Patents by Inventor Kohei Kozuki

Kohei Kozuki 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: 12216203
    Abstract: An object detection device includes a transceiver that transmits ultrasonic waves encoded with frequency modulation and receives an ultrasonic wave and outputs a reception signal, a first quadrature detector that generates and outputs a complex reception signal based on quadrature detection of the reception signal, a second quadrature detector that generates and outputs a complex reference signal based on quadrature detection of the reference signal, a correlation filter that performs correlation detection between the complex reception signal and the complex reference signal and outputs a correlation signal, and a code determiner that determines a code included in the reception signal based on the correlation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Koyama, Kohei Kozuki
  • Patent number: 12044808
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a transducer case and an ultrasonic element. The transducer case is formed into a bottomed, cylindrical shape having a side plate portion and a bottom plate portion that seals one end side of the side plate portion in an axial direction to configure a diaphragm. The ultrasonic element is fixedly supported to the bottom plate portion to face an interior space surrounded by the side plate portion and the bottom plate portion. The ultrasonic element is arranged in a position being offset in an in-plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction relative to a center position of the diaphragm in the in-plane direction to be capable of generating a first transmission wave having first directivity characteristics and a second transmission wave having second directivity characteristics that are directivity characteristics differing from the first directivity characteristics and in which sound pressure in the axial direction is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Satake, Dai Kondou, Haruka Aoshima, Kenji Fukabori, Kohei Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20230305143
    Abstract: An object detection device includes a transceiver that transmits ultrasonic waves encoded with frequency modulation and receives an ultrasonic wave and outputs a reception signal, a first quadrature detector that generates and outputs a complex reception signal based on quadrature detection of the reception signal, a second quadrature detector that generates and outputs a complex reference signal based on quadrature detection of the reference signal, a correlation filter that performs correlation detection between the complex reception signal and the complex reference signal and outputs a correlation signal, and a code determiner that determines a code included in the reception signal based on the correlation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Yu KOYAMA, Kohei KOZUKI
  • Patent number: 11668822
    Abstract: An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuo Suzuki, Kohei Kozuki, Takeshi Kawajiri, Yuji Ebita
  • Publication number: 20230063174
    Abstract: An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Suzuki, Kohei Kozuki, Takeshi Kawajiri, Yuji Ebita
  • Publication number: 20230009960
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a transducer case and an ultrasonic element. The transducer case is formed into a bottomed, cylindrical shape having a side plate portion and a bottom plate portion that seals one end side of the side plate portion in an axial direction to configure a diaphragm. The ultrasonic element is fixedly supported to the bottom plate portion to face an interior space surrounded by the side plate portion and the bottom plate portion. The ultrasonic element is arranged in a position being offset in an in-plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction relative to a center position of the diaphragm in the in-plane direction to be capable of generating a first transmission wave having first directivity characteristics and a second transmission wave having second directivity characteristics that are directivity characteristics differing from the first directivity characteristics and in which sound pressure in the axial direction is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Masayoshi SATAKE, Dai KONDOU, Haruka AOSHIMA, Kenji FUKABORI, Kohei KOZUKI
  • Patent number: 11513217
    Abstract: An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuo Suzuki, Kohei Kozuki, Takeshi Kawajiri, Yuji Ebita
  • Patent number: 11474221
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for detecting one or more objects under a surface of a water body. The method includes transmitting one or more ultrasonic waves into the water body according to a transmit beam pattern. The method further includes determining a bottom characteristic of a bottom of the water body and dynamically adjusting the transmit beam pattern, based on the bottom characteristic of the water body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Patent number: 11320534
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detecting device may include a transmitter, a receiver, a motor, and processing circuitry. The transmitter may transmit a sequence including a first pulse wave and a second pulse wave separated by a time interval shorter than a time required for an ultrasonic wave to make a round trip underwater to a detection range. The receiver may convert reflection waves of the first and second pulse waves into echo signals. The motor may rotate the receiver. The processing circuitry may acquire, from the echo signals, a first echo signal and a second echo signal, generate first image data based on the first echo signals and second image data based on the second echo signals, and generate synthesized image data based on an angular position of the receiver when the first image data is generated, and an angular position of the receiver when the second image data is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20210116554
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for detecting one or more objects under a surface of a water body. The method includes transmitting one or more ultrasonic waves into the water body according to a transmit beam pattern. The method further includes determining a bottom characteristic of a bottom of the water body and dynamically adjusting the transmit beam pattern, based on the bottom characteristic of the water body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei KOZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210096245
    Abstract: An underwater detection apparatus, which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor, is provided. The transmission transducer is configured to transmit a transmission wave within a given transmission fan-shaped space, the transmission fan-shaped space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer is configured to receive a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given reception fan-shaped space, the reception fan-shaped space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being narrower than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, one of a pair of edges of the transmission fan-shaped space being within the reception fan-shaped space. The motor is configured to rotate the transmission and the reception fan-shaped spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei KOZUKI, Yuji EBITA, Takeshi KAWAJIRI
  • Publication number: 20200371233
    Abstract: An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo SUZUKI, Kohei KOZUKI, Takeshi KAWAJIRI, Yuji EBITA
  • Publication number: 20200025917
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detecting device may include a transmitter, a receiver, a motor, and processing circuitry. The transmitter may transmit a sequence including a first pulse wave and a second pulse wave separated by a time interval shorter than a time required for an ultrasonic wave to make a round trip underwater to a detection range. The receiver may convert reflection waves of the first and second pulse waves into echo signals. The motor may rotate the receiver. The processing circuitry may acquire, from the echo signals, a first echo signal and a second echo signal, generate first image data based on the first echo signals and second image data based on the second echo signals, and generate synthesized image data based on an angular position of the receiver when the first image data is generated, and an angular position of the receiver when the second image data is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei KOZUKI
  • Patent number: 10481248
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave at a given transmission period. The sensor is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission wave and the reflected wave, extract asynchronously from the transmission period a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate information related to the target object based on the processing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Kozuki, Kohei Iwata
  • Patent number: 10215849
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit underwater a frequency modulated transmission wave based on a transmission signal. The sensor is configured to form a reception beam directed downward and laterally outward to a side of the boat or the ship and receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission signal and the reflected wave, extract a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate an image information related to the target object based on the extracted processing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Patent number: 9857464
    Abstract: A signal processor for processing target echo signal is provided. The signal processor includes a filter configured to generate a filtered echo signal by extracting echo signal components within a predetermined frequency band from the target echo signal, a high resolution signal generator configured to generate a high resolution signal based on the target echo signal, and a synthesizing module configured to synthesize the filtered echo signal with the high resolution signal. The high resolution signal has higher resolution than the filtered echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20170315220
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit underwater a frequency modulated transmission wave based on a transmission signal. The sensor is configured to form a reception beam directed downward and laterally outward to a side of the boat or the ship and receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission signal and the reflected wave, extract a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate an image information related to the target object based on the extracted processing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Kohei Kozuki
  • Publication number: 20170168153
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave at a given transmission period. The sensor is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission wave and the reflected wave, extract asynchronously from the transmission period a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate information related to the target object based on the processing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Kohei KOZUKI, Kohei IWATA
  • Publication number: 20160131759
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The detection apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, a motion mechanism, and a hardware processor. The projector transmits a frequency modulated transmission wave. The sensor includes a plurality of receiving elements, each receiving element of the plurality of receiving elements receiving a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave. The motion mechanism moves the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: Kohei KOZUKI
  • Publication number: 20160131760
    Abstract: A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The CTFM detection apparatus includes a projector, a receiving element, a motion mechanism, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave and to generate a 3-dimensional transmission beam. The receiving element is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave. The motion mechanism moves the receiving element and makes a reception beam formed by the receiving element scan a 3-dimensional space within the transmission beam. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate information on target objects within the 3-dimensional space based at least in part on a beat signal generated based at least in part on the transmission wave transmitted by the projector and the reflected wave received by the receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: Kohei KOZUKI