Patents by Inventor Masaki Matsunaga

Masaki Matsunaga 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: 10099692
    Abstract: An automated driving control part including a package determining part determining a driver assistance package packaging permissions for a plurality of driver assistance operations based on at least one of surrounding environment information, host vehicle information, and driver information, a package proposing part proposing to the driver to switch to a driver assistance package so as to obtain permissions for driver assistance operations permitted in the driver assistance package, a judging part judging if a driver has authorized switching to the driver assistance package proposed by the package proposing part, and a package content providing part providing information relating to the content of the driver assistance package authorized by the driver through the information providing device to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Yuichi Kumai, Naoki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10093316
    Abstract: A device performs speed control, determines the start and the end of an intervention operation, interrupts the speed control when an intervention operation is started, selects a correction candidate from a target speed and a target inter-vehicle distance based on the presence of a preceding vehicle and on the speed difference between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, determines whether there is a change in the vehicle speed or in the inter-vehicle distance in a determination period, determines whether there is a difference between the target speed and the vehicle speed when the intervention is ended or between the target inter-vehicle distance and the inter-vehicle distance when the intervention is ended, and corrects the target speed or the target inter-vehicle distance under a predetermined condition. After the intervention operation is ended, the device restarts the speed control using the corrected target speed or the corrected target inter-vehicle distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kumai, Jun Sato, Masaki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10067506
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle comprises: a driving plan generating part 90 configured to generate a driving plan in automated driving of the host vehicle; a package extracting part 91 configured to extract driving assistance packages packaging permissions for a plurality of driving assistance operations based on at least one of the surrounding environment information, the vehicle information, and the driver information; a package proposing part 92 configured to propose driving assistance packages to the driver of the host vehicle based on the driving assistance packages extracted by the package extracting part and the driving plan; and an automated driving executing part 93 configured to perform driving assistance operations permitted in a driving assistance package proposed by the package proposing part and approved by the driver of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Hideki Kondo, Yuichi Kumai
  • Patent number: 10048685
    Abstract: An automated driving system 100 of a vehicle comprising: a surrounding environment information acquiring device 10; a vehicle information acquiring device 20; a driver information acquiring device 30; an automated driving executing part 90; a package determining part 91, a package proposing part 92; and an emergency condition judging part 93. The automated driving executing part performs automated driving of the vehicle based on an emergency driving assistance package packaging permissions of the plurality of driving assistance operations when the driver is in an emergency condition, if the emergency condition judging part judges that the driver is in an emergency condition, and performs automated driving of the vehicle based on the driving assistance package proposed by the packaging proposing part and approved by the driver, if the emergency condition judging part judges that the driver is not in an emergency condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Matsushita, Yuichi Kumai, Masaki Matsunaga, Masahiro Iwasaki
  • Publication number: 20180201314
    Abstract: An automatic driving control device performs an automatic driving control for causing a vehicle to travel along a reference travel trajectory set in a lane in advance. The automatic driving control device reflects the steering by the driver during the automatic driving control in the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected during the automatic driving control by the steering detection unit and when a position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in an allowance range, and alerts the driver to the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected and in a case where it is determined that the position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in the second range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun SATO, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Yuichi KUMAI
  • Patent number: 9950740
    Abstract: An automatic driving control device performs an automatic driving control for causing a vehicle to travel along a reference travel trajectory set in a lane in advance. The automatic driving control device reflects the steering by the driver during the automatic driving control in the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected during the automatic driving control by the steering detection unit and when a position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in an allowance range, and alerts the driver to the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected and in a case where it is determined that the position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Masaki Matsunaga, Yuichi Kumai
  • Patent number: 9896103
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with cylinders, a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, and a variable mechanism to vary an intake air amount sucked into the cylinders. The running control device performs a normal running mode by transmitting engine drive force to the wheels, a neutral inertia running mode by disconnecting the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode by resting at least a part of the cylinders while the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels is connected. The running control device makes the intake air amount sucked into the cylinders larger at the time of return from the neutral inertia running mode to the normal running mode as compared to the case of return from the cylinder resting inertia running mode to the normal running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20180004205
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle comprises: a driving plan generating part 90 configured to generate a driving plan in automated driving of the host vehicle; a package extracting part 91 configured to extract driving assistance packages packaging permissions for a plurality of driving assistance operations based on at least one of the surrounding environment information, the vehicle information, and the driver information; a package proposing part 92 configured to propose driving assistance packages to the driver of the host vehicle based on the driving assistance packages extracted by the package extracting part and the driving plan; and an automated driving executing part 93 configured to perform driving assistance operations permitted in a driving assistance package proposed by the package proposing part and approved by the driver of the host vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Hideki Kondo, Yuichi Kumai
  • Publication number: 20170313324
    Abstract: A vehicle automated driving system 100 comprises a surrounding environment information acquiring device 10, a vehicle information acquiring device 20, a driver information acquiring device 30, a package selecting part 90, a package proposing part 91, an automated driving executing part 92, and a rejection count detecting part 93. The package selecting part determines the driving assistance package based on at least one of the surrounding environment information, the vehicle information, and the driver information, selects the determined driving assistance package if the rejection count of the determined driving assistance package is less than a predetermined threshold value, and selects a driving assistance package different from the determined driving assistance package if the rejection count of the determined driving assistance package is the threshold value or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi KUMAI, Naoki MATSUSHITA, Masaki MATSUNAGA
  • Patent number: 9789874
    Abstract: A running control device has an engine coupling running mode enabling an engine brake running mode performed by coupling an engine and wheels with an engine brake applied by driven rotation of the engine, and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device includes a steering wheel steering angle as a condition of terminating the inertia running mode. The running control device performs a first inertia running mode with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode with the engine rotating. The first inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined first determination value. The second inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined second determination value larger than the first determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Publication number: 20170293299
    Abstract: An automated driving system 100 of a vehicle comprising: a surrounding environment information acquiring device 10; a vehicle information acquiring device 20; a driver information acquiring device 30; an automated driving executing part 90; a package determining part 91, a package proposing part 92; and an emergency condition judging part 93. The automated driving executing part performs automated driving of the vehicle based on an emergency driving assistance package packaging permissions of the plurality of driving assistance operations when the driver is in an emergency condition, if the emergency condition judging part judges that the driver is in an emergency condition, and performs automated driving of the vehicle based on the driving assistance package proposed by the packaging proposing part and approved by the driver, if the emergency condition judging part judges that the driver is not in an emergency condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki MATSUSHITA, Yuichi KUMAI, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Masahiro IWASAKI
  • Patent number: 9780577
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power supply control device for an electric power supply apparatus including a plurality of storage batteries and an electric power generator performing charging of the plurality of storage batteries, the electric power supply control device controlling a parallel connection between the plurality of storage batteries. Voltage adjustment by one of a) charging processing by electric power feeding from the electric power generator to the storage battery having the lowest output voltage among the plurality of storage batteries and b) discharging processing by electric power feeding from the storage battery having the highest output voltage among the plurality of storage batteries to a load circuit connected to the storage battery having the highest output voltage is performed. Parallel connection is performed in a case where output voltage difference between the plurality of storage batteries becomes equal to or less than a previously-determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Kazuhito Eshima
  • Publication number: 20170267241
    Abstract: An automated driving control part including a package determining part determining a driver assistance package packaging permissions for a plurality of driver assistance operations based on at least one of surrounding environment information, host vehicle information, and driver information, a package proposing part proposing to the driver to switch to a driver assistance package so as to obtain permissions for driver assistance operations permitted in the driver assistance package, a judging part judging if a driver has authorized switching to the driver assistance package proposed by the package proposing part, and a package content providing part providing information relating to the content of the driver assistance package authorized by the driver through the information providing device to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki MATSUNAGA, Yuichi KUMAI, Naoki MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20170261980
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle comprises an automated driving control part configured to automatically perform driver assistance operations for which the driver has given permission among a plurality of driver assistance operations. The automated driving control part comprises a package determining part using at least one of the surrounding environment information, the host vehicle information, and the driver information as the basis to determine a driver assistance package packaging permissions for a plurality of driver assistance operations and a package proposing part proposing to the driver to switch to a driver assistance package so as to obtain permissions for the individual driver assistance operations permitted in the driver assistance package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki MATSUSHITA, Yuichi KUMAI, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Masahiro IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20170248959
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a scene determination unit determining whether or not a current traveling scene is a traveling-restricted scene, an order setting unit setting priorities corresponding to a restriction with respect to driving behaviors previously classified for different purposes in a case where it is determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene and setting priorities with respect to the plurality of driving behaviors in a case where it is not determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene, a traveling plan generating unit generating traveling plans corresponding to the plurality of priority-set driving behaviors, an executability determination unit determining executability of each of the plurality of generated driving behaviors, a traveling plan selection unit selecting the traveling plan corresponding to the driving behavior with the highest priority, and a traveling control unit controlling the traveling of the host vehicle based on the trav
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki MATSUBARA, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Kenichiro AOKI, Yoshinori WATANABE, Ryuta HASHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 9694821
    Abstract: An upper limit value of an upward gradient of a road surface for starting neutral coasting is set to be larger than an upper limit of the upward gradient of the road surface for starting free-run coasting, so, when the upward gradient is relatively large and a coasting distance is short, the vehicle is caused to travel in the neutral coasting, and stop and restart of the engine are not carried out. Therefore, a decrease in drivability of the vehicle is suppressed. When the upward gradient is relatively small and the coasting distance is long, the vehicle is caused to travel in the free-run coasting, and supply of fuel to the engine is stopped, so fuel economy of the vehicle is obtained. Thus, it is possible to achieve both fuel economy and drivability of the vehicle during coasting on an upward gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9656676
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle including an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device of a vehicle being configured to execute a normal running mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device of a vehicle setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a high vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running mode to the normal running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9656670
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a connecting/disconnecting device separating the engine and wheels, and a transmission transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device being configured to execute a normal running-mode performed by using the power of the engine with the engine and the wheels coupled, a free-run inertia running-mode that is performed by separating the engine and the wheels and stopping the engine during running, and a neutral inertia running-mode that is a performed by separating the engine and the wheels and operating the engine in a self-sustaining manner during running, the running control device setting a gear ratio of the transmission on a low vehicle speed side in the case of return from the free-run inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode as compared to the case of return from the neutral inertia running-mode to the normal running-mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9650046
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine, a clutch separating the engine and wheels, and a torque converter with a lockup clutch transmitting power of the engine toward the wheels, the running control device of a vehicle is configured to execute a neutral inertia running mode that is an inertia running mode performed while the engine and the wheels are separated and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by stopping operation in at least some of cylinders of the engine while the engine and the wheels are coupled, the lockup clutch has a weak engagement force while the neutral inertia running mode is performed as compared to while the cylinder resting inertia running mode is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jonggap Kim, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9623870
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine and a brake booster amplifying a brake force by forming a negative pressure in a negative pressure tank by rotation of the engine. The running control device is configured to execute an engine brake running mode performed with the engine coupled to wheels such that an engine brake is applied by driven rotation of the engine and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force made lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device executes a first inertia running mode performed with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode performed with the engine kept rotating as the inertia running mode in accordance with predefined respective execution conditions. The running control device comprises a prediction portion configured to predict a necessity of the negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita