Patents by Inventor Keiichiro Nagatsuka

Keiichiro Nagatsuka 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: 20230410459
    Abstract: There is provided an outside environment recognition device that rapidly performs target recognition processing when there is a possibility that a target coming into contact with an own vehicle appears. There is provided an outside environment recognition device that recognizes a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi IKOMA, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20230242140
    Abstract: A driving assistance device comprises: a recognition unit configured to recognize a lighting color of a traffic light from an image captured by a camera that images an outside world of a vehicle; and an alarm output unit configured to output an alarm to a driver of the vehicle when the lighting color is red and there is no braking operation of the vehicle. When a plurality of traffic lights are recognized from the image by processing of the recognition unit, the alarm output unit controls the output of the alarm based on a combination of lighting colors of the plurality of traffic lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Masayuki NAKATSUKA, Takeshi KIBAYASHI, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Hirofumi IKOMA
  • Publication number: 20230245470
    Abstract: The present invention provides a driving assistance apparatus that assists driving of a vehicle, comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the front of the vehicle; an identification unit configured to identify a traffic light in the image obtained by the image capturing unit; a detection unit configured to detect, from the image, an installation height of the traffic light identified by the identification unit; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the traffic light identified by the identification unit is a target traffic light indicating whether or not the vehicle travels, based on the installation height detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Masayuki NAKATSUKA, Takeshi KIBAYASHI, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Hirofumi IKOMA
  • Publication number: 20210291859
    Abstract: The present subject matter especially relates to a traveling control apparatus, a corresponding traveling control method, an own vehicle including the traveling control apparatus, and a computer program product which is adapted to carry out the traveling control method. The control allows keeping an object, which is located on or close to the driving path/route of the own vehicle, continuously within the field of view of a sensor, a camera or the like which is installed at the own vehicle. This improves the reliability of the traveling control of the own vehicle and the driver can enjoy higher driving comfort and safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Hideaki KIDO, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA
  • Patent number: 10640109
    Abstract: Provided is a travel control device for a vehicle such that comfortable and safe control for the vehicle is possible without disturbing the driver. The travel control device for the vehicle is provided with a control command computation unit for calculating a steering assist amount for assisting the steering of the vehicle and an acceleration command value for controlling braking and driving forces of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Toshiyuki Innami
  • Patent number: 10384673
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for controlling vehicle motion and a vehicle equipped with the device, such that driving force and/or braking force is properly distributed between front wheels and rear wheels so that steering characteristics are made suitable and controllability and stability improve. This device comprises a means for controlling braking and/or driving force distribution between the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle such that when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle increases, the distribution to the front wheels is made smaller, and when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle decreases, the distribution to the front wheels is made larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Toshiyuki Innami, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 10286910
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle running control apparatus capable of controlling a vehicle comfortably while inhibiting an uncomfortable feeling of a driver in consideration of dimensions of longitudinal acceleration requirements for the vehicle. This vehicle running control apparatus includes: a first control command value calculation unit configured to calculate a first control command value that controls vehicle longitudinal acceleration; a second control command value calculation unit configured to calculate a second control command value that controls longitudinal acceleration according to a lateral jerk that acts on the vehicle; a correction determination processing unit configured to determine whether to make correction based on the first control command value and the second control command value; and a correction processing unit configured, when the correction determination processing unit determines that correction is needed, to correct the first control command value based on the second control command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Makoto Yamakado, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama
  • Publication number: 20180086340
    Abstract: Provided is a travel control device for a vehicle such that comfortable and safe control for the vehicle is possible without disturbing the driver. The travel control device for the vehicle is provided with a control command computation unit for calculating a steering assist amount for assisting the steering of the vehicle and an acceleration command value for controlling braking and driving forces of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Toshiyuki INNAMI
  • Patent number: 9919603
    Abstract: The present invention improves emergency evasion performance. An operation control system for a vehicle that is provided with a risk-potential determining unit that determines the risk potential of a vehicle on the basis of external environment information and/or vehicle information, a friction braking unit that applies friction braking force to the vehicle, and a regenerative braking device that applies regenerative braking force to the vehicle, the operation control system being provided with a control value determining unit that determines a first control value that is for determining the size of the friction braking force and determines a second control value that is for determining the size of the regenerative braking force. The control value determining unit determines at least the first control value on the basis of the risk potential determined by the risk-potential determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Junya Takahashi, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Toshiyuki Innami, Mikio Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9821800
    Abstract: A processor for a vehicle includes a vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator, and a mode under which yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the driving forces or the driving torques, the driving forces or driving torques are different between the left and right wheels. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the braking forces or the braking torques, the braking forces or the braking torques are different between the left and right wheels. The mode operates at least in transit region between daily region and limit region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Publication number: 20170305416
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for controlling vehicle motion and a vehicle equipped with the device, such that driving force and/or braking force is properly distributed between front wheels and rear wheels so that steering characteristics are made suitable and controllability and stability improve. This device comprises a means for controlling braking and/or driving force distribution between the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle such that when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle increases, the distribution to the front wheels is made smaller, and when the absolute value of lateral acceleration of the vehicle decreases, the distribution to the front wheels is made larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Toshiyuki INNAMI, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20170183000
    Abstract: A processor for a vehicle includes a vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator, and a mode under which yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the driving forces or the driving torques, the driving forces or driving torques are different between the left and right wheels. If the vehicle yaw moment instruction value generates the braking forces or the braking torques, the braking forces or the braking torques are different between the left and right wheels. The mode operates at least in transit region between daily region and limit region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Mitsuhide SASAKI, Mikio UEYAMA, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA
  • Patent number: 9643607
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle motion control system that can control a vehicle without making a driver feel uncomfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Makoto Yamakado, Mikio Ueyama, Mitsuhide Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9623850
    Abstract: Provided is a motion controlling apparatus for a vehicle that can achieve improvement in drivability, stability, and driving comfort. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling driving forces of vehicle wheels; a vehicle acceleration/deceleration instruction calculator for calculating an acceleration/deceleration instruction value on the basis of a lateral jerk; a first vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator for calculating a first vehicle yaw moment instruction value on the basis of the lateral jerk; and a second vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator for calculating a second vehicle yaw moment instruction value on the basis of lateral slip information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 9598077
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle movement control system which does not cause a discomfort feeling at a normal time and securely assists a driver at the time of emergency avoidance steering. The vehicle movement control system includes: a risk potential estimation unit which estimates a risk potential of a vehicle based on input environmental information and vehicle information; a vehicle longitudinal movement control unit which generates a longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle based on a lateral jerk of the vehicle and a predetermined gain; a vehicle yawing movement control unit which generates a yawing movement control command of the vehicle based on the lateral jerk of the vehicle and the predetermined gain; and a ratio adjustment unit which adjusts a ratio between the longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle and the yawing movement control command of the vehicle, wherein the ratio adjustment unit adjusts the ratio based on the risk potential estimated by the risk potential estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9540003
    Abstract: In order to reliably assist a driver in emergency detour steering without causing a jerking forward motion of the vehicle during normal operation, a vehicle motion control device includes: a risk potential estimator that estimates a risk potential of a vehicle based on input external information and vehicle information; a vehicle longitudinal motion controller that generates a longitudinal motion control command of the vehicle based on a vehicle lateral jerk and a predetermined gain; and a gain adjustor that adjusts the gain, in which the gain adjustor adjusts the gain based on the risk potential estimated by the risk potential estimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Publication number: 20160347181
    Abstract: The present invention improves emergency evasion performance. An operation control system for a vehicle that is provided with a risk-potential determining unit that determines the risk potential of a vehicle on the basis of external environment information and/or vehicle information, a friction braking unit that applies friction braking force to the vehicle, and a regenerative braking device that applies regenerative braking force to the vehicle, the operation control system being provided with a control value determining unit that determines a first control value that is for determining the size of the friction braking force and determines a second control value that is for determining the size of the regenerative braking force. The control value determining unit determines at least the first control value on the basis of the risk potential determined by the risk-potential determining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Junya TAKAHASHI, Mitsuhide SASAKI, Toshiyuki INNAMI, Mikio UEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160264135
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle movement control system which does not cause a discomfort feeling at a normal time and securely assists a driver at the time of emergency avoidance steering. The vehicle movement control system includes: a risk potential estimation unit which estimates a risk potential of a vehicle based on input environmental information and vehicle information; a vehicle longitudinal movement control unit which generates a longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle based on a lateral jerk of the vehicle and a predetermined gain; a vehicle yawing movement control unit which generates a yawing movement control command of the vehicle based on the lateral jerk of the vehicle and the predetermined gain; and a ratio adjustment unit which adjusts a ratio between the longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle and the yawing movement control command of the vehicle, wherein the ratio adjustment unit adjusts the ratio based on the risk potential estimated by the risk potential estimation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Mitsuhide SASAKI, Mikio UEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160244038
    Abstract: Provided is a motion controlling apparatus for a vehicle that can achieve improvement in drivability, stability, and driving comfort. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling driving forces of vehicle wheels; a vehicle acceleration/deceleration instruction calculator for calculating an acceleration/deceleration instruction value on the basis of a lateral jerk; a first vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator for calculating a first vehicle yaw moment instruction value on the basis of the lateral jerk; and a second vehicle yaw moment instruction calculator for calculating a second vehicle yaw moment instruction value on the basis of lateral slip information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Mitsuhide SASAKI, Mikio UEYAMA, Keiichiro NAGATSUKA
  • Publication number: 20160229401
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle running control apparatus capable of controlling a vehicle comfortably while inhibiting an uncomfortable feeling of a driver in consideration of dimensions of longitudinal acceleration requirements for the vehicle. This vehicle running control apparatus includes: a first control command value calculation unit configured to calculate a first control command value that controls vehicle longitudinal acceleration; a second control command value calculation unit configured to calculate a second control command value that controls longitudinal acceleration according to a lateral jerk that acts on the vehicle; a correction determination processing unit configured to determine whether to make correction based on the first control command value and the second control command value; and a correction processing unit configured, when the correction determination processing unit determines that correction is needed, to correct the first control command value based on the second control command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Keiichiro NAGATSUKA, Makoto YAMAKADO, Mitsuhide SASAKI, Mikio UEYAMA