Patents by Inventor Muneaki Matsumoto

Muneaki Matsumoto 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: 11750768
    Abstract: An image processing unit identifies the shape of an obstacle that is identified from an area that appears in a peripheral image based on an image captured by a camera. The shape of the obstacle includes at least a tilt of a section of the obstacle in a road-surface direction. The section of the obstacle faces a vehicle. The image processing unit generates a superimposed image in which a mark image that is generated as a pattern that indicates the identified obstacle is superimposed onto a position that corresponds to the obstacle in the peripheral image. At this time, the image processing unit variably changes properties of the mark image based on the tilt of the obstacle identified by an obstacle identifying unit. The image processing unit then displays the generated superimposed image on display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Maeda, Taketo Harada, Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Hirohiko Yanagawa, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20210306590
    Abstract: An image processing unit identifies the shape of an obstacle that is identified from an area that appears in a peripheral image based on an image captured by a camera. The shape of the obstacle includes at least a tilt of a section of the obstacle in a road-surface direction. The section of the obstacle faces a vehicle. The image processing unit generates a superimposed image in which a mark image that is generated as a pattern that indicates the identified obstacle is superimposed onto a position that corresponds to the obstacle in the peripheral image. At this time, the image processing unit variably changes properties of the mark image based on the tilt of the obstacle identified by an obstacle identifying unit. The image processing unit then displays the generated superimposed image on display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu MAEDA, Taketo HARADA, Mitsuyasu MATSUURA, Hirohiko YANAGAWA, Muneaki MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11064151
    Abstract: An image processing unit identifies the shape of an obstacle that is identified from an area that appears in a peripheral image based on an image captured by a camera. The shape of the obstacle includes at least a tilt of a section of the obstacle in a road-surface direction. The section of the obstacle faces a vehicle. The image processing unit generates a superimposed image in which a mark image that is generated as a pattern that indicates the identified obstacle is superimposed onto a position that corresponds to the obstacle in the peripheral image. At this time, the image processing unit variably changes properties of the mark image based on the tilt of the obstacle identified by an obstacle identifying unit. The image processing unit then displays the generated superimposed image on display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Maeda, Taketo Harada, Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Hirohiko Yanagawa, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10358086
    Abstract: An onboard periphery image display device for adjusting transformation rule of each camera mounted on an automobile is provided. A predetermined calibration pattern of a calibration member is placed in a capture area of a reference camera and another calibration pattern of the calibration member is placed in a capture area of an adjustment-targeted camera. The onboard periphery image display detects a coordinate of an image of a reference calibration pattern based on the image of the predetermined calibration pattern captured by the reference camera, detects an coordinate of an image of an adjustment calibration pattern based on the image of the another calibration pattern captured by the adjustment-targeted camera, and adjusts the transformation rule determined for the adjustment-targeted camera based on the detected coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10315570
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts, as a display image, a part of an image captured by a wide angle camera, the wide angle camera being arranged at a position deviated from a vehicle center line that is a center line of a vehicle in a longitudinal direction and being configured to increase a degree of size reduction of an object as being farther from a center of the captured image. The image processing apparatus includes a control circuit that extracts the display image. The control circuit includes an extraction determination portion. The extraction determination portion determines an extraction position of the display image in the captured image according to a center position of the display image to the vehicle center line and the degree of size reduction of the object represented at a pixel of a specific position in the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bingchen Wang, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20190126827
    Abstract: An image generation unit generates images showing a vehicle and the vicinity from a virtual viewpoint set outside the vehicle using the vicinity of the vehicle acquired by image acquisition units. A path estimation unit estimates a driving path of the vehicle on the basis of a driving state of the vehicle. An image synthesis unit processes either one of images of the vehicle among the images generated by the image generation unit or an image of the estimated driving path into a transparent image, and superimposing the transparent image over another one of the images and an image of the vicinity among the images generated by the image generation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Masayuki AMAGAI, Muneaki MATSUMOTO, Nobuyuki YOKOTA
  • Publication number: 20190132543
    Abstract: An image processing unit identifies the shape of an obstacle that is identified from an area that appears in a peripheral image based on an image captured by a camera. The shape of the obstacle includes at least a tilt of a section of the obstacle in a road-surface direction. The section of the obstacle faces a vehicle. The image processing unit generates a superimposed image in which a mark image that is generated as a pattern that indicates the identified obstacle is superimposed onto a position that corresponds to the obstacle in the peripheral image. At this time, the image processing unit variably changes properties of the mark image based on the tilt of the obstacle identified by an obstacle identifying unit. The image processing unit then displays the generated superimposed image on display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Yu MAEDA, Taketo HARADA, Mitsuyasu MATSUURA, Hirohiko YANAGAWA, Muneaki MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 10235772
    Abstract: An installation error detection apparatus of an onboard camera includes: an input portion that receives a photographed image; a storage portion that stores position information of a feature point of the vehicle; a feature point detection portion; a determination portion that determines whether the installation position of the onboard camera is the proper position; and a notification portion that informs installation defect of the onboard camera. The notification portion calculates the installation position of the onboard camera required to minimize the deviation amount and corrects the photographed image by the onboard camera. The notification portion detects the feature point and calculates a similarity degree of the position of the feature point and the position information. The notification portion determines the installation defect of the onboard camera and informs the installation defect. The notification portion determines that a vehicle body is deformed and informs the vehicle body being deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bingchen Wang, Masakazu Takeichi, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10176594
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera calibrator is provided. The in-vehicle camera calibrator includes a targeted camera selector for selecting a targeted camera requiring the calibration, an intermediate camera selector for selecting an intermediate camera which is the in-vehicle camera that intervenes between the targeted camera and a criterial camera, a first calibrator for, when the intermediate camera is not selected, calibrating the targeted camera based on a captured image of an overlapping region between the criterial camera and the targeted camera, and a second calibrator for, when the intermediate camera is selected, calibrating the intermediate camera based on a captured image of an overlapping region between the criterial camera and the targeted camera, and then calibrating the targeted camera based on a captured image between the calibrated intermediate camera and the targeted camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Youji Morishita, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10166923
    Abstract: An image generation device for referencing a correspondence relationship and generating a line-of-sight-converted image from a captured image of an in-vehicle camera mounted to a vehicle is provided. The image generation device includes a first region updating unit that, upon sensing deviation of at least one of the mounting position and the mounting angle of the in-vehicle camera and calculating a new mounting position and mounting angle, updates a correspondence relationship of a predetermined first region in the line-of-sight-converted image in accordance with the new mounting position and mounting angle, and a second region updating unit that, upon satisfaction of a predetermined updating condition after updating the correspondence relationship of the first region, updates the correspondence relationship for a second region in the line-of-sight-converted image in accordance with the new mounting position and mounting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Youji Morishita, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170309042
    Abstract: An in-vehicle camera calibrator is provided. The in-vehicle camera calibrator includes a targeted camera selector for selecting a targeted camera requiring the calibration, an intermediate camera selector for selecting an intermediate camera which is the in-vehicle camera that intervenes between the targeted camera and a criterial camera, a first calibrator for, when the intermediate camera is not selected, calibrating the targeted camera based on a captured image of an overlapping region between the criterial camera and the targeted camera, and a second calibrator for, when the intermediate camera is selected, calibrating the intermediate camera based on a captured image of an overlapping region between the criterial camera and the targeted camera, and then calibrating the targeted camera based on a captured image between the calibrated intermediate camera and the targeted camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Youji Morishita, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170297491
    Abstract: An image generation device for referencing a correspondence relationship and generating a line-of-sight-converted image from a captured image of an in-vehicle camera mounted to a vehicle is provided. The image generation device includes a first region updating unit that, upon sensing deviation of at least one of the mounting position and the mounting angle of the in-vehicle camera and calculating a new mounting position and mounting angle, updates a correspondence relationship of a predetermined first region in the line-of-sight-converted image in accordance with the new mounting position and mounting angle, and a second region updating unit that, upon satisfaction of a predetermined updating condition after updating the correspondence relationship of the first region, updates the correspondence relationship for a second region in the line-of-sight-converted image in accordance with the new mounting position and mounting angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Youji Morishita, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9725039
    Abstract: In a vehicular visibility support apparatus, a camera positioned on a front portion that is either the left side or the right side of a vehicle provides an image of a view laterally behind the vehicle including a part of a face of the side of the vehicle as a camera image. An input portion accepts input manipulation to generate an input signal. A control portion trims a desired region in the camera image based on the input signal and provides a trimmed image. The control portion trims the camera image based on: a vertical reference line including a part of the face on the side of the vehicle in a trimmed image before the input manipulation is accepted by the input portion, and a horizontal reference line orthogonal to the vertical reference line; and a direction of movement for change to the desired region inputted to the input portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norifumi Matsukawa, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9663073
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for an in-vehicle optical sensor includes a cleaning liquid nozzle and an air nozzle. The cleaning liquid nozzle jets out a cleaning liquid toward a lens surface of a lens of the in-vehicle optical sensor or a translucent surface of a translucent cover covering the lens surface when the translucent cover exists. The air nozzle jets out air toward a used cleaning liquid, which was jetted out from the cleaning liquid nozzle and cleaned the lens surface or the translucent surface, to prevent the used cleaning liquid from dropping from the lens surface or the translucent surface on a predetermined position by blowing away the used cleaning liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9659223
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus captures with a camera a video image showing an area, which surrounds a vehicle and includes a target on a road surface; generates a positioning video image for positioning the vehicle; and displays the generated positioning video image on a display monitor. The driving assistance apparatus also acquires a relative location of the target with respect to the vehicle. Further, based on the relative location of the target, the driving assistance apparatus switches the display mode of the positioning video image displayed on the display monitor between a first display mode (in which the target moves with respect to the vehicle) and a second display mode (in which the vehicle moves with respect to the target).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Itou, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170134661
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus is arranged at a vehicle attached with a vehicle-mounted camera at a predetermined angle to execute driving support based on an image taken by the vehicle-mounted camera. The driving support apparatus includes: a height sensor that is attached at locations of the vehicle and detects a vehicle height at a location where the height sensor is attached; an attitude detector that detects an attitude of the vehicle based on a detection result of the height sensor; an acquisition device that acquires an image taken by the vehicle-mounted camera; a correction device that corrects the image acquired by the acquisition device based on the attitude of the vehicle detected by the attitude detector; and an execution device that executes driving support based on the image corrected by the correction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Hikumetsuto Chietein, Muneaki Matsumoto, Hitoshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20170103546
    Abstract: An installation error detection apparatus of an onboard camera includes: an input portion that receives a photographed image; a storage portion that stores position information of a feature point of the vehicle; a feature point detection portion; a determination portion that determines whether the installation position of the onboard camera is the proper position; and a notification portion that informs installation defect of the onboard camera. The notification portion calculates the installation position of the onboard camera required to minimize the deviation amount and corrects the photographed image by the onboard camera. The notification portion detects the feature point and calculates a similarity degree of the position of the feature point and the position information. The notification portion determines the installation defect of the onboard camera and informs the installation defect. The notification portion determines that a vehicle body is deformed and informs the vehicle body being deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Bingchen Wang, Masakazu Takeichi, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20170028936
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted camera case mounted on an outer surface of a vehicle to house a camera is provided. The vehicle-mounted camera case includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and a shield. The air inlet takes air into the vehicle-mounted camera case when the vehicle moves forward. The air outlet discharges the air taken in from the air inlet and is formed in at least a lower portion of a rear end face of the vehicle-mounted camera case. The shield protrudes downward from an upper portion of the vehicle-mounted camera case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20160236619
    Abstract: An onboard periphery image display device for adjusting transformation rule of each camera mounted on an automobile is provided. A predetermined calibration pattern of a calibration member is placed in a capture area of a reference camera and another calibration pattern of the calibration member is placed in a capture area of an adjustment-targeted camera. The onboard periphery image display detects a coordinate of an image of a reference calibration pattern based on the image of the predetermined calibration pattern captured by the reference camera, detects an coordinate of an image of an adjustment calibration pattern based on the image of the another calibration pattern captured by the adjustment-targeted camera, and adjusts the transformation rule determined for the adjustment-targeted camera based on the detected coordinates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tanaka, Muneaki Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20160176344
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus extracts, as a display image, a part of an image captured by a wide angle camera, the wide angle camera being arranged at a position deviated from a vehicle center line that is a center line of a vehicle in a longitudinal direction and being configured to increase a degree of size reduction of an object as being farther from a center of the captured image. The image processing apparatus includes a control circuit that extracts the display image. The control circuit includes an extraction determination portion. The extraction determination portion determines an extraction position of the display image in the captured image according to a center position of the display image to the vehicle center line and the degree of size reduction of the object represented at a pixel of a specific position in the display image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bingchen Wang, Muneaki Matsumoto