Patents by Inventor Kengo Iwata

Kengo Iwata 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: 11912284
    Abstract: An alighting assistance device D of the present disclosure may be a device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination may be made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights. The device may include a height changer which changes a height of a steering wheel, a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant, and a steering wheel controller 33 as one example of a height controller which controls the height changer such that the height of the steering wheel becomes lower as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer may be higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshito Hirata, Tomonori Ohtsubo, Hiroki Uemura, Kengo Iwata, Masato Maeda, Hiroaki Matsuda, Masahito Kashihara, Chieko Nakagami
  • Patent number: 11772523
    Abstract: An alighting assistance device D of the present disclosure may be a device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination is made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights. The device may include a reclining mechanism as one example of an angle changer which changes an angle of a seat back of the driver seat with respect to a horizontal plane, a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant, and a seat controller as one example of an angle controller which controls the angle changer such that the angle of the seat back becomes closer to be perpendicular as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer is higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshito Hirata, Tomonori Ohtsubo, Hiroki Uemura, Kengo Iwata, Masato Maeda, Hiroaki Matsuda, Masahito Kashihara, Chieko Nakagami
  • Publication number: 20220212572
    Abstract: An alighting assistance device D of the present disclosure may be a device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination is made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights. The device may include a reclining mechanism as one example of an angle changer which changes an angle of a seat back of the driver seat with respect to a horizontal plane, a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant, and a seat controller as one example of an angle controller which controls the angle changer such that the angle of the seat back becomes closer to be perpendicular as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer is higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito HIRATA, Tomonori OHTSUBO, Hiroki UEMURA, Kengo IWATA, Masato MAEDA, Hiroaki MATSUDA, Masahito KASHIHARA, Chieko NAKAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20220212674
    Abstract: An alighting assistance device D of the present disclosure may be a device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination may be made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights. The device may include a height changer which changes a height of a steering wheel, a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant, and a steering wheel controller 33 as one example of a height controller which controls the height changer such that the height of the steering wheel becomes lower as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer may be higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshito HIRATA, Tomonori OHTSUBO, Hiroki UEMURA, Kengo IWATA, Masato MAEDA, Hiroaki MATSUDA, Masahito KASHIHARA, Chieko NAKAGAMI
  • Patent number: 10425797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-vehicle emergency notification device for performing a notification to an external emergency call center, in the event of an emergency. The on-vehicle emergency notification device is configured to allow a vehicle body number (VIN) and an emergency notification phone number (CIM number) to be registered therein in the form of a set, so as to enable the notification to the emergency call center, wherein the on-vehicle emergency notification device is configured such that: during execution of a factory mode for performing the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number, rewriting of the vehicle body number is permitted; and, after the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number is completed and then the factory mode is shifted to a market mode, the rewriting of the vehicle body number is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Masanobu Kosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yuki Komazaki
  • Patent number: 10278052
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-vehicle emergency notification device The notification device is configured to allow a vehicle body number and an emergency notification phone number to be registered therein in the form of a set, so as to enable the notification to the emergency call center, wherein the notification device is configured such that: during execution of a factory mode for performing the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number, rewriting of the vehicle body number is permitted; after the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number is completed and then the factory mode is shifted to a market mode, the rewriting of the vehicle body number is prohibited; and, when it is in the factory mode, the switching to an auxiliary battery is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Masanobu Kosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yuki Komazaki
  • Patent number: 10086726
    Abstract: The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Masanobu Kosaka, Mitsuhiro Yamoto, Kiyonobu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20180272973
    Abstract: An emergency notification system comprises an emergency notification unit 10, an audio control unit 30, and a speaker drive unit 40 for driving a vehicle-mounted speaker 42 based on control by the audio control unit 30, wherein the emergency notification unit 10 comprises: a muting control section 21 operable, upon receiving a vehicle emergency signal, to transmit, to the audio control unit 30, a muting request signal B for muting the vehicle-mounted speaker 42, and to receive, from the audio control unit 30, a muting confirmation signal E indicating that the vehicle-mounted speaker 42 has been muted based on the muting request signal B; and a power supply control section 23 operable, when the muting control section 21 fails to receive the muting confirmation signal E in response to the transmission of the muting request signal B, to shut off supply of electric power to the speaker drive unit 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro KOBAYASHI, Osamu TANAKA, Yoshinori AKASAKA, Mitsuhiro YAMOTO, Masahiro SHIMOYAMA, Masanobu KOSAKA, Kengo IWATA
  • Publication number: 20180270640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-vehicle emergency notification device for performing a notification to an external emergency call center, in the event of an emergency. The on-vehicle emergency notification device is configured to allow a vehicle body number (VIN) and an emergency notification phone number (CIM number) to be registered therein in the form of a set, so as to enable the notification to the emergency call center, wherein the on-vehicle emergency notification device is configured such that: during execution of a factory mode for performing the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number, rewriting of the vehicle body number is permitted; and, after the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number is completed and then the factory mode is shifted to a market mode, the rewriting of the vehicle body number is prohibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo IWATA, Masanobu KOSAKA, Masahiro KOBAYASHI, Yuki KOMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20180242132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an on-vehicle emergency notification device The notification device is configured to allow a vehicle body number and an emergency notification phone number to be registered therein in the form of a set, so as to enable the notification to the emergency call center, wherein the notification device is configured such that: during execution of a factory mode for performing the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number, rewriting of the vehicle body number is permitted; after the registration of the vehicle body number and the emergency notification phone number is completed and then the factory mode is shifted to a market mode, the rewriting of the vehicle body number is prohibited; and, when it is in the factory mode, the switching to an auxiliary battery is prohibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo IWATA, Masanobu KOSAKA, Masahiro KOBAYASHI, Yuki KOMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10052973
    Abstract: The object is to provide an occupant detection device that can accurately detect whether there is a passenger, even when a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone or the like is placed on a vehicle seat. The occupant detection device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and an in-vehicle battery. The occupant detection device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the seat and configured to measure capacitance between the sensor and the vehicle body; an interrupting unit configured to interrupt a function of the in-vehicle battery; a controller configured to temporarily activate the interrupting unit when a measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a predetermined threshold; and a judgement unit configured to judge that there is a passenger when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the predetermined threshold even while the interrupting unit is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Yamoto, Kiyonobu Takahashi, Masanobu Kosaka, Kengo Iwata
  • Patent number: 9862342
    Abstract: A vehicular emergency alert device mounted on a vehicle (100) and configured to issue an emergency alert signal to notify an emergency service center outside the vehicle of a location of the vehicle in the event of a collision of the vehicle includes: a collision detecting unit (11) that detects the collision of the vehicle (100) to output a collision detection signal; an emergency alert unit (13) that issues an emergency alert signal in response to the collision detection signal and relays the collision detection signal to the vehicle; and one or more modules (12) each of which performs a predetermined operation in response to the collision detection signal relayed by the emergency alert unit (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Kengo Iwata, Masanobu Kosaka, Hikari Arimi, Risa Fujita, Yoshikata Kimura
  • Publication number: 20170210245
    Abstract: The object is to provide an occupant detection device that can accurately detect whether there is a passenger, even when a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone or the like is placed on a vehicle seat. The occupant detection device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and an in-vehicle battery. The occupant detection device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the seat and configured to measure capacitance between the sensor and the vehicle body; an interrupting unit configured to interrupt a function of the in-vehicle battery; a controller configured to temporarily activate the interrupting unit when a measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a predetermined threshold; and a judgement unit configured to judge that there is a passenger when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the predetermined threshold even while the interrupting unit is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro YAMOTO, Kiyonobu TAKAHASHI, Masanobu KOSAKA, Kengo IWATA
  • Publication number: 20170210259
    Abstract: The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo IWATA, Masanobu KOSAKA, Mitsuhiro YAMOTO, Kiyonobu TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20160236639
    Abstract: A vehicular emergency alert device mounted on a vehicle (100) and configured to issue an emergency alert signal to notify an emergency service center outside the vehicle of a location of the vehicle in the event of a collision of the vehicle includes: a collision detecting unit (11) that detects the collision of the vehicle (100) to output a collision detection signal; an emergency alert unit (13) that issues an emergency alert signal in response to the collision detection signal and relays the collision detection signal to the vehicle; and one or more modules (12) each of which performs a predetermined operation in response to the collision detection signal relayed by the emergency alert unit (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro KOBAYASHI, Kengo IWATA, Masanobu KOSAKA, Hikari ARIMI, Risa FUJITA, Yoshikata KIMURA
  • Publication number: 20110199251
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a low power consumption, compact radio wave sensor capable of accurately detecting the presence and mobile status of a detected object present within a detection area, and having a superior S/N ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 7952534
    Abstract: A plurality of antenna electrodes 11, 12, 13, 14 on a substrate 1 can be connected to a ground electrode on the substrate 1 via connectors at spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C. Each connector can be opened/closed by a switch; or provided with a impedance varying device. Any one of the antenna electrodes may be connected to the ground electrode by the switch or the impedance varying device. The radio wave beam outputted from this antenna electrode shifts in phase from the radio wave beams outputted from the other antenna electrodes, whereby the direction of the integrated radio wave beam is inclined. Connecting one or another of the spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C to the ground electrode changes the direction and the magnitude of the integrated radio wave beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kensuke Murata, Toshio Koguro, Youichi Murase
  • Patent number: 7773035
    Abstract: A microstrip antenna has feed element 102 and parasitic elements 104, 106 on the front surface of substrate 1. Microwave electrical power is applied to feed element 102. Parasitic elements 104, 106 are connected via through hole type leads passing through substrate 1, to switches upon the rear surface of substrate 1, respectively. By actuating the switches individually, parasitic elements 104, 106 are individually switched between a grounded state and a float state. The direction of the radio beam emitted from the microstrip antenna is varied by selecting which of parasitic elements 104, 106 is grounded and floated. A microwave signal source connects to feed element 102 via an feed line 108 very much shorter than the wavelength, accordingly the transmission losses being low and the efficiency being excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kengo Iwata, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20080088510
    Abstract: A microstrip antenna has feed element 102 and parasitic elements 104, 106 on the front surface of substrate 1. Microwave electrical power is applied to feed element 102. Parasitic elements 104, 106 are connected via through hole type leads passing through substrate 1, to switches upon the rear surface of substrate 1, respectively. By actuating the switches individually, parasitic elements 104, 106 are individually switched between a grounded state and a float state. The direction of the radio beam emitted from the microstrip antenna is varied by selecting which of parasitic elements 104, 106 is grounded and floated. A microwave signal source connects to feed element 102 via an feed line 108 very much shorter than the wavelength, accordingly the transmission losses being low and the efficiency being excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kengo Iwata, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20080036662
    Abstract: A plurality of antenna electrodes 11, 12, 13, 14 on a substrate 1 can be connected to a ground electrode on the substrate 1 via connectors at spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C. Each connector can be opened/closed by a switch; or provided with a impedance varying device. Any one of the antenna electrodes may be connected to the ground electrode by the switch or the impedance varying device. The radio wave beam outputted from this antenna electrode shifts in phase from the radio wave beams outputted from the other antenna electrodes, whereby the direction of the integrated radio wave beam is inclined. Connecting one or another of the spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C to the ground electrode changes the direction and the magnitude of the integrated radio wave beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kensuke Murata, Toshio Koguro, Youichi Murase