Patents by Inventor Kohei Tochigi

Kohei Tochigi 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: 12162348
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including an operation unit that receives an operation for setting ON or OFF of a plurality of driver assistance functions, wherein at least two or more driver assistance functions among the plurality of driver assistance functions are driver assistance functions classified into a specific group in which the degree of intervention of control for the driving operation is smaller than other driver assistance functions, and the operation unit includes a main switch for collectively setting ON or OFF of the driver assistance functions classified into the specific group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Hamaguchi, Shintaro Saigo, Tomoyuki Doi, Kohei Tochigi, Minami Sato
  • Patent number: 12116004
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is configured to perform an assistance control of assisting in driving a vehicle, when a first condition and a second condition are satisfied, in a situation in which a target is recognized. The driving assistance apparatus is provided with: a determinator configured to determine a state of the assistance control. The determinator is configured (i) to determine that the state of the assistance control is a standby state if a standby condition is satisfied, wherein the standby condition requires that the first condition is satisfied, but the second condition is not satisfied, in the situation in which the target is recognized, and (ii) to determine that the state of the assistance control is an interruption state if an interruption condition is satisfied, wherein the interruption condition requires that the first condition is no longer satisfied while the satisfaction of the standby condition is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Tochigi, Shogo Ito, Yuta Ikezawa
  • Patent number: 12103528
    Abstract: A driving assistance device configured to execute deceleration assistance for a driver's vehicle when the driver's vehicle turns right or left at an intersection is configured to recognize, based on a detection result from an external sensor of the driver's vehicle, an adjacent vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane adjacent to a traveling lane of the driver's vehicle, determine whether the adjacent vehicle turns in the same direction of the driver's vehicle at the intersection based on the detection result from the external sensor when the adjacent vehicle is recognized and the driver's vehicle turns right or left at the intersection, and execute the deceleration assistance to cause a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the driver's vehicle and the adjacent vehicle to reach a distance equal to or larger than a target driver's vehicle-to-adjacent vehicle distance when the driving assistance device determines that the adjacent vehicle turns in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Ito, Kohei Tochigi, Kumiko Kondo, Shinya Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20240317224
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance apparatus executes a speed control of controlling a moving speed of an own vehicle to a target speed or less when the own vehicle moves on a curved road, and the moving speed of the own vehicle is greater than the target speed. While executing the speed control, the vehicle driving assistance apparatus controls a deceleration of the own vehicle by the speed control such that a deceleration of the own vehicle realized when an own vehicle moving course is within a drivable area of the curved road, is smaller than the deceleration of the own vehicle realized when a part of the own vehicle moving course is out of an outer boundary of the drivable area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei TOCHIGI, Kota ENDO
  • Publication number: 20240317249
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance apparatus terminates decelerating an own vehicle with a second deceleration characteristic by a deceleration control and starts to decelerate the own vehicle with a first deceleration characteristic by the deceleration control when a predetermined time elapses since an accelerator operation is released while a deceleration target is detected, or when a deceleration intensity of the first deceleration characteristic is equal to or smaller than a predetermined intensity. The apparatus terminates decelerating the own vehicle with a third deceleration characteristic by the deceleration control and starts to decelerate the own vehicle with the first deceleration characteristic by the deceleration control when a predetermined time elapses since a brake operation is released while the deceleration target is detected, or when the deceleration intensity of the third deceleration characteristic is equal to or smaller than a predetermined intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Publication number: 20240300491
    Abstract: The driving support device includes a vehicle speed control unit that sets a target vehicle speed of the vehicle and controls a speed of the vehicle based on the target vehicle speed, and an operation state determination unit that determines whether or not a turning assistance function that assists turning of the vehicle can be operated in a curve in front of the vehicle. When it is determined that the turning assistance function can be operated, the vehicle speed control unit increases the target vehicle speed in the curve as compared with a case where it is determined that the turning assistance function cannot be operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Publication number: 20240227553
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including an operation unit that receives an operation for setting ON or OFF of a plurality of driver assistance functions, wherein at least two or more driver assistance functions among the plurality of driver assistance functions are driver assistance functions classified into a specific group in which the degree of intervention of control for the driving operation is smaller than other driver assistance functions, and the operation unit includes a main switch for collectively setting ON or OFF of the driver assistance functions classified into the specific group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi HAMAGUCHI, Shintaro SAIGO, Tomoyuki DOI, Kohei TOCHIGI, Minami SATO
  • Publication number: 20240169834
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus recognizes traffic conditions ahead of an own vehicle based on an image captured by a camera that captures an area ahead of the own vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus includes a detection area setting unit and a selecting unit. The detection area setting unit sets a traffic light detection area in which a traffic light present ahead of the own vehicle is detected in the image, based on a form of a road. The selecting unit that selects a target traffic light to be obeyed by the own vehicle from traffic lights detected in the traffic light detection area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Norio TSUCHIDA, Kohei TOCHIGI, Masahiko ADACHI
  • Patent number: 11975715
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes an estimator and a controller. The estimator estimates a first estimated vehicle speed and a second estimated vehicle speed when there are a first deceleration target and a second deceleration target in a course ahead of a vehicle, and when a driver of the vehicle releases an accelerator pedal. Wherein the first estimated vehicle speed is an estimated vehicle speed of the vehicle at a first target position corresponding to the first deceleration target, and the second estimated vehicle speed is an estimated vehicle speed of the vehicle at a second target position corresponding to the second deceleration target. The controller controls the vehicle to automatically decelerate toward the second target position when the first estimated vehicle speed is greater than a first predetermined value, and when the second estimated vehicle speed is less than a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Ito, Kohei Tochigi, Kumiko Kondo
  • Publication number: 20240131925
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including an operation unit that receives an operation for setting ON or OFF of a plurality of driver assistance functions, wherein at least two or more driver assistance functions among the plurality of driver assistance functions are driver assistance functions classified into a specific group in which the degree of intervention of control for the driving operation is smaller than other driver assistance functions, and the operation unit includes a main switch for collectively setting ON or OFF of the driver assistance functions classified into the specific group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi HAMAGUCHI, Shintaro SAIGO, Tomoyuki DOI, Kohei TOCHIGI, Minami SATO
  • Publication number: 20240127598
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus comprises a sensor configured to acquire sensor information that is used to acquire a distance between a vehicle and an object, and a controller configured to execute a driving support control using a first distance, which is acquired by applying a first recognition method to the sensor information, representing a distance between the vehicle and a target object as a control distance. The first recognition method has a characteristic that a recognition reliability of the target object increases as an acquisition time of the first distance increases. The controller is configured to use an extrapolation distance representing the vehicle and the target object as the control distance, when the first distance can no longer be acquired and the acquisition time is equal to or longer than a predetermined threshold time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Publication number: 20240075933
    Abstract: A vehicle deceleration assistance apparatus executes a deceleration assistance control to assist a deceleration of a vehicle before the vehicle arrives at a deceleration assistance target point to turn left or right. The apparatus executes the deceleration assistance control of a first level as a deceleration assistance level of assisting the deceleration of the vehicle when first and second conditions are satisfied. The first condition is a condition that a target point distance between the vehicle and the deceleration assistance target point is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance, and blinkers are activated. The second condition is a condition that the blinkers activated for changing traffic lanes continues being activated. The apparatus executes the deceleration assistance control of a second level lower than the first level until a predetermined time elapses since the first condition becomes satisfied while the second condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20240075932
    Abstract: A vehicle deceleration assistance apparatus executes a deceleration assistance control before a vehicle arrives at a target point. The apparatus executes the deceleration assistance control, setting a deceleration assistance level to a first level when a first condition is satisfied, blinkers are activated, and a second condition is satisfied. The first condition is a condition that a target point distance between the vehicle and the target point is equal to or shorter than a first distance. The second condition is a condition that the target point distance is equal to or longer than a second distance shorter than the first distance. The apparatus executes the deceleration assistance control, setting the deceleration assistance level to a second level lower than the first level when the first condition is satisfied, the blinkers are activated, and the second condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Publication number: 20240017723
    Abstract: Provided is a driving support device (1) including a control device configured to enter, in a first situation that is a situation in which an own vehicle travels in a predetermined region (X) before an intersection and an adjacent traveling lane is absent on a first direction side in a crossing direction of a traveling lane (L0) on which the own vehicle is traveling, a state in which start of driving support for changing a traveling direction of the own vehicle to the first direction at the intersection is possible, and enter, in a second situation that is a situation in which the own vehicle travels in the predetermined region (X) and an adjacent traveling lane is present on the first direction side in the crossing direction of the traveling lane (L0), a state in which the start of the driving support is impossible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei Tochigi
  • Patent number: 11752986
    Abstract: There is provided a driving assistance device that executes deceleration assistance of a host vehicle when a relative situation between a deceleration object in front of the host vehicle and the host vehicle satisfies a preset deceleration assistance precondition and a driver of the host vehicle does not operate an accelerator and a brake, the driving assistance device including a first deceleration assistance execution unit configured to execute a first deceleration assistance when the deceleration assistance precondition is satisfied in a state in which the driver of the host vehicle does not operate the accelerator and the brake, and a second deceleration assistance execution unit configured to execute a second deceleration assistance when the driver releases the accelerator or the brake in a state in which the deceleration assistance precondition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shogo Ito, Kohei Tochigi, Kumiko Kondo
  • Publication number: 20230256964
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is configured to determine whether a preset deceleration assistance start condition is satisfied, start deceleration assistance for a driver's vehicle against a first deceleration-triggering object, determine whether a preset deceleration assistance termination condition is satisfied, issue a deceleration assistance termination notification to a driver of the driver's vehicle, determine whether a second deceleration-triggering object is detected ahead of the driver's vehicle, and determine whether a preset quick resumption condition is satisfied. The driving assistance apparatus is configured not to issue the deceleration assistance termination notification when the driving assistance apparatus determines that the quick resumption condition is satisfied, even in a case where the driving assistance apparatus determines that the deceleration assistance termination condition for the first deceleration-triggering object is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Ikezawa, Kohei Tochigi, Shogo Ito
  • Publication number: 20230234567
    Abstract: A deceleration support device in which an electronic control unit controls a speed reduction device to execute automatic deceleration control when an object that requires deceleration of a vehicle is detected and a braking/driving operation is not detected, and interrupt the automatic deceleration control when a driving operation is detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is being executed, and with an object that requires deceleration of the vehicle and does not prevent the vehicle from passing through a position of the object being defined as a specific object, the electronic control unit resumes the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is not a specific object, but does not resume the automatic deceleration control if it is determined that the object is a specific object, when the driving operation is not detected in a situation where the automatic deceleration control is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei Tochigi
  • Publication number: 20230227036
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus includes a surrounding information acquisition device which acquires surrounding information, a steering information acquisition device which acquires steering information, a control unit which executes driving support control including at least one of pre-right/left-turn deceleration assist control or pre-right/left-turn warning control when a predetermined first execution condition is satisfied. When a precondition which is satisfied in a case in which an intersection is detected based on the surrounding information and steering operation is being performed by a driver based on the steering information is satisfied, the control unit determines whether or not the first execution condition is satisfied based on the steering operation being performed and traveling lane arrow information which is road arrow information of a traveling lane or adjacent lane arrow information which is road arrow information of an adjacent lane, both of which being stored in a storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi TOYODA, Yuta IKEZAWA, Kohei TOCHIGI
  • Patent number: 11667279
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus is configured to determine whether a preset deceleration assistance start condition is satisfied, start deceleration assistance for a driver's vehicle against a first deceleration-triggering object, determine whether a preset deceleration assistance termination condition is satisfied, issue a deceleration assistance termination notification to a driver of the driver's vehicle, determine whether a second deceleration-triggering object is detected ahead of the driver's vehicle, and determine whether a preset quick resumption condition is satisfied. The driving assistance apparatus is configured not to issue the deceleration assistance termination notification when the driving assistance apparatus determines that the quick resumption condition is satisfied, even in a case where the driving assistance apparatus determines that the deceleration assistance termination condition for the first deceleration-triggering object is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Ikezawa, Kohei Tochigi, Shogo Ito
  • Patent number: 11648937
    Abstract: A driver assistance device is configured to determine whether a type of a deceleration target is included in a category of a position-fixed object or a moving object, and determine whether the deceleration target is lost, and to continue the deceleration assistance on assumption that the lost deceleration target exists when the deceleration target is determined to be lost. The driver assistance device is configured to notify a driver of a host vehicle that the deceleration target is lost when the deceleration target is determined to be lost and the type of the deceleration target is included in the category of the moving object, and not to notify the driver that the deceleration target is lost when the deceleration target is determined to be lost and the type of the deceleration target is included in the category of the position-fixed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Ikezawa, Kohei Tochigi, Shogo Ito