Patents by Inventor Nobuhisa Ikeda

Nobuhisa Ikeda 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: 11747278
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a calculation module, a detection module, an interpolation module, and a state management module. The calculation module calculates a region feature amount based on an edge vector of each pixel, for each unit region composed of a predetermined number of pixels included in a captured image. The detection module detects the unit region corresponding to a partial covering location and the unit region corresponding to a diffuse reflection location based on a detection condition and a second detection condition, respectively, the first detection condition and the second detection condition being based on the region feature amount. The interpolation module interpolates the area ratio of the partial covering location reduced due to the diffuse reflection location. The state management module controls state transitions of states related to interpolation of the area ratio, based on increase and decrease of the diffuse reflection location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Tomokazu Oki, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11568547
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes an adhesion detection module, a moving adhesion detection module, and a determination module. The adhesion detection module detects a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to an imaging device, based on brightness information of an image captured by the imaging device. The moving adhesion detection module detects the deposit region detected during moving of the vehicle as a moving deposit region, from among the deposit regions detected by the adhesion detection module. When the area of the moving deposit region detected by the moving adhesion detection module is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, the determination module determines that there is a deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Daisuke Shiota, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11530993
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a detection module and an identification module. The detection module detects a small region as a candidate region for a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to an imaging device, based on brightness information for each of small regions into which a predetermined region in an image captured by the imaging device is divided. The identification module identifies the candidate region as the deposit region when undulation change in brightness distribution of pixels included in the candidate region detected by the detection module is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11393128
    Abstract: An adhered substance detection apparatus of an embodiment includes a calculator and a determiner. The calculator calculates an edge feature for each cell based on edge vectors of pixels within the cell in a captured image, and further calculates a region feature for each unit region based on the calculated edge features of the cells within the unit region. The determiner determines an adherence state of an adhered substance on a lens of a camera based on the region feature. The calculator calculates, as the region feature, number of the cells having an edge strength of zero. When the number of the cells having the zero edge strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined number in a predetermined attention area in the captured image, the determiner determines not to perform a determination for detecting whether the lens of the camera is entirely covered by the adhered substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamamoto, Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Yasushi Tani, Takashi Kono, Daisuke Shiota, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11354794
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes an extraction module and an exclusion module. The extraction module extracts a candidate region for a deposit from a captured image captured by an imaging device. The exclusion module excludes from the candidate region a region that satisfies a predetermined exception condition. The exclusion module excludes from the candidate region a region that satisfies a first exception region when adhesion of a deposit to the imaging device is not detected, and excludes from the candidate region a region that satisfies a second exception condition different from the first exception condition when adhesion of the deposit to the imaging device is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Daisuke Shiota, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11354795
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a detection module and a storage processing module. The detection module detects a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to an imaging device, based on brightness information of an image captured by the imaging device. The storage processing module stores deposit information on the deposit region in a storage unit that is nonvolatile, when an ignition power of a vehicle is turned off in a state in which the deposit region is detected. For an initial detection process after the ignition power is turned on, the detection module detects the deposit region based on the deposit information stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11308624
    Abstract: An adhered substance detection apparatus determines whether a substance is adhered to an image-capturing apparatus. The adhered substance detection apparatus includes a controller configured to function as: an extractor that extracts candidate regions for being an adhered substance region in which the substance is adhered to the image-capturing apparatus, the candidate regions being extracted based on an edge that is detected from pixels in an image captured by the image-capturing apparatus; and a final determiner that finally determines whether the candidate regions are the adhered substance region, based on i) an area of the candidate region located in a first region of the captured image, the first region including a road surface region in the captured image and ii) an area of the candidate region located in a second region of the captured image, the second region including a region other than the road surface region in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Kono, Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Daisuke Shiota, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11308709
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a detection module and a determination module. The detection module detects a deposit region including a deposit adhering to a lens of an imaging device from a captured image captured by the imaging device. The determination module performs maintenance determination as to whether to maintain a detection history of detection by the detection module, based on brightness information of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11288882
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a detection module, a determination module, and an identification module. The detection module detects a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to an imaging device, based on brightness information of an image captured by the imaging device. The determination module determines whether variation in brightness information in a predetermined region of the image is within a predetermined range, in a period after a vehicle is stopped in a state in which the deposit region is detected by the detection module. The identification module identifies brightness information serving as a determination criterion of the deposit region when the determination module determines that the variation in brightness information is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11250553
    Abstract: A deposit detection device according to an embodiment includes a calculation module, an extraction module, and a decision module. The calculation module calculates a brightness average for each of small regions into which a predetermined region of an image captured by an imaging device is divided. The extraction module extracts, as a high-brightness region, the small region in which the brightness average calculated by the calculation module is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. The decision module decides on a brightness threshold value for detecting a deposit region corresponding to a deposit adhering to the imaging device, based on the area of the high-brightness region extracted by the extraction module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobunori Asayama, Nobuhisa Ikeda, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11182626
    Abstract: An attached object detection apparatus includes a setting part, a calculator, and a detector. A setting part sets a plurality of divided regions within a captured image captured by an image capturing apparatus. A calculator calculates, for each of the plurality of divided regions and based on luminance of pixels in the divided region, a representative luminance value and an amount of luminance dispersion. A detector detects, as an attached region that has an attached object, a divided region among the plurality of divided regions that satisfies the following conditions: i) a first difference is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined difference, ii) a second difference is equal to or smaller than a second predetermined difference, and iii) the representative luminance value of the current divided region is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11170487
    Abstract: An adhered substance detection apparatus includes a controller configured to function as a determination part, an extractor, and a detector. The determination part determines a representative edge direction using a predetermined angle range as a unit for each pixel area of a plurality of pixel areas of a photographic image photographed by a photographing device, the representative edge direction being determined for each of the pixel areas based on an edge angle of each pixel included in the pixel area. The extractor extracts an array pattern in which a plurality of the pixel areas having a same representative edge direction are continuously arranged along a predetermined scanning direction based on the representative edge directions of the pixel areas determined by the determination part. The detector detects whether an adhered substance area exists on a lens of the photographing device based on the array pattern extracted by the extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11120291
    Abstract: An extraneous-matter detecting apparatus includes a region setting unit, a computing unit, a change-value setting unit, an updating unit, and a detection unit. The region setting unit sets divided regions for a captured image captured by an image capturing device. The computing unit computes, for a corresponding divided region, a first difference between a past representative value of luminance and a present representative value of luminance and a second difference between a past dispersion amount of luminance and a present dispersion amount of luminance. The change-value setting unit sets, based on the first and the second differences, a change value of a counter value that indicates an adhesion state of an extraneous matter in the divided region. The updating unit updates the counter value based on the change value. The detection unit detects, based on the counter value, an adhesion state of an extraneous matter in the divided region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11093786
    Abstract: An extraneous-matter detecting apparatus according to an embodiment includes a region setting unit, a computing unit, and a state setting unit. The region setting unit sets, for a captured image captured by an image capturing device provided in a vehicle, a plurality of divided regions. The computing unit computes a representative value of luminance in a target region for detecting an adhesion of an extraneous matter. The target region includes the plurality of divided regions. The state setting unit sets, based on a vehicle speed and the representative value of luminance in the target region, a transition state of information that indicates an adhesion state of an extraneous matter in the divided region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 11037266
    Abstract: An attached substance detection device according to an embodiment includes a calculation unit and a determination unit. The calculation unit calculates a score of a divided region that is provided by dividing a predetermined target region, based on an edge intensity in each pixel region of a captured image that is captured by an image-capturing device. The determination unit determines whether or not the target region is an attached substance region where an attached substance is attached to a lens of the image-capturing device, based on the score that is calculated by the calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 10997743
    Abstract: A decision part decides a representative edge direction using a predetermined angle range as a unit for each pixel area of a plurality of pixel areas of a photographic image photographed by a camera based on an edge angle of each pixel contained in the pixel area. An extractor extracts two of the pixel areas that are adjacent to each other as a pair area among the pixel areas of the photographic image, when the two pixel areas that are adjacent to each other have opposite representative edge directions. A determination part determines whether or not there is an attachable matter on a lens of the camera based on at least one of (1) a number of the pair areas extracted by the extractor and (2) a total sum of edge intensities of the pixel areas contained in the pair areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 10984273
    Abstract: An attachable matter detection apparatus includes a controller configured to function as an extractor and a detector. The extractor extracts edge information of each pixel contained in a photographic image photographed by an imaging device. The detector detects a candidate area estimated to have a water droplet out of the photographic image based on a matching result between (i) each of the pixels converted into a predetermined data format based on the edge information extracted by the extractor and (ii) a template representing a water droplet and having the data format. The detector calculates a matching frequency with the template for a predetermined area along a contour of the candidate area, and excludes the candidate area when the candidate area satisfies a predetermined exclusion condition based on the matching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 10970585
    Abstract: An adhering substance detection apparatus according to an embodiment includes a calculating unit and a determining unit. The calculating unit calculates, for each cell composed of a predetermined number of pixels in a captured image, an edge feature value that is based on edge vectors in the pixels, and that classifies an edge orientation that is included in the edge feature value, into two types of angle classes. The determining unit determines a condition of adhering substance adhering to an image capturing apparatus that captured the captured image, based on a transition count representing number of transitions the angle class goes through within a unit region that is a predetermined region composed of a predetermined number of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Patent number: 10970592
    Abstract: An adhering substance detection apparatus includes calculating, first and second detecting, and generating units. The calculating unit calculates a variation in a feature value related to luminance in past and current captured images captured by an image capturing device, based on the luminance of pixels included in the captured images. The first detecting unit detects a first region in which the variation calculated by the calculating unit falls within a threshold range, and the feature value in the current captured image falls within a threshold range. The second detecting unit detects a second region in which an irregularity in a distribution of the luminance of the pixels included in the captured image satisfies a predetermined irregularity condition. The generating unit generates a sum region being a sum of the first and second regions, as an adhering substance region corresponding to an adhering substance adhering to the image capturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Nobuhisa Ikeda, Nobunori Asayama, Takashi Kono, Yasushi Tani, Daisuke Yamamoto, Tomokazu Oki, Teruhiko Kamibayashi
  • Publication number: 20210090262
    Abstract: An adhered substance detection apparatus determines whether a substance is adhered to an image-capturing apparatus. The adhered substance detection apparatus includes a controller configured to function as: an extractor that extracts candidate regions for being an adhered substance region in which the substance is adhered to the image-capturing apparatus, the candidate regions being extracted based on an edge that is detected from pixels in an image captured by the image-capturing apparatus; and a final determiner that finally determines whether the candidate regions are the adhered substance region, based on i) an area of the candidate region located in a first region of the captured image, the first region including a road surface region in the captured image and ii) an area of the candidate region located in a second region of the captured image, the second region including a region other than the road surface region in the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Takashi KONO, Nobunori ASAYAMA, Nobuhisa IKEDA, Yasushi TANI, Daisuke YAMAMOTO, Daisuke SHIOTA, Teruhiko KAMIBAYASHI