Patents by Inventor Mitsuo Shimotani

Mitsuo Shimotani 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: 20150345970
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to predict a destination easily, and a destination display method for displaying a predicted destination. The destination prediction apparatus of the present invention includes: a behavior history acquiring unit that acquires, the behavior history; a visit history acquiring unit that acquires the visit history; a similar behavior date-and-time extractor that performs a similarity determination between a behavior within a predetermined period prior to a present date and time and a behavior in another period with reference to the behavior history and that extracts a date and time of the behavior in another period determined to be similar as a similar behavior date and time from the behavior history; and a destination candidate extractor that extracts, as a destination candidate, a location visited within a predetermined period before or after the similar behavior date and time from the visit history.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kouhei TANAKA, Masaya AKIHARA, Mitsuo SHIMOTANI, Toshio KAWAGISHI, Naoki SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 9179133
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3Dimension stereoscopic display device including a video image playback device 5 for playing back a right-eye image or video image and a left-eye image or video image for three-dimensional stereoscopic display which are based on an inputted image or video image, a stereoscopic display monitor 6 for producing a three-dimensional stereoscopic display of the right-eye image or video image and the left-eye image or video image and a screen composition processing unit 4 for generating the right-eye image or video image and the left-eye image or video image in which a virtual display surface for three-dimensional stereoscopic display of the image or video image differs from the screen of the stereoscopic display monitor 6, and for outputting the right-eye image or video image and the left-eye image or video image to the video image playback device 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Makoto Mikuriya, Takeo Sakairi, Eriko Toma
  • Patent number: 9179140
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3Dimension stereoscopic display device including a screen composition processing unit for generating a right-eye image or video image and a left-eye image or video image for planar display or for three-dimensional stereoscopic display of an image or video image, a video image playback device 5 for playing back the images or video images, and a stereoscopic display monitor unit 6 for displaying the images or video images played back by the playback device 5 in a three-dimensional stereoscopic manner, in which the screen composition processing unit 4 switches between outputting the right-eye image or video image and the left-eye image or video image for planar display to the playback device 5 and outputting the right-eye image or video image and the left-eye image or video image for three-dimensional stereoscopic display to the playback device 5 according to state of a moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Makoto Mikuriya, Takeo Sakairi, Eriko Toma
  • Publication number: 20150243166
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle traffic information notification device which, even when it is difficult to specify a traveling route of an own car, can notify adequate traffic information to users. A passage probability calculator of the traffic information notification device calculates a passage probability which is a probability that the own car passes an occurrence position of each traffic hazard obtained by a traffic information receiver, based on a current position of the own car detected by a current position detector and traveling history data stored in a traveling history data storage. A display unit and a sound output unit notify occurrence information of the traffic hazard to the user by a mode corresponding to the passage probability of the traffic hazard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Yoshioka, Makoto Oi, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150233729
    Abstract: A map display device includes a position information acquiring unit for acquiring the present position of a vehicle; a map data storage unit for storing map data; a remaining energy acquiring unit for acquiring a residual quantity of energy for driving the vehicle and equipment mounted on the vehicle; a range calculating unit for computing a range the vehicle can travel with the remaining energy, using a moving energy consumption rate which is energy consumption per unit time required for moving the vehicle and a driving energy consumption rate Eci which is energy consumption per unit time required for driving the equipment mounted on the vehicle; and an output control unit for displaying the range on a map using the map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu ARITA, Mitsuo SHIMOTANI
  • Publication number: 20150234572
    Abstract: A memory stores a program which, when executed by a processor, results in performance of steps including, causing, when a user operation is a gesture operation associated with a screen image movement-or-modification type function of controlling display information on a display surface in a control direction set in accordance with a gesture direction, a composite icon to be displayed on the display surface, the composite icon having multiple icons that are each associated with the screen image movement-or-modification type function but assigned different control directions, and executing, when the user operation is an execution instruction operation with respect to any of the icons of the composite icon, the screen image movement-or-modification type function in the control direction assigned to the icon with respect to which the execution instruction operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150212683
    Abstract: An information display device includes: a processor configured to execute a program and a memory that stores the program which, when executed by the processor, results in performance of steps including, causing, when the user operation is a gesture operation associated with a screen image movement-or-modification type function of controlling display information on the display surface in a control direction set in accordance with a gesture direction, a continuation icon for executing the screen image movement-or-modification type function to be displayed on the display surface, and executing, when the user operation is an execution instruction operation with respect to the continuation icon, the screen image movement-or-modification type function in the control direction that is the same as that of the gesture operation involved in appearance of the continuation icon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150211880
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus that acquires position information regarding a specific information device enables its own position relative to the specific information device to be easily grasped. The navigation apparatus includes a communication unit that communicates with the specific information device, an own position calculator that calculates its own position, an other person's position acquiring unit that acquires the position of the specific information device via the communication unit, an other person's moving direction acquiring unit that obtains a moving direction of the specific information device, and a display/input unit configured to display a map. The display/input unit displays a map with the moving direction of the specific information device oriented up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150203031
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus that communicates with another vehicle so as to be capable of generating a vehicle approach notification sound different from another vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150206434
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an on-vehicle information processing device that is capable of sufficiently calling attention of a driver of an own vehicle. The on-vehicle information processing device according to the present invention includes: an other-vehicle position detector that detects a position of another vehicle existing in a vicinity of an own vehicle; a communication unit that acquires, via communication, other-vehicle information including driver dynamic information from the other vehicle whose position is detected by the other-vehicle position detector, the driver dynamic information indicating a current state of activity of a driver of the other vehicle; and a controller that controls calling attention of a driver of the own vehicle or traveling of the own vehicle based on the driver dynamic information acquired by the communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Hidehiko Ohki, Makoto Mikuriya
  • Patent number: 9083962
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 3Dimension stereoscopic display device including a video image playback device 5 for playing back a right-eye image or video image and a left-eye image or video image for three-dimensional stereoscopic display of an inputted image or video image, a stereoscopic display monitor 6 for producing a three-dimensional stereoscopic display of the right-eye and left-eye images or video images, and a screen composition processing unit 4 for generating the right-eye and left-eye images or video images in which a virtual display surface P for three-dimensional stereoscopic display of the inputted image or video image is moved with respect to the screen Q of the stereoscopic display monitor 6 according to whether a user operation using an operation input unit 18 is being performed to output the right-eye and left-eye images or video images to the video image playback device 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Makoto Mikuriya, Takeo Sakairi, Eriko Toma
  • Publication number: 20150191117
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus that is capable of generating a vehicle approach notification sound in a suitable range according to a vehicle speed. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including a vehicle speed calculating unit that calculates a vehicle speed, a vehicle external speaker that outputs a vehicle approach notification sound for notifying of approach of the vehicle, and a general controller that controls a directivity angle width representing a breadth of directivity of the vehicle approach notification sound or a directivity direction of the vehicle approach notification sound, wherein the general controller controls the directivity angle width or the directivity direction according to the speed calculated by the vehicle speed calculating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 9069453
    Abstract: A display input device is comprised of a touch panel 1 for carrying out a display of an image and an input of an image, a vibration sensor (a proximity sensor 12) for detecting a vibration of an object to be detected which is positioned opposite to the touch panel 1, a vibration correcting unit 304 for making a vibration correction when the vibration of the object to be detected which is detected by the vibration sensor has an amount equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, and a control unit 3 for carrying out a process of transforming an image in a display area having a fixed range displayed on the above-mentioned touch panel according to the position of the object to be detected to which the above-mentioned vibration correction has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Tsutomu Matsubara, Takashi Sadahiro, Masako Ohta, Yuichi Okano, Tsuyoshi Sempuku
  • Publication number: 20150181011
    Abstract: An object is to provide a technique capable of displaying appropriate information on a passenger display unit used for a passenger other than a driver. An in-vehicle information terminal includes an in-vehicle device I/F and a controller. The in-vehicle device I/F is capable of communicating with an in-vehicle device having RSE monitors, and is capable of obtaining terminal position information indicating positions of communication terminals in a vehicle. The controller associates the RSE monitors and the communication terminals with each other, based on pre-registered display unit position information indicating the positions of the RSE monitors in the vehicle, and the terminal position information obtained by the in-vehicle device I/F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Sugahara, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 9062981
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a map information storage section (16) that stores map information on an area by area basis formed in meshes; a positioning section (15) for measuring its own present location; a new road detecting section (19) for deciding that a new road is detected when the present location is determined to be on a road not included in the map information; a new road registration decision section (20) for deciding that the new road is registerable to the map information stored in the map information storage section when the road density in the area including the new road is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a new road registration section (21) for registering the new road to the map information stored in the map information storage section, when the new road is determined to be registerable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoya Ikeuchi, Masaharu Umezu, Makoto Mikuriya, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 9052998
    Abstract: A map display device includes a position information acquiring unit for acquiring the present position of a vehicle; a map data storage unit for storing map data; a remaining energy acquiring unit for acquiring a residual quantity of energy for driving the vehicle and equipment mounted on the vehicle; a range calculating unit for computing a range the vehicle can travel with the remaining energy, using a moving energy consumption rate which is energy consumption per unit time required for moving the vehicle and a driving energy consumption rate Eci which is energy consumption per unit time required for driving the equipment mounted on the vehicle; and an output control unit for displaying the range on a map using the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Arita, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Patent number: 9043139
    Abstract: A map display device includes: current location calculating unit for calculating a current location; specific region dedicated database for storing map data permitted only inside a specific region; specific region permitted database for storing data for displaying the inside of the specific region outside the specific region; outside-specific-region database for storing map data of the outside of the specific region available both inside and outside the specific region; controller for generating display data for displaying a map of the outside of the specific region using map data from the outside-specific-region database, and generating display data for displaying an image of a permitted map attribute to the inside of the specific region using the data from the permitted database, when the current location is outside the specific region; and display unit for displaying an image of the map or the permitted map attribute based on the display data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Makoto Mikuriya, Takeo Sakairi, Fujio Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9043137
    Abstract: According to a map display device, from current location information acquired by a current location acquiring unit 6 and boundary coordinate information in time zone information acquired by a time zone information acquiring unit 22, it is determined whether or not a vehicle 9 is located within a set area which is provided in the range of a predetermined distance from a boundary of a time zone to which a current location of the vehicle 9 belongs, and if it is determined that the vehicle 9 is located within the set area, a display unit 3 displays distinctively the time zone to which the current location of the vehicle 9 belongs and a time zone which is adjacent to the corresponding time zone through the set area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Irie, Mitsuo Shimotani
  • Publication number: 20150130729
    Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal display panel 5, a touch panel 3 that is disposed on a display surface side of the liquid crystal display panel 5 and that has a touch operation area wider than a display area of the above-mentioned liquid crystal display panel 5, and a guard 4 or 4a that is disposed between an area 3a included in the touch operation area and corresponding to the display area, and an area 3b included in the touch operation area and corresponding to an outside of the display area, and that physically restricts an operation object which performs an operation on the above-mentioned touch operation area from moving between the areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Kobayashi, Mitsuo Shimotani, Masakazu Shoji, Yuji Nobe, Hiroki Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20150134240
    Abstract: An imitation sound generation system is provided that accurately informs a user of a road environment corresponding to a current location, by an imitation sound. A navigation apparatus, which serves as an imitation sound generation system, includes a map data storage apparatus that stores road network data including data regarding links each representing each road in a road network, a vehicle information acquiring unit that acquires a current location, and a travelling road determining unit that specifies a link to which the current location belongs. The map data storage apparatus stores a plurality of pieces of imitation sound data each being associated with each link. A controller determines a piece of imitation sound data that is associated with the link to which the current location belongs, on the basis of the plurality of pieces of imitation sound data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamada, Mitsuo Shimotani, Makoto Mikuriya