Patents by Inventor Kunihiko Chiba

Kunihiko Chiba 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: 11752939
    Abstract: An information presentation apparatus includes an out-of-vehicle risk detection section that is configured to detect an out-of-vehicle risk object, a gaze detection section that is configured to detect a gaze direction of a driver of the vehicle, a recognition determination section that is configured to determine whether the out-of-vehicle risk object is recognized by the driver based on a detection result by the out-of-vehicle risk detection section and a detection result by the gaze detection section, and an information presentation section that is configured to present, to the driver, out-of-vehicle risk information regarding the out-of-vehicle risk object in a presentation mode. The information presentation section is further configured to change the presentation mode depending on whether the out-of-vehicle risk object is recognized by the driver based on a determination result by the recognition determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Hayashi, Kunihiko Chiba, Takeshi Hatoh, Yasushi Sakuma, Iichirou Terao
  • Patent number: 11734918
    Abstract: An object model learning method includes: in an object identification model forming a convolutional neural network and a warp structure warping a feature map extracted in the convolutional neural network to a different coordinate system, preparing, in the warp structure, a warp parameter for relating a position in the different coordinate system to a position in a coordinate system before warp; and learning the warp parameter to input a capture image in which an object is captured to the object identification model and output a viewpoint conversion map in which the object is identified in the different coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Chiba, Yusuke Sekikawa, Koichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11702091
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device acquires operation information. The drive mode switch control device switches a drive state among at least an autonomous drive state, a manual drive state, and a coordination drive state. The operation detection unit detects a first operation and a second operation based on the operation information when the drive state is not in the manual drive state. The second operation is the drive operation different from the first operation and input after the input of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the autonomous drive state to the coordination drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the coordination drive state to the manual drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Chiba, Asako Nagata, Akihiko Yagyu, Takuya Mori
  • Publication number: 20230166638
    Abstract: A seat reclining position control device includes: a seat on which an occupant of a vehicle sits; an adjustment part configured to adjust an angle of a backrest of the seat; a sleep state detection unit configured to detect a sleep state of the occupant; a control unit that operates the adjustment unit to control the angle; and a vehicle interior detection unit configured to detect a vehicle interior state of the vehicle. The control unit implements a seat angle control to adjust the angle of the backrest for the occupant in the sleep state based on the vehicle interior state to a suitable sleeping angle suitable for sleeping when the sleep state detection unit detects the sleep state of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Ayako KOTANI, Yukari ITOU, Akihiro HAYASHI, Makiko SUGIURA, Kunihiko CHIBA
  • Patent number: 11584386
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device controls switching of driving between a driver and an autonomous driving function. The drive mode switch control device includes an operation information acquisition unit, a drive state switch unit, an attitude determination unit, and an approved target setting unit. The operation information acquisition unit acquires an operation information item associated with the driving operation input to at least one of a plurality of operation targets. The drive state switch unit executes an override that switches from an autonomous driving state to another driving state. The attitude determination unit acquires a plurality of detection information items related to driving attitudes of the driver, and determine whether each of the plurality of detection information items is appropriate for the driving operation. The approved target setting unit sets an approved operation target or a disapproved operation target to each of the plurality of operation targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiko Chiba
  • Publication number: 20230030288
    Abstract: A control device is used in a subject vehicle capable of performing autonomous driving with no obligation for a driver to monitor periphery. The control device determines whether a permission state, in which a specific act other than driving is permitted to the driver, is continued or not when approach of an emergency vehicle to the subject vehicle is detected during an autonomous cruising period in which the autonomous driving is being performed. The control device restricts display of a content provided to the driver when the permission state of the specific act is determined to be not continued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yuuta MATSUMOTO, Kunihiko CHIBA, Kazuki KOJIMA, Shiori MANEYAMA, Yukari ITOU
  • Patent number: 11566704
    Abstract: A shift selector device includes an input member, a position setting mechanism and an activation controller. A selection operation of selecting a shift position is input to the input member. The position setting mechanism defines a movable range of the input member while supporting the input member in a displaceable manner. A plurality of the shift positions and at least one activation position linked to an automated travel system are disposed in the movable range. When the activation position is selected by displacement of the input member, the activation controller outputs an activation instruction for instructing a control function of the automated travel system linked to the activation position to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiko Chiba
  • Publication number: 20230019934
    Abstract: A presentation control apparatus is configured to control information presentation to a driver of a vehicle capable of performing automated driving. The presentation control apparatus includes a judging section and a presentation control section. The judging section is configured to distinguish between a particular action permitted state where the driver is permitted to take a particular action other than driving during the automated driving, a particular action prohibited state where the driver is prohibited to take the particular action during the automated driving, and an automated driving prohibited state where the automated driving is prohibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Takuya KUME, Yuuta MATSUMOTO, Kunihiko CHIBA, Kazuki KOJIMA, Shiori MANEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230013492
    Abstract: When transitioning from both prohibition state that prohibit a specific action and a hand release during an execution of the autonomous driving to a specific action permission state that permits a driver to execute a specific action other than a driving operation, a presentation control device presents information indicating that the transition is allowable prior to information indicating that the transition is executed. When transitioning from a hand release permission state that prohibits the specific action and permits hand release from a steering wheel to the specific action permission state, the presentation control device presents the information indicating that the transition is allowable and the information indicating that the transition is executed at a same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Takuya KUME, Yuuta MATSUMOTO, Kunihiko CHIBA, Kazuki KOJIMA, Shiori MANEYAMA
  • Publication number: 20220348214
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device acquires operation information. The drive mode switch control device switches a drive state among at least an autonomous drive state, a manual drive state, and a coordination drive state. The operation detection unit detects a first operation and a second operation based on the operation information when the drive state is not in the manual drive state. The second operation is the drive operation different from the first operation and input after the input of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the autonomous drive state to the coordination drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the coordination drive state to the manual drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Kunihiko CHIBA, Asako NAGATA, Akihiko YAGYU, Takuya MORI
  • Patent number: 11458982
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device acquires operation information. The drive mode switch control device switches a drive state among at least an autonomous drive state, a manual drive state, and a coordination drive state. The operation detection unit detects a first operation and a second operation based on the operation information when the drive state is not in the manual drive state. The second operation is the drive operation different from the first operation and input after the input of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the autonomous drive state to the coordination drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the coordination drive state to the manual drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Chiba, Asako Nagata, Akihiko Yagyu, Takuya Mori
  • Publication number: 20220080888
    Abstract: An information presentation apparatus includes an out-of-vehicle risk detection section that is configured to detect an out-of-vehicle risk object, a gaze detection section that is configured to detect a gaze direction of a driver of the vehicle, a recognition determination section that is configured to determine whether the out-of-vehicle risk object is recognized by the driver based on a detection result by the out-of-vehicle risk detection section and a detection result by the gaze detection section, and an information presentation section that is configured to present, to the driver, out-of-vehicle risk information regarding the out-of-vehicle risk object in a presentation mode. The information presentation section is further configured to change the presentation mode depending on whether the out-of-vehicle risk object is recognized by the driver based on a determination result by the recognition determination section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiro HAYASHI, Kunihiko CHIBA, Takeshi HATOH, Yasushi SAKUMA, Iichirou TERAO
  • Patent number: 11256935
    Abstract: A recognition unit recognizes a specific sign in a captured image acquired by an image acquisition unit. A first notification processing unit displays a specific captured image as a captured image showing the specific sign on a display device in a vehicle. A second notification processing unit provides a notification in a notification mode different from the display of the specific captured image. The recognition unit recognizes a start sign that is a sign indicating the start of an automatic driving permitted zone as a zone where running in an automatic driving mode is permitted, as the specific sign, in the captured image. When the recognition unit recognizes the start sign, the first notification processing unit displays on the display device a start captured image that is the captured image showing the start sign as the specific captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Chiba, Michima Ogawa, Tomohiro Miyachi
  • Publication number: 20210081681
    Abstract: An object model learning method includes: in an object identification model forming a convolutional neural network and a warp structure warping a feature map extracted in the convolutional neural network to a different coordinate system, preparing, in the warp structure, a warp parameter for relating a position in the different coordinate system to a position in a coordinate system before warp; and learning the warp parameter to input a capture image in which an object is captured to the object identification model and output a viewpoint conversion map in which the object is identified in the different coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kunihiko CHIBA, Yusuke SEKIKAWA, Koichiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20210027074
    Abstract: In a vehicle system, a space area estimation method, or a space area estimation apparatus, an outside of a vehicle is captured, and an image is generated. An object causing a blind angle in the image is recognized. A depth of the recognized object is estimated. An inside of a blind angle area formed by the object is estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Kunihiko CHIBA, Kentaro TESHIMA, Yusuke SEKIKAWA, Koichiro SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 10762362
    Abstract: A recognition unit recognizes a specific sign in a captured image acquired by an image acquisition unit. A first notification processing unit displays a specific captured image as a captured image showing the specific sign on a display device in a vehicle. A second notification processing unit provides a notification in a notification mode different from the display of the specific captured image. The recognition unit recognizes a start sign that is a sign indicating the start of an automatic driving permitted zone as a zone where running in an automatic driving mode is permitted, as the specific sign, in the captured image. When the recognition unit recognizes the start sign, the first notification processing unit displays on the display device a start captured image that is the captured image showing the start sign as the specific captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Chiba, Michima Ogawa, Tomohiro Miyachi
  • Publication number: 20200210728
    Abstract: A recognition unit recognizes a specific sign in a captured image acquired by an image acquisition unit. A first notification processing unit displays a specific captured image as a captured image showing the specific sign on a display device in a vehicle. A second notification processing unit provides a notification in a notification mode different from the display of the specific captured image. The recognition unit recognizes a start sign that is a sign indicating the start of an automatic driving permitted zone as a zone where running in an automatic driving mode is permitted, as the specific sign, in the captured image. When the recognition unit recognizes the start sign, the first notification processing unit displays on the display device a start captured image that is the captured image showing the start sign as the specific captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kunihiko CHIBA, Michima OGAWA, Tomohiro MIYACHI
  • Publication number: 20190291747
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device controls switching of driving between a driver and an autonomous driving function. The drive mode switch control device includes an operation information acquisition unit, a drive state switch unit, an attitude determination unit, and an approved target setting unit. The operation information acquisition unit acquires an operation information item associated with the driving operation input to at least one of a plurality of operation targets. The drive state switch unit executes an override that switches from an autonomous driving state to another driving state. The attitude determination unit acquires a plurality of detection information items related to driving attitudes of the driver, and determine whether each of the plurality of detection information items is appropriate for the driving operation. The approved target setting unit sets an approved operation target or a disapproved operation target to each of the plurality of operation targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventor: Kunihiko CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20190285173
    Abstract: A shift selector device includes an input member, a position setting mechanism and an activation controller. A selection operation of selecting a shift position is input to the input member. The position setting mechanism defines a movable range of the input member while supporting the input member in a displaceable manner. A plurality of the shift positions and at least one activation position linked to an automated travel system are disposed in the movable range. When the activation position is selected by displacement of the input member, the activation controller outputs an activation instruction for instructing a control function of the automated travel system linked to the activation position to be activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Kunihiko CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20190283769
    Abstract: A drive mode switch control device acquires operation information. The drive mode switch control device switches a drive state among at least an autonomous drive state, a manual drive state, and a coordination drive state. The operation detection unit detects a first operation and a second operation based on the operation information when the drive state is not in the manual drive state. The second operation is the drive operation different from the first operation and input after the input of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the autonomous drive state to the coordination drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation. The drive mode switch control device switches the drive state from the coordination drive state to the manual drive state based on a detection determination of the first operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kunihiko CHIBA, Asako NAGATA, Akihiko YAGYU, Takuya MORI