receiving unit, and the peak wavelength of the light emitted from the second light source of the first lamp unit and the peak wavelength of the light emitted from the second light source of the second lamp unit are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Mochizuki
  • Vehicle display system and vehicle
    Patent number: 11597316
    Abstract: A display system provided in a vehicle includes: a road surface drawing device configured to emit a light pattern toward a road surface outside the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to control the road surface drawing device. The display control unit stops emission of the light pattern in response to detection of a light pattern emitted from a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kurebayashi, Masaaki Nakabayashi
  • Automotive lamp
    Patent number: 11602029
    Abstract: A lighting circuit turns on multiple semiconductor light sources. Multiple current sources are each coupled in series with a corresponding one from among the semiconductor light sources. A switching converter supplies a driving voltage VOUT across each of multiple series connection circuits formed of the multiple semiconductor light sources and the multiple current sources. A converter controller controls a switching transistor of the switching converter based on a relation between a voltage across one from among the multiple current sources and a reference voltage having a positive correlation with the temperature Tj.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Satoshi Kikuchi, Ryosuke Matsuhana