Patents Assigned to SUBARU CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 11900796
    Abstract: A map generation system includes a vehicle including a terminal, an input data compilation device, and an output data compilation device. The input data compilation device includes a data reception unit, a data accumulation unit, and a current state map data creation unit. The data reception unit communicates with a communication unit of the terminal. The data accumulation unit accumulates data held by the terminal. The current state map data creation unit creates current state map data using data accumulated by the data accumulation unit, and map data, regional data, or both. The output data compilation device includes a forward region calculation unit and a calculation transmission unit. The forward region calculation unit makes predictive calculation of a forward region of the vehicle, using the current state map data. The calculation transmission unit communicates with the communication unit regarding a result of the predictive calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Oyama, Tomoyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11897548
    Abstract: An airflow adjusting apparatus to be provided in a vehicle includes a road clearance detector, an airflow generator, and a processor. The vehicle includes a vehicle body, a wheel attached to the vehicle body to be partly protruded downward from the vehicle body, and a suspension that holds the wheel to permit the wheel to make a vertical stroke relative to the vehicle body. The road clearance detector is configured to detect a road clearance. The road clearance is a vertical distance from a road surface to an underside of the vehicle body. The airflow generator is provided in an underneath of the vehicle body, and configured to generate an airflow. The processor is configured to allow the airflow generator to generate a downward airflow having a downward speed component, on the condition that the road clearance has been on the increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
  • Publication number: 20240043014
    Abstract: A vehicle includes one or more processors, and one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors cooperate with a program included in the one or more memories to execute a process, the process including: obtaining numerical values related to multiple factors in actual driving prior to an execution of virtual driving not involving actual vehicle movement, and forming a population; detecting the execution of the virtual driving; and determining abnormal driving based on a distance from a center position of the population of the numerical values obtained in the actual driving after the execution of the virtual driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro YAMAMOTO, Kiyofumi SATO, Kyohei YAMAMOTO, Yuichi SUZUKI, Hideto FUKUDA, Naonori IKEZAWA, Hironao SATO
  • Publication number: 20240042999
    Abstract: A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes a surrounding environment recognition device, a collision time calculator, a collision object estimator, and an after-collision travel range estimator. The surrounding environment recognition device includes a recognizer configured to recognize a surrounding environment of the vehicle, and a collision object recognizer configured to recognize an object that has a possibility to come into collision with the vehicle in the recognized surrounding environment. The collision time calculator is configured to calculate a predicted time to the collision between the vehicle and the object. The collision object estimator is configured to, based on the predicted time to the collision, estimate a travel route of the object and a collision position on the vehicle where the object collides with the vehicle. The after-collision travel range estimator is configured to estimate a travel range of the vehicle after the collision based on the estimated collision position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya IWASE, Kazuaki UEDA, Shingo UGAJIN, Toshihiro HAYASHI, Kazuo NOMOTO, Hiroto KOBAYASHI, Takumi FUNABASHI, Kenta SOMEYA
  • Publication number: 20240042997
    Abstract: A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes a surrounding environment recognition device, a collision time calculator, a collision object estimator, an after-collision travel range estimator, a collision detector, and a travel control unit. The surrounding environment recognition device includes a recognizer, a collision object recognizer that recognizes an object that has a possibility to come into collision with the vehicle, and a safety degree region setter that sets safety degree regions. The collision object estimator estimates a travel route of the object and a collision position on the vehicle. The after-collision travel range estimator estimates a travel range of the vehicle after the collision based on the estimated collision position. When the collision between the vehicle and the object is detected, the travel control unit performs travel control depending on a safety degree in one of the safety degree regions in front of the travel range after the collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto KOBAYASHI, Takuya IWASE, Kazuaki UEDA, Toshihiro HAYASHI, Shingo UGAJIN, Kazuo NOMOTO, Kenta SOMEYA, Takumi FUNABASHI
  • Patent number: 11891940
    Abstract: An exhaust catalyst management apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes a differential pressure sensor and one or more processors. The differential pressure sensor detects an accumulation state of an exhaust-containing substance in a catalyst device. The one or more processors are coupled to the differential pressure sensor and a vehicle outside sensor. The one or more processors determine whether or not travel environment is suited to carrying out an output control for removal, based on a result of the detection of surroundings of the vehicle by a vehicle outside sensor. Upon determining that the travel environment is suited to carrying out the output control for removal, the one or more processors carry out the output control for removal, while the vehicle is traveling, in accordance with a result of the determination of the accumulation state of the exhaust-containing substance in the catalyst device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Adachi
  • Patent number: 11891000
    Abstract: A vehicular power supply device includes an inverter, a converter, a driving motor, an electric device group, a first electric storage unit to be coupled to the driving motor via the inverter, a second electric storage unit to be coupled to an electric device group via the converter, an electric power converter, first and second switches, and a switch controller. The electric power converter is provided between the two electric storage units and couples them in parallel with each other. The first switch is provided between the first electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The second switch is provided between the second electric storage unit and the electric power converter and is controllable between on and off states. The switch controller controls the first and second switches based on a state of charge of the first electric storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Itaru Seta, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yosuke Ohtomo, Masaki Komuro, Takashi Kono, Kazuki Makino, Shinya Sagawa
  • Patent number: 11891177
    Abstract: A disc-type vertical take-off and landing aircraft includes the following. A skirt widens toward the bottom. A disc-shaped rotor is positioned on a lower side of the skirt and rotates with relation to the skirt. A plurality of blades are provided standing on an upper surface of the rotor and are positioned radially from a center of the rotor. A cutout is formed in each of the plurality of blades. When the rotor rotates, centrifugal force causes an airflow along the blade rotating with the rotor, the airflow swirls in a spiral by a flow of air flowing over the cutout of the blade in a direction substantially orthogonal to the blade, the airflow flows in a radial direction of the rotor along the blade while swirling in the spiral, and the airflow ejected downward by the skirt causes ascending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuru Kosaka
  • Patent number: 11890948
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a requested torque calculator, a command torque calculator, and a driving controller. The requested torque calculator is configured to calculate requested torque. The command torque calculator includes a change rate adjuster configured to adjust respective upper limit change rates of left command torque and right command torque that follow the requested torque. The change rate adjuster is configured to, on the basis of a predetermined operation of turning back a steering angle performed on a steering unit of the electric vehicle, lower the upper limit change rate of a driving wheel, serving as an inner wheel among left and right driving wheels of the electric vehicle before turning back the steering angle, than the upper limit change rate of the driving wheel, serving as an outer wheel among the left and the right driving wheels before turning back the steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chihiro Oguro
  • Patent number: 11890983
    Abstract: An optical axis adjustment device for a headlamp unit to be mounted in a vehicle is configured to adjust an optical axis of the headlamp unit. The optical axis adjustment device includes an engine temperature acquirer, a displacement amount calculator, and an optical axis adjuster. The engine temperature acquirer is configured to acquire a temperature in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The displacement amount calculator is configured to calculate a displacement amount of the optical axis on a basis of the acquired temperature. The optical axis adjuster is configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp unit on a basis of the calculated displacement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentarou Yamasaki, Noriaki Asano
  • Publication number: 20240034161
    Abstract: A vehicle charging and discharging system to be applied to an electric vehicle includes a rectifier, an inverter, a relay, and a control processor. The rectifier is disposed on a charging path through which a battery of the electric vehicle is to be contactlessly charged from external equipment via a coil in the electric vehicle. The inverter is disposed on a first path from the battery to an electric power output terminal of the electric vehicle, the electric power output terminal allowing for output of electric power stored in the battery. The relay is disposed on a second path from the inverter to the coil. The control processor controls an operation state of the relay to allow the electric power stored in the battery to be contactlessly discharged to the external equipment via the inverter, the relay, and the coil on the second path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hayata MIMATSU, Tomoyuki YAMAMURO, Yasufumi TANAKA, Nobuo MORIMURA, Hiroki MORIKA
  • Publication number: 20240034321
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus for a vehicle includes: an environment information acquisitor that acquires environment information in front of the vehicle; a target route setter that sets a target route; and a controller that causes the vehicle to travel along the target route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki UMEZAWA, Hiroaki KURAMOCHI, Satoshi NAKANO, Masashi OKANO, Shuhei DAIROKUNO, Motohiro HIDAKA, Tatsuro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20240034160
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system to be applied to an electric vehicle includes a rectifier, an inverter, first and second relays, and a control processor. The rectifier is disposed on a charging path. The inverter is disposed on a first power feeding path. The first and second relays are respectively disposed on the charging path and a second power feeding path. The control processor performs control that allows for: contactless charging via the charging path from external equipment; and first power feeding to an external device via the charging path and the first power feeding path from the external equipment, or second power feeding to the external device via the second power feeding path from the external equipment. The control processor controls operation states of the relays in accordance with power being supplied from the external equipment, power requested at a battery, and power necessary at the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasufumi TANAKA, Hayata MIMATSU, Yasushi TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20240034315
    Abstract: A surrounding environment around a vehicle is recognized and surrounding environment information is acquired. Traveling control is performed on the vehicle based on the acquired surrounding environment information. When an obstacle expected to hinder traveling of the vehicle is recognized ahead of the vehicle and other vehicles traveling ahead of the vehicle are recognized in an adjacent lane adjacent to a traveling lane where the vehicle is traveling, a movement amount of the obstacle moved due to an effect of a first other vehicle among the other vehicles that travels at a position near the obstacle is detected. An estimated movement amount of the obstacle moved due to an effect of a second other vehicle among the other vehicles that follows the first other vehicle is calculated based on the detected movement amount. The traveling control is performed on the vehicle based on the estimated movement amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Reo HARADA, Hiroaki KURAMOCHI, Seiya SATO, Hiroki MANIWA, Wataru MUNEMURA, Shigeki MUKAI, Kazuyuki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20240034320
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus for a vehicle includes an environment information acquisitor, a vehicle position estimator, a target route setter, and a controller. The environment information acquisitor acquires environment information in front of the vehicle. The vehicle position estimator estimates a position of the vehicle on a road. The target route setter sets a target route of the vehicle. The controller causes the vehicle to travel along the target route. The controller includes an intersection determiner, a right-left turn determiner, a route generator, and an intervention controller. The intersection determiner determines whether an intersection is in front of the vehicle based on the environment information. The right-left turn determiner determines whether the vehicle turns right or left at the intersection. The route generator generates correct and erroneous routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro HIDAKA, Katsuyuki UMEZAWA, Hiroaki KURAMOCHI, Satoshi NAKANO, Shuhei DAIROKUNO, Tatsuro SUZUKI, Masashi OKANO
  • Publication number: 20240034319
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus for a vehicle includes: an environment information acquisitor that acquires environment information ahead of the vehicle; a vehicle position estimator that estimates a vehicle's position; a target route setter that sets a target route; and a controller that causes the vehicle to travel along the target route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuyuki UMEZAWA, Hiroaki KURAMOCHI, Satoshi NAKANO, Masashi OKANO, Shuhei DAIROKUNO, Motohiro HIDAKA, Tatsuro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11884321
    Abstract: A vehicular self-diagnosis device includes first to third sensors that detect parameters to be used in steering control of a vehicle, first to third turn estimators that respectively estimate turn statuses of the vehicle based on a steering angle detected by the first sensor, vehicle behavior detected by the second sensor, and a lane curvature and a vehicle-versus-lane yaw angle of the vehicle relative to the lane curvature detected by the third sensor, an offset extractor that extracts first to third offset components respectively from signals indicating the estimated turn statuses, an offset-divergence-amount calculator that calculates a maximum divergence amount based on maximum and minimum values of the first to third offset components, and a comparison unit that compares the maximum divergence amount with a predetermined threshold value and determines that inconsistency exists among the first to third sensors if the maximum divergence amount exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Omikawa
  • Patent number: 11884322
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes a surrounding situation recognition device, a surrounding situation determination processor, a steering-wheel holding state recognizer, a steering-wheel holding state determination processor, and a traveling control device. The surrounding situation recognition device recognizes a surrounding situation of a first vehicle to be applied with the apparatus. The surrounding situation determination processor determines the surrounding situation based on a recognition result of the surrounding situation recognition device. The steering-wheel holding state recognizer recognizes a steering-wheel holding state. The steering-wheel holding state determination processor determines the steering-wheel holding state on the basis of a recognition result of the steering-wheel holding state recognizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kojo, Yuki Aoyama, Shinji Saito, Takashi Omikawa
  • Patent number: 11889047
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a detector, a setting unit, a calculator, an estimator, and a determining unit. The detector sets a three-dimensional object region by detecting a three-dimensional object. The setting unit sets a first image region corresponding to the three-dimensional object region, a second image region including a left end of and partly overlapping the first image region, and a third image region including a right end of and partly overlapping the first image region. The calculator calculates representative values of parallax-related values in pixel columns in the image regions, and calculates an approximate line of the representative values in each of the image regions. The estimator estimates a continuous structure degree, from a slope value of the approximate line of each of the image regions. The determining unit determines whether the three-dimensional object is a vehicle, from the continuous structure degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Kuraoka
  • Patent number: 11887382
    Abstract: A lane-line recognizing apparatus for a vehicle includes an edge-point detector and an approximate-line calculation processor. The edge-point detector is configured to detect edge points on the basis of brightness variation within a detection region for a lane line. The approximate-line calculation processor is configured to calculate an approximate line of a point group including the edge points. The lane-line recognizing apparatus has: a first mode in which the lane-line recognizing apparatus is configured to mainly search for standard edge candidate points having brightness relatively high; and a second mode in which the lane-line recognizing apparatus is configured to mainly search for opposite edge candidate points having brightness relatively low. The lane-line recognizing apparatus is configured to selectively perform switching between the first and the second modes in accordance with the number of the detected opposite edge candidate points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Tsukagoshi, Ryo Hajika