Patents by Inventor Kinji Yamamoto

Kinji Yamamoto 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: 9321400
    Abstract: A drive assist device allows a driver to favorably check space for opening a back door along with an image of a periphery of a vehicle. The drive assist device is configured: to perform a viewpoint conversion that converts an image captured by a vehicle-mounted camera, which image is of a scene in the periphery of the vehicle including at least an area rearward of the vehicle, into an overhead image showing the vehicle from above; to superimpose on the overhead image a graphic image showing a flip-up back door in an open state from the same viewpoint as that of the overhead image; and to allow the superimposed image to be displayed on a monitor device in a vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki Wakabayashi, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Noboru Nagamine
  • Patent number: 9308863
    Abstract: Provided is a device whereby it is possible to accurately recognize which area has been enlarged when part of an overhead image displayed on a monitor is displayed as enlarged. When any one area of a plurality divided areas (D1-D4) is indicated, the divided areas being a result of dividing an overhead image displayed on a monitor (21), an image of the indicated divided area (D1-D4) is set as an image to be enlarged, and an auxiliary display area (21B) is set as an enlarged display area. Enlarged display unit forms a plurality of intermediate images (M) of an intermediate size between the size of the indicated divided area (D2) and the size of the enlarged display area, and the intermediate images are sequentially displayed beginning with the smallest intermediate image (M), using the indicated divided area (D2) as an origin point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Miyoshi, Noboru Nagamine, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Kenjiro Goto
  • Patent number: 9050931
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle periphery monitoring system that facilitates a driver's understanding about a photographing direction of an object which appears in an overlapping area of a bird's-eye view image generated from multiple photographed images. A displaying bird's-eye view image is generated by combining bird's-eye view image segments generated from the multiple photographed images photographed in a partially overlapping manner with superimposing mutually overlapped areas thereof. In displaying the displaying bird's-eye view image, a boundary-added bird's-eye view image formed by adding a boundary indicator to the overlapping area of the bird's-eye view image is displayed on a display unit; then, a merged superimposed image is displayed. The merged superimposed image is obtained by merging the overlapped areas of the bird's-eye view image according to a preset merger relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9019347
    Abstract: An image generator is provided which generates a monitor display image that facilitates easy recognition of a three-dimensional object in an overhead view image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8866905
    Abstract: A surroundings monitoring device for a vehicle, includes a pair of side cameras, each of which is provided at a side mirror, obtaining capture images capturing views extending to left and right of the vehicle including views below the side mirrors, respectively, an image graphic generating portion generating an image graphic of the vehicle from a view point above a rear portion thereof towards a front lower portion thereof, or from a view point above a front portion of the vehicle towards a rear lower portion thereof in order to include at least a portion of the vehicle and the side mirrors on the image graphic, and a side image generating portion generating left and right side images on the basis of the capture images so as to correspond to images shown at left and right portions of the image graphic displayed on a monitor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140160275
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of items of image information of images photographed by a plurality of image pickup units provided on a vehicle as an outside environment of the vehicle and whose image picked-up areas are partly overlapped with each other; a correcting unit configured to compare a position of a first overlapped area included in one of two items of image information of images whose image picked-up areas are overlapped with each other with a position of a second overlapped area of the other image information, and if the position of the first overlapped area is closer to a center of a display area of the image information, correct the other image information so as to cause the luminance of the second overlapped area to match the luminance of the first overlapped area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki SAKAKIBARA, Kinji YAMAMOTO, Makoto HIRATA
  • Publication number: 20140152827
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle periphery monitoring system that facilitates a driver's understanding about a photographing direction of an object which appears in an overlapping area of a bird's-eye view image generated from multiple photographed images. A displaying bird's-eye view image is generated by combining bird's-eye view image segments generated from the multiple photographed images photographed in a partially overlapping manner with superimposing mutually overlapped areas thereof. In displaying the displaying bird's-eye view image, a boundary-added bird's-eye view image formed by adding a boundary indicator to the overlapping area of the bird's-eye view image is displayed on a display unit; then, a merged superimposed image is displayed. The merged superimposed image is obtained by merging the overlapped areas of the bird's-eye view image according to a preset merger relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIK KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140152774
    Abstract: A vehicle periphery monitoring device includes a first bird's-eye view image generation section generating a first bird's-eye view image through a two-dimensional plane projective transformation based on a photographed image acquired by an in-vehicle camera module, a second bird's-eye view image generation section generating a second bird's-eye view image through a three-dimensional plane projective transformation based on the photographed image, and a displaying image generation section generating a first displaying image for monitor displaying from the first bird's-eye view image and a second displaying image for monitor displaying having a higher displaying magnification than the first displaying image, from a predetermined area of the second bird's-eye view image corresponding to a predetermined area of the first bird's-eye view image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki Wakabayashi, Kosuke Sato, Kinji Yamamoto, Shoko Takeda
  • Publication number: 20140063197
    Abstract: An image generation device that enhances visual recognizability between a recognized 3D (three-dimensional) object and a substitute image synthesized in an area of a 3D object image which is a photographed image of the 3D object includes an image synthesis section that recognizes a 3D object present in the peripheral area of a vehicle and outputs 3D object attribute information indicative of attributes of this 3D object, determines a 3D object image area as an image area of the 3D object in the photographed image based on position information included in the 3D object attribute information, outputs at least one of a substitute image of the 3D object applied with a color based on the color information and a substitute image of the 3D object under a specified directional posture of the 3D object specified based on type information and directional posture information and generates a bird's-eye view image with a substitution image in which the substitution image outputted from a substitution image output section
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe, Shoko Takeda, Kenji Miura, Jun Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 8605156
    Abstract: There is disclosed a calibration target detection apparatus that can be obtained at a low cost and without increasing storage capacity, is the apparatus being provided with: a light measurement region setting unit for setting a long light measurement region; a light-measuring unit for detecting light measurement information of the light measurement region; a profile generation unit for generating a first profile, wherein the long light measurement region taking a predetermined one direction as a long direction is scanned along the other direction orthogonal to the one direction, and the change in the light measurement information in the other direction is shown; and a second profile, wherein the long light measurement region taking the other direction as the long direction is scanned along the one direction, and the change in the light measurement information in the one direction is shown; and a position calculation unit for calculating, on the basis of a characteristic point of the first and second profiles,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoko Takeda, Kazuya Watanabe, Tadashi Asano, Yukiko Donishi, Kinji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130063601
    Abstract: A drive assist device allows a driver to favorably check space for opening a back door along with an image of a periphery of a vehicle. The drive assist device is configured: to perform a viewpoint conversion that converts an image captured by a vehicle-mounted camera, which image is of a scene in the periphery of the vehicle including at least an area rearward of the vehicle, into an overhead image showing the vehicle from above; to superimpose on the overhead image a graphic image showing a flip-up back door in an open state from the same viewpoint as that of the overhead image; and to allow the superimposed image to be displayed on a monitor device in a vehicle compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruki Wakabayashi, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Noboru Nagamine
  • Publication number: 20130010118
    Abstract: Provided is a device whereby the position of an obstacle can be perceived on a monitor without compromising the effectiveness of displaying an overhead image on the monitor. An overhead image generating unit generates an overhead image from images captured using a plurality of cameras, and the overhead image is displayed in an auxiliary display area (21B) of a monitor (21). When an obstacle detection part detects an obstacle (X) in proximity to a vehicle, a specified information output unit emphasizes the display of a frame (F2) in the outer side of a divided area (D2) of the overhead image that contains the obstacle (X). Touching the auxiliary display area (21B) with a finger or the like during this emphasized display causes the captured image of the obstacle (X) to be enlarged and displayed in the auxiliary display area (21B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Miyoshi, Noboru Nagamine, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Kenjiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20130010117
    Abstract: Provided is a device whereby it is possible to accurately recognize which area has been enlarged when part of an overhead image displayed on a monitor is displayed as enlarged. When any one area of a plurality divided areas (D1-D4) is indicated, the divided areas being a result of dividing an overhead image displayed on a monitor (21), an image of the indicated divided area (D1-D4) is set as an image to be enlarged, and an auxiliary display area (21B) is set as an enlarged display area. Enlarged display unit forms a plurality of intermediate images (M) of an intermediate size between the size of the indicated divided area (D2) and the size of the enlarged display area, and the intermediate images are sequentially displayed beginning with the smallest intermediate image (M), using the indicated divided area (D2) as an origin point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Miyoshi, Noboru Nagamine, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Kenjiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20130002877
    Abstract: In order to provide an image control apparatus that allows a driver to easily check the situation of a passenger's getting on/off a vehicle through an opening operation of a door of the vehicle, the apparatus includes a camera which captures an image of the vicinity of the vehicle door, a monitor capable of displaying the image captured by the camera and a door opening detection sensor which detects an open state of the vehicle door. The monitor displays the image captured by the camera when the door opening detection sensor detects an open state of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Miyoshi, Noboru Nagamine, Kenji Miura, Kinji Yamamoto, Kenjiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20120033087
    Abstract: There is disclosed a calibration target detection apparatus that can be obtained at a low cost and without increasing storage capacity, is the apparatus being provided with: a light measurement region setting unit for setting a long light measurement region; a light-measuring unit for detecting light measurement information of the light measurement region; a profile generation unit for generating a first profile, wherein the long light measurement region taking a predetermined one direction as a long direction is scanned along the other direction orthogonal to the one direction, and the change in the light measurement information in the other direction is shown; and a second profile, wherein the long light measurement region taking the other direction as the long direction is scanned along the one direction, and the change in the light measurement information in the one direction is shown; and a position calculation unit for calculating, on the basis of a characteristic point of the first and second profiles,
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoko Takeda, Kazuya Watanabe, Tadashi Asano, Yukiko Donishi, Kinji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100245577
    Abstract: A surroundings monitoring device for a vehicle, includes a pair of side cameras, each of which is provided at a side mirror, obtaining capture images capturing views extending to left and right of the vehicle including views below the side mirrors, respectively, an image graphic generating portion generating an image graphic of the vehicle from a view point above a rear portion thereof towards a front lower portion thereof, or from a view point above a front portion of the vehicle towards a rear lower portion thereof in order to include at least a portion of the vehicle and the side mirrors on the image graphic, and a side image generating portion generating left and right side images on the basis of the capture images so as to correspond to images shown at left and right portions of the image graphic displayed on a monitor, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kinji Yamamoto, Kazuya Watanabe
  • Patent number: D689062
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Ikeda, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kenji Miura, Kenjiro Goto, Noboru Nagamine, Hidehiko Miyoshi, Kinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: D689504
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Ikeda, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kenji Miura, Kenjiro Goto, Noboru Nagamine, Hidehiko Miyoshi, Kinji Yamamoto