Patents by Inventor Kazuyuki Fujita

Kazuyuki Fujita 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: 11507085
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is configured to perform a steering assistance control of steering a vehicle to move away from an obstacle to avoid when the obstacle is in a steering assistance range. The vehicle control apparatus is provided with: a determinator configured to determine a steering assistance amount associated with the steering assistance control for the obstacle, on the basis of a distance between two of a plurality of obstacles in a direction of travel of the vehicle, when the plurality of obstacles are in the steering assistance range: and a controller programmed to control the vehicle to perform the steering assistance control by using the steering assistance amount determined by the determinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minami Sato, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11500389
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is configured to include a steering control unit. The steering control unit is configured to perform a steering control such that a vehicle passes between a first obstacle of which a position in a lateral direction is closest to the vehicle, among one or multiple obstacles existing ahead of the vehicle on a left side of the traveling direction and a second obstacle of which a position in the lateral direction is closest to the vehicle, among one or multiple obstacles existing ahead of the vehicle on a right side of the traveling direction, and if there exists a third obstacle closer to the vehicle than the first obstacle and the second obstacle, inhibit the steering control to one side where the third obstacle exists either on the left side of the traveling direction or the right side of the traveling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minami Sato, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11305759
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided with: a distance acquirer configured to obtain a distance between a first avoidance target and a second avoidance target in a longitudinal direction of a host vehicle when the first avoidance target is on one of left and right sides of the host vehicle and when the second avoidance target is on a far side of the first avoidance target and on another side of the host vehicle; and a controller configured or programmed to reduce a displacement amount in a lateral direction of the host vehicle, of a displacement in a direction of the host vehicle going away from the first avoidance target, which is to avoid the first avoidance target by the avoidance control, when the obtained distance is less than a predetermined distance, in comparison with when the obtained distance is greater than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Sasagawa, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato, Miyuki Kamatani, Takahisa Awata
  • Patent number: 11214246
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes: an assistor configured to perform an avoidance assistance control when there is a target to avoid, ahead of a vehicle, to avoid a collision between the vehicle and the target; a predictor configured to predict that a deceleration operation of the vehicle will be performed, on the basis of a deceleration factor, which is different from the target and which is located in surroundings of the vehicle, when there is the target ahead of the vehicle; and a changer configured in such a manner that when it is predicted that the deceleration operation will be performed, the changer performs at least one of a process of reducing an assistance amount associated with the avoidance assistance control and a process of delaying start timing of the avoidance assistance control, in comparison with those when it is not predicted that the deceleration operation will be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Doi, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 11199843
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is provided with: an executor configured to perform an automatic steering control of steering a vehicle so as to go away from an avoidance target object; a determinator configured to determine, during execution of the automatic steering control targeting a first object, whether or not a second object is detected; and a comparator configured to compare a first interval, which is an interval between the vehicle and the first object, with a second interval, which is an interval between the vehicle and the second object. The executor is configured to change the offset amount to an offset amount corresponding to the second object if the second interval is narrower than the first interval, and to maintain the offset amount at an offset amount corresponding to the first object if the second interval is wider than the first interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Sasagawa, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20210291820
    Abstract: A driving support system executes a risk avoidance control for reducing a risk of collision with an object in front of a vehicle. A risk potential field represents a risk value as a function of position. An obstacle potential field is a risk potential field in which the risk value is maximum at a position of the object and decreases as a distance from the object increases. A vehicle center potential field is the risk potential field in which a valley of the risk value extends in a lane longitudinal direction from a position of the vehicle. A first risk potential field is the sum of the vehicle center potential field and the obstacle potential field. The driving support system executes a steering control such that the vehicle follows the first valley of the risk value represented by the first risk potential field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shintaro Inoue, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato
  • Publication number: 20210261120
    Abstract: A driving assist system executes driving assist control for avoiding a collision with a target ahead of a vehicle. The driving assist control operates when the target exists within an assist area. First and second roadway boundaries of a roadway area are located on first and second sides as viewed from the vehicle, respectively. A crossing target is the target crossing the roadway area ahead of the vehicle from the first side toward the second side. The assist area for the crossing target is an area between an assist start boundary located on the first side as viewed from the vehicle and an assist end boundary located on the second side as viewed from the vehicle. The driving assist system sets the assist end boundary at a position between the vehicle and the second roadway boundary of the roadway area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato, Takahisa Awata
  • Publication number: 20210261119
    Abstract: A driving assist system executes driving assist control for avoiding a collision with a target ahead of a vehicle. The driving assist control operates when the target exists within an assist area. A crossing target is the target crossing a roadway area ahead of the vehicle from a first side toward a second side. The assist area for the crossing target is divided into a plurality of divided assist areas including a first assist area located on the first side as viewed from the vehicle and a second assist area located on the second side as viewed from the vehicle. When the crossing target exists in the second assist area, the driving assist system decreases a control strength of the driving assist control as compared with a case where the crossing target exists in the first assist area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fujita, Minami Sato, Takahisa Awata
  • Publication number: 20210229659
    Abstract: A driving assist system assists driving of a vehicle. A deceleration target includes at least one of a preceding vehicle, a mandatory stop line, a mandatory stop sign, a traffic signal, and a stop line before the traffic signal that exist ahead of the vehicle. A risk factor includes at least one of a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, an oncoming vehicle, and a parked vehicle that exist ahead of the vehicle. The driving assist system executes: deceleration assist control that automatically decelerates the vehicle before the deceleration target; and risk avoidance control that automatically performs at least one of steering and deceleration of the vehicle so as to avoid the risk factor. When both the deceleration assist control and the risk avoidance control operate concurrently, the driving assist system notifies a driver of the vehicle of not the deceleration target but the risk factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Miyuki Kamatani, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20210229660
    Abstract: A driving assist system assists driving of a vehicle. A deceleration target includes at least one of a preceding vehicle, a mandatory stop line, a mandatory stop sign, a traffic signal, and a stop line before the traffic signal that exist ahead of the vehicle. A risk factor includes at least one of a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, an oncoming vehicle, and a parked vehicle that exist ahead of the vehicle. The driving assist system executes: deceleration assist control that automatically decelerates the vehicle before the deceleration target; and risk avoidance control that automatically performs at least one of steering and deceleration of the vehicle so as to avoid the risk factor. When both the deceleration assist control and the risk avoidance control operate concurrently, the driving assist system notifies a driver of the vehicle of not the risk factor but the deceleration target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Miyuki Kamatani, Kazuyuki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20210146958
    Abstract: The vehicle control system includes a first controller configured to generate a target trajectory for the automated driving, and a second controller configured to execute vehicle travel control such that the vehicle follows the target trajectory. During the automated driving, the second controller controls a travel control amount which is a control amount of the vehicle travel control, acquire driving environment information, and execute preventive safety control for intervening in the travel control amount based on the driving environment information. The first controller includes a memory device in which information of an intervention suppression area is stored. When the vehicle travels in the intervention suppression area during the automated driving, the first controller outputs a suppression instruction for the preventive safety control to the second controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Shin Tanaka, Takayuki Iwamoto, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masahiro Harada
  • Publication number: 20210146956
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control system according to the example in the present disclosure communicates with an automatic operation control system which drafts a traveling plan of the vehicle, and performs an automatic traveling control for automatically running the vehicle along the traveling plan received from the automatic operation control system. The vehicle traveling control system predicts a risk based on information about surrounding environment of the vehicle, and performs, when the risk is predicted, a risk avoidance control to intervene in the automatic traveling control in order to avoid the risk. When the risk avoidance control is executed, the vehicle traveling control system transmits information on the risk avoidance control to the automatic operation control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210139050
    Abstract: A target trajectory generation device generates and outputs target trajectories each including a target position and a target speed of a vehicle. A first target trajectory is intended to perform at least one of steering, acceleration, and deceleration of the vehicle. A second target trajectory is intended to decelerate and stop the vehicle. When a malfunctioning device does not exist, a vehicle traveling control device executes vehicle traveling control based on the first target trajectory. When the malfunctioning device exists, the vehicle traveling control device stops the vehicle by executing the vehicle traveling control based on the second target trajectory output before the malfunction occurs, or based on the second target trajectory output from the target trajectory generation device other than the malfunctioning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Shin Tanaka, Takayuki Iwamoto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210107528
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a first unit configured to generate a target trajectory based on a travel plan of the vehicle, and a second unit configured to execute vehicle travel control such that the vehicle follows the target trajectory. During the automated driving, the first unit transmits automated driving information to the second unit. The system includes a memory device in which driving environment information is stored, and a processor for controlling a travel control amount. During the automated driving, the processor executes preventive safety control for intervening in the travel control amount so as to prevent or avoid a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle based on the driving environment information. In the preventive safety control, the processor changes an intervention degree to the travel control amount based on the automated driving information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210107522
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device executes vehicle travel control such that a vehicle follows a target trajectory. An automated driving control device generates a first target trajectory that is the target trajectory for automated driving of the vehicle. The vehicle travel control device further determines whether or not an activation condition of travel assist control is satisfied. When the activation condition is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device generates a second target trajectory that is the target trajectory for the travel assist control. When the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving, or when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving and a priority condition for giving priority to the second target trajectory is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device executes the vehicle travel control by giving more weight to the second target trajectory than to the first target trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Goto, Yoshinori Watanabe, Nobuhide Kamata, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masahiro Harada
  • Publication number: 20210107513
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device executes vehicle travel control such that a vehicle follows a target trajectory. An automated driving control device generates a first target trajectory that is the target trajectory for automated driving of the vehicle. The vehicle travel control device further determines whether or not an activation condition of travel assist control is satisfied. When the activation condition is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device generates a second target trajectory that is the target trajectory for the travel assist control. Even when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving, or when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving and a priority condition for giving priority to the first target trajectory is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device executes the vehicle travel control by giving more weight to the first target trajectory than to the second target trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki GOTO, Yoshinori WATANABE, Nobuhide KAMATA, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Masahiro HARADA
  • Publication number: 20210107516
    Abstract: A vehicle control system generates at least one primary candidate of a target trajectory for an automated driving of a vehicle and executes a primary evaluation. An evaluation index of the primary evaluation includes a travel safety level of a travel to follow the primary candidate. The primary candidate having highest travel safety level is selected as at least one strong candidate of the target trajectory. If only one is selected as the strong candidate, the vehicle control system determines the selected strong candidate as a finalist candidate of the target trajectory. If two or more strong candidates are selected, the vehicle control system executes a secondary evaluation for the strong candidates to determine the finalist candidate. An additional evaluation index is used in the secondary evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210107521
    Abstract: The vehicle control system includes a first unit configured to generate a target trajectory for the automated driving, and a second unit configured to execute vehicle travel control such that the vehicle follows the target trajectory. During the automated driving, the second unit is configured to control a travel control amount of the vehicle travel control, acquire driving environment information, and perform preventive safety control for intervening in the travel control amount so as to prevent or avoid a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle based on the driving environment information. In the preventive safety control, the second unit is configured to acquire a driving involvement degree indicating a degree of involvement of a person in driving of the vehicle, and to change an intervention degree to the travel control amount in the preventive safety control based on the driving involvement degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210107514
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori WATANABE, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20210107517
    Abstract: A vehicle control system generates a first target trajectory, which is a target trajectory for an automated driving of a vehicle, and executes vehicle travel control based on the first target trajectory. The vehicle control system generates a second target trajectory which is a target trajectory which does not conflict with a restrict condition, when the travel based on the first target trajectory conflicts with a safety restrict condition, and executes travel assist control by using the second target trajectory. The vehicle control system judges whether or not a resurgence condition is satisfied by using the first target trajectory that is generated during the execution of the travel assist control. If it is judged that the resurgence condition is satisfied, the vehicle control system returns to the execution of the vehicle travel control from that of the travel assist control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata