Patents by Inventor Akira KAINO
Akira KAINO 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).
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Patent number: 12179665Abstract: A driver state determination apparatus detects the decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms the determination of an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects the vibration of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that a driver is in an abnormal state when an average value of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and/or a standard deviation of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru Yoshida, Akira Kaino
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Publication number: 20230380741Abstract: A driver state determination apparatus detects decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects vibration of the steering wheel; a steering angle sensor detects a steering angle of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that the driver is in an abnormal state when a correlation coefficient between a time variation of a steering torque level while the vibration is being provided and a time variation of a steering angle while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara, Yoko Hoshino
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Publication number: 20230382298Abstract: A driver state determination apparatus detects the decline of the physical function of a driver and confirms the determination of an abnormal state before the driver becomes unable to drive. A vibration apparatus vibrates a steering wheel; a vibration detector detects the vibration of the steering wheel; and a controller controls the vibration apparatus. The controller provides vibration at a predetermined excitation frequency to the steering wheel by the vibration apparatus, calculates a steering torque level at the excitation frequency based on the vibration detected by the vibration detector, and determines that a driver is in an abnormal state when an average value of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and/or a standard deviation of the steering torque level while the vibration is being provided is equal to or more than a second threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Wataru YOSHIDA, Akira KAINO
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Patent number: 11745752Abstract: A vehicle control system can have an in-vehicle camera that monitors a state of the driver; a center display and a meter device that notify the occupant of information; and a controller that executes automatic stop control in the case where the driver abnormality is determined. The controller can perform: a first operation to decelerate the vehicle to a specified speed when the abnormality is determined; a second operation to further decelerate and stop the vehicle after the first operation; a third operation to change a lane of the vehicle between the first operation and the second operation; and a fourth operation to move the vehicle to a road shoulder between the first operation and the second operation. The controller can notify the operation performed, and notify of a stop of the operation in the case where the operation performed is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara
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Patent number: 11427122Abstract: A headlight control system has a headlight including a plurality of LED light sources, a camera and a radar that detect a predetermined target object present ahead of a vehicle, and a controller configured to control the headlight such that, when the target object is present, of the plurality of LED light sources, the LED light source irradiating a region where the target object is present is turned off, and such that, thereafter, when the target object is no longer present in the region, the turned-off LED light source is turned on again. The controller controls the headlight such that, at the time of turning on the turned-off LED light source again, a change rate of luminance of the LED light source is changed according to a position of an irradiation region of the LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Kaino, Kumiko Takenouchi, Yoshitaka Fujihara
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Publication number: 20220001793Abstract: A headlight control system has a headlight including a plurality of LED light sources, a camera and a radar that detect a predetermined target object present ahead of a vehicle, and a controller configured to control the headlight such that, when the target object is present, of the plurality of LED light sources, the LED light source irradiating a region where the target object is present is turned off, and such that, thereafter, when the target object is no longer present in the region, the turned-off LED light source is turned on again. The controller controls the headlight such that, at the time of turning on the turned-off LED light source again, a change rate of luminance of the LED light source is changed according to a position of an irradiation region of the LED light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Akira KAINO, Kumiko TAKENOUCHI, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA
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Publication number: 20210323568Abstract: A vehicle control system can have an in-vehicle camera that monitors a state of the driver; a center display and a meter device that notify the occupant of information; and a controller that executes automatic stop control in the case where the driver abnormality is determined. The controller can perform: a first operation to decelerate the vehicle to a specified speed when the abnormality is determined; a second operation to further decelerate and stop the vehicle after the first operation; a third operation to change a lane of the vehicle between the first operation and the second operation; and a fourth operation to move the vehicle to a road shoulder between the first operation and the second operation. The controller can notify the operation performed, and notify of a stop of the operation in the case where the operation performed is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Akira KAINO, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA
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Publication number: 20210323567Abstract: A vehicle control system has an in-vehicle camera that monitors a state of the driver; a meter device provided in front of a driver's seat; a center display provided at a substantially central position in a vehicle width direction; and a controller that executes automatic stop control when the driver abnormality is determined. The controller does not cause the meter device to show options for selecting execution or discontinuation of the automatic stop control by operating a center console operation device, but causes the meter device to at least show information that notifies of the driver abnormality and/or that notifies of the execution of the automatic stop control. Meanwhile, the controller causes the center display to at least show information having content similar to the information shown on the meter device, and causes the center display to show the options for selecting execution or discontinuation of the automatic stop control.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Akira KAINO, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA
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Patent number: 10596969Abstract: An electronic mirror control device includes: an imager which is installed in a vehicle, and captures a rearward image including a rear side surface of the vehicle during traveling; a display which displays the rearward image captured by the imager; a calculator which calculates a position of a vanishing point from the rearward image; an extractor which extracts, in the rearward image, a rear side surface region where the rear side surface of the vehicle is displayed; and a display controller which displays, in the rear side surface region, a vanishing point line which coincides with a straight line passing through the vanishing point.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara
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Patent number: 10336258Abstract: An electronic mirror control device includes: an imager which captures a rearward image including a rear side surface of the vehicle; a display which displays the rearward image; a calculator which calculates a position of a vanishing point; an extractor which extracts a rear side surface region where the rear side surface of the vehicle is displayed; and a display controller which displays a lower region of the rearward image with brightness higher than brightness of a region other than the lower region, the lower region being surrounded by an outer rim of the display, a first straight line taking the vanishing point as a point of origin, passing through the rear side surface region, and extending below a horizon, and a second straight line taking the vanishing point as a point of origin, and extending below the horizon on a side opposite to the first straight line.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara, Yoko Hoshino, Makoto Yoshida, Kumiko Takenouchi
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Publication number: 20190001868Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle headlight that can improve visual responsiveness during nighttime driving. The vehicle headlight includes a processor configured to control at least one light source so as to radiate light directed to a road surface forward of a vehicle and form a first light distribution pattern having a hot zone at a central region in the vehicle width direction, and to radiate light toward a roadside forward of the vehicle and form a second light distribution pattern having a hot zone at a position offset outwardly in the vehicle width direction from the hot zone of the first light distribution pattern, in an overlapped area with the first light distribution pattern. The irradiation range of light directed at the objects on the roadside has an upper edge part that extends in a direction inclined inwardly in the vehicle width direction forward of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara
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Publication number: 20180257569Abstract: An electronic mirror control device includes: an imager which is installed in a vehicle, and captures a rearward image including a rear side surface of the vehicle during traveling; a display which displays the rearward image captured by the imager; a calculator which calculates a position of a vanishing point from the rearward image; an extractor which extracts, in the rearward image, a rear side surface region where the rear side surface of the vehicle is displayed; and a display controller which displays, in the rear side surface region, a vanishing point line which coincides with a straight line passing through the vanishing point.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira KAINO, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA
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Publication number: 20180257570Abstract: An electronic mirror control device includes: an imager which captures a rearward image including a rear side surface of the vehicle; a display which displays the rearward image; a calculator which calculates a position of a vanishing point; an extractor which extracts a rear side surface region where the rear side surface of the vehicle is displayed; and a display controller which displays a lower region of the rearward image with brightness higher than brightness of a region other than the lower region, the lower region being surrounded by an outer rim of the display, a first straight line taking the vanishing point as a point of origin, passing through the rear side surface region, and extending below a horizon, and a second straight line taking the vanishing point as a point of origin, and extending below the horizon on a side opposite to the first straight line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Akira KAINO, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA, Yoko HOSHINO, Makoto YOSHIDA, Kumiko TAKENOUCHI
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Patent number: 9639955Abstract: A display control device for a vehicle, which is applied to a vehicle provided with an outside camera to image scenery in front of the vehicle and a display portion visible and operable for a driver, comprises an optical-flow presumption portion which presumes an optical flow based on the front scenery imaged by the outside camera, an additive-display-line setting portion to set an additive-display line to be applied to the display portion according to the optical flow presumed by the optical-flow presumption portion, and a display control portion to conduct a display control for the display portion based on the additive-display line set by the additive-display-line setting portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto Yoshida, Yoshitaka Fujihara, Yohei Iwashita, Yoko Hoshino, Akira Kaino
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Publication number: 20150243046Abstract: A display control device for a vehicle, which is applied to a vehicle provided with an outside camera to image scenery in front of the vehicle and a display portion visible and operable for a driver, comprises an optical-flow presumption portion which presumes an optical flow based on the front scenery imaged by the outside camera, an additive-display-line setting portion to set an additive-display line to be applied to the display portion according to the optical flow presumed by the optical-flow presumption portion, and a display control portion to conduct a display control for the display portion based on the additive-display line set by the additive-display-line setting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Makoto YOSHIDA, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA, Yohei IWASHITA, Yoko HOSHINO, Akira KAINO