Patents by Inventor Masahiro Harada

Masahiro Harada 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).

  • Publication number: 20240083420
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle traveling controller that performs emergency evacuation traveling in the case of an emergency for proper traveling control. The vehicle traveling controller determines whether the vehicle traveling in accordance with a normal traveling rule is not dangerous and becomes proper traveling or not on the basis of environmental information around a vehicle (S18), when it is determined that the vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule becomes proper traveling, executes normal traveling control for instructing the vehicle to travel in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S20), and when vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule does not become proper traveling, executes emergency evacuation traveling control for instructing the vehicle to perform emergency evacuation traveling which is not in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki KINDO, Kazuaki ASO, Masahiro HARADA
  • Patent number: 11924061
    Abstract: A requested communication quality estimation device estimating a requested communication quality for a macroflow, which is a set of microflows, includes a first estimation unit configured to estimate a requested communication quality for each of a plurality of microflows constituting a macroflow, and a second estimation unit configured to estimate a requested communication quality for the macroflow based on the requested communication quality for each of the plurality of microflows which is obtained by the first estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Yuka Komai, Shigeaki Harada
  • Publication number: 20240043039
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori WATANABE, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Takayuki GOTO, Masahiro HARADA, Nobuhide KAMATA
  • Patent number: 11858500
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle traveling controller that performs emergency evacuation traveling in the case of an emergency for proper traveling control. The vehicle traveling controller determines whether the vehicle traveling in accordance with a normal traveling rule is not dangerous and becomes proper traveling or not on the basis of environmental information around a vehicle (S18), when it is determined that the vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule becomes proper traveling, executes normal traveling control for instructing the vehicle to travel in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S20), and when vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule does not become proper traveling, executes emergency evacuation traveling control for instructing the vehicle to perform emergency evacuation traveling which is not in accordance with the normal traveling rule (S22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kindo, Kazuaki Aso, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11834068
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20230376867
    Abstract: The method of the present disclosure is a method for assigning a remote operation on a vehicle to a remote operator by a computer. According to the method of the present disclosure, a requested remote operation is classified into a first type of operation in which only one operation can be assigned to one remote operator at a time and a second type of operation in which a plurality of operations can be assigned to one operator at a time. When the requested remote operation is the first type of operation, the requested remote operation is assigned to an idle remote operator. When the requested remote operation is the second type of operation, the requested remote operation is assigned to an active remote operator already engaged in the second type of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Takefumi GOTO, Masahiro HARADA, Hiromitsu KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20230367313
    Abstract: A device for controlling a moving body on the basis of local operation or remote operation by a remote device, evaluates a degree of change of external conditions during an arbitrary time period from the transmission time when the remote operation information is transmitted from the remote device to the reception time when the moving body receives the remote operation information on the basis of the transmission time information, the reception time information, and the outside recognition information, and if the degree of change is evaluated to fall within an allowable range, allows execution of control of the moving body based on the remote operation information, and if the degree of change is evaluated to not fall within the allowable range, prohibits execution of control of the moving body based on the remote operation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu URANO, Sho OTAKI, Masahiro HARADA
  • Patent number: 11796344
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11753035
    Abstract: The vehicle control system includes a first controller configured to generate a target trajectory for the automated driving, and a second controller configured to execute vehicle travel control such that the vehicle follows the target trajectory. During the automated driving, the second controller controls a travel control amount which is a control amount of the vehicle travel control, acquire driving environment information, and execute preventive safety control for intervening in the travel control amount based on the driving environment information. The first controller includes a memory device in which information of an intervention suppression area is stored. When the vehicle travels in the intervention suppression area during the automated driving, the first controller outputs a suppression instruction for the preventive safety control to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shin Tanaka, Takayuki Iwamoto, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11724715
    Abstract: A vehicle control system generates a first target trajectory, which is a target trajectory for an automated driving of a vehicle, and executes vehicle travel control based on the first target trajectory. The vehicle control system generates a second target trajectory which is a target trajectory which does not conflict with a restrict condition, when the travel based on the first target trajectory conflicts with a safety restrict condition, and executes travel assist control by using the second target trajectory. The vehicle control system judges whether or not a resurgence condition is satisfied by using the first target trajectory that is generated during the execution of the travel assist control. If it is judged that the resurgence condition is satisfied, the vehicle control system returns to the execution of the vehicle travel control from that of the travel assist control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11708091
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control system according to the example in the present disclosure communicates with an automatic operation control system which drafts a traveling plan of the vehicle, and performs an automatic traveling control for automatically running the vehicle along the traveling plan received from the automatic operation control system. The vehicle traveling control system predicts a risk based on information about surrounding environment of the vehicle, and performs, when the risk is predicted, a risk avoidance control to intervene in the automatic traveling control in order to avoid the risk. When the risk avoidance control is executed, the vehicle traveling control system transmits information on the risk avoidance control to the automatic operation control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11692848
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11691647
    Abstract: A target trajectory generation device generates and outputs target trajectories each including a target position and a target speed of a vehicle. A first target trajectory is intended to perform at least one of steering, acceleration, and deceleration of the vehicle. A second target trajectory is intended to decelerate and stop the vehicle. When a malfunctioning device does not exist, a vehicle traveling control device executes vehicle traveling control based on the first target trajectory. When the malfunctioning device exists, the vehicle traveling control device stops the vehicle by executing the vehicle traveling control based on the second target trajectory output before the malfunction occurs, or based on the second target trajectory output from the target trajectory generation device other than the malfunctioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Shin Tanaka, Takayuki Iwamoto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11688162
    Abstract: A method and device is provided for detecting a state change in an environment around a vehicle, and providing a notification in response to detecting a state change, wherein the detection involves determining a portion of the environment to capture, capturing a portion of the environment, detecting a state change in the captured portion, and the production of a notification in response to the change in the captured environment. Certain embodiments include traffic signal detection, vehicle detection, vehicle speed detection, and user adjustment of the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Toshiki Kindo, Katsuhiro Sakai, Masahiro Harada, Hiromitsu Urano
  • Patent number: 11680821
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11680820
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20230148202
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device executes vehicle travel control such that a vehicle follows a target trajectory. An automated driving control device generates a first target trajectory that is the target trajectory for automated driving of the vehicle. The vehicle travel control device further determines whether or not an activation condition of travel assist control is satisfied. When the activation condition is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device generates a second target trajectory that is the target trajectory for the travel assist control. Even when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving, or when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving and a priority condition for giving priority to the first target trajectory is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device executes the vehicle travel control by giving more weight to the first target trajectory than to the second target trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki GOTO, Yoshinori WATANABE, Nobuhide KAMATA, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Masahiro HARADA
  • Patent number: 11628835
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a first unit configured to generate a target trajectory based on a travel plan of the vehicle, and a second unit configured to execute vehicle travel control such that the vehicle follows the target trajectory. During the automated driving, the first unit transmits automated driving information to the second unit. The system includes a memory device in which driving environment information is stored, and a processor for controlling a travel control amount. During the automated driving, the processor executes preventive safety control for intervening in the travel control amount so as to prevent or avoid a collision between the vehicle and an obstacle based on the driving environment information. In the preventive safety control, the processor changes an intervention degree to the travel control amount based on the automated driving information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Publication number: 20230109416
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11618473
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device executes vehicle travel control such that a vehicle follows a target trajectory. An automated driving control device generates a first target trajectory that is the target trajectory for automated driving of the vehicle. The vehicle travel control device further determines whether or not an activation condition of travel assist control is satisfied. When the activation condition is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device generates a second target trajectory that is the target trajectory for the travel assist control. Even when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving, or when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving and a priority condition for giving priority to the first target trajectory is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device executes the vehicle travel control by giving more weight to the first target trajectory than to the second target trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Goto, Yoshinori Watanabe, Nobuhide Kamata, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masahiro Harada