Patents by Inventor Hisashi Inaba

Hisashi Inaba 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: 12050290
    Abstract: An object detection system includes: a plurality of object detection units. The object detection units each include a transmission and reception unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and receive a reflected wave generated by reflection of the ultrasonic wave on an object, a reception circuit unit configured to detect a signal level of the reflected wave received by the transmission and reception unit, a detection unit configured to detect the object by comparing the signal level detected by the reception circuit unit with a predetermined signal threshold value, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of an environment, and a detection sensitivity adjustment unit configured to adjust detection sensitivity of the reception circuit unit based on a second lowest temperature among temperatures detected by the respective temperature sensors in the plurality of object detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya Hozumi, Hisashi Inaba, Toshinori Tanaka, Koichi Sassa, Yuichi Ukai, Takuya Sakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20240012123
    Abstract: An object detection device as an example of the present disclosure includes: a transmitting unit that transmits a transmitting wave toward a road surface; a receiving unit that receives a reflected wave of the transmitting wave reflected by an object as a receiving wave; a CFAR processing unit that acquires a CFAR signal at a predetermined detection timing by CFAR processing for each of a plurality of the transmitting waves, based on a value of a first processing target signal based on the receiving wave received at the detection timing and an average value of a value of a second processing target signal based on the receiving wave received in a predetermined section before and after the detection timing; and an estimating unit that estimates a road surface type based on an average signal level and a variation degree of a plurality of the CFAR signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20230336921
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus including an ultrasonic generator including a transducer having a piezoelectric body that vibrates due to a piezoelectric effect and generates ultrasonic waves when an alternating voltage is applied, and three or more electrodes provided in different regions on a surface of the piezoelectric body. The apparatus includes a control unit that, when the control unit receives an ultrasonic wave generation instruction including information on a directivity of ultrasonic waves to be generated, selects from the three or more electrodes a combination of a voltage application electrode and a ground electrode corresponding to the directivity in the ultrasonic wave generation instruction and applies the alternating voltage to the voltage application electrode to generate ultrasonic waves, the voltage application electrode being an electrode to which the alternating voltage is to be applied, and the ground electrode being an electrode to be at a ground potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Patent number: 11579277
    Abstract: A position detection system includes: a first device that is separate from a moving object, and is provided such that a position of the first device can be specified; and a second device that is mounted on the moving object. One of the first and second devices includes a first signal transmission unit that transmits a first first-signal, the other of the first and second devices includes a first signal reception unit that receives the first first-signal, one of the first and second devices includes a second signal transmission unit that transmits a first second-signal, and the other of the first and second devices includes a second signal reception unit that receives the first second-signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20230009572
    Abstract: An object detection system includes a plurality of object detection devices disposed at predetermined intervals. Each object detection device includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave on which frequency modulation based on chirp signals that change in a frequency pattern different from that of an initial signal is performed subsequently to frequency modulation based on the initial signal so as to be in a mode different from those in the object detection devices including the adjacent object detection devices, a reception unit configured to receive a reception wave as the transmission wave returned in response to reflection on an object, and a detection processing unit configured to detect information related to the object based on information acquired as a result of transmission and reception of the transmission wave and the reception wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20230003862
    Abstract: An object detection system includes: a plurality of object detection units. The object detection units each include a transmission and reception unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and receive a reflected wave generated by reflection of the ultrasonic wave on an object, a reception circuit unit configured to detect a signal level of the reflected wave received by the transmission and reception unit, a detection unit configured to detect the object by comparing the signal level detected by the reception circuit unit with a predetermined signal threshold value, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of an environment, and a detection sensitivity adjustment unit configured to adjust detection sensitivity of the reception circuit unit based on a second lowest temperature among temperatures detected by the respective temperature sensors in the plurality of object detection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya HOZUMI, Hisashi INABA, Toshinori TANAKA, Koichi SASSA, Yuichi UKAI, Takuya SAKIUCHI
  • Patent number: 11249186
    Abstract: A distance detection apparatus includes a wave transmitter configured to transmit a transmission wave, a wave receiver configured to receive the transmission wave which is reflected by an object, a storage portion configured to store a transmission signal, a correlation processing portion configured to obtain a correlation value between the transmission signal and a reception signal corresponding to a reception wave, and a detection portion configured to detect a distance to the obstacle in a case where the correlation value indicates that the transmission signal and the reception signal are similar to each other at a level which is equal to or greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20210389456
    Abstract: A drive support device includes: an acquisition processing unit that acquires (i) a distance to an object detected based on a result of transmission of a transmission wave and reception of a reception wave that is the transmission wave having returned upon reflection by the object and (ii) a reception level of the reception wave used to detect the distance; and a detection processing unit that detects information about a height of the object, based on a relationship between the distance and the reception level that are acquired by the acquisition processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Shingo Fujimoto, Kosuke Wakita, Hisashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11150343
    Abstract: An object detection system includes plural first object detection apparatuses each including a transmitting portion configured to transmit a first wave motion of a first frequency included in plural first frequencies, the transmitting portion transmitting the first wave motion of the first frequency which is different from the other first object detection apparatus concurrently with the other first object detection apparatus. The system includes a receiving portion configured to receive a reception wave, a determination portion configured to determine a correspondence relationship between one or more second frequency of one or more second wave motion included in the reception wave and the plural first frequencies, and a detection portion configured to detect information related to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20210318432
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transmission unit transmitting a transmission wave substantially at the same time with another transmission unit in another object detection device; a reception unit receiving a reception wave including surges corresponding to a result of return of the transmission wave by the transmission unit and another transmission wave by the another transmission unit in accordance with reflection by an object; an identification unit identifying a transmission source of the surges included in the reception wave; and a detection unit detecting information related to the object based on a correspondence relationship between a first peak of a first waveform indicating a first surge transmitted by the another transmission unit and received by the reception unit and a second peak of a second waveform indicating a second surge transmitted by the transmission unit and received by another reception unit provided in the another object detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20210302574
    Abstract: An object detection system includes: a plurality of object detection devices. Each of the plurality of object detection devices includes a transmission unit that transmits, substantially simultaneously with the other object detection devices, a transmission wave encoded based on one or a combination of two or more surges of a plurality of surges which are respectively applied with frequency modulations based on a plurality of chirp signals whose frequencies change in patterns different from one another, the one or the combination of two or more surges being different from those used in the other object detection devices, a reception unit that receives a reception wave that is the transmission wave returned in response to reflection by an object, and a detection processing unit that detects information related to the object based on information acquired as a result of transmission and reception of the transmission wave and the reception wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11125874
    Abstract: An obstacle detection sensor includes: a controller configured to determine a detection condition of an obstacle on a road; a distance sensor unit configured to acquire distance information by oscillating a vibration wave and receiving a reflected wave of the oscillated vibration wave; a communication unit configured to communicate with an outside to acquire road surface information; and a storage unit configured to store detection relationship information for identifying the obstacle based on the distance information, in which the controller compares the detection relationship information read from the storage unit with the distance information and the road surface information acquired from the distance sensor unit and the communication unit to determine the detection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Eiji Niwa, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20200298838
    Abstract: A parking guidance apparatus provided at a vehicle includes a reception processor receiving a transmission wave transmitted from a ground apparatus through at least two onboard receivers fixedly provided at different positions at the vehicle, the at least two onboard receivers including a first onboard receiver and a second onboard receiver, an estimation processor estimating a position of the ground apparatus relative to a position of the vehicle in accordance with a time difference between a first timing and a second timing, the first timing at which the transmission wave is received by the reception processor through the first onboard receiver, the second timing at which the transmission wave is received by the reception processor through the second onboard receiver, and a guide processor specifying a parking area in accordance with the position of the ground apparatus estimated by the estimation processor and guiding the vehicle towards the parking area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Patent number: 10782407
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transducer having a vibrator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave and configured to transmit a transmission signal encoded to be imparted with identification information and receive the transmission signal reflected by an object as a reception signal; a correlation processing unit acquiring a first correlation value corresponding to a degree of similarity between the identification information of the transmission and reception signals and to determine whether the reception signal to which the identification information having a predetermined level or higher degree of similarity with the identification information of the transmission signal is imparted has been received; and a detection unit detecting information about the object when determined that the reception signal to which the identification information having the predetermined level or higher degree of similarity is imparted has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Sugae, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20200217953
    Abstract: An object detection system includes plural first object detection apparatuses each including a transmitting portion configured to transmit a first wave motion of a first frequency included in plural first frequencies, the transmitting portion transmitting the first wave motion of the first frequency which is different from the other first object detection apparatus concurrently with the other first object detection apparatus. The system includes a receiving portion configured to receive a reception wave, a determination portion configured to determine a correspondence relationship between one or more second frequency of one or more second wave motion included in the reception wave and the plural first frequencies, and a detection portion configured to detect information related to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20200158867
    Abstract: A distance detection apparatus includes a wave transmitter configured to transmit a transmission wave, a wave receiver configured to receive the transmission wave which is reflected by an object, a storage portion configured to store a transmission signal, a correlation processing portion configured to obtain a correlation value between the transmission signal and a reception signal corresponding to a reception wave, and a detection portion configured to detect a distance to the obstacle in a case where the correlation value indicates that the transmission signal and the reception signal are similar to each other at a level which is equal to or greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20190346563
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a transducer having a vibrator transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave and configured to transmit a transmission signal encoded to be imparted with identification information and receive the transmission signal reflected by an object as a reception signal; a correlation processing unit acquiring a first correlation value corresponding to a degree of similarity between the identification information of the transmission and reception signals and to determine whether the reception signal to which the identification information having a predetermined level or higher degree of similarity with the identification information of the transmission signal is imparted has been received; and a detection unit detecting information about the object when determined that the reception signal to which the identification information having the predetermined level or higher degree of similarity is imparted has been received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi Inaba
  • Publication number: 20190219680
    Abstract: A position detection system includes: a first device that is separate from a moving object, and is provided such that a position of the first device can be specified; and a second device that is mounted on the moving object. One of the first and second devices includes a first signal transmission unit that transmits a first first-signal, the other of the first and second devices includes a first signal reception unit that receives the first first-signal, one of the first and second devices includes a second signal transmission unit that transmits a first second-signal, and the other of the first and second devices includes a second signal reception unit that receives the first second-signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Hisashi INABA
  • Publication number: 20190196010
    Abstract: An obstacle detection sensor includes: a controller configured to determine a detection condition of an obstacle on a road; a distance sensor unit configured to acquire distance information by oscillating a vibration wave and receiving a reflected wave of the oscillated vibration wave; a communication unit configured to communicate with an outside to acquire road surface information; and a storage unit configured to store detection relationship information for identifying the obstacle based on the distance information, in which the controller compares the detection relationship information read from the storage unit with the distance information and the road surface information acquired from the distance sensor unit and the communication unit to determine the detection condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei SUGAE, Eiji NIWA, Hisashi INABA
  • Patent number: 9108591
    Abstract: A door handle apparatus for a vehicle includes a door handle adapted to be provided at a vehicle exterior of a vehicle door and operated in order to open/close the vehicle door, a sensing electrode provided inside of an upper-outer surface of the door handle, a sensor for detecting a user approaching the sensing electrode on the basis of a variation of an electric capacitance generated by the sensing electrode, controlling device for controlling the vehicle door so as to be locked/unlocked on the basis of information detected by the sensor and water-removing device provided on the upper-outer surface of the door handle in order to remove water retained in the vicinity of the sensing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Ieda, Eiji Mushiake, Hisashi Inaba