Patents by Inventor Arinobu Kimura

Arinobu Kimura 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: 9882597
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a signal generating unit that generates a first signal and a transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits the first signal generated by the signal generating unit. The first signal includes frequency information that is used in wireless communication between the mobile device and a tuner. The tuner includes a setting processing unit that sets a receiving frequency of an antenna and a demodulation frequency of a phase synchronization circuit. The setting processing unit sets the receiving frequency and the demodulation frequency on the basis of the frequency information included in the first signal from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arinobu Kimura, Tomotsugu Sekine
  • Patent number: 9564933
    Abstract: A wireless communication method is provided. This method includes: selecting one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands each time a switch operation is manually performed in a transmitter, and then using the selected frequency band to transmit a radio signal corresponding to the switch operation for a predetermined specified transmission time; in a receiver apparatus, receiving the transmitted wireless signal, and then recognizing the content of a command that has already been assigned in accordance with the switch operation; and defining an intermittent reception standby period, which is repeated at a predetermined cycle for each of the frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDSOHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9373252
    Abstract: A remote control system includes a mobile device and a receiver connected to a control target. The mobile device includes an input unit accepting user's input operation; an operation signal transmission unit wirelessly transmitting an operation signal corresponding to the input operation during the input operation; a frequency switching determination unit determining whether to switch the transmission frequency band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band based on at least any one of a manner of the input operation and a state of wireless communication; and a transmission frequency switching unit switching the transmission frequency band when the frequency switching determination unit determines to switch the transmission frequency band. The receiver includes an operation signal reception unit receiving the operation signal; and a control unit controlling the control target on the basis of the received operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20160013830
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a signal generating unit that generates a first signal and a transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits the first signal generated by the signal generating unit. The first signal includes frequency information that is used in wireless communication between the mobile device and a tuner. The tuner includes a setting processing unit that sets a receiving frequency of an antenna and a demodulation frequency of a phase synchronization circuit. The setting processing unit sets the receiving frequency and the demodulation frequency on the basis of the frequency information included in the first signal from the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arinobu KIMURA, Tomotsugu SEKINE
  • Patent number: 9199610
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle device control system, an in-vehicle device is controlled based on a checkup result of checkup operation, in which a checkup about a portable device is performed by mutual communication of transmitting a request signal from a vehicle-side unit mounted on a vehicle and transmitting in return a response signal from the portable device in response to the request signal. If the checkup is unsuccessful, the mutual communication is performed again by switching the communication frequency to perform the checkup again. When a user operates a door lock sensor, the vehicle-side unit performs an exterior checkup first. If the checkup is successful, a communication frequency, by which the checkup was performed successfully, is stored in a memory. The vehicle-side unit sets the communication frequency stored in the memory as a communication frequency, which is to be designated to the portable device, for performing an interior checkup next time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakashima, Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura
  • Patent number: 8983561
    Abstract: A frequency switching terminal is provided to input a signal for switching frequencies of a reception circuit. A smart ECU is connected to the frequency switching terminal via a connection cable. When the signal for switching the frequencies is inputted into an external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a first electric wave transmitted from a portable terminal for smart entry. In contrast, when the signal for switching the frequencies is not inputted into the external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a second electric wave transmitted from a tire sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriaki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami
  • Patent number: 8891505
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a transmitting unit that, each time an ON operation of a switch in a first mode is performed, transmits a wireless signal corresponding to the first mode ON operation by changing a frequency band among three or more frequency bands and that, when an ON operation of the switch in a second mode is performed, transmits a wireless signal, corresponding to the second mode ON operation, in the frequency band selected at that time. The transmitting unit includes a frequency band computing unit that selects one of the three or more frequency bands through a computation for changing a communication environment when the second mode ON operation of the switch is repeatedly performed. A receiver of the in-vehicle device receives a wireless signal transmitted from the transmitting unit and recognizes command information allocated in advance in correspondence with each ON operation mode of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8860550
    Abstract: An in-vehicle device controller includes: an in-vehicle unit for controlling an in-vehicle device; and a portable device. The in-vehicle unit includes a request signal transmitter for transmitting a request signal including random information to the portable device. The portable device transmits a response signal in response to the request signal at multiple frequencies according to a switching pattern corresponding to a part of the random information. The in-vehicle unit further includes: a frequency specifying device for specifying the switching pattern based on the part of the random information; and a reception determination device for executing a reception determination process of the response signal based on a specified switching pattern. The in-vehicle device identifies the portable device according to the reception determination process, and controls the in-vehicle device according to an identification of the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakashima, Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami
  • Patent number: 8847744
    Abstract: A vehicle receiver system includes: a receiver provided in a vehicle cabin, wherein an operating mode of the receiver includes a first mode for receiving a first wireless signal transmitted from a portable key, and a second mode for receiving a second wireless signal relating to a tire air pressure, transmitted from a transmitter provided on a tire; and a key verification device that performs key verification on the portable key in the vehicle cabin on the basis of the first wireless signal. In a predetermined situation, the receiver is configured such that the operating mode of the receiver is switched between the first mode and the second mode, and proportion of a second mode operation time in which the receiver operates in the second mode is set to be greater when a vehicle speed is relatively high than when the vehicle speed is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami, Noriaki Okada, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8843091
    Abstract: A radio communication system includes: a receiver that is configured to receive a first radio wave sent according to a remote keyless entry system and a second radio wave sent according to a tire pressure monitoring system; and a reception mode switching unit that sets a reception mode of the receiver to a first reception mode, in which the first radio wave is received, when an ignition switch of a vehicle is off, and sets the reception mode to a second reception mode, in which the second radio wave is received, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is on. If the reception mode switching unit receives a first request to set the reception mode to the first reception mode while the reception mode is set to the second reception mode, the reception mode switching unit sets the reception mode to the first reception mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Arinobu Kimura, Noriaki Okada
  • Patent number: 8836485
    Abstract: A remote control system includes a mobile device and a receiver connected to a control target. The mobile device includes an input unit accepting user's input operation; an operation signal transmission unit wirelessly transmitting an operation signal corresponding to the input operation during the input operation; a frequency switching determination unit determining whether to switch the transmission frequency band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band based on at least any one of a manner of the input operation and a state of wireless communication; and a transmission frequency switching unit switching the transmission frequency band when the frequency switching determination unit determines to switch the transmission frequency band. The receiver includes an operation signal reception unit receiving the operation signal; and a control unit controlling the control target on the basis of the received operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20140184398
    Abstract: A remote control system includes a mobile device and a receiver connected to a control target. The mobile device includes an input unit accepting user's input operation; an operation signal transmission unit wirelessly transmitting an operation signal corresponding to the input operation during the input operation; a frequency switching determination unit determining whether to switch the transmission frequency band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band based on at least any one of a manner of the input operation and a state of wireless communication; and a transmission frequency switching unit switching the transmission frequency band when the frequency switching determination unit determines to switch the transmission frequency band. The receiver includes an operation signal reception unit receiving the operation signal; and a control unit controlling the control target on the basis of the received operation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroko MURAKAMI, Hiroki OKADA, Arinobu KIMURA, Kazuhiro NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8588715
    Abstract: A receiver (200) that receives a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter includes a receiving unit (2042) that receives a signal that is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter at one of a plurality of transmission frequencies, a receiving frequency change determining unit (2048) that determines whether a receiving frequency is to be changed, based on the signal received by the receiving unit, and a communication error acceptance time setting unit (2046) that sets an acceptance time as a period of time for which communication errors after confirmation of a receiving operation are accepted, based on the signal received by the receiving unit. The communication error acceptance time setting unit sets the acceptance time to different periods of time, depending on whether the receiving frequency change determining unit determines that the receiving frequency is to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130225093
    Abstract: A wireless communication method is provided. This method includes: selecting one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands each time a switch operation is manually performed in a transmitter, and then using the selected frequency band to transmit a radio signal corresponding to the switch operation for a predetermined specified transmission time; in a receiver apparatus, receiving the transmitted wireless signal, and then recognizing the content of a command that has already been assigned in accordance with the switch operation; and defining an intermittent reception standby period, which is repeated at a predetermined cycle for each of the frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130181824
    Abstract: A vehicle receiver system includes: a receiver provided in a vehicle cabin, wherein an operating mode of the receiver includes a first mode for receiving a first wireless signal transmitted from a portable key, and a second mode for receiving a second wireless signal relating to a tire air pressure, transmitted from a transmitter provided on a tire; and a key verification device that performs key verification on the portable key in the vehicle cabin on the basis of the first wireless signal. In a predetermined situation, the receiver is configured such that the operating mode of the receiver is switched between the first mode and the second mode, and proportion of a second mode operation time in which the receiver operates in the second mode is set to be greater when a vehicle speed is relatively high than when the vehicle speed is relatively low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arinobu KIMURA, Hiroki OKADA, Hiroko MURAKAMI, Noriaki OKADA, Kazuhiro NAKASHIMA
  • Patent number: 8428792
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle device control system, a vehicle-side unit mounted in a vehicle controls an in-vehicle device in accordance with a result of checkup about a portable device performed by mutual communications, in which the portable device returns a response signal in response to a request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side unit. An ECU of the vehicle-side unit checks whether it is a regular checkup timing, and performs an exterior checkup if it is determined to be the regular checkup timing. The ECU sets in this case a communication frequency, which is higher in priority order, as a communication frequency to be designated to the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakashima, Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130089066
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a transmitting unit that, each time an ON operation of a switch in a first mode is performed, transmits a wireless signal corresponding to the first mode ON operation by changing a frequency band among three or more frequency bands and that, when an ON operation of the switch in a second mode is performed, transmits a wireless signal, corresponding to the second mode ON operation, in the frequency band selected at that time. The transmitting unit includes a frequency band computing unit that selects one of the three or more frequency bands through a computation for changing a communication environment when the second mode ON operation of the switch is repeatedly performed. A receiver of the in-vehicle device receives a wireless signal transmitted from the transmitting unit and recognizes command information allocated in advance in correspondence with each ON operation mode of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicants: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Hiroki Okada, Arinobu Kimura, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130029623
    Abstract: A radio communication system includes: a receiver that is configured to receive a first radio wave sent according to a remote keyless entry system and a second radio wave sent according to a tire pressure monitoring system; and a reception mode switching unit that sets a reception mode of the receiver to a first reception mode, in which the first radio wave is received, when an ignition switch of a vehicle is off, and sets the reception mode to a second reception mode, in which the second radio wave is received, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is on. If the reception mode switching unit receives a first request to set the reception mode to the first reception mode while the reception mode is set to the second reception mode, the reception mode switching unit sets the reception mode to the first reception mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroko Murakami, Arinobu Kimura, Noriaki Okada
  • Publication number: 20120309299
    Abstract: A receiver (200) that receives a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter includes a receiving unit (2042) that receives a signal that is wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter at one of a plurality of transmission frequencies, a receiving frequency change determining unit (2048) that determines whether a receiving frequency is to be changed, based on the signal received by the receiving unit, and a communication error acceptance time setting unit (2046) that sets an acceptance time as a period of time for which communication errors after confirmation of a receiving operation are accepted, based on the signal received by the receiving unit. The communication error acceptance time setting unit sets the acceptance time to different periods of time, depending on whether the receiving frequency change determining unit determines that the receiving frequency is to be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arinobu Kimura, Hiroki Okada, Hiroko Murakami, Kazuhiro Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8305090
    Abstract: A capacitance touch sensing device that detects the touch of a user against a surface of a door handle on the outside of a vehicle includes an upper sensor electrode provided in an upper portion of the door handle, a lower sensor electrode provided in a lower portion of the door handle, an upper detecting portion that detects when the user has touched an upper surface of the door handle based on output from the upper sensor electrode, and a lower detecting portion that detects when the user has touched a lower surface of the door handle based on output from the lower sensor electrode. The detection sensitivity of one of the upper detecting portion or the lower detecting portion is lower than the detection sensitivity of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Tsuchida, Arinobu Kimura