Patents by Inventor Machiko Hiramatsu

Machiko Hiramatsu 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: 11912275
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control method for stopping a host vehicle such that an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle is a predetermined at-stopping inter-vehicle distance includes: executing first stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a first at-stopping inter-vehicle distance shorter than a predetermined basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when a stop position of the host vehicle is within a forward stop limit area set in front of a crossing lane, and/or executing second stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a second at-stopping inter-vehicle distance longer than the basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when the stop position of the host vehicle is within a rearward stop limit area set behind the crossing lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Yuji Takada
  • Patent number: 11884276
    Abstract: A travel assistance method for performing a lane change of a host vehicle includes: detecting an oncoming vehicle traveling in an opposite lane from which the host vehicle travels when the host vehicle starts the lane change; determining a crossing point between a virtual advancing route and a linear advancing route in which the oncoming vehicle advances linearly, the virtual advancing route being a virtual extension of an advancing route of the host vehicle during a period from start to end of the lane change; executing a lane change using the route and the vehicle speed in a case where a time difference between a first predicted time and a second predicted time is outside a predetermined range; and when within the predetermined range, executing a lane change by changing at least one of the route and the vehicle speed such that the time difference is outside the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Yuji Takada
  • Publication number: 20230347891
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control method for stopping a host vehicle such that an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle is a predetermined at-stopping inter-vehicle distance includes: executing first stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a first at-stopping inter-vehicle distance shorter than a predetermined basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when a stop position of the host vehicle is within a forward stop limit area set in front of a crossing lane, and/or executing second stop control of setting the at-stopping inter-vehicle distance to a second at-stopping inter-vehicle distance longer than the basic at-stopping inter-vehicle distance when the stop position of the host vehicle is within a rearward stop limit area set behind the crossing lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Yuji Takada
  • Publication number: 20230264689
    Abstract: A travel assistance method assists the traveling of a host vehicle using a determined route and vehicle speed. The method includes: detecting an obstacle in an adjacent lane of a travel lane in which the host vehicle travels; setting a travel range on a side of the obstacle on the host vehicle side when the obstacle is detected; setting at least one of the route and the vehicle speed such that the host vehicle does not obstruct advancing of another vehicle traveling in the adjacent lane toward the obstacle in the travel range; and executing travel assistance using the set route and/or vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Yuji Takada
  • Publication number: 20230150507
    Abstract: A travel assistance method for performing a lane change of a host vehicle includes: detecting an oncoming vehicle traveling in an opposite lane from which the host vehicle travels when the host vehicle starts the lane change; determining a crossing point between a virtual advancing route and a linear advancing route in which the oncoming vehicle advances linearly, the virtual advancing route being a virtual extension of an advancing route of the host vehicle during a period from start to end of the lane change; executing a lane change using the route and the vehicle speed in a case where a time difference between a first predicted time and a second predicted time is outside a predetermined range; and when within the predetermined range, executing a lane change by changing at least one of the route and the vehicle speed such that the time difference is outside the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Yuji Takada
  • Patent number: 11618475
    Abstract: A driving support method supports driving of a host-vehicle in a traveling scene in which a host-vehicle track on which the host-vehicle travels and a first other vehicle track on which a first other vehicle travels intersect with each other at an intersecting point. Whether the host-vehicle can enter the intersecting point is determined based on a shielding time during which a second other vehicle shields the first other vehicle track to the intersecting point and a required entry time from when the host-vehicle starts entering the intersecting point to when the host-vehicle finishes entering the intersecting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Tomohiro Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11541892
    Abstract: A vehicle control method as executed includes acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle by a sensor includes, specifying an entry position located on a second lane adjacent to a first lane where the subject vehicle travels in accordance with the surrounding information of the subject vehicle, specifying a front vehicle located front the entry position and a rear vehicle located rear the entry position, determining the travel state of each of the front vehicle and the rear vehicle, determining whether there is a space for the subject vehicle to enter at the entry position, predicting whether the front vehicle starts to travel when the front vehicle and the rear vehicle are determined to be stopped and no space is determined at the entry position, and starting to move the subject vehicle to the entry position when the front vehicle is predicted to start traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 11541891
    Abstract: A vehicle control method executed by a processor capable of making a subject vehicle change a lane includes: acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle by a sensor provided in the subject vehicle; determining whether a distractive factor for a driver of another vehicle is present when the subject vehicle enters the front of the other vehicle traveling on the second lane for changing lanes from a first lane to a second lane adjacent to the first lane; setting a lane change time required for the subject vehicle to change lanes longer than when determining none of the distractive factor to be present when determining distractive the factor to be present; and controlling a traveling position of the subject vehicle on the first lane within the lane change time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Motonobu Aoki, Machiko Hiramatsu, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 11485365
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for executing a lane change of a subject vehicle includes acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle; specifying an entry position indicating a position of an entry destination of the subject vehicle, the entry position being located on a second lane adjacent to a first lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling; when operating a blinker, decelerating the subject vehicle, and executing a lane change; determining that there is a following vehicle which follows the subject vehicle in a predetermined area located behind the subject vehicle on a first lane; setting a preparation time longer than the preparation time when determining that there is not the following vehicle, the preparation time indicating a time from operating the blinker to decelerating the subject vehicle and starting the lane change; and controlling a travel position of the subject vehicle on the first lane within the preparation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20220212670
    Abstract: A vehicle control method executed by a processor capable of making a subject vehicle change a lane includes: acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle by a sensor provided in the subject vehicle; determining whether a distractive factor for a driver of another vehicle is present when the subject vehicle enters the front of the other vehicle traveling on the second lane for changing lanes from a first lane to a second lane adjacent to the first lane; setting a lane change time required for the subject vehicle to change lanes longer than when determining none of the distractive factor to be present when determining distractive the factor to be present; and controlling a traveling position of the subject vehicle on the first lane within the lane change time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Motonobu Aoki, Machiko Hiramatsu, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 11370453
    Abstract: A controller performs: trajectory generation processing of generating a target travel trajectory in such a way that, when a distance between a turning position of an own vehicle and a parked vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition, the own vehicle passes beside the parked vehicle at a predetermined side position with a predetermined interval interposed between the parked vehicle and the own vehicle on one side of the parked vehicle and a turning end position in a case of turning at a position before a position of the parked vehicle or a turning start position in a case of turning after having passed beside the parked vehicle on the route coincides with the predetermined side position in a width direction of a road on which the parked vehicle is parked; and processing of performing travel control, based on the target travel trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20220144278
    Abstract: A vehicle control method as executed includes acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle by a sensor includes, specifying an entry position located on a second lane adjacent to a first lane where the subject vehicle travels in accordance with the surrounding information of the subject vehicle, specifying a front vehicle located front the entry position and a rear vehicle located rear the entry position, determining the travel state of each of the front vehicle and the rear vehicle, determining whether there is a space for the subject vehicle to enter at the entry position, predicting whether the front vehicle starts to travel when the front vehicle and the rear vehicle are determined to be stopped and no space is determined at the entry position, and starting to move the subject vehicle to the entry position when the front vehicle is predicted to start traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20220144277
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for executing a lane change of a subject vehicle includes acquiring surrounding information of the subject vehicle; specifying an entry position indicating a position of an entry destination of the subject vehicle, the entry position being located on a second lane adjacent to a first lane in which the subject vehicle is traveling; when operating a blinker, decelerating the subject vehicle, and executing a lane change; determining that there is a following vehicle which follows the subject vehicle in a predetermined area located behind the subject vehicle on a first lane; setting a preparation time longer than the preparation time when determining that there is not the following vehicle, the preparation time indicating a time from operating the blinker to decelerating the subject vehicle and starting the lane change; and controlling a travel position of the subject vehicle on the first lane within the preparation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki, Takayuki Kondoh, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20220089185
    Abstract: A controller performs: trajectory generation processing of generating a target travel trajectory in such a way that, when a distance between a turning position of an own vehicle and a parked vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition, the own vehicle passes beside the parked vehicle at a predetermined side position with a predetermined interval interposed between the parked vehicle and the own vehicle on one side of the parked vehicle and a turning end position in a case of turning at a position before a position of the parked vehicle or a turning start position in a case of turning after having passed beside the parked vehicle on the route coincides with the predetermined side position in a width direction of a road on which the parked vehicle is parked; and processing of performing travel control, based on the target travel trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Motonobu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20210261162
    Abstract: A driving support method supports driving of a host-vehicle in a traveling scene in which a host-vehicle track on which the host-vehicle travels and a first other vehicle track on which a first other vehicle travels intersect with each other at an intersecting point. Whether the host-vehicle can enter the intersecting point is determined based on a shielding time during which a second other vehicle shields the first other vehicle track to the intersecting point and a required entry time from when the host-vehicle starts entering the intersecting point to when the host-vehicle finishes entering the intersecting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Tomohiro Yamamura
  • Publication number: 20210221367
    Abstract: A travel trajectory generation method including: detecting a plurality of risks which are respectively present on one side of a left side and a right side of a host vehicle road that is a road on which a host vehicle travels, the one side being close to the host vehicle, and which are at different front and rear positions ahead of a path of the host vehicle; determining, in accordance with types of the plurality of risks, each of lateral movement amounts of the host vehicle for avoiding and passing the plurality of risks with clearances from the plurality of risks; and generating a travel trajectory avoiding and passing the plurality of risks at a lateral position moved by an amount equal to or more than a maximum lateral movement amount among the determined lateral movement amounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Tomohiro Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11067987
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for an autonomous vehicle requests an occupant in the host vehicle to approve passage through an intersection and, upon receiving approval from the occupant, controls the host vehicle to pass through the intersection. The method comprises detecting a situation at an intersection where the host vehicle is approaching; determining whether or not the host vehicle will need to make a temporary stop at the intersection, based on the detected situation at the intersection; and if it is determined that a temporary stop will be needed, delaying the timing to request the occupant to approve passage through the intersection as compared to the timing that would be used if it was determined that a temporary stop would not be needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Takashi Sunda, Hwaseon Jang
  • Publication number: 20210163015
    Abstract: According to a method for learning travel characteristics and a travel assistance device, in a vehicle capable of switching manual driving by a driver and autonomous-driving, continuity of driving characteristics is determined based on travel data during manual driving by a driver, and a start time and an end time of learning target data, being a learning target of the driving characteristics of the travel data, are set by using a determination result of the continuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Hwaseon Jang, Machiko Hiramatsu, Takashi Sunda
  • Patent number: 10850740
    Abstract: A driving assistance method is for an automated driving vehicle that is capable of switching between manual driving by a driver and automated driving, learns a driving characteristic of the driver during the manual driving, and reflects a learning result to a driving characteristic under control of the automated driving, and the driving assistance method includes: detecting a driving characteristic of an area in which the automated driving vehicle is traveling; and adjusting the learning result according to the detected driving characteristic of the area and executing the control of the automated driving based on the adjusted learning result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Takashi Sunda, Hwaseon Jang
  • Patent number: 10832576
    Abstract: When making a switch from automated driving to manual driving in a vehicle capable of switching between the manual driving and the automated driving, a driving control method of the present invention makes the switch to the manual driving after changing driving characteristics for the automated driving to switch driving characteristics suitable for the switch to the manual driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Machiko Hiramatsu, Takashi Sunda, Hideaki Nemoto, Hwaseon Jang