Patents by Inventor Naoki Taki

Naoki Taki 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: 8421590
    Abstract: A remote control method for remotely controlling the operation of equipment furnished in a vehicle in response to a remote control request generated by a remote controller is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) acquiring vehicle status information from the vehicle; (b) determining whether to operate particular vehicle equipment designated by the remote control request based on the vehicle status information; and (c) regulating the remote control request based on the determination result representing acceptability of remote-control operation of the requested vehicle equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8412422
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including a brake mechanism that produces braking force through actuation of a first actuator, a shift mechanism that changes the shift position of a transmission through actuation of a second actuator, a controller that controls the electric power supplied to the first actuator and the electric power supplied to the second actuator; a first electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the controller; a second electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the first actuator; and a third electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the second actuator. An actuator control unit controls the electric power supplied to the second actuator from the second electric power supply unit or from the third electric power supply unit when the second actuator is not able to operate using electric power supplied from the first electric power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kamada, Yasushi Hanaki, Naoki Taki, Akira Nagasaka, Yoshinobu Nozaki, Akira Nagae
  • Patent number: 8386117
    Abstract: When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Taki
  • Publication number: 20120253615
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including a brake mechanism that produces braking force through actuation of a first actuator, a shift mechanism that changes the shift position of a transmission through actuation of a second actuator, a controller that controls the electric power supplied to the first actuator and the electric power supplied to the second actuator; a first electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the controller; a second electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the first actuator; and a third electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the second actuator. An actuator control unit controls the electric power supplied to the second actuator from the second electric power supply unit or from the third electric power supply unit when the second actuator is not able to operate using electric power supplied from the first electric power supply unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi KAMADA, Yasushi HANAKI, Naoki TAKI, Akira NAGASAKA, Yoshinobu NOZAKI, Akira NAGAE
  • Patent number: 8219289
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle that includes a brake mechanism that produces braking force through the actuation of a first actuator and a shift mechanism that changes the shift position of a transmission through the actuation of a second actuator. The vehicle control apparatus includes: a controller that controls the electric power supplied to the first actuator and that controls the electric power supplied to the second actuator; a first electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the controller; a second electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the first actuator; and a third electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kamada, Yasushi Hanaki, Naoki Taki, Akira Nagasaka, Yoshinobu Nozaki, Akira Nagae
  • Patent number: 8150593
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus (1) provided with an automatic cruise apparatus (30) that automatically moves a vehicle, and a pre-crash brake apparatus (40) that automatically applies a brake to the vehicle when an obstacle is detected, includes cruising output value setting means (15) for making a cruising output value, which should be achieved using the automatic cruise apparatus (1), smaller than a regular cruising output value used in normal times, when the obstacle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Taki
  • Patent number: 8135507
    Abstract: A driver condition estimation apparatus 5 estimates condition of a driver. The driver condition estimation apparatus 5 includes a driver condition estimating unit 50a for estimating the condition of the driver before the driver starts driving; and a control variable changing unit 50b for changing control variables of in-vehicle devices based on the condition of the driver estimated by the driver condition estimating unit 50a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okabe, Naoki Taki, Akira Nagae, Yasushi Kusaka, Shinya Furuta, Takahiro Matsunaga, Hiroaki Seguchi
  • Patent number: 8036647
    Abstract: A vehicle information communication system includes a management server 2 whereby an information terminal 4 connected to a network 1 and an on-vehicle device of the vehicle 5 are in communication with each other; wherein the management server 2 includes a contractor confirming part 12 configured to send contractor information of the vehicle information communication system to the vehicle 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsumura, Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Takenori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8019488
    Abstract: In a remote operation system in which an in-vehicle unit is controlled by an operation command transmitted from a portable unit carried by a driver via a service center, when the vehicle receives an operation command B for controlling the in-vehicle unit from a second state to a first state, the operation command B is executed only when control based on an operation command A for controlling from the first state to the second state is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka, Tatsunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7999654
    Abstract: A remote control method for remotely controlling the operation of equipment furnished in a vehicle in response to a remote control request generated by a remote controller is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) acquiring vehicle status information from the vehicle; (b) determining whether to operate particular vehicle equipment designated by the remote control request based on the vehicle status information; and (c) regulating the remote control request based on the determination result representing acceptability of remote-control operation of the requested vehicle equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20110187513
    Abstract: A remote control method for remotely controlling the operation of equipment furnished in a vehicle in response to a remote control request generated by a remote controller is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) acquiring vehicle status information from the vehicle; (b) determining whether to operate particular vehicle equipment designated by the remote control request based on the vehicle status information; and (c) regulating the remote control request based on the determination result representing acceptability of remote-control operation of the requested vehicle equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7880583
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus for a vehicle according to the invention includes a portable-device determination unit, and a distance determination unit. The portable-device determination unit determines whether a first portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, is present in the vehicle. The distance determination unit determines whether a distance between the user of the vehicle and the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. When the portable-device determination unit determines that the first portable device is present in the vehicle, and the distance determination unit determines that the distance between the user and the vehicle is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the remote control apparatus permits a second portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, to remotely control the vehicle function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Takeshi Matsumura, Tatsunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7865279
    Abstract: A control center transmits failure information transmission request information to a vehicle. The vehicle receives the failure information transmission request information transmitted from the control center. A navigation ECU and a gateway ECU obtain failure information from each ECU in cooperation with each other. At this time, the gateway ECU determines whether a data volume of the failure information is larger than a predetermined information volume. When it is determined that the data volume of the failure information is larger than the predetermined information volume, the gateway ECU divides the failure information into plural pieces, and outputs each piece of information. Also, the ECU does not output the failure information, which is output to a network built in the vehicle, to the navigation ECU, while a failure information obtaining device is connected. Meanwhile, the control center does not receive the failure information while the failure information obtaining device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Taki
  • Patent number: 7751946
    Abstract: In a remote control system, the remote control of a vehicle function is executed. The remote control system includes a control terminal and a cancellation device. The control terminal transmits a request for the remote control of the vehicle function to a vehicle. The cancellation device cancels the remote control of the vehicle function if the local control of the vehicle function is requested before the remote control of the vehicle function is executed according to the request for the remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Atsushi Niwa
  • Publication number: 20100138103
    Abstract: When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Naoki Taki
  • Patent number: 7729815
    Abstract: A vehicle remote control apparatus (100) for causing a vehicle (101) to perform a requested operation in response to a remote operation request from a vehicle user includes a location identifying unit (204) configured to identify a latest vehicle location where the vehicle is parked, and a decision unit configured to decide whether it is acceptable to cause the vehicle to perform an operation requested from the vehicle user at the latest vehicle location identified by the location identifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Naoki Taki, Atsushi Niwa, Tatsunori Kato
  • Patent number: 7667578
    Abstract: In a remote operation control device, an in-vehicle communication unit receives a drive request signal which is transmitted from a center to request a remote operation of a predetermined in-vehicle apparatus. When the drive request signal from the center is received by the in-vehicle communication unit, a preliminary checking request unit requests an in-vehicle electronic control unit which controls operation of the in-vehicle apparatus, to perform checking of whether a precondition for carrying out the remote operation of the in-vehicle apparatus is satisfied. A remote driving unit carries out the remote operation of the in-vehicle apparatus when it is determined after the drive request signal from the center is received by the in-vehicle communication unit that the precondition is satisfied as a result of response to the request for the checking by the preliminary checking request unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Naoki Taki
  • Publication number: 20100030434
    Abstract: A driver condition estimation apparatus 5 estimates condition of a driver. The driver condition estimation apparatus 5 includes a driver condition estimating unit 50a for estimating the condition of the driver before the driver starts driving; and a control variable changing unit 50b for changing control variables of in-vehicle devices based on the condition of the driver estimated by the driver condition estimating unit 50a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Okabe, Naoki Taki, Akira Nagae, Yasushi Kusaka, Shinya Furuta, Takahiro Matsunaga, Hiroaki Seguchi
  • Publication number: 20100010723
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including an eco-run control system for automatically stopping the engine under a predetermined condition when the vehicle is stopped and starting the engine under a predetermined restart condition further includes a vehicle surroundings monitoring device that detects a possibility of the vehicle being collided with by another vehicle. When the vehicle surroundings monitoring device detects a possibility of collision while the engine is kept in a stop mode because of eco-run control and when starting the engine will provide a benefit (when there is a possibility of avoiding a collision), the engine is immediately started to give the driver an opportunity to avoid the collision and a PCS device is activated in preparation for the collision. When the collision is inevitable, only the PCS device is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Koki Moriya
  • Patent number: 7647146
    Abstract: When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Taki