Patents by Inventor Eiji Itami

Eiji Itami 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).

  • Publication number: 20230324545
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a position detection unit configured to detect a position of an object outside a vehicle based on sensor information obtained at a predetermined cycle by an object detection sensor mounted on the vehicle; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the object is a moving object based on a time-series amount of change in the position of the object detected by the position detection unit. A first threshold on a lower limit side and a second threshold on an upper limit side are set as thresholds for the amount of change in the position of the moving object. The determination unit determines that the object is a moving object when the amount of change in the position is larger than the first threshold and equal to or smaller than the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji NAGASE, Hideaki HIROSE, Eiji ITAMI, Kenichi TAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20230193684
    Abstract: An operation detection device for a vehicle including a camera that captures an image of a periphery of an opening portion of a vehicle body includes a position determination unit configured to determine whether a first body part and a second body part of a user in the image captured by the camera are present in a user determination area set in the image, a gesture determination unit configured to determine, based on the image captured after it is determined that the first body part and the second body part are present in the user determination area, whether at least one of a first gesture using the first body part and a second gesture using the second body part is made, and an output unit configured to output the trigger signal when it is determined that at least one of the first gesture and the second gesture is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya TAMURA, Keiichi YANAI, Eiji ITAMI
  • Publication number: 20230067874
    Abstract: A vehicle door opening device includes a lock control device configured to switch a door lock device to an unlocked state when an operation on a first operation member is detected, and a latch control device configured to: when an operation on a second operation member is detected while the door lock device is in the unlocked state, switch the latch mechanism to an unlatched state; when the operation on the second operation member is detected while the door lock device is in a locked state and when the operation on the first operation member is detected, switch the latch mechanism to the unlatched state; and, when the operation on the second operation member is detected while the door lock device is in the locked state and when the operation on the first operation member is not detected, maintain the latch mechanism in a latched state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicants: AISIN CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya ISHIDA, Eiji ITAMI, Hideyuki KANIE, Yasuhiro ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11149475
    Abstract: A door device for a vehicle includes a latch drive device configured to unlatch a swing door by driving a latch mechanism, a door hold-open device configured to hold the swing door at an opened angle by applying a braking force to the swing door, a door open switch issuing an operation request of the latch drive device to open the swing door; a door stop switch issuing an operation request of the door hold-open device, and a grip portion including the door open switch and the door stop switch to issue the operation requests of the door open switch and the door stop switch in a state where an occupant of the vehicle holds the grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Kito, Eiji Itami, Ryu Miyashiro
  • Publication number: 20200032563
    Abstract: A door device for a vehicle includes a latch drive device configured to unlatch a swing door by driving a latch mechanism, a door hold-open device configured to hold the swing door at an opened angle by applying a braking force to the swing door, a door open switch issuing an operation request of the latch drive device to open the swing door; a door stop switch issuing an operation request of the door hold-open device, and a grip portion including the door open switch and the door stop switch to issue the operation requests of the door open switch and the door stop switch in a state where an occupant of the vehicle holds the grip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke KITO, Eiji ITAMI, Ryu MIYASHIRO
  • Patent number: 9938759
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a control device of a vehicle opening-closing member that includes a vehicle state determination unit that determines a traveling state of the vehicle based on a signal indicating a traveling state of a vehicle; an open/close state determination unit that determines an opening/opened state of the opening-closing member based on a signal indicating an opening/opened state of an opening-closing member provided to the vehicle; and a control unit that outputs a control signal for stopping an opening motion of the opening-closing member when it is determined by the vehicle state determination unit that the vehicle is in a state of traveling and when it is determined by the open/close state determination unit that the vehicle opening-closing member is in an opening/opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Urase, Takeshi Nishikibe, Toshiro Maeda, Eiji Itami, Takeshi Katsuda, Masahiko Itoh, Yoshinori Hitomi
  • Publication number: 20160265261
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a control device of a vehicle opening-closing member that includes a vehicle state determination unit that determines a traveling state of the vehicle based on a signal indicating a traveling state of a vehicle; an open/close state determination unit that determines an opening/opened state of the opening-closing member based on a signal indicating an opening/opened state of an opening-closing member provided to the vehicle; and a control unit that outputs a control signal for stopping an opening motion of the opening-closing member when it is determined by the vehicle state determination unit that the vehicle is in a state of traveling and when it is determined by the open/close state determination unit that the vehicle opening-closing member is in an opening/opened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi URASE, Takeshi NISHIKIBE, Toshiro MAEDA, Eiji ITAMI, Takeshi KATSUDA, Masahiko ITOH, Yoshinori HITOMI
  • Publication number: 20160257249
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a control device for a vehicle open-close member: including a current signal input unit configured to receive an inputted current signal indicating a current value of a current flowing through an electromagnetic clutch of the vehicle open-close member, the electromagnetic clutch being operated with the current supplied from a power supply; a clutch state judgement unit configured to judge that the electromagnetic clutch is in a deteriorated state, if the current signal indicates that the current value is less than a predetermined threshold; and a warning signal output unit configured to output a warning signal to a warning device configured to give a warning to a user, if the clutch state judgement unit judges that the electromagnetic clutch is in the deteriorated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi URASE, Eiji ITAMI, Takeshi NISHIKIBE, Toshiro MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8870246
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an opening/closing body for automatically opening/closing the opening/closing body. The apparatus includes a displacement body movable and displaced between movable regions including a closing region, a releasing region and a neutral region, a neutral detecting first switch configured to output a first detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a first boundary portion of the neutral region, a neutral detecting second switch configured to output a second detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a second boundary portion of the neutral region, and a control unit which, when effecting a neutral returning movement for returning the displacement body from the closing region to the neutral region, stores switchover information indicative of switchover of the first detection signal detected in the course of the latch closing movement and to effect the neutral returning movement in accordance with the switchover information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Itami, Takeshi Nishikibe
  • Patent number: 8567129
    Abstract: A vehicle door control method includes operating a vehicle door handle to disengage a door lock device of a vehicle door, beginning to count time upon the operation of the door handle, if the vehicle door has moved from a fully closed position after the door lock device has been disengaged, operating a power assist mechanism to move the vehicle door in an opening direction, if the vehicle door has not moved from the fully closed position, operating the power assist mechanism to urge the vehicle door to move in the opening direction, if the vehicle door moves while being urged by the power assist mechanism, the operation of the power assist mechanism is continued to move the vehicle door in the opening direction, if the vehicle door does not move while being urged by the power assist mechanism, the power assist mechanism is operated in a direction which urges the vehicle door to move to the fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Toshio Machida, Eiji Itami, Mizuho Morimitsu
  • Patent number: 8322761
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an opening/closing body for automatically opening/closing the opening/closing body. The apparatus includes a displacement body movable and displaced between movable regions including a closing region, a releasing region and a neutral region, a neutral detecting first switch configured to output a first detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a first boundary portion of the neutral region, a neutral detecting second switch configured to output a second detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a second boundary portion of the neutral region, and a control unit for effecting braking control for reducing the moving speed of the opening/closing body if neither the first detection signal nor the second detection signal are detected within a predetermined period after starting of a neutral returning movement which is effected after a latch closing movement of the opening/closing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Itami, Takeshi Nishikibe
  • Publication number: 20110181051
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an opening/closing body for automatically opening/closing the opening/closing body. The apparatus includes a displacement body movable and displaced between movable regions including a closing region, a releasing region and a neutral region, a neutral detecting first switch configured to output a first detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a first boundary portion of the neutral region, a neutral detecting second switch configured to output a second detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a second boundary portion of the neutral region, and a control unit for effecting braking control for reducing the moving speed of the opening/closing body if neither the first detection signal nor the second detection signal are detected within a predetermined period after starting of a neutral returning movement which is effected after a latch closing movement of the opening/closing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAIHSA
    Inventors: Eiji Itami, Takeshi Nishikibe
  • Publication number: 20110167730
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an opening/closing body for automatically opening/closing the opening/closing body. The apparatus includes a displacement body movable and displaced between movable regions including a closing region, a releasing region and a neutral region, a neutral detecting first switch configured to output a first detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a first boundary portion of the neutral region, a neutral detecting second switch configured to output a second detection signal in response to passage of the displacement body through a second boundary portion of the neutral region, and a control unit which, when effecting a neutral returning movement for returning the displacement body from the closing region to the neutral region, stores switchover information indicative of switchover of the first detection signal detected in the course of the latch closing movement and to effect the neutral returning movement in accordance with the switchover information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Eiji Itami, Takeshi Nishikibe
  • Patent number: 7814704
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power slide door having an operable window for a vehicle for preventing an entrapment between the power slide door and a vehicle body by limiting a slidable range of the power slide door by portion of a stopper, which the stopper functions in a condition where the window is opened more than or equal to a certain range, the method comprising steps of judging if the entrapment is generated within a predetermined range in which the power slide door can be stopped by portion of the stopper in a condition where the entrapment with a foreign object is generated during an opening operation of the power slide door, performing a reverse operation of the power slide door in a closing direction by a certain distance in a condition where the entrapment is generated within the predetermined range, and stopping the power slide door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Eiji Itami, Masahiko Ito, Masayuki Nomura
  • Patent number: 7646158
    Abstract: The rotating speed of an output shaft of a door opening and closing motor actuating a sliding door is monitored, and whether a fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than a first determination threshold value is determined (step S310). A second determination threshold value having a pinching detecting sensitivity that is higher than the first determination threshold value is set. When it is determined that the shift lever of the transmission is in a P position, or a foot brake is operating, or a parking brake is operating, whether the fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than the second determination threshold value is determined (step S360). If the fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than each of the determination threshold values, the sliding door is actuated in an opening direction (step S320).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Eiji Itami
  • Publication number: 20090237023
    Abstract: The rotating speed of an output shaft of a door opening and closing motor actuating a sliding door is monitored, and whether a fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than a first determination threshold value is determined (step S310). A second determination threshold value having a pinching detecting sensitivity that is higher than the first determination threshold value is set. When it is determined that the shift lever of the transmission is in a P position, or a foot brake is operating, or a parking brake is operating, whether the fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than the second determination threshold value is determined (step S360). If the fluctuation value of the rotating speed is equal to or more than each of the determination threshold values, the sliding door is actuated in an opening direction (step S320).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Eiji Itami
  • Patent number: 7309971
    Abstract: An opening and closing body control device includes an actuation device for actuating an opening and closing body which operates relative to a body, a speed detection device for detecting moving speed of the opening and closing body, and a control device for driving the actuation device based on detected results from the speed detection device. The control device conducts anti-pinch transaction when an object is pinched between the opening and closing body and the body. The control device includes a speed difference calculation device for calculating speed difference between latest speed and speed at predetermined time earlier, a speed difference memory device for memorizing predetermined number of the speed differences, an accumulation device for calculating accumulation value by accumulating predetermined number of speed differences, and a pinch detection device for conducting anti-pinch transaction by comparing the accumulation value and reference value for occurrence of pinch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Honma, Shintaro Suzuki, Tomoaki Imaizumi, Eiji Itami
  • Publication number: 20070132273
    Abstract: A door control system and method for a vehicle door includes a power assist mechanism. The system starts a power assistance for opening of the vehicle door from a fully closed position when the vehicle door is moved by an operation of a door handle under a condition that a door lock being disengaged in association with the operation of the door handle. The power assistance force is supplied to the vehicle door by actuating the power assist mechanism when the vehicle door is judged to be not moving even after a preset time period lapsed from a counting of a time started from the operation of the door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Toshio Machida, Eiji Itami, Mizuho Morimitsu
  • Publication number: 20070107313
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power slide door having an operable window for a vehicle for preventing an entrapment between the power slide door and a vehicle body by limiting a slidable range of the power slide door by portion of a stopper, which the stopper functions in a condition where the window is opened more than or equal to a certain range, the method comprising steps of judging if the entrapment is generated within a predetermined range in which the power slide door can be stopped by portion of the stopper in a condition where the entrapment with a foreign object is generated during an opening operation of the power slide door, performing a reverse operation of the power slide door in a closing direction by a certain distance in a condition where the entrapment is generated within the predetermined range, and stopping the power slide door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Eiji Itami, Masahiko Ito, Masayuki Nomura
  • Patent number: 7212897
    Abstract: In order to provide a vehicle door controlling apparatus, which even when the vehicle starts to move while doors of the vehicle are in closed operation, performs insertion detection accurately without reducing the sensitivity of insertion detection. In the present invention, speed adjustment is performed by an applied voltage and a vehicle door is driven by a motor by voltage driving. The speed during the movement of the vehicle door is detected by Hall elements, and the door speed during the movement of the vehicle door is obtained from the detected signal. A controller having an insertion detection function controls the door speed to be the predetermined target door speed. In this case, the controller detects stoppage or driving of the vehicle, and when the state of the vehicle is in the driving state while the vehicle door is in closing operation, the voltage applied to the motor is increased compared to the stop state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Suzuki, Tomoaki Imaizumi, Eiji Itami