Patents by Inventor Atsushi Shinkai

Atsushi Shinkai 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: 11904851
    Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11556132
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes: an electronic control system for automatic driving; and a cabin with which a boarding space is formed. The electronic control system includes an antenna unit for satellite navigation, and the antenna unit is attached to a central area of a roof of the cabin in a left-right direction. An upper surface of an area of the roof around the antenna unit is formed so as to be an inclined surface that is inclined in a front-rear direction. Left and right end portions of the roof are provided with left and right bulging edge portions that bulge upward from the left and right end portions and have a length that spans between front and rear ends of the roof, and water drain grooves that guide water on the roof toward the left and right bulging edge portions such that water detours the antenna unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Yushi Matsuzaki, Kazuo Sakaguchi, Takafumi Morishita
  • Publication number: 20220297686
    Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11383703
    Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11221630
    Abstract: An objective is to appropriately position a communication module that carries out wireless communication to exchange information regarding cooperative travel with another vehicle, in order to simplify the measures that are to be taken to avoid thermal damage, and prevent antenna cables from being damaged, for example. A work vehicle includes: a cabin 4 in which a boarding space is formed; and an electronic control system for automatic driving through which a vehicle body is automatically driven. The electronic control system includes a positioning unit that measures the position and orientation of the vehicle body, and a cooperation control unit that causes the vehicle body to automatically travel in cooperation with another vehicle. The cabin 4 is provided with a roof 62 that provides a storage space 62A that is surrounded by an inner roof 101 and an outer roof 102.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 11186312
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a wheel supporting member 11 that is supported by a vehicle body frame 1 that includes left and right side members 80; left and right steerable wheels that are supported by the wheel supporting member 11 so as to be steerable; and a steering mechanism 25 that includes a power steering unit 24 and steers the left and right steerable wheels. The power steering unit 24 is located near the wheel supporting member 11 such that at least a portion of the power steering unit 24 is located between the left and right side members 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 11168992
    Abstract: A travel route generation device for a field work vehicle includes a memory and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on field data stored in the memory, a travel route. The circuitry is configured to determine a getting-off point in the travel route at which a driver gets off the field work vehicle. The circuitry is configured to determine a getting-on point in the travel route at which the driver gets on the field work vehicle. The circuitry is configured to define a first partial route in the travel route between the entrance and the getting-off point and a second partial travel route in the travel route between the getting-on point and the entrance as a manual travel route. The circuitry is configured to define a third partial travel route in the travel route between the getting-off point and the getting-on point as an automatic travel route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uoya, Izuru Shimamoto, Kenji Tamatani, Megumi Suzukawa, Atsushi Shinkai, Kazuo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11169279
    Abstract: A work-vehicle position measurement system includes a reference station and a work vehicle. The reference station is provided at a reference position to measure a measured position of the reference position by receiving a radio wave from a satellite and to transmit reference information including the measured position. The work vehicle includes circuitry configured to obtain a calculated position of the work vehicle based on satellite information from the satellite and the reference information transmitted from the reference station, to control the work vehicle to travel along a predetermined travel route in a work field based on the calculated position of the work vehicle, and to manage map data of the work field to correspond to the reference information of the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Kazuo Sakaguchi, Izuru Shimamoto, Kenji Tamatani, Megumi Suzukawa, Akisato Hori
  • Patent number: 11164112
    Abstract: Provided are a leave of absence prediction system and the like capable of predicting whether an employees, etc. will take a leave of absence in a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, NEC Solution Innovators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamano, Atsushi Shinkai, Masashi Nakamichi
  • Patent number: 11144061
    Abstract: There is a need for a work vehicle that allows accurate traveling time management in a work site traveling. A work vehicle includes a vehicle body mounting a traveling mechanism, an implement mounted on the vehicle body and configured to effect a ground work on a work site, a satellite positioning module 80 for outputting positioning data, a traveling distance calculation section 51 for calculating a traveling distance of the vehicle body based on the positioning data, a traveling time calculation section 52 for calculating an actual distance traveling time from a time required for traveling of traveling distance calculated by the traveling distance calculation section 51 and a work management section 50 for managing the ground work based on the actual distance traveling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Kotaro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20210307232
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a traveling vehicle to autonomously travel on a target traveling route, a working device attached to the traveling vehicle, an offset acquirer to acquire an offset amount and offset direction in a vehicle width direction between a width directional center of the traveling vehicle and a predetermined point in the working device, and a traveling position corrector to correct, based on the offset amount and the offset direction acquired by the offset acquirer, a traveling position of the traveling vehicle so that the predetermined point is located on the target traveling route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Atsushi SHINKAI
  • Publication number: 20210294345
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a vehicle body capable of traveling, a ground working device attached to the vehicle body to perform ground working, an imaging device located on the vehicle body to image a ground working result after the ground working by the ground working device, and a storage to store a ground working image representing the ground working result taken by the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Atsushi SHINKAI, Kotaro YAMAGUCHI, Kazuo SAKAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11037379
    Abstract: Resource consumption of a work vehicle in a specified work site is estimated more appropriately and a resource replenishment timing is calculated appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Tomofumi Fukunaga, Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Yushi Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10989541
    Abstract: A travel route generation device includes circuitry configured to calculate positions of a starting point, an end point, and intermediate points from a start vehicle position, an end vehicle position, and intermediate vehicle positions, respectively, based on a distance from a contour point to a reference point. The circuitry is configured to define the shape of the target work region by calculating a line connecting the starting point, the intermediate points, and the end point, the line defining the shape of the target work region. The circuitry is configured to generate a travel route along which the work vehicle is to travel in the target work region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uoya, Izuru Shimamoto, Kenji Tamatani, Megumi Suzukawa, Atsushi Shinkai, Kazuo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10976436
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device includes an ultrasonic sensor, an obstacle detector to determine presence of an obstacle of interest if an intensity of a received ultrasonic wave exceeds a threshold value, and a threshold value setter to set a short-distance detection threshold value as the threshold value for the obstacle detection in a short-distance detection area in a vicinity of the ultrasonic sensor and to set a long-distance threshold value as the threshold value for the obstacle detection in a long-distance detection area located farther from the ultrasonic sensor than the short-distance detection area, the long-distance threshold value being less than the short-distance detection threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Yushi Matsuzaki, Tomoya Omura, Tomofumi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 10939605
    Abstract: A controller for a work machine includes a steering control circuit, a memory, and a speed control circuit. The steering control circuit is configured to control a steering of the work machine to change a steering angle based on a travel route. The memory is to store a threshold angle. The speed control circuit is configured to control a speed of the work machine if the steering angle is equal to or larger than the threshold angle and if the steering control circuit does not control the steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Atsushi Shinkai, Kazunobu Sugano, Kotaro Yamaguchi, Takafumi Morishita, Kenji Tamatani, Hiroki Suga
  • Patent number: 10937584
    Abstract: A common mode noise filter includes a non-magnetic body and first to third coil conductors provided inside the non-magnetic body. The second coil conductor is provided in a downward direction from the first coil conductor. The third coil conductor is provided in the downward direction from the second coil conductor. The first and third coil conductors deviate in a direction perpendicular to the downward direction with respect to the second coil conductor. At least one of the first and third coil conductors overlaps the second coil conductor viewing from the direction perpendicular to the downward direction. This common mode noise filter allows these coil conductors to be magnetically coupled to each other with a preferable balance, thereby preventing degradation of differential signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Kawashima, Yoshiharu Oomori, Yoichi Nagaso, Atsushi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 10916145
    Abstract: A work vehicle coordination system includes a traveling work parameter setting section (41) included in each work vehicle for setting a traveling work parameter to define a traveling work of each work vehicle, a communication processing section (71, 72) for effecting data communication between/among the plurality of work vehicles, a traveling work parameter acquisition section (42) for acquiring the traveling work parameter set in each work vehicle, a difference data generation section (43) for generating difference data indicative of a difference between/among the traveling work parameters set in the respective work vehicles, and an informing section (56) for informing the difference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Kotaro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10905042
    Abstract: A controller for a master work vehicle, includes a wireless circuit, an acquisition circuit, a message generation circuit, and a display control circuit. The wireless circuit is to receive, from a slave work vehicle configured to travel automatically, first information indicating a state of work travel of the slave work vehicle. The master work vehicle is configured to work in cooperation with the slave work vehicle. The acquisition circuit is configured to acquire second information indicating a state of work travel of the master work vehicle. The message generation circuit is configured to generate a first message based on the first information and a second message based on the second information. The display control circuit is configured to control a display to display the first message and the second message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Megumi Suzukawa, Kenji Tamatani, Izuru Shimamoto, Takafumi Morishita, Kazuo Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10900787
    Abstract: A field traveling route production system includes: a field information storage section that stores field information including position information each of a field and an entrance/exit area of the field; a work traveling route calculation section (61) that calculates a work traveling route for the field work vehicle based on the field information and specification of the field work vehicle, the work traveling route interconnecting a traveling work starting point and a traveling work ending point; a fore traveling route calculation section (62) that calculates a fore traveling route extending from the entrance/exit area to the traveling work starting point of the work traveling route; and a post traveling route calculation section (63) that calculates a post traveling route extending from the traveling work ending point to the entrance/exit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Shinkai, Kotaro Yamaguchi