Patents by Inventor Akihide Tachibana

Akihide Tachibana has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11935401
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles configured to perform autonomous traveling, and a processor. The processor is configured to, when an abnormality occurs in or around at least one first autonomous driving vehicle among the plurality of autonomous driving vehicles, determine a travel instruction for controlling traveling of the first autonomous driving vehicle, transmit the travel instruction to the first autonomous driving vehicle via the communication unit, set a priority representing the degree of the priority in which an instruction operator is notified of the travel instruction in the order determined according to the content of the abnormality, notify any one of at least one instruction terminal of the determined travel instruction in the order of highest priority, and receive a result of checking the determined travel instruction from the instruction terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11919541
    Abstract: Automated drive system comprises a control device. The control device executes run control processing of the automated drive vehicle provided to a driverless transportation service. The run control processing includes carriage porch control processing. The carriage porch control processing is performed when a PUDO position of a user corresponds to a carriage porch of a facility including a zone for run and a zone for PUDO. In the carriage porch control processing, it is judged whether or not there is an empty space in the zone for PUDO. If it is judged that there is no empty space, it is judged whether or not a quick PUDO of the user in the carriage porch is expected. If it is judged that the quick PUDO is expected, a target PUDO position to perform a PUDO action of the automated drive vehicle is set to any position in the zone for run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
  • Patent number: 11912220
    Abstract: A vehicle is configured to transport a passenger through autonomous travel. The vehicle includes an in-vehicle camera configured to image the passenger to generate an image, a camera controller configured to control the in-vehicle camera, and a passenger information detection unit configured to detect information about the passenger. The passenger information detection unit measures the number of passengers and the camera controller stops an operation of the in-vehicle camera in a case where the number of passengers is one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11858534
    Abstract: A pick-up and drop-off area, which is a predetermined area in which an automated driving vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a user, includes a downstream area existing downstream of a standard stop space and an upstream area existing upstream of the standard stop space. An automated driving system controls the automated driving vehicle so as to stop in a target stop space in the pick-up and drop-off area. When the standard stop space is available, the standard stop space is set as the target stop space. When the standard stop space is not available for the automated driving vehicle to stop to drop off the user, the automated driving system searches for an upstream available space in the upstream area and preferentially sets the upstream available space as the target stop space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
  • Patent number: 11814068
    Abstract: An automated driving system controls an automated driving vehicle. A plurality of stop lots are virtually arranged in a pick-up and drop-off area in which the automated driving vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a user. An order of priority of the plurality of stop lots is set. The automated driving system selects a stop lot one by one in the order of priority and determines whether or not the selected stop lot is available for the automated driving vehicle to stop. When the selected stop lot is available for the automated driving vehicle to stop, the selected stop lot is set as a target stop lot. The automated driving system controls the automated driving vehicle so as to stop in the target stop lot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
  • Patent number: 11708041
    Abstract: A vehicle is configured to transport a passenger through autonomous travel. The vehicle includes an in-vehicle camera configured to image the passenger to generate an image, a camera controller configured to control the in-vehicle camera, and a passenger information detection unit configured to detect information about the passenger. The passenger information detection unit measures the number of passengers and the camera controller stops an operation of the in-vehicle camera in a case where the number of passengers is one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20230121464
    Abstract: A vehicle is configured to transport a passenger through autonomous travel. The vehicle includes an in-vehicle camera configured to image the passenger to generate an image, a camera controller configured to control the in-vehicle camera, and a passenger information detection unit configured to detect information about the passenger. The passenger information detection unit measures the number of passengers and the camera controller stops an operation of the in-vehicle camera in a case where the number of passengers is one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20230106791
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes: a signal information acquisition unit that acquires signal information about at least one traffic light, from a server having signal information about a plurality of traffic lights provided at a plurality of intersections; and a vehicle control unit that controls the vehicle, based on the signal information acquired by the signal information acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Kawaharada, Katsuhiro Sakai, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20230109606
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles configured to perform autonomous traveling, and a processor. The processor is configured to, when an abnormality occurs in or around at least one first autonomous driving vehicle among the plurality of autonomous driving vehicles, determine a travel instruction for controlling traveling of the first autonomous driving vehicle, transmit the travel instruction to the first autonomous driving vehicle via the communication unit, set a priority representing the degree of the priority in which an instruction operator is notified of the travel instruction in the order determined according to the content of the abnormality, notify any one of at least one instruction terminal of the determined travel instruction in the order of highest priority, and receive a result of checking the determined travel instruction from the instruction terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20230103492
    Abstract: A vehicle information processing apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal of a first user, a storage unit configured to store an end-of-use position and an expected end-of-use time at which a second user of a vehicle ends use of the vehicle for each of a plurality of vehicles subjected to autonomous driving control and occupied by the second user, and a vehicle selection unit configured to acquire a boarding position and a boarding time at which the first user wants to get on a vehicle from the terminal via the communication unit and select at least one vehicle, of which the end-of-use position and the expected end-of-use time are in a predetermined relationship with the boarding position and the boarding time, from among the plurality of vehicles while referring to the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20230098342
    Abstract: A control device included in each vehicle composing a vehicle group predicts a vehicle state of a subject vehicle before a traveling regulation point based on speed information of the subject vehicle, light color information of a traffic signal, and distance information between the subject vehicle and an entrance of the traveling regulation point. Based on the vehicle state, it is determined whether a vehicle of which the vehicle state corresponds to an unenterable state is included in the vehicle group. The unenterable state indicates a state where the subject vehicle cannot enter the traveling regulation point before the traffic signal is changed to the yellow light when its speed is maintained at a current speed. When it is determined that the vehicle in the unenterable state is included in the vehicle group, the subject vehicle is controlled such that it does not enter the traveling regulation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihide Tachibana
  • Patent number: 11615500
    Abstract: A vehicle information processing apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a terminal of a first user, a storage unit configured to store an end-of-use position and an expected end-of-use time at which a second user of a vehicle ends use of the vehicle for each of a plurality of vehicles subjected to autonomous driving control and occupied by the second user, and a vehicle selection unit configured to acquire a boarding position and a boarding time at which the first user wants to get on a vehicle from the terminal via the communication unit and select at least one vehicle, of which the end-of-use position and the expected end-of-use time are in a predetermined relationship with the boarding position and the boarding time, from among the plurality of vehicles while referring to the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11577751
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes an upper limit value setting unit configured to set an upper limit value of an acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, and a vehicle controller configured to control the vehicle such that the acceleration or deceleration does not exceed the upper limit value. The upper limit value setting unit is configured to change the upper limit value according to at least one predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11568740
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles configured to perform autonomous traveling, and a processor. The processor is configured to, when an abnormality occurs in or around at least one first autonomous driving vehicle among the plurality of autonomous driving vehicles, determine a travel instruction for controlling traveling of the first autonomous driving vehicle, transmit the travel instruction to the first autonomous driving vehicle via the communication unit, set a priority representing the degree of the priority in which an instruction operator is notified of the travel instruction in the order determined according to the content of the abnormality, notify any one of at least one instruction terminal of the determined travel instruction in the order of highest priority, and receive a result of checking the determined travel instruction from the instruction terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11541868
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a storage portion in which map information is stored, the map information showing a position where a roadside machine configured to transmit a radio signal including predetermined information is provided; a route setting portion configured to set a route where an autonomous driving vehicle is to travel when a current position, of the autonomous driving vehicle, that is measured by a positioning portion provided in the autonomous driving vehicle is included within a predetermined distance from the position of the roadside machine on the map information and the autonomous driving vehicle approaches the position where the roadside machine is provided, the route being set so that a communication portion provided in the autonomous driving vehicle can receive the radio signal; and a vehicle controlling portion configured to control the autonomous driving vehicle so that the autonomous driving vehicle travels along the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11543833
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a communication unit configured to be communicable with an autonomous driving vehicle that autonomously travels, a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a possibility that communication between the autonomous driving vehicle and the vehicle control device is disconnected, based on information indicating a communication status between the autonomous driving vehicle and the vehicle control device, and a travel instruction unit configured to transmit, when there is the possibility that the communication between the autonomous driving vehicle and the vehicle control device is disconnected, a travel instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle via the communication unit before the communication between the autonomous driving vehicle and the vehicle control device is disconnected. The travel instruction matches conditions associated with travel control of the autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11485322
    Abstract: A vehicle information processing device includes an arrival determination unit that determines, based on positional information of a vehicle under autonomous driving control, whether or not the vehicle arrives at a destination, an approval determination unit that determines, based on approval notification, whether or not a user approves the arrival of the vehicle at the destination, a safety determination unit that determines whether or not surroundings of the vehicle are safe to the user who unboards the vehicle based on vehicle environment information surrounding the vehicle, and a door controller that requests a door control device to open a door in a case where determination is made that the vehicle arrives at the destination, determination is made that the user approves the arrival of the vehicle at the destination, and determination is made that the surroundings of the vehicle are safe to the user who unboards the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11472439
    Abstract: A vehicle control system executes automated driving control that controls automated driving of a vehicle based on driving environment information indicating a driving environment for the vehicle. When a part of functions of the vehicle is failed during the automated driving, the vehicle control system executes emergency stop control that stops the vehicle. In the emergency stop control, the vehicle control system: acquires failure status information being information on the failed part of functions; determines, based on the failure status information and the driving environment information, a target stop position at which even the vehicle with the failed part of functions is able to arrive and stop by the automated driving; and executes the automated driving control such that the vehicle travels toward the target stop position to stop at the target stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwamoto, Masahiro Harada, Ayako Shimizu, Akihide Tachibana
  • Patent number: 11370437
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a stop position determination portion configured to determine a stop position at which a vehicle is stopped for a user to get in the vehicle or get off the vehicle so that a space for the user to get in or get off the vehicle is secured around a door of the vehicle, the door being used by the user when the user gets in or gets off the vehicle; and a driving controlling portion configured to perform an automatic driving control on the vehicle so that the vehicle stops at the stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Makoto Kawaharada, Akihide Tachibana, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Publication number: 20210347385
    Abstract: Automated drive system comprises a control device. The control device executes run control processing of the automated drive vehicle provided to a driverless transportation service. The run control processing includes carriage porch control processing. The carriage porch control processing is performed when a PUDO position of a user corresponds to a carriage porch of a facility including a zone for run and a zone for PUDO. In the carriage porch control processing, it is judged whether or not there is an empty space in the zone for PUDO. If it is judged that there is no empty space, it is judged whether or not a quick PUDO of the user in the carriage porch is expected. If it is judged that the quick PUDO is expected, a target PUDO position to perform a PUDO action of the automated drive vehicle is set to any position in the zone for run.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa