Patents by Inventor Nobuhide Kamata

Nobuhide Kamata 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: 11927959
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle provides a driverless transportation service for a user. An alarming phenomenon is a natural phenomenon that potentially causes a disaster. The autonomous driving vehicle recognizes, based on driving environment information, the alarming phenomenon at a current location of the autonomous driving vehicle or on a planned travel route from the current location to a destination. When recognizing the alarming phenomenon, the autonomous driving vehicle determines whether to continue or halt vehicle travel control in accordance with a current travel plan. When determining to halt the vehicle travel control in accordance with the current travel plan, the autonomous driving vehicle sets an emergency plan depending on a type of the alarming phenomenon and controls the autonomous driving vehicle in accordance with the emergency plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasunao Yoshizaki, Koji Taguchi, Masaki Wasekura, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11912309
    Abstract: A travel control device is configured to make an autonomous driving vehicle travel in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle arrives at a specified position specified by a user who intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle, when the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a predetermined range from the specified position, transmit an information sending request notifying the user terminal that the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a vicinity of the specified position and requesting sending of position identifying information for identifying a position at which the user intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle to the user terminal via a communication circuit, and when receiving the position identifying information via the communication circuit, change a position of the autonomous driving vehicle, based on the position identifying information in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle comes close to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Uehara, Nobuhide Kamata, Nozomu Hatta, Shunsuke Tanimori
  • Patent number: 11914371
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle provides a driverless transportation service for a user. An alarming phenomenon is a natural phenomenon that potentially causes a disaster. The autonomous driving vehicle recognizes, based on driving environment information, the alarming phenomenon at a current location of the autonomous driving vehicle or on a planned travel route from the current location to a destination. When recognizing the alarming phenomenon, the autonomous driving vehicle determines whether to continue or halt vehicle travel control in accordance with a current travel plan. When determining to halt the vehicle travel control in accordance with the current travel plan, the autonomous driving vehicle sets an emergency plan depending on a type of the alarming phenomenon and controls the autonomous driving vehicle in accordance with the emergency plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasunao Yoshizaki, Koji Taguchi, Masaki Wasekura, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11898855
    Abstract: An assistance control system performs assistance control for causing a moving object to move to a destination based on map information. The assistance control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to generate or update the map information based on input from a sensor mounted on the moving object, acquire a plurality of route candidates to the destination, evaluate certainty of the map information for each location or each section, and calculate a map information evaluation value, evaluate accuracy of the assistance control in the acquired route candidates based on the calculated map information evaluation value, and present a route candidate having the highest priority among the route candidates to an occupant of the moving object, or control the moving object along the route candidate having the highest priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Takagi, Nobuhide Kamata, Taichi Kawanai
  • Publication number: 20240043039
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori WATANABE, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Takayuki GOTO, Masahiro HARADA, Nobuhide KAMATA
  • Patent number: 11834068
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an autonomous vehicle includes: a first control device configured to generate a first driving plan including desired lateral lane driving positions or desired lateral lane driving position ranges; a plurality of first sensors configured to obtain information on motion of the vehicle and information on surroundings of the vehicle; and a second control device configured to communicate with the first control device, generate, based on the first driving plan obtained from the first control device and the information obtained by the first sensors, a second driving plan different from the first driving plan, the second driving plan including target lateral lane driving positions or target lateral lane driving position ranges, and control driving operation of the vehicle based on the second driving plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11809194
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a tracking unit estimating a motion of a moving object, a model selection unit selecting a motion model corresponding to a moving object type, an abnormality determination unit determining a presence or absence of an abnormality of the estimation of the motion of the moving object based on the estimated moving object motion and the motion indicated by the motion model, and a control unit. A control mode in which the control unit controls traveling of a host vehicle when the abnormality determination unit determines that the abnormality is present differs from a control mode in which the control unit controls the traveling of the host vehicle when the abnormality determination unit determines that the abnormality is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11796344
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Publication number: 20230264696
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a road surface condition includes the steps of obtaining detailed information on a road surface condition set for each inspection point based on a traveling record of a vehicle, and information on an own position of the vehicle, generating an inspection execution plan of the vehicle in the inspection point when the inspection point is included in a predetermined range in an advancing direction of the vehicle with the own position as a reference, performing evaluation of a road surface condition in the inspection point based on a traveling condition of the vehicle that is obtained during the inspection execution plan, and updating the detailed information on a road surface condition set for the inspection point based on latest information on the road surface condition the evaluation of which is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki OKAMOTO, Kosuke FUTAGAMI, Yoshinori WATANABE, Atsushi SONE, Sho AMAGAI, Atsushi KODAMA, Yosuke HIRATE, Taichi KAWANAI, Nobuhide KAMATA
  • Patent number: 11733708
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system that performs a traveling of an autonomous driving vehicle based on a remote instruction by a remote commander includes: a vehicle position acquisition unit configured to acquire a position of the autonomous driving vehicle on the map; an external environment recognition unit configured to recognize an external environment of the autonomous driving vehicle; a remote instruction location situation recognition unit configured to recognize a remote instruction location situation on a target route of the autonomous driving vehicle set in advance based on the target route, the position of the autonomous driving vehicle on the map, and map information; and a remote instruction request determination unit configured to determine whether or not to request the remote commander for the remote instruction with regard to the remote instruction location situation, based on the external environment of the autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Hideyuki Matsui, Hayato Ito, Nobuhide Kamata, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Yasuhiro Kobatake
  • Patent number: 11724715
    Abstract: A vehicle control system generates a first target trajectory, which is a target trajectory for an automated driving of a vehicle, and executes vehicle travel control based on the first target trajectory. The vehicle control system generates a second target trajectory which is a target trajectory which does not conflict with a restrict condition, when the travel based on the first target trajectory conflicts with a safety restrict condition, and executes travel assist control by using the second target trajectory. The vehicle control system judges whether or not a resurgence condition is satisfied by using the first target trajectory that is generated during the execution of the travel assist control. If it is judged that the resurgence condition is satisfied, the vehicle control system returns to the execution of the vehicle travel control from that of the travel assist control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11719555
    Abstract: A map information system includes a database management device configured to manage a map database used for vehicle driving support control. The map database includes road marking map information that indicates a position of a specific road marking including at least one of a stop line and a pedestrian crossing. The database management device is further configured to: detect a road marking candidate being a candidate for the specific road marking around a vehicle; recognize vehicle behavior of at least one of the vehicle and another vehicle in a period when passing the road marking candidate; determine, based on the vehicle behavior, an evaluation value that indicates certainty of the road marking candidate being the specific road marking; and register the road marking candidate having the evaluation value equal to or higher than a threshold, as the specific road marking, in the road marking map information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Hokai, Yusuke Hayashi, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11708091
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control system according to the example in the present disclosure communicates with an automatic operation control system which drafts a traveling plan of the vehicle, and performs an automatic traveling control for automatically running the vehicle along the traveling plan received from the automatic operation control system. The vehicle traveling control system predicts a risk based on information about surrounding environment of the vehicle, and performs, when the risk is predicted, a risk avoidance control to intervene in the automatic traveling control in order to avoid the risk. When the risk avoidance control is executed, the vehicle traveling control system transmits information on the risk avoidance control to the automatic operation control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Yoshinori Watanabe, Takayuki Goto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11691647
    Abstract: A target trajectory generation device generates and outputs target trajectories each including a target position and a target speed of a vehicle. A first target trajectory is intended to perform at least one of steering, acceleration, and deceleration of the vehicle. A second target trajectory is intended to decelerate and stop the vehicle. When a malfunctioning device does not exist, a vehicle traveling control device executes vehicle traveling control based on the first target trajectory. When the malfunctioning device exists, the vehicle traveling control device stops the vehicle by executing the vehicle traveling control based on the second target trajectory output before the malfunction occurs, or based on the second target trajectory output from the target trajectory generation device other than the malfunctioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Fujita, Shin Tanaka, Takayuki Iwamoto, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 11692848
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11680821
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11680820
    Abstract: A map information system includes a map database including map information; and a driving assist level determination device. The map information is associated with an evaluation value indicating a certainty of the map information for each location in an absolute coordinate system. Information indicating that the intervention operation is performed is included in driving environment information indicating a driving environment of a vehicle. The driving assist level determination device is configured to acquire, based on the driving environment information, intervention operation information indicating an intervention operation location where the intervention operation is performed, acquire, based on the map information, the evaluation value for each point or section in a target range, and determine, based on the evaluation value and the intervention operation location, an allowable level for each point or section within the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Kawanai, Yasuhiro Takagi, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata, Eiji Sakaguchi, Keisuke Hokai, Hideyuki Matsui, Kazuhiko Kamikado, Yusuke Hayashi, Hideo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 11648964
    Abstract: A travel control device is configured to make an autonomous driving vehicle travel in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle arrives at a specified position specified by a user who intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle, when the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a predetermined range from the specified position, transmit an information sending request notifying the user terminal that the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a vicinity of the specified position and requesting sending of position identifying information for identifying a position at which the user intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle to the user terminal via a communication circuit, and when receiving the position identifying information via the communication circuit, change a position of the autonomous driving vehicle, based on the position identifying information in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle comes close to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Uehara, Nobuhide Kamata, Nozomu Hatta, Shunsuke Tanimori
  • Publication number: 20230148202
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device executes vehicle travel control such that a vehicle follows a target trajectory. An automated driving control device generates a first target trajectory that is the target trajectory for automated driving of the vehicle. The vehicle travel control device further determines whether or not an activation condition of travel assist control is satisfied. When the activation condition is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device generates a second target trajectory that is the target trajectory for the travel assist control. Even when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving, or when the second target trajectory is generated during the automated driving and a priority condition for giving priority to the first target trajectory is satisfied, the vehicle travel control device executes the vehicle travel control by giving more weight to the first target trajectory than to the second target trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki GOTO, Yoshinori WATANABE, Nobuhide KAMATA, Kazuyuki FUJITA, Masahiro HARADA
  • Publication number: 20230119887
    Abstract: A travel control device is configured to make an autonomous driving vehicle travel in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle arrives at a specified position specified by a user who intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle, when the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a predetermined range from the specified position, transmit an information sending request notifying the user terminal that the autonomous driving vehicle has reached a vicinity of the specified position and requesting sending of position identifying information for identifying a position at which the user intends to board the autonomous driving vehicle to the user terminal via a communication circuit, and when receiving the position identifying information via the communication circuit, change a position of the autonomous driving vehicle, based on the position identifying information in such a way that the autonomous driving vehicle comes close to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo UEHARA, Nobuhide KAMATA, Nozomu HATTA, Shunsuke TANIMORI