Patents by Inventor Ichiro Sugioka

Ichiro Sugioka 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: 10744906
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, John Downs, Andreas Zinn, Douglas Hall Frasher
  • Patent number: 10504052
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a navigation unit, and corresponding method therein, for providing navigation instructions for an autonomous vehicle configured to be in an autonomous driving mode while in a certified autonomous road. The navigation unit is first configured to determine the autonomous vehicle is driving in an unplanned route or that the autonomous vehicle is deviating from a planned route. Thereafter, a trigger for routing the autonomous vehicle to a certified autonomous road is identified. The trigger is based on at least one of a current location, a time and date, a driving history or a calendar event. After the determination and identification previously described is performed, the vehicle is navigated to the certified autonomous road. Upon entering the road, and therefore being in an autonomous driving mode, a display screen will engage the driver so that the driver may input route planning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Aric Dromi, Kari Kauppi
  • Patent number: 10362068
    Abstract: A system, a multi-user scheduling unit comprised in the system, and corresponding methods are described for scheduling a video conference call for at least one autonomous vehicle. The system provides a means of scheduling such a call for various participants while minimizing driver interaction or need for attention while a vehicle is in a manual driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Matthew Lawler, Kari Kauppi, Aric Dromi, Nick Sakellariou
  • Patent number: 9908440
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a seat assembly, and corresponding method and computer readable medium, for adjusting a seat in an autonomous vehicle. The adjustment is provided such that a seat occupant may control the adjustment may providing a natural pushing force once the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Douglas Frasher, Stefan Norberg
  • Patent number: 9783206
    Abstract: A control system and method in a vehicle are disclosed for controlling an autonomous drive related operation of the vehicle. The method may include detecting a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle and controlling a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Sugioka
  • Patent number: 9764756
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Douglas Hall Frasher, John Downs
  • Patent number: 9638078
    Abstract: A vehicle ambient air purification arrangement, a vehicle, a vehicle fleet and a method for purifying air ambient to a vehicle are provided. The arrangement comprises an air conveying apparatus and a controller. The controller is arranged to control the air conveying apparatus to convey ambient air through ducts and filters of a vehicle exhaust gas treatment system in response to a determination that a combustion engine is inoperative and that a voltage supplied to the arrangement exceeds a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans Mathiasson, Ichiro Sugioka, Lena Lonnqvist
  • Publication number: 20170101032
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a seat assembly, and corresponding method and computer readable medium, for adjusting a seat in an autonomous vehicle. The adjustment is provided such that a seat occupant may control the adjustment may providing a natural pushing force once the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Douglas Frasher, Stefan Norberg
  • Publication number: 20160210590
    Abstract: A method performed by a parking assigning system is described for supporting delivery efficiency of delivered services to vehicles adapted for receipt of delivered services. The parking assigning system determines first vehicle condition data associated with a first vehicle adapted for receipt of a delivered service. The parking assigning system further determines at least a first suitable parking location based on the first vehicle condition data. The parking assigning system provides assigned parking information including the at least first suitable parking location to a vehicle user device associated with the first vehicle. A parking assigning system for performing the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Ichiro SUGIOKA, Aric DROMI, Kari KAUPPI
  • Publication number: 20160200344
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Douglas Hall Frasher, John Downs
  • Publication number: 20160205146
    Abstract: A system, a multi-user scheduling unit comprised in the system, and corresponding methods are described for scheduling a video conference call for at least one autonomous vehicle. The system provides a means of scheduling such a call for various participants while minimizing driver interaction or need for attention while a vehicle is in a manual driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ichiro SUGIOKA, Matthew LAWLER, Kari KAUPPI, Aric DROMI, Nick SAKELLARIOU
  • Patent number: 9361575
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for programming a target neural network computer for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications. An observer neural network computer is integrated into active safety systems of a plurality of vehicles to observe signals. Each respective observer neural network computer is arranged to observe signals from a forward facing camera and signals from a driver action monitor of its respective vehicle, to process the observed signals from the forward facing camera of its respective vehicle and correlate them with the observed signals from the driver action monitor of its respective vehicle. The correlated signals from the plurality of observer neural network computers are combined, and the target neural network computer is programmed for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications based on said combined correlated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Sugioka
  • Publication number: 20160082976
    Abstract: A control system and method in a vehicle are disclosed for controlling an autonomous drive related operation of the vehicle. The method may include detecting a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle and controlling a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement. The system may include at least one sensor configured to detect a pre-determined foot arrangement of an occupant in a front seat of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control a state of the autonomous drive related operation, based on the detected pre-determined foot arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Ichiro SUGIOKA
  • Publication number: 20160082867
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ichiro SUGIOKA, John DOWNS, Andreas ZINN, Douglas Hall FRASHER
  • Publication number: 20150285112
    Abstract: A vehicle ambient air purification arrangement, a vehicle, a vehicle fleet and a method for purifying air ambient to a vehicle are provided. The arrangement comprises an air conveying apparatus and a controller. The controller is arranged to control the air conveying apparatus to convey ambient air through ducts and filters of a vehicle exhaust gas treatment system in response to a determination that a combustion engine is inoperative and that a voltage supplied to the arrangement exceeds a threshold voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Hans MATHIASSON, Ichiro SUGIOKA, Lena LONNQVIST
  • Publication number: 20150161505
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for programming a target neural network computer for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications. An observer neural network computer is integrated into active safety systems of a plurality of vehicles to observe signals. Each respective observer neural network computer is arranged to observe signals from a forward facing camera and signals from a driver action monitor of its respective vehicle, to process the observed signals from the forward facing camera of its respective vehicle and correlate them with the observed signals from the driver action monitor of its respective vehicle. The correlated signals from the plurality of observer neural network computers are combined, and the target neural network computer is programmed for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications based on said combined correlated signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Sugioka
  • Patent number: 6798556
    Abstract: The present invention is a reversible electrodeposition optical modulation device employing a segmented counter electrode that permits localized areas of a continuous optical modulation electrode to be switched independently of each other. Such devices can be configured to enable practically seamless switching over the entire device for smart window and adjustable mirror applications, or to minimize cross-talk and pixel overlap for display applications. Since the electrical contacts and switching circuitry are located on the counter electrode, more active area is available for optical modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Scientific Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: D. Morgan Tench, Ichiro Sugioka
  • Publication number: 20040150866
    Abstract: The present invention is a reversible electrodeposition optical modulation device employing a segmented counter electrode that permits localized areas of a continuous optical modulation electrode to be switched independently of each other. Such devices can be configured to enable practically seamless switching over the entire device for smart window and adjustable mirror applications, or to minimize cross-talk and pixel overlap for display applications. Since the electrical contacts and switching circuitry are located on the counter electrode, more active area is available for optical modulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Innovative Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: D. Morgan Tench, Ichiro Sugioka