Patents by Inventor Kentaro Ichikawa
Kentaro Ichikawa 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: 11971673Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a process unit, a heating unit, and a controller unit. The process unit is configured to transfer an image onto a sheet. The heating unit is configured to fix the image transferred at the process unit onto the sheet, and to transfer a transfer layer onto an image formed on a sheet overlaid on a multilayer film. The controller unit is capable of operating in a first printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit, fixing the image at the heating unit, and transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit are executed, and a second printing mode in which processes of transferring an image at the process unit and fixing the image at the heating unit are not executed, and a process of transferring the transfer layer at the heating unit is executed.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomoya Ichikawa, Tomoya Yamamoto, Ryosuke Sakai, Kentaro Mori, Kyoko Sugiyama, Ayaka Ohira, Isami Fujisawa
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Patent number: 11945342Abstract: A method for adjusting a seat in a vehicle includes adjusting the seat from an initial position to a passenger adjusted position based on receiving an input from a passenger. The method further includes determining the passenger exited the vehicle after adjusting the seat and predicting a likelihood of the passenger returning to the vehicle based on determining the passenger exited the vehicle. The method also includes adjusting the seat to the initial position based on the likelihood of the passenger returning is less than a passenger returning threshold. The method still further includes identifying a person approaching the vehicle after the passenger exited the vehicle based on information captured by one or more sensors of the vehicle. The method also includes adjusting the seat to a position associated with the previous passenger based on identifying the person approaching the vehicle as the previous passenger.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
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Patent number: 11919541Abstract: Automated drive system comprises a control device. The control device executes run control processing of the automated drive vehicle provided to a driverless transportation service. The run control processing includes carriage porch control processing. The carriage porch control processing is performed when a PUDO position of a user corresponds to a carriage porch of a facility including a zone for run and a zone for PUDO. In the carriage porch control processing, it is judged whether or not there is an empty space in the zone for PUDO. If it is judged that there is no empty space, it is judged whether or not a quick PUDO of the user in the carriage porch is expected. If it is judged that the quick PUDO is expected, a target PUDO position to perform a PUDO action of the automated drive vehicle is set to any position in the zone for run.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
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Publication number: 20240067219Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile vehicle comprises the steps of selecting a control mode for autonomous driving of the mobile vehicle and transmitting information on the selected control mode to the mobile vehicle. The control mode includes a first mode and a second mode of which a restriction on a driving safety is stricter than that of the first mode. The step of selecting the control mode comprises the steps of determining whether a remote support for the mobile vehicle is required, and selecting the first mode as the control mode when it is determined that the remote support is not required whereas selecting the second mode as the control mode when it is determined that the remote support is required.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Narihito YAMAZATO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Maiko HIRANO, Yoshitaka ADACHI, Koji TAGUCHI
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Publication number: 20240034364Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Taisuke SUGAIWA, Toshiki KINDO
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Patent number: 11858534Abstract: A pick-up and drop-off area, which is a predetermined area in which an automated driving vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a user, includes a downstream area existing downstream of a standard stop space and an upstream area existing upstream of the standard stop space. An automated driving system controls the automated driving vehicle so as to stop in a target stop space in the pick-up and drop-off area. When the standard stop space is available, the standard stop space is set as the target stop space. When the standard stop space is not available for the automated driving vehicle to stop to drop off the user, the automated driving system searches for an upstream available space in the upstream area and preferentially sets the upstream available space as the target stop space.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
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Patent number: 11845473Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Toshiki Kindo
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Patent number: 11840264Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Toshiki Kindo
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Publication number: 20230376031Abstract: A method to perform remote operation of a mobile vehicle is provided. In this method, data of two types of camera images whose imaging ranges partially overlap each other and data of operation content in the remote operation are acquired. Further, based on the data of the operation content, the position in the vertical direction at which the two types of the camera images are combined is set. Further, at least one of the two types of the camera images is moved in the vertical direction such that the two types of the camera images are combined at the set position in the vertical direction, and the two types of the camera images are combined. Then, a composite image of the two types of the camera images is output from a display of a remote operation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Narihito YAMAZATO, Koji TAGUCHI, Maiko HIRANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Yoshitaka ADACHI, Kentaro TAKEMURA, Toshiki HORITA
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Patent number: 11814068Abstract: An automated driving system controls an automated driving vehicle. A plurality of stop lots are virtually arranged in a pick-up and drop-off area in which the automated driving vehicle stops to pick up or drop off a user. An order of priority of the plurality of stop lots is set. The automated driving system selects a stop lot one by one in the order of priority and determines whether or not the selected stop lot is available for the automated driving vehicle to stop. When the selected stop lot is available for the automated driving vehicle to stop, the selected stop lot is set as a target stop lot. The automated driving system controls the automated driving vehicle so as to stop in the target stop lot.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Akihide Tachibana, Katsuhiro Sakai, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
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Publication number: 20230339288Abstract: A method for controlling a comfort component of a vehicle includes setting a comfort component, while a passenger is occupying the vehicle, to an active state to adjust a temperature within the vehicle to a passenger desired temperature based on receiving an input from the passenger. The method further includes maintaining, after the passenger exited the vehicle, the comfort component in an active state based on a likelihood of the passenger returning to the vehicle satisfying an active state condition. The method still further includes capturing, after the passenger exited the vehicle, an image of a person approaching the vehicle via one or more sensors of the vehicle. The method also includes adjusting the comfort component from the active state to a default state based on an identity of the person being different from an identity of the passenger, the identity of the person being determined based on the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Junya UENO
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Patent number: 11794788Abstract: An automatic driving system includes an electronic control device configured to: detect a driving operation input amount during an automatic driving control for a vehicle; determine whether the driver is able to start manual driving during the automatic driving control for the vehicle; output a signal for performing switching from automatic driving to the manual driving based on a result of a comparison between the driving operation input amount and a driving switching threshold that is a threshold for the switching from the automatic driving to the manual driving; set the driving switching threshold to a first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is able to start the manual driving; and set the driving switching threshold to a second driving switching threshold exceeding the first driving switching threshold when it is determined that the driver is not able to start the manual driving.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa
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Publication number: 20230324908Abstract: An autonomous driving control device is capable of starting an autonomous driving control without an operation of a driver and reducing a possibility that the driver can not start manual driving. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when a determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a first threshold, before a predetermined time elapses since the autonomous driving control is automatically started. An autonomous driving control is switched to a manual driving when the determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, after the predetermined time elapses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Bunyo OKUMURA, Maiko HIRANO
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Patent number: 11763694Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the training of a driver during an automated driving system mode. In one embodiment, a method includes generating, in association with a maneuver by the driver that is a takeover of a vehicle, an automated motion plan associated with the maneuver. The method also includes determining if the automated motion plan is valid based, at least in part, on a condition that one or more parameters of a reliability model satisfy a threshold. The one or more parameters may be associated with the vehicle and a driving environment. The method also includes notifying the driver that the maneuver was unnecessary using a notification signal if the one or more parameters satisfy the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
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Patent number: 11738779Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Toshiki Kindo
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Publication number: 20230259127Abstract: According to the remote assistance method of the present disclosure, first, a positional relationship between the vehicle having an autonomous traveling function and an object present around the vehicle at a future time beyond a current time is displayed spatially on a display device, the positional relationship being predicted based on a path plan for autonomous traveling created by the vehicle and information on the object. Next, assistance content input from a remote operator is transmitted to the vehicle. Then, remote assistance corresponding to the assistance content is executed in the vehicle in response to confirmation that the positional relationship between the vehicle and the object displayed on the display device when the assistance content is input is realized after the vehicle receives the assistance content.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Maiko HIRANO, Yoshitaka ADACHI, Kentaro ICHIKAWA, Koji TAGUCHI, Narihito YAMAZATO
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Patent number: 11724565Abstract: A method for controlling a comfort component of a vehicle is presented. The method includes determining that the vehicle has arrived at a destination. The method also includes determining that the comfort component is activated. The method further includes deactivating the comfort component in response to determining that the comfort component is activated and the vehicle has arrived at the destination.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
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Patent number: 11703858Abstract: An autonomous driving control device is capable of starting an autonomous driving control without an operation of a driver and reducing a possibility that the driver can not start manual driving. An autonomous driving control is switched to manual driving when a determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a first threshold, before a predetermined time elapses since the autonomous driving control is automatically started. An autonomous driving control is switched to a manual driving when the determination section determines that the amount of operation by the driver is equal to or greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, after the predetermined time elapses.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Bunyo Okumura, Maiko Hirano
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Patent number: 11688162Abstract: A method and device is provided for detecting a state change in an environment around a vehicle, and providing a notification in response to detecting a state change, wherein the detection involves determining a portion of the environment to capture, capturing a portion of the environment, detecting a state change in the captured portion, and the production of a notification in response to the change in the captured environment. Certain embodiments include traffic signal detection, vehicle detection, vehicle speed detection, and user adjustment of the detection.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Toshiki Kindo, Katsuhiro Sakai, Masahiro Harada, Hiromitsu Urano
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Patent number: 11685228Abstract: A method for vehicle selection performed by a user equipment (UE) associated with a customer includes transmitting, from the UE to a vehicle control system, customer location information identifying a location of the customer. The method also includes receiving, from the vehicle control system based on transmitting the customer location information, vehicle location information and a set of compartment climate values associated with each vehicle of a set of vehicles within a range of the location of the customer. The method further includes outputting the current compartment climate value and a location associated with the vehicle location information of each vehicle of the set of vehicles for display at the UE.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno