Patents by Inventor Keishiro Nishi
Keishiro Nishi 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: 11904851Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Atsushi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11556132Abstract: A work vehicle includes: an electronic control system for automatic driving; and a cabin with which a boarding space is formed. The electronic control system includes an antenna unit for satellite navigation, and the antenna unit is attached to a central area of a roof of the cabin in a left-right direction. An upper surface of an area of the roof around the antenna unit is formed so as to be an inclined surface that is inclined in a front-rear direction. Left and right end portions of the roof are provided with left and right bulging edge portions that bulge upward from the left and right end portions and have a length that spans between front and rear ends of the roof, and water drain grooves that guide water on the roof toward the left and right bulging edge portions such that water detours the antenna unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Yushi Matsuzaki, Kazuo Sakaguchi, Takafumi Morishita
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Publication number: 20220315137Abstract: A crawler traveling device includes a first wheel; a second wheel spaced from the first wheel; a support frame that supports the first wheel and the second wheel; a third wheel disposed above the support frame; an endless crawler wound around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel; and a vehicle-height changing mechanism that changes a position of the support frame in the vertical direction with respect to the third wheel. The vehicle-height changing mechanism has an actuator that is capable of contracting in the vertical direction and that changes the position of the support frame in the vertical direction with respect to the third wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventor: Keishiro NISHI
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Publication number: 20220297686Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 11383703Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka, Atsushi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 11221630Abstract: An objective is to appropriately position a communication module that carries out wireless communication to exchange information regarding cooperative travel with another vehicle, in order to simplify the measures that are to be taken to avoid thermal damage, and prevent antenna cables from being damaged, for example. A work vehicle includes: a cabin 4 in which a boarding space is formed; and an electronic control system for automatic driving through which a vehicle body is automatically driven. The electronic control system includes a positioning unit that measures the position and orientation of the vehicle body, and a cooperation control unit that causes the vehicle body to automatically travel in cooperation with another vehicle. The cabin 4 is provided with a roof 62 that provides a storage space 62A that is surrounded by an inner roof 101 and an outer roof 102.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka
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Patent number: 11186312Abstract: A work vehicle includes a wheel supporting member 11 that is supported by a vehicle body frame 1 that includes left and right side members 80; left and right steerable wheels that are supported by the wheel supporting member 11 so as to be steerable; and a steering mechanism 25 that includes a power steering unit 24 and steers the left and right steerable wheels. The power steering unit 24 is located near the wheel supporting member 11 such that at least a portion of the power steering unit 24 is located between the left and right side members 80.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Tomofumi Fukunaga, Takahiro Nakatsuka
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Patent number: 11037379Abstract: Resource consumption of a work vehicle in a specified work site is estimated more appropriately and a resource replenishment timing is calculated appropriately.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Tomofumi Fukunaga, Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Yushi Matsuzaki
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Publication number: 20190384321Abstract: A work vehicle includes: an electronic control system for automatic driving; and a cabin with which a boarding space is formed. The electronic control system includes an antenna unit for satellite navigation, and the antenna unit is attached to a central area of a roof of the cabin in a left-right direction. An upper surface of an area of the roof around the antenna unit is formed so as to be an inclined surface that is inclined in a front-rear direction. Left and right end portions of the roof are provided with left and right bulging edge portions that bulge upward from the left and right end portions and have a length that spans between front and rear ends of the roof, and water drain grooves that guide water on the roof toward the left and right bulging edge portions such that water detours the antenna unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA, Yushi MATSUZAKI, Kazuo SAKAGUCHI, Takafumi MORISHITA
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Publication number: 20190382005Abstract: The present invention is provided to more reliably keep a work vehicle from coming into contact with an obstacle during automated driving. The work vehicle includes an electronic control system for automated driving that automatically drives the vehicle body. The electronic control system includes an obstacle detection module configured to detect presence or absence of an obstacle, and a contact avoidance control unit configured to perform, upon the obstacle detection module detecting an obstacle, contact avoidance control to keep the vehicle body from coming into contact with the obstacle. The obstacle detection module includes a plurality of obstacle searchers that are distributed on the front end portion and the right and left end portions of the vehicle body such that the front side and the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle body are search-target areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: December 19, 2019Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA, Atsushi KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 10474153Abstract: A work vehicle to travel along a travel route includes a vehicle body, an inclination sensor, a calculator, an information generator, and a recorder. The inclination sensor is provided on the vehicle body to detect a vehicle body inclination angle with respect to a horizontal line. The calculator is to calculate a position of the work vehicle in a work field based on positioning data. The information generator is to output travel limit information at an inclination position on the travel route where the vehicle body inclination angle detected by the inclination sensor exceeds a threshold angle. The recorder is to record, as an inclined area, an area around the inclination position which is calculated based on the positioning data.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Atsushi Shinkai, Keishiro Nishi
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Publication number: 20190317521Abstract: An objective is to appropriately position a communication module that carries out wireless communication to exchange information regarding cooperative travel with another vehicle, in order to simplify the measures that are to be taken to avoid thermal damage, and prevent antenna cables from being damaged, for example. A work vehicle includes: a cabin 4 in which a boarding space is formed; and an electronic control system for automatic driving through which a vehicle body is automatically driven. The electronic control system includes a positioning unit that measures the position and orientation of the vehicle body, and a cooperation control unit that causes the vehicle body to automatically travel in cooperation with another vehicle. The cabin 4 is provided with a roof 62 that provides a storage space 62A that is surrounded by an inner roof 101 and an outer roof 102.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2017Publication date: October 17, 2019Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA
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Publication number: 20190315393Abstract: A work vehicle includes a wheel supporting member 11 that is supported by a vehicle body frame 1 that includes left and right side members 80; left and right steerable wheels that are supported by the wheel supporting member 11 so as to be steerable; and a steering mechanism 25 that includes a power steering unit 24 and steers the left and right steerable wheels. The power steering unit 24 is located near the wheel supporting member 11 such that at least a portion of the power steering unit 24 is located between the left and right side members 80.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2017Publication date: October 17, 2019Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA
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Publication number: 20190122454Abstract: Resource consumption of a work vehicle in a specified work site is estimated more appropriately and a resource replenishment timing is calculated appropriately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Keishiro NISHI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Yushi MATSUZAKI
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Publication number: 20180024563Abstract: A work vehicle to travel along a travel route includes a vehicle body, an inclination sensor, a calculator, an information generator, and a recorder. The inclination sensor is provided on the vehicle body to detect a vehicle body inclination angle with respect to a horizontal line. The calculator is to calculate a position of the work vehicle in a work field based on positioning data. The information generator is to output travel limit information at an inclination position on the travel route where the vehicle body inclination angle detected by the inclination sensor exceeds a threshold angle. The recorder is to record, as an inclined area, an area around the inclination position which is calculated based on the positioning data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Kubota CorporationInventors: Yushi MATSUZAKI, Atsushi SHINKAI, Keishiro NISHI
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Patent number: 9776615Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid work vehicle capable of smooth work travel using a work device with a low output internal combustion engine, while avoiding battery exhaustion. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that supplies drive power to a travel device and a work device via power transmission means, a motor generator that is driven by a battery, a load information generation part that generates load information representing a sudden increase in rotational load, an assist characteristic determination part that determines motor assist characteristics defining an assist amount and an assist time period of assist control based on load information, and a motor control unit that controls the motor generator based on the motor assist characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Michita Kono, Shigeki Hayashi, Atsushi Shinkai, Keishiro Nishi, Hisao Mukai
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Patent number: 9561789Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine for supplying driving force to a running device and a work implement via a transmission shaft, a motor generator for assisting the internal combustion engine by outputting power to the transmission shaft, and a battery for receiving charging electricity from the motor generator and giving driving electricity to the motor generator. A load information generation unit generates load information indicating a rotational load received by the internal combustion engine when in a constant-speed control mode for maintaining a constant number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine, based on an input parameter, and an assistance calculation unit calculates an amount of assistance for internal combustion engine by the motor generator, based on the load information when in the constant-speed control mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Keishiro Nishi, Hidetoshi Hana, Atsushi Shinkai, Hisao Mukai, Michita Kono, Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Susumu Umemoto, Shigeki Hayashi, Norio Obata, Toshikazu Kawamoto, Nobushige Ichikawa
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Patent number: 9506552Abstract: A work vehicle that includes: a transmission system decreasing or changing a speed of a driving force from an engine and outputting the driving force. A transmission case houses the transmission system. A hydraulic circuit supplies oil collected in the transmission case to hydraulic equipment. The transmission case is divided to form a storage space housing a minimum speed transmission portion of the transmission system. The hydraulic circuit connects a suction intake oil passage of the hydraulic circuit to a bottom portion of the storage space and supplies the oil collected in the storage space to the hydraulic equipment.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Tomofumi Fukunaga, Keishiro Nishi, Akira Hiwatashi, Hisao Mukai, Koji Matsuda, Takuya Tanigawa, Takahiro Nakatsuka
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Publication number: 20160091078Abstract: A work vehicle that includes: a transmission system decreasing or changing a speed of a driving force from an engine and outputting the driving force. A transmission case houses the transmission system. A hydraulic circuit supplies oil collected in the transmission case to hydraulic equipment. The transmission case is divided to form a storage space housing a minimum speed transmission portion of the transmission system. The hydraulic circuit connects a suction intake oil passage of the hydraulic circuit to a bottom portion of the storage space and supplies the oil collected in the storage space to the hydraulic equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Tomofumi FUKUNAGA, Keishiro NISHI, Akira HIWATASHI, Hisao MUKAI, Koji MATSUDA, Takuya TANIGAWA, Takahiro NAKATSUKA
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Publication number: 20160046278Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid work vehicle capable of smooth work travel using a work device with a low output internal combustion engine, while avoiding battery exhaustion. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that supplies drive power to a travel device and a work device via power transmission means, a motor generator that is driven by a battery, a load information generation part that generates load information representing a sudden increase in rotational load, an assist characteristic determination part that determines motor assist characteristics defining an assist amount and an assist time period of assist control based on load information, and a motor control unit that controls the motor generator based on the motor assist characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATIONInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Michita Kono, Shigeki Hayashi, Atsushi Shinkai, Keishiro Nishi, Hisao Mukai