Patents by Inventor Minoru Higuchi

Minoru Higuchi 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: 11966052
    Abstract: An alert system includes a display device, a display control unit, and a target recognition unit. The display control unit: when the number of targets recognized by the target recognition unit is equal to or more than an upper limit number, sets a display range of a surrounding icon as a whole circular area; and in a state where the number of targets is equal to or more than the upper limit number and the display range of the surrounding icon is set as the whole circular area, when the number of targets increases, reduces the size of the surrounding icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi, Yuya Kishimoto, Toshiaki Seo, Masuhito Tanaka, Kazuki Takano, Hidehiro Takeda, Misaki Koseki
  • Publication number: 20240017673
    Abstract: The virtual image display device comprises a surrounding state recognizer that acquires a travel direction distance and a lateral direction distance to an object, and a display controller that displays object icon images I1, I2 in a screen 51. The display controller is capable of switching between displaying an image in a normal mode, in which the display positions of the images I1, I2 move closer in a lateral direction to a lateral reference line L1 as the travel direction distance increases, and move farther away in a screen vertical direction from a screen bottom line L2 as the travel direction distance increases, and displaying the image in a magnification mode, in which a vertical scale, which is the ratio of the distance between the line L2 and the display positions in the screen vertical direction to the orientation direction distance, is larger than in the normal display mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Toshiaki SEO, Minoru HIGUCHI, Shinichi MURAKAMI, Koji DAN, Ryo IITAKA, Takaya YAMAZAKI, Aya SASAKI
  • Patent number: 11745754
    Abstract: The attention calling system includes a detection unit for detecting an object around a moving body, and a attention calling unit for outputting a visual display in a horizontally extending belt-like range on an interior structure of the moving body using a light projection device. The attention calling unit outputs the visual display in the belt-like range at a position corresponding to a direction of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Toshiaki Seo, Yuya Kishimoto, Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11673606
    Abstract: A driving support device includes: a trajectory deriving unit configured to derive a reference trajectory in a predetermined section corresponding to a predetermined curve shape; a frequency deriving unit configured to derive a first frequency which is determined according to a frequency component of a steering angle of a vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has passed through the predetermined section along the reference trajectory; a detection value acquiring unit configured to acquire a detection value of the steering angle; a component deriving unit configured to derive a frequency component of the steering angle acquired in the predetermined section when the vehicle has passed through the predetermined section; and a driving support unit configured to determine a driving support operation for a driver of the vehicle on the basis of a result of comparison between an integrated value of the frequency component in a first band equal to or greater than the first frequency and equal to or less than a s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Iitaka, Minoru Higuchi, Aya Sasaki, Yoshimitsu Akuta
  • Publication number: 20230150528
    Abstract: An information display device includes a display unit configured to display information about an object such that the information about the object at least partially overlaps with forward view of a user, and a controller configured to control display of the display unit. The controller is configured to estimate or acquire a prospective moving direction of the object, acquire a sight-line frequency representing a frequency with which a sight-line of the user is directed to the object within a prescribed period, determine whether the sight-line frequency is equal to or more than a prescribed frequency threshold, and cause the display unit to display the prospective moving direction of the object at least on condition that the controller determines that the sight-line frequency is less than the frequency threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Toshiaki SEO, Minoru HIGUCHI, Shinichi MURAKAMI, Koji DAN, Ryo IITAKA, Takashi ADACHI, Takaya YAMAZAKI, Aya SASAKI
  • Patent number: 11628854
    Abstract: The attention calling system includes the classification unit for classifying an object into a category based on a traffic scene, the risk calculation unit for calculating the risk value with respect to contact with the object based on the category, and the attention calling unit for outputting the visual display in the horizontally extending belt-like range on the windshield of the moving body. The attention calling unit outputs the visual display in the mode adapted to the risk value of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Toshiaki Seo, Yuya Kishimoto, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20230112294
    Abstract: The alert system includes a projection device, a display control unit, and a target object recognition unit. When a state changes from a state where a target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit to a state where a target object is recognized by the target object recognition unit, the display control unit causes the projection device to output an alert display on a front window such that the length of the alert display is gradually shortened toward a position where a direction from an operator to the target object intersects with a front window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi, Yuya Kishimoto, Toshiaki Seo, Masuhito Tanaka, Kazuki Takano, Hidehiro Takeda, Misaki Koseki
  • Publication number: 20230113575
    Abstract: An alert system includes a display device, a display control unit, and a target recognition unit. The display control unit: when the number of targets recognized by the target recognition unit is equal to or more than an upper limit number, sets a display range of a surrounding icon as a whole circular area; and in a state where the number of targets is equal to or more than the upper limit number and the display range of the surrounding icon is set as the whole circular area, when the number of targets increases, reduces the size of the surrounding icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi, Yuya Kishimoto, Toshiaki Seo, Masuhito Tanaka, Kazuki Takano, Hidehiro Takeda, Misaki Koseki
  • Publication number: 20220297755
    Abstract: A driving support device includes: a trajectory deriving unit configured to derive a reference trajectory in a predetermined section corresponding to a predetermined curve shape; a frequency deriving unit configured to derive a first frequency which is determined according to a frequency component of a steering angle of a vehicle when it is assumed that the vehicle has passed through the predetermined section along the reference trajectory; a detection value acquiring unit configured to acquire a detection value of the steering angle; a component deriving unit configured to derive a frequency component of the steering angle acquired in the predetermined section when the vehicle has passed through the predetermined section; and a driving support unit configured to determine a driving support operation for a driver of the vehicle on the basis of a result of comparison between an integrated value of the frequency component in a first band equal to or greater than the first frequency and equal to or less than a s
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ryo Iitaka, Minoru Higuchi, Aya Sasaki, Yoshimitsu Akuta
  • Publication number: 20220289226
    Abstract: The attention calling system includes a detection unit for detecting an object around a moving body, and a attention calling unit for outputting a visual display in a horizontally extending belt-like range on an interior structure of the moving body using a light projection device. The attention calling unit outputs the visual display in the belt-like range at a position corresponding to a direction of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Toshiaki Seo, Yuya Kishimoto, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20220289225
    Abstract: The attention calling system includes the classification unit for classifying an object into a category based on a traffic scene, the risk calculation unit for calculating the risk value with respect to contact with the object based on the category, and the attention calling unit for outputting the visual display in the horizontally extending belt-like range on the windshield of the moving body. The attention calling unit outputs the visual display in the mode adapted to the risk value of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Toshiaki Seo, Yuya Kishimoto, Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11390297
    Abstract: A recognition device includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor. The processor is configured to recognize a visual field range which extends from a viewpoint of a driver of a moving object in a line-of-sight direction and extends at a predetermined angle as moving away from the viewpoint with reference to a detection result of a line-of-sight detection device, recognize a target present in a surrounding environment of the moving object shown within image data on the basis of the image data in which surroundings of the moving object are imaged by a visual sensor disposed in the moving object and set an area of the recognized target in a predetermined shape, and set a plurality of determination points in the area of the target and determine whether or not the driver is recognizing the target on the basis of a degree of overlap between the plurality of determination points and the visual field range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20210399682
    Abstract: A solar cell module according to an example of an embodiment comprises a junction box and a plurality of strings including a plurality of solar cells and wiring. The junction box includes: a plurality of terminals; an output line; a plurality of bypass diodes; a detection unit that detects the temperature of at least one of the plurality of bypass diodes; a processing unit that outputs identification information and detection information through the output line to an external device; and a case body. The minimum distance between the processing unit and the plurality of bypass diodes is longer than that between the detection unit and the plurality of bypass diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Tomohide Yoshida, Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11114577
    Abstract: This photovoltaic power generation device is provided with: a mounting bracket which is fixed to a roof and on which a frame, arranged on the ridge-side end of a solar cell module, and a frame, arranged on the eave-side end of a solar cell module, are mounted; and a fixing bracket which is arranged in the space between the frame and the frame, and which is fixed to the mounting bracket and holds said frames from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Tomohide Yoshida, Mamoru Arimoto, Naofumi Hayashi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20200387724
    Abstract: A driver state detection device includes at least two state detection units that include a first state detection unit and a second state detection unit that detect a state of a driver of a vehicle, in which the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit are disposed at positions between which the driver is interposed in a vehicle width direction, and the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit are disposed in front of a rear end of a driver's seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi, Shinichi Murakami, Toshihiro Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20200385012
    Abstract: A recognition device includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions executable by the processor. The processor is configured to recognize a visual field range which extends from a viewpoint of a driver of a moving object in a line-of-sight direction and extends at a predetermined angle as moving away from the viewpoint with reference to a detection result of a line-of-sight detection device, recognize a target present in a surrounding environment of the moving object shown within image data on the basis of the image data in which surroundings of the moving object are imaged by a visual sensor disposed in the moving object and set an area of the recognized target in a predetermined shape, and set a plurality of determination points in the area of the target and determine whether or not the driver is recognizing the target on the basis of a degree of overlap between the plurality of determination points and the visual field range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20190222170
    Abstract: This photovoltaic power generation device is provided with: a mounting bracket which is fixed to a roof and on which a frame, arranged on the ridge-side end of a solar cell module, and a frame, arranged on the eave-side end of a solar cell module, are mounted; and a securing bracket for securing the frames to the mounting bracket. The ridge-side edge of the mounting bracket is inclined in the eaves-ridge direction and the girder direction of the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Lt d.
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Naofumi Hayashi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20190221696
    Abstract: This photovoltaic power generation device is provided with: a mounting bracket which is fixed to a roof and on which a frame, arranged on the ridge-side end of a solar cell module, and a frame, arranged on the eave-side end of a solar cell module, are mounted; and a fixing bracket which is arranged in the space between the frame and the frame, and which is fixed to the mounting bracket and holds said frames from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Tomohide Yoshida, Mamoru Arimoto, Naofumi Hayashi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9800200
    Abstract: This solar cell apparatus is provided with: a long mounting frame having a guide rail section in an upper portion; and a fixing member, which is provided by being slid and moved in the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame, and which is fixed at a predetermined position of the mounting frame. The fixing member has: a base section that engages with the guide rail section; an upright wall section that is provided to stand on the base section; and insertion sections that extend from the upright wall section such that the insertion sections are inserted into a module frame of an eave-side solar cell module and a module frame of a ridge-side solar cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Yutaka Arai, Mamoru Arimoto, Ryo Goto, Koichi Kubo, Yoshihide Kawashita
  • Publication number: 20170019059
    Abstract: This solar cell apparatus is provided with: a long mounting frame having a guide rail section in an upper portion; and a fixing member, which is provided by being slid and moved in the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame, and which is fixed at a predetermined position of the mounting frame. The fixing member has: a base section that engages with the guide rail section; an upright wall section that is provided to stand on the base section; and insertion sections that extend from the upright wall section such that the insertion sections are inserted into a module frame of an eave-side solar cell module and a module frame of a ridge-side solar cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Yutaka Arai, Mamoru Arimoto, Ryo Goto, Koichi Kubo, Yoshihide Kawashita