Patents by Inventor Satoru Niwa
Satoru Niwa 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).
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Patent number: 11891074Abstract: A remote driving device configured to remotely operate a vehicle includes a remote operation device, a reaction force unit, a receiver, and a processor. The remote operation device is operated by an operator in order to remotely operate the vehicle. The reaction force unit is configured to generate an operation reaction force to be applied to the remote operation device. The receiver is configured to receive a parameter affecting vehicle characteristics of the vehicle from the vehicle. The processor is configured to control the reaction force unit so as to generate a magnitude of the operation reaction force according to the received parameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kosuke Akatsuka, Toru Takashima, Satoru Niwa, Takashi Suzuki, Rio Suda, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hojung Jung
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Publication number: 20230406334Abstract: A vehicle is operated in accordance with a second operation amount corresponding to a first operation amount of a remote operation member by an operator. A first maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of the remote operation member. A second maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of an operation member of the vehicle. When the first maximum operation range is smaller than the second maximum operation range, a correspondence relationship between the first and second operation amounts is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes larger than the first operation amount. When the first maximum operation range is larger than the second maximum operation range, an operable range of the remote operation member is restricted or the correspondence relationship is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes smaller than the first operation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toru TAKASHIMA, Sho OTAKI, Hiromitsu URANO, Hojung JUNG, Hiromitsu KOBAYASHI, Satoru NIWA, Kosuke AKATAUKA
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Patent number: 11780454Abstract: A vehicle is operated in accordance with a second operation amount corresponding to a first operation amount of a remote operation member by an operator. A first maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of the remote operation member. A second maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of an operation member of the vehicle. When the first maximum operation range is smaller than the second maximum operation range, a correspondence relationship between the first and second operation amounts is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes larger than the first operation amount. When the first maximum operation range is larger than the second maximum operation range, an operable range of the remote operation member is restricted or the correspondence relationship is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes smaller than the first operation amount.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Toru Takashima, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Urano, Hojung Jung, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Niwa, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220397898Abstract: A remote control request method has requesting, by a computer, a remote operator to perform remote control on an autonomous driving vehicle when the autonomous driving vehicle currently has or is expected to have difficulty in continuing autonomous driving, requesting remote assistance in which the remote operator makes at least a part of determination for the autonomous driving inside an autonomous driving domain, and requesting, outside the autonomous driving domain, remote driving in which the remote operator performs at least one of a steering operation and an acceleration or deceleration operation of the autonomous driving vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Takashi Suzuki, Toru Takashima, Hojung Jung, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Niwa, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220342417Abstract: A remote function selection device selects a remote function in an automated drive vehicle configured to execute automated drive and remote travel and provided with a plurality of remote functions. The remote function selection device is configured to determine whether executing the automated drive at a predetermined timing is impossible; determines the remote function that is executable at the predetermined timing when it is determined that executing the automated drive is impossible; predict an action of a target around the automated drive vehicle based on a detection result from an external sensor configured to detect the target; calculate an action prediction confidence degree for the predicted action of the target; and selects the remote function. The remote function selection device configured to select the remote function based on the calculated action prediction confidence degree when it is determined that a plurality of remote functions is executable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hojung Jung, Toru Takashima, Satoru Niwa, Takashi Suzuki, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220315045Abstract: An autonomous driving device includes a plurality of driving function ECUs having a function to drive a vehicle in place of an occupant, and a driving function switch ECU is configured to individually change operating states of the driving function ECUs according to a route to a destination and remaining power. The driving function ECUs include an autonomous driving ECU configured to autonomously drive the vehicle, and a remote control ECU configured to operate the vehicle according to remote control from outside.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Takashi Suzuki, Toru Takashima, Hojung Jung, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Niwa, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220306136Abstract: A vehicle is operated in accordance with a second operation amount corresponding to a first operation amount of a remote operation member by an operator. A first maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of the remote operation member. A second maximum operation range is a maximum operation range of an operation member of the vehicle. When the first maximum operation range is smaller than the second maximum operation range, a correspondence relationship between the first and second operation amounts is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes larger than the first operation amount. When the first maximum operation range is larger than the second maximum operation range, an operable range of the remote operation member is restricted or the correspondence relationship is adjusted such that the second operation amount becomes smaller than the first operation amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Toru TAKASHIMA, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Urano, Hojung Jung, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Niwa, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220297722Abstract: An autonomous driving device to be mounted on a vehicle includes a first ECU configured to autonomously drive the vehicle, and a second ECU configured to operate the vehicle under remote control from an outside. The first ECU is configured to keep an activated state while the second ECU is operating the vehicle. The second ECU is configured to keep a power saving state while the first ECU is autonomously driving the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Takashi Suzuki, Toru Takashima, Hojung Jung, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Satoru Niwa, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220253053Abstract: A remote operating system is equipped with an automatically operated vehicle and a remote operating device. A first processor of the automatically operated vehicle calculates a target steering angle of a first steering unit on the vehicle side during the performance of automatic operation control. A first communication device transmits the target steering angle to the remote operating device. A second processor on the remote operating device side controls an electric motor in such a manner as to generate a driving torque for making a steering angle of a second steering unit coincident with the target steering angle, during the execution of a cooperative mode in which a turning actuator on the vehicle side is controlled through cooperation between remote operation control for controlling the turning actuator based on the steering angle of the second steering unit steered by an operator and the automatic operation control.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoru Niwa, Toru Takashima, Takashi Suzuki, Rio Suda, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hojung Jung, Kosuke Akatsuka
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Publication number: 20220242421Abstract: A remote driving device configured to remotely operate a vehicle includes a remote operation device, a reaction force unit, a receiver, and a processor. The remote operation device is operated by an operator in order to remotely operate the vehicle. The reaction force unit is configured to generate an operation reaction force to be applied to the remote operation device. The receiver is configured to receive a parameter affecting vehicle characteristics of the vehicle from the vehicle. The processor is configured to control the reaction force unit so as to generate a magnitude of the operation reaction force according to the received parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Kosuke Akatsuka, Toru Takashima, Satoru Niwa, Takashi Suzuki, Rio Suda, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hojung Jung
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Patent number: 11254348Abstract: A steer-by-wire system includes a steering reaction torque generation device mechanically separated from a turning device for turning wheels and configured to apply a reaction torque to a steering wheel. The steering reaction torque generation device has a duplex configuration including a first system and a second system, each system including a reaction torque motor. When both systems are normal, a control device generates the reaction torque having a normal characteristic by controlling an operation of the reaction torque motor of at least one system. In a case of single failure where one of the systems fails, the control device generates the reaction torque having a first characteristic by controlling an operation of the reaction torque motor of another of the systems. The reaction torque having the first characteristic is different from the reaction torque having the normal characteristic with respect to a same steering angle.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoru Niwa, Toru Takashima, Tetsuya Morino, Yoshio Kudo
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Publication number: 20190202492Abstract: A steer-by-wire system includes a steering reaction torque generation device mechanically separated from a turning device for turning wheels and configured to apply a reaction torque to a steering wheel. The steering reaction torque generation device has a duplex configuration including a first system and a second system, each system including a reaction torque motor. When both systems are normal, a control device generates the reaction torque having a normal characteristic by controlling an operation of the reaction torque motor of at least one system. In a case of single failure where one of the systems fails, the control device generates the reaction torque having a first characteristic by controlling an operation of the reaction torque motor of another of the systems. The reaction torque having the first characteristic is different from the reaction torque having the normal characteristic with respect to a same steering angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoru NIWA, Toru TAKASHIMA, Tetsuya MORINO, Yoshio KUDO
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Patent number: 8958986Abstract: A parking assistance apparatus includes a display unit that displays an image of a scene behind a host vehicle. At least when the host vehicle moves forward or when the host vehicle is stopped, the display unit displays an indication including a plurality of kinds of trajectories along which the host vehicle is able to back up from a point at which the host vehicle is currently positioned, in a manner such that the indication is superimposed on the image of the scene behind the host vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Akihisa Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Junichi Wakita, Chika Yoshioka, Yu Hiei, Ryuji Okamura
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Patent number: 8903567Abstract: In a vehicle remote operating system remotely operating a host vehicle VM from a portable terminal 200, a main control unit 112 of an ECU 110 of an in-vehicle device 100 determines an dispatch position of the host vehicle VM on the basis of a parking position of the host vehicle VM and a position of a user U who intends to board the host vehicle VM. Due to this, it becomes possible to dispatch the host vehicle VM according to the parking position of the host vehicle VM and the position of the user U, and convenience is improved in dispatch operation and boarding of the host vehicle VM.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chika Morimoto, Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Akihisa Yokoyama, Junichi Wakita
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Patent number: 8868255Abstract: In a vehicle remote operating system remotely operating a host vehicle VM from a portable terminal 200, a main control unit 112 of an ECU 110 of an in-vehicle device 100 determines an dispatch position of the host vehicle VM on the basis of a parking position of the host vehicle VM and a position of a user U who intends to board the host vehicle VM. Due to this, it becomes possible to dispatch the host vehicle VM according to the parking position of the host vehicle VM and the position of the user U, and convenience is improved in dispatch operation and boarding of the host vehicle VM.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Chika Yoshioka, Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Akihisa Yokoyama, Junichi Wakita
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Patent number: 8790218Abstract: Before the termination of the fuel-cut control, the vehicle control system reduces a pumping loss by increasing an air intake and a load torque of an auxiliary device thereby preventing the vehicle to be decelerated excessively, and after the termination of the fuel-cut control, the vehicle control system increases the load torque of the auxiliary device thereby preventing the vehicle to be accelerated abruptly. Therefore, the vehicle speed will not be lowered unnecessarily before the termination of the fuel-cut control so that an execution time of the fuel-cut control can be extended. Moreover, driving comfort can be improved by thus reducing a change in acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Morimura, Shinya Kodama, Satoru Niwa
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Publication number: 20130289801Abstract: In a vehicle remote operating system remotely operating a host vehicle VM from a portable terminal 200, a main control unit 112 of an ECU 110 of an in-vehicle device 100 determines an dispatch position of the host vehicle VM on the basis of a parking position of the host vehicle VM and a position of a user U who intends to board the host vehicle VM. Due to this, it becomes possible to dispatch the host vehicle VM according to the parking position of the host vehicle VM and the position of the user U, and convenience is improved in dispatch operation and boarding of the host vehicle VM.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: TOYODA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Chika Yoshioka, Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Akihisa Yokoyama, Junichi Wakita
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Publication number: 20130173148Abstract: A parking assistance apparatus includes a display unit that displays an image of a scene behind a host vehicle. At least when the host vehicle moves forward or when the host vehicle is stopped, the display unit displays an indication including a plurality of kinds of trajectories along which the host vehicle is able to back up from a point at which the host vehicle is currently positioned, in a manner such that the indication is superimposed on the image of the scene behind the host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Akihisa Yokoyama, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Junichi Wakita, Chika Yoshioka, Yu Hiei, Ryuji Okamura
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Publication number: 20130024049Abstract: In a vehicle remote operating system remotely operating a host vehicle VM from a portable terminal 200, a main control unit 112 of an ECU 110 of an in-vehicle device 100 determines an dispatch position of the host vehicle VM on the basis of a parking position of the host vehicle VM and a position of a user U who intends to board the host vehicle VM. Due to this, it becomes possible to dispatch the host vehicle VM according to the parking position of the host vehicle VM and the position of the user U, and convenience is improved in dispatch operation and boarding of the host vehicle VM.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Chika Yoshioka, Kazunori Kagawa, Yuka Sobue, Satoru Niwa, Shin Tanaka, Kazuhiro Morimoto, Akihisa Yokoyama, Junichi Wakita
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Publication number: 20120184405Abstract: A vehicle control system capable of reducing change in acceleration of the vehicle before and after the termination of fuel-cut control. Before the termination of the fuel-cut control, the vehicle control system reduces a pumping loss by increasing an air intake and a load torque of an auxiliary device thereby preventing the vehicle to be decelerated excessively, and after the termination of the fuel-cut control, the vehicle control system increases the load torque of the auxiliary device thereby preventing the vehicle to be accelerated abruptly. Therefore, the vehicle speed will not be lowered unnecessarily before the termination of the fuel-cut control so that an execution time of the fuel-cut control can be extended. Moreover, driving comfort can be improved by thus reducing a change in acceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2009Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Morimura, Shinya Kodama, Satoru Niwa