Patents Assigned to PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20250042392
    Abstract: A parking assistance method according to the present disclosure is a method of performing autonomous travel of a vehicle based on a travel route generated using teaching travel by a driver. The parking assistance method includes: acquiring a position of the vehicle and an azimuth in a travel direction of the vehicle; outputting, based on the position and the azimuth in the travel direction, when the vehicle is located and oriented with a prescribed azimuth in a prescribed position, a notification to a user to prompt an operation to start parking assistance; and receiving the operation by the user to start the parking assistance. The prescribed position is located within a range of a prescribed distance from a start position of the travel route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takafumi TOKUHIRO, Masashi HOSHINO, Satoshi FUKUMOTO
  • Patent number: 12214510
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is provided in which the detection range of a left-front-corner sonar (12a) located at the vehicle's left front corner is included in the field of view of a second imaging means (14) located at the vehicle's left front corner. When the left-front-corner sonar (12a) detects a three-dimensional object at the vehicle's left front corner, an image processing means (3) synthesizes an image of the image created using a second imaging means (14) and the images created with four cameras (7a-7d) for imaging the complete periphery of the vehicle, and creates a bird's-eye-view image (40b). The detection range of the left-front-corner sonar (12a) is included within a region of the bird's-eye image (40b) on the basis of the image created with the second imaging means (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Michiguchi, Tatsuto Ryugo, Kenji Okano, Yukiko Kanno
  • Publication number: 20250040106
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an in-vehicle electronic device (in-vehicle device) includes a case, a plate-like heat sink (heat dissipation member) that abuts on a top surface of an SoC (electronic component) to dissipate heat generated by the SoC, a cooling fin that removably abuts on an area on a top side of the heat sink including at least an area on the top surface of the SoC to promote heat dissipation of the heat sink, and a centrifugal fan (cooling fan) configured to blow cooling air along the heat sink between a plurality of fins that make up the cooling fin. The heat sink, the cooling fin, and the centrifugal fan are included inside the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori YOKOTA
  • Patent number: 12212940
    Abstract: An acoustic processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes one or more microphones, a first voice processing unit, and a second voice processing unit. The second voice processing unit is connectable between the microphones and the first voice processing unit. The second voice processing unit includes an operational amplifier, an output terminal, an attenuator, and a transistor. The output terminal is connectable to the first voice processing unit. The attenuator is electrically connected between an output node of the operational amplifier and the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Takemoto
  • Patent number: 12212878
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging element and an optical system. On the imaging element, a plurality of pixels is arranged in a two-dimensional manner. The imaging element generates image data on the basis of output of the plurality of pixels. The optical system forms, on an imaging plane of the imaging element, an image of light from a field at a magnification factor varying with a field angle. An optical axis of the optical system on the imaging plane is positioned away from a center of the imaging plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Kawamoto
  • Publication number: 20250029390
    Abstract: A video processing device installable in a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes: a first camera configured to image an outside of the vehicle and generate a first video; a first display configured to display a second video obtained by performing first processing on the first video; and a second display configured to display a third video obtained by performing second processing on the first video. The video processing device includes: a first serializer circuit configured to receive the first video from the first camera and transmit the first video to the first display directly; a processor configured to perform the second processing on the first video to generate the third video; and a second serializer circuit configured to receive the third video from the processor and transmit the third video to the second display directly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei OHMURA, Yuji MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20250026224
    Abstract: An operation management system includes: a server; a first obtainer that obtains charge amount information on a charge amount of an electric vehicle; a first transmitter that transmits the charge amount information obtained by the first obtainer to the server; a second obtainer that obtains driving history information on a driving history of the electric vehicle; and a second transmitter that transmits the driving history information obtained by the second obtainer. The server includes: an estimator that obtains the charge amount information and the driving history information, and estimates a potential range of travel of the electric vehicle based on the charge amount information and the driving history information obtained; and a display controller that causes a display to display an estimation result of the estimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto HINATA, Fumio KOSUGE
  • Publication number: 20250026336
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes: a parking slot detector that detects a parking slot; an operation receiver that receives a parking instruction operation of a passenger of a vehicle; and a travel controller that performs automatic parking of the vehicle in a parking slot corresponding to the parking instruction operation. When the parking slot is located on only one of left and right sides in a travelling direction of the vehicle, or when the parking instruction operation is a parking instruction operation including a direction instruction and the parking slot is located in a direction instructed by the parking instruction operation, in a case where the parking slot is located in a predetermined range in the travelling direction of the vehicle, it is determined that the parking slot corresponds to the parking instruction operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa OKABE, Hirofumi NISHIMURA, Manabu NAKAKITA
  • Patent number: 12202503
    Abstract: A video acquisition unit acquires a video from an imaging unit provided in a vehicle to capture a scene around the vehicle. A display unit is provided in the vehicle to display the video captured by the imaging unit. A control unit switches, when it is predicted that a passenger of the vehicle will leave the vehicle, a mode of the display system to a mode in which visibility for the passenger is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Tooru Kameyama, Akitoshi Yamashita, Masafumi Takeshita, Yutaka Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 12204341
    Abstract: The travel assistance apparatus includes: a first Operating System (OS) that controls execution of at least one of a first application and/or a second application, the first application being for specifying a first travel control amount of a vehicle based on first movement information on a position and a speed of an object around the vehicle, the second application being for specifying a second travel control amount of the vehicle based on second movement information on a position and a speed of the object; a second OS that controls execution of a third application for performing travel control of the vehicle based on at least one of the first travel control amount and/or the second travel control amount; and a hypervisor that is executed on a processor and controls execution of the first OS and the second OS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Uchikoshi, Masahito Oishi, Kojiro Ono
  • Patent number: 12204134
    Abstract: A light guide body in a display device includes a first incident surface on which an image light is incident, and a second emission surface from which the image light is emitted. The light guide body includes a second emission optical element that diffracts the image light to emit a portion of the image light at a predetermined emission angle every time the image light enters the second emission optical element from a predetermined direction. The image light is diverged by being emitted from the second emission optical element such that the predetermined emission angle varies in accordance with a location in one predetermined region included in a plurality of predetermined regions of the optical element. The degree of divergence varies between the one predetermined region and other predetermined region included in the plurality of predetermined regions in accordance with the location of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiya Mori, Ken'ichi Kasazumi
  • Patent number: 12202506
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, a vehicle, and an information processing method each for improving the visibility of an on-board meter panel. Information processing apparatus includes information acquirer that acquires traveling information on traveling of a vehicle including an on-board meter panel; and display pattern changer—that changes a display pattern of the on-board meter panel in accordance with change in the traveling information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Wang, Yusuke Kanzaki, Tooru Kameyama
  • Patent number: 12202535
    Abstract: An electrode structure disposed on the outer circumference of a core metal of a steering wheel provided in a vehicle includes an insulator and a first electrode disposed on a first surface of the insulator that is on an opposite side of the insulator relative to a surface of the insulator that faces the core metal of the steering wheel. The insulator includes an engagement portion that engages a first engagement-target portion included in the core metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamashita, Takumi Yamada, Takateru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20250020802
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes: a plurality of transmission antennas which transmit a plurality of transmission signals at every transmission period using a multiplexing transmission; and a transmission circuit which applies frequency offsets and phase rotations to the transmission signals for each transmission period during which the transmission signals are transmitted. A combination of the phase rotations varies for each transmission period and is repeatedly applied for a first number of transmission periods, and is different for each of the transmission antennas in each transmission period. The first number is larger than a number of the transmission antennas, and the frequency offsets are same for the transmission signals in each transmission period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki KISHIGAMI, Kenta IWASA, Hidekuni YOMO
  • Patent number: 12194852
    Abstract: A display device includes: an outer cover with light transmission properties; a design sheet with light transmission properties provided on the outer cover; a cushion layer with light transmission properties provided on a back surface side of the outer cover; and a light source provided on a back surface side of the cushion layer. When viewed in a cross section, the cushion layer includes: a plurality of first concave portions that are in a convex shape in a first orientation and a concave shape on a side opposite to the convex shape; and a plurality of second concave portions that are connected to the first concave portions and are in a convex shape in a second orientation and a concave shape on a side opposite to the convex shape. The first concave portions and the second concave portions are alternately provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kontani, Takeshi Masutani
  • Patent number: 12198538
    Abstract: A notifying method includes detecting an object existing in a periphery of the vehicle, and emitting a visible light to irradiate at least a part of the periphery of the vehicle in a direction of the object with an irradiation pattern. A color of the visible light irradiated is a complementary color of a color of a road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 12194848
    Abstract: A controller is connected to a seat for which a backward tilt angle of a backrest can be changed and to a display device for which an angle of projection of a display light can be changed. An acknowledgment unit acknowledges a selection of one of a plurality of items of identification information. A control unit acquires, when the acknowledgment unit acknowledges a selection of one of the plurality of items of identification information, a backward tilt angle and an angle of projection corresponding to the selected identification information from a storage to control the seat so that a first angle determined by the backward tilt angle acquired is set as the backward tilt angle of the backrest and to control the display device so that a second angle determined by the angle of projection acquired is set as the angle of projection of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Emura, Ying Li
  • Patent number: 12196959
    Abstract: A head-up display is configured to project an image on a transparent reflection member to cause an observer to visually recognize a virtual image, and includes a display device configured to display the image, and a projection optical system configured to project the image displayed by the display device as the virtual image for the observer. The projection optical system is configured to form an image as an intermediate image, and includes a first lens configured to condense light, and a first optical element configured to diffuse light. The first lens and the first optical element are disposed in this order along an optical path from the display device. The first lens is inclined with respect to a reference beam which is defined as a beam reaching a center of a viewpoint region of the observer and corresponding to a center of the virtual image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Hiroaki Okayama
  • Patent number: 12198644
    Abstract: In a display device, a display includes a display area for displaying a display image, and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. A control circuit receives, from an illuminance sensor for detecting an illuminance of an incident light, the illuminance and controls the display. The display area includes a first end area that is an area located near the peripheral area. The control circuit derives a brightness ratio that is a ratio between a brightness of the first end area and a brightness of the peripheral area, based on the illuminance and image data for the display image. The control circuit controls, when the brightness ratio is larger than a brightness ratio threshold value that is a predefined value, the display to cause the brightness ratio to be equal to or smaller than the brightness ratio threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuuki Namekata
  • Patent number: 12194850
    Abstract: A vehicle display device includes: a first sensor (microphone) that senses a vehicle interior; a region decider that decides a detection region which is a region for detecting a fallen object; a determiner that determines, based on the result of the sensing performed by the first sensor, whether an object has fallen; and a controller that decides display content based on a determination that the object has fallen and the detection region, and the controller causes a display to display the display content decided by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Kawahara