Patents by Inventor Kenjiro Shimada

Kenjiro Shimada 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: 12110665
    Abstract: A system includes a work machine, a camera, and a processor. The camera captures an image including a periphery of the work machine. A processor acquires image data indicative of a captured image captured by a camera. The processor acquires, from image data, a specific object present within the captured image and a distance from the work machine to the specific object by performing image analysis using an object detection model. The object detection model is trained an image of the specific object and the distance to the specific object. The processor controls the work machine based on the distance from the work machine to the specific object when the specific object is detected in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada, Yuki Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 12098515
    Abstract: A work machine comprises: a work implement; a hydraulic cylinder; a hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic circuit; a relief valve that can set a relief pressure of the hydraulic circuit to either a first set pressure or a second set pressure higher than the first set pressure; a detection unit that detects at least one of a pressure of the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic circuit and a speed of the work implement; and a relief pressure changing unit that changes a relief pressure of the relief valve from the first set pressure to the second set pressure based on a detection value of at least one of the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic circuit and the speed of the work implement when the controlled state of the work implement is the excavation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Konda, Takeshi Oi, Kenjiro Shimada, Kenji Ohiwa
  • Patent number: 12091840
    Abstract: A work machine includes a work implement, a rotating body to which the work implement is attached, a topography sensor configured to measure a topography, and a controller. The controller determines a digging start point of the work implement based on topographical data indicative of the topography measured by the topography sensor. The controller moves the work implement from a current position of the work implement to the digging start point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada, Tomoki Konda
  • Patent number: 12037770
    Abstract: A system controls a work machine that loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The system includes a controller and a detection device. The controller controls the work machine in an automatic control mode in which work is performed automatically. The detection device detects an approach of the conveyance vehicle toward the work machine. The automatic control mode includes a loading mode in which the work machine is caused to move to perform loading work for loading onto the conveyance vehicle, and an other mode other than the loading mode. The other mode includes at least one of a mode for gathering fallen materials and a digging mode for further increasing the materials by digging. The controller causes the automatic control mode to transition from the other mode to the loading mode when the approach of the conveyance vehicle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada, Tomoki Konda
  • Patent number: 12037767
    Abstract: A work machine comprises: a travel unit; a swing unit provided on the travel unit swingably; an angular velocity sensor that is attached to the swing unit and outputs an azimuthal angular velocity of the swing unit; a measurement device that measures an azimuth of the swing unit; and a controller that corrects the azimuthal angular velocity based on azimuth information measured by the measurement device and controls the swing unit based on the corrected azimuthal angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Konda, Kenjiro Shimada, Kazuhiro Hatake, Yusuke Saigo
  • Patent number: 12018452
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator loads a load onto a loaded machine. The hydraulic excavator includes a work implement and a controller. The work implement includes a bucket. The controller senses an amount of natural lowering of the bucket in a stand-by state in which the hydraulic excavator waits for entry of the loaded machine and controls the work implement to raise the bucket based on the amount of natural lowering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Konda, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11933017
    Abstract: A work machine loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The work machine includes a work implement having a bucket, a topography sensor configured to measure a topography and a controller. The controller determines a target digging path of the bucket based on topographical data indicative of the topography measured by the topography sensor. The controller acquires an actual digging path based on positions of the bucket during digging. The controller is calculates at least one of a viscosity and a hardness of materials based on a difference between the target digging path and the actual digging path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11914380
    Abstract: A system includes a conveyance vehicle, and a work machine that loads materials onto the conveyance vehicle. A first processor of a work machine determines a target stop position of a conveyance vehicle based on a position of the work machine, a target offset distance, and the direction of the loading position. A second processor of the conveyance vehicle acquires data indicative of the target stop position of the conveyance vehicle from the work machine. The second processor controls the conveyance vehicle to move the conveyance vehicle to the target stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11879232
    Abstract: A system controls a work machine including a work implement, a rotating body, and a support body to load materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The system includes a first processor. The first processor acquires data indicative of a position of a predetermined reference point included in the conveyance vehicle. The first processor acquires data indicative of a position of a rotation center of the rotating body. The first processor acquires data indicative of a position of a blade tip of the work implement. The first processor determines a target rotation angle of the rotating body from a straight line connecting the position of the rotation center of the rotating body and the position of the reference point of the conveyance vehicle, and a current position of the blade tip of the work implement. The first processor controls the rotating body to rotate according to the target rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11802391
    Abstract: A system controls a work machine that loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The system includes a controller. The controller performs a loading work by the work machine when the conveyance vehicle is stopped at a predetermined loading position. The controller acquires a loading amount onto the conveyance vehicle. The controller determines whether the loading work is finished based on the loading amount. The controller outputs a withdraw command to the conveyance vehicle to withdraw from the loading position upon determining that the loading work is finished. The controller determines whether the conveyance vehicle has withdrawn after outputting the withdraw command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11795658
    Abstract: A work machine loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. A system for controlling the work machine includes a detection device that detects an operation of the conveyance vehicle, and a controller that controls the work machine. The work machine includes a work implement attached to a rotating body. The controller acquires operation data indicative of an operation of the conveyance vehicle from the detection device. The controller causes the rotating body to rotate toward a predetermined unloading position. The controller determines whether the conveyance vehicle is stopped at a predetermined loading position based on the operation data. The controller causes the work implement to wait on standby at the unloading position upon determining that the conveyance vehicle is operating. The controller controls the work machine to unload materials at the unloading position upon determining that the conveyance vehicle is stopped at the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11788254
    Abstract: A system controls a work machine that loads materials onto a conveyance vehicle. The system includes a controller and a detection device. The controller controls the work machine in an automatic control mode in which work is performed automatically. The detection device detects a presence of a person in a peripheral region of the work machine. The automatic control mode includes a loading mode in which the work machine is caused to move to perform loading work for loading onto the conveyance vehicle, and an other mode other than the loading mode. The controller causes the automatic control mode to transition from the other mode to the loading mode when a predetermined transition condition is satisfied. The predetermined transition condition includes non-detection of a person by the detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Aizawa, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 11686856
    Abstract: A system includes a receiver mounted on a work machine, and a processor. The receiver receives a signal usable to identify a position of the work machine. The processor acquires a position of the receiver from the signal received by the receiver. The processor acquires a calculated position of a calibration point in the work machine by calculating a position of the calibration point from the position of the receiver. The processor acquires an actual position of the calibration point. The processor generates calibration data usable to calibrate a position of a reference point in the work machine by comparing the actual position with the calculated position of the calibration point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Kenjiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20230143733
    Abstract: In a construction method using an excavator that is controlled by manual operation, and an excavator that includes an automatic working-equipment control unit automatically controlling second working equipment on the basis of at least one of a current terrain and a designed terrain of a construction range in a construction site, and a tooth-edge position of the second working equipment, a progress rate that indicates a volume of soil having been excavated by the excavator to a target volume of soil to be excavated by the excavator in the construction range is calculated, and when the progress rate is equal to or larger than a threshold, the excavator stops construction of the construction range, and the excavator takes over the construction of the construction range, from the excavator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Onishi, Mitsuhiro Aoki, Masahiro Kurihara, Kenjiro Shimada, Toyohito Uchizono
  • Publication number: 20230003003
    Abstract: A controller acquires a static path indicative of a target route of a transport vehicle. The static path includes a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The static path is set between a first work machine and a second work machine. The controller determines a first dynamic path that connects the first endpoint and a first target position for work of the first work machine. The controller determines a second dynamic path that connects the second endpoint and a second target position for work of the second work machine. The controller controls the transport vehicle so that the transport vehicle travels according to the static path, the first dynamic path, and the second dynamic path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Kenjiro SHIMADA, Ayumi OHKUMA, Aaron LELOUVIER, Paulo MORALES, Kazuhiko HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20220316174
    Abstract: A work machine comprises: a work implement; a hydraulic cylinder; a hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic circuit; a relief valve that can set a relief pressure of the hydraulic circuit to either a first set pressure or a second set pressure higher than the first set pressure; a detection unit that detects at least one of a pressure of the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic circuit and a speed of the work implement; and a relief pressure changing unit that changes a relief pressure of the relief valve from the first set pressure to the second set pressure based on a detection value of at least one of the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic circuit and the speed of the work implement when the controlled state of the work implement is the excavation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki KONDA, Takeshi OI, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kenji OHIWA
  • Patent number: 11459733
    Abstract: A control system for a work includes an operating device and a controller. The operating device outputs an operation signal indicative of an operation by an operator. The controller is in communication with the operating device. The controller determines a target profile of a terrain to be worked on. The controller generates a command signal to operate the work implement according to the target profile. The controller receives the operation signal from the operating device. The controller determines an operation of the work implement based on the operation signal. The controller corrects the target profile according to the operation by the operator when the operation of the work implement by the operator is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hashimoto, Kenjiro Shimada, Toshihiro Kawano, Yosuke Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20220251802
    Abstract: Occurrence of a skid due to revolution of a revolving unit is suppressed. A work machine includes a traveling unit, a revolving unit revolvably mounted on the traveling unit, and a controller that controls operations of the work machine. The controller determines whether or not a skid of the traveling unit has occurred in a revolving operation of the revolving unit during an automatic operation of the work machine. When the controller determines that the skid has occurred, it performs processing for weakening rotational inertial force generated in the revolving operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki KONDA, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kazuhiro HATAKE, Yusuke SAIGO
  • Publication number: 20220186461
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator loads a load onto a loaded machine. The hydraulic excavator includes a work implement and a controller. The work implement includes a bucket. The controller senses an amount of natural lowering of the bucket in a stand-by state in which the hydraulic excavator waits for entry of the loaded machine and controls the work implement to raise the bucket based on the amount of natural lowering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki KONDA, Kenjiro SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20220162832
    Abstract: A work machine comprises: a travel unit; a swing unit provided on the travel unit swingably; an angular velocity sensor that is attached to the swing unit and outputs an azimuthal angular velocity of the swing unit; a measurement device that measures an azimuth of the swing unit; and a controller that corrects the azimuthal angular velocity based on azimuth information measured by the measurement device and controls the swing unit based on the corrected azimuthal angular velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki KONDA, Kenjiro SHIMADA, Kazuhiro HATAKE, Yusuke SAIGO