Patents by Inventor Kazunori Nimura
Kazunori Nimura 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).
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Patent number: 11932213Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more brakes of the vehicle. The system may include a processor and a memory in communication with the processor with a brake control module. The brake control module includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the one or more brakes of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a first mode using a brake-by-wire system. When the vehicle is in a second mode, control the brake-by-wire system such that the one or more brakes of the vehicle are controlled using a mechanical braking system and the brake-by-wire system.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Yan Ming Jonathan Goh, Alexander R. Green, Michael Thompson, Kazunori Nimura
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Publication number: 20230322273Abstract: A method for managing autonomous operation of a vehicle includes detecting, while the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode, an assistance condition that triggers activation of an assistance component of a set of assistance components associated with a driver assistance system. The method also includes determining whether the operation of the vehicle in the autonomous mode satisfies a safety condition associated with the assistance component. The method further includes adjusting an activation signal that triggers the activation of the assistance component based on determining the operation of the vehicle in the autonomous mode satisfies the safety condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Yiting LIU, Hirofumi YAMAMOTO, Chen BAO, Thomas JOHNSTON, Kazunori NIMURA
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Patent number: 11492835Abstract: A vehicle cargo area door control system for a vehicle including at least one cargo area and at least one cargo area door. The control system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the processors for storing a cargo area door control module. The door control module operates to, responsive to the generation or receipt of an instruction which will cause the vehicle to start moving, determine if all vehicle cargo area doors are closed. If at least one cargo area door is not closed, command(s) are generated to close the at least one cargo area door.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Kazunori Nimura
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Publication number: 20220306064Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more brakes of the vehicle. The system may include a processor and a memory in communication with the processor with a brake control module. The brake control module includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the one or more brakes of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a first mode using a brake-by-wire system. When the vehicle is in a second mode, control the brake-by-wire system such that the one or more brakes of the vehicle are controlled using a mechanical braking system and the brake-by-wire system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Yan Ming Jonathan Goh, Alexander R. Green, Michael Thompson, Kazunori Nimura
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Systems and methods for switching between a driver mode and an autonomous driving mode for a vehicle
Patent number: 11338856Abstract: A vehicle system includes a steering wheel configured to output an output based on an input from a user, and a controller configured to: determine a target orientation of front wheels of a vehicle based on vehicle environment information, determine whether an orientation of the front wheels of the vehicle based on the output from the steering wheel deviates from the target orientation, disengage the steering wheel from the front wheels in response to determination that the orientation of the front wheels deviates from the target orientation, adjust the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation and provide a feedback in response to adjusting the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Stephen McGill, Luke Fletcher, Kazunori Nimura, John Leonard, Gill Pratt -
Patent number: 11158147Abstract: A cargo area door control system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one cargo area and at least one cargo area door configured to be movable to enable physical access to the at least one cargo area, and movable to block physical access to the at least one cargo area. The control system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores a cargo area door control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to determine if the vehicle currently resides at a selected destination and, responsive to a determination that the vehicle currently resides at the selected destination, operate a cargo area door unlocking mechanism to unlock the at least one cargo area door.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Kazunori Nimura
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Publication number: 20210005032Abstract: A cargo area door control system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one cargo area and at least one cargo area door configured to be movable to enable physical access to the at least one cargo area, and movable to block physical access to the at least one cargo area. The control system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores a cargo area door control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to determine if the vehicle currently resides at a selected destination and, responsive to a determination that the vehicle currently resides at the selected destination, operate a cargo area door unlocking mechanism to unlock the at least one cargo area door.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Kazunori Nimura
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Publication number: 20210002943Abstract: A vehicle cargo area door control system for a vehicle including at least one cargo area and at least one cargo area door. The control system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the processors for storing a cargo area door control module. The door control module operates to, responsive to the generation or receipt of an instruction which will cause the vehicle to start moving, determine if all vehicle cargo area doors are closed. If at least one cargo area door is not closed, command(s) are generated to close the at least one cargo area door.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2019Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Kazunori Nimura
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN A DRIVER MODE AND AN AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MODE FOR A VEHICLE
Publication number: 20200198701Abstract: A vehicle system includes a steering wheel configured to output an output based on an input from a user, and a controller configured to: determine a target orientation of front wheels of a vehicle based on vehicle environment information, determine whether an orientation of the front wheels of the vehicle based on the output from the steering wheel deviates from the target orientation, disengage the steering wheel from the front wheels in response to determination that the orientation of the front wheels deviates from the target orientation, adjust the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation and provide a feedback in response to adjusting the orientation of the front wheels to the target orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Stephen McGill, Luke Fletcher, Kazunori Nimura, John Leonard, Gill Pratt -
Systems and methods for switching between a driver mode and an autonomous driving mode for a vehicle
Patent number: 10633025Abstract: A vehicle system for operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle system includes a first output device configured to output a first output, and a second output device configured to output a second output. The vehicle system operates the vehicle based on the first output from the first output device while obtaining vehicle environment information, determines whether an autonomous take-over event occurs based on the vehicle environment information, operates the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode in response to determining that the autonomous takeover event occurred, determines whether the vehicle system receives a take-over signal from the second output device, and operates the vehicle based on the second output from the second output device in response to determining that the vehicle system received the take-over signal from the second output device.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Stephen McGill, Luke Fletcher, Kazunori Nimura, John Leonard, Gill Pratt -
Patent number: 10272902Abstract: A brake control system includes: a friction brake unit configured to generate a friction braking force; a regenerative brake unit configured to generate a regenerative braking force; and a brake control unit configured to control the regenerative brake unit and the friction brake unit based on a regenerative target value and a friction target value based on a target braking force, which is a target of the braking force to be provided to a wheel. The brake control unit controls the regenerative brake unit based on a second regenerative target value larger than a first regenerative target value that has been defined based on the target braking force.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Kazunori Nimura
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Systems and Methods For Switching Between A Driver Mode And An Autonomous Driving Mode For A Vehicle
Publication number: 20190092389Abstract: A vehicle system for operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle system includes a first output device configured to output a first output, and a second output device configured to output a second output. The vehicle system operates the vehicle based on the first output from the first output device while obtaining vehicle environment information, determines whether an autonomous take-over event occurs based on the vehicle environment information, operates the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode in response to determining that the autonomous takeover event occurred, determines whether the vehicle system receives a take-over signal from the second output device, and operates the vehicle based on the second output from the second output device in response to determining that the vehicle system received the take-over signal from the second output device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Stephen McGill, Luke Fletcher, Kazunori Nimura, John Leonard, Gill Pratt -
Patent number: 9776605Abstract: A brake control device includes a pilot-type pressure-increasing device. A pilot unit of the pressure-increasing device is connected to a power hydraulic pressure generating device via a pilot input passage. A linear control valve that is also used for adjusting a hydraulic pressure of a wheel cylinder is provided on the pilot input passage. A brake ECU checks whether the pressure-increasing device is normally activated or not based on a hydraulic pressure outputted from the pressure-increasing device when the linear control valve is energized for an activation check. Thus, the brake ECU can perform the activation check of the pressure-increasing device without requiring a driver's operation on a brake pedal.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Kazunori Nimura
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Patent number: 9586488Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Nakaoka, Kei Sato, Kazunori Nimura, Kentaro Oya, Takeshi Ishida, Masaki Nanahara, Tsuyoshi Yamasaki, Yoshito Tanaka, Masayasu Ohkubo
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Patent number: 9533665Abstract: A master cylinder includes pressurizing chambers and atmospheric pressure chambers which are in communication with a reservoir provided upstream. The pressurizing chambers of the master cylinder are connected to a brake fluid pressure control valve device through master pressure pipes provided with master cut valves. The atmospheric pressure chambers of the master cylinder bypass the master cut valves and are connected to the brake fluid pressure control valve device through bypass pipes provided with check valves. A pump constituting a brake fluid pressurizing section of the brake hydraulic control valve device suctions the brake fluid from the reservoir preferentially through the bypass pipes provided with the check valves and pressurizes the brake fluid to supply a brake fluid pressure to brake fluid pressure adjust sections.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazunori Nimura, Hiroshi Nakaoka
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Patent number: 9517759Abstract: A brake control device includes a front-wheel left-right communication passage that allows communication between wheel cylinders for a front-left wheel and a front-right wheel via a front-wheel communication on-off valve, and a rear-wheel left-right communication passage that allows communication between wheel cylinders for a rear-left wheel and a rear-right wheel via a rear-wheel communication on-off valve. The brake control device executes a hydraulic control by keeping the front-wheel communication on-off valve and the rear-wheel communication on-off valve opened. The front-wheel communication on-off valve is a normally closed type, and the rear-wheel communication on-off valve is a normally opened type.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Kazunori Nimura
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Patent number: 9352730Abstract: When a brake pedal is slowly depressed, a brake ECU sets a target current iFL* of a pressure-increasing linear control valve for a front-left wheel to increase from a current value lower than a valve-opening current i open by a decrease set value i1, and sets a target current iFL* for a pressure-increasing linear control valve for a front-right wheel to increase from a current value lower than a valve-opening current i open by a decrease set value i2 (<i1). This prevents a timing at which the pressure-increasing linear control valve is closed and a timing at which the pressure-increasing linear control valve is closed from matching, whereby a variation in a vehicle deceleration G can be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kazunori Nimura
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Publication number: 20160121868Abstract: A master cylinder includes pressurizing chambers and atmospheric pressure chambers which are in communication with a reservoir provided upstream. The pressurizing chambers of the master cylinder are connected to a brake fluid pressure control valve device through master pressure pipes provided with master cut valves. The atmospheric pressure chambers of the master cylinder bypass the master cut valves and are connected to the brake fluid pressure control valve device through bypass pipes provided with check valves. A pump constituting a brake fluid pressurizing section of the brake hydraulic control valve device suctions the brake fluid from the reservoir preferentially through the bypass pipes provided with the check valves and pressurizes the brake fluid to supply a brake fluid pressure to brake fluid pressure adjust sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2013Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazunori NIMURA, Hiroshi NAKAOKA
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Publication number: 20160096434Abstract: A first ECU estimates whether the operation of a second actuator has been started, based on the variation of the hydraulic pressure with respect to the flow rate of hydraulic fluid outputted from a first actuator. Even in a case where the operation information of the second actuator is not received, the first ECU sets the control mode to a simultaneous operation mode, when it is estimated that the operation of the second actuator has been started. In the simultaneous operation mode, a controlled parameter of linear control valves on assumption that the second actuator is operating is set up, and a stop instruction of regenerative braking is transmitted to a hybrid ECU.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Kei SATO, Kazunori NIMURA, Kentaro OYA, Takeshi ISHIDA, Masaki NANAHARA, Tsuyoshi YAMASAKI, Yoshito TANAKA, Masayasu OHKUBO
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Publication number: 20160082937Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a first actuator for a regeneration coordination brake control and a second actuator for maintaining the stability of a vehicle in a hydraulic pressure passage between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder. The first actuator is controlled by a first ECU, and the second actuator is controlled by a second ECU. When a failure occurs in the first actuator or the first ECU, the second ECU operates the second actuator according to the amount of a brake operation, and assists braking of a wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi NAKAOKA, Kentaro OOYO, Kazunori NIMURA