Patents by Inventor Sotaro Narita

Sotaro Narita 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: 11447092
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus includes a collision prediction unit which predicts a collision of a vehicle with a pedestrian existing forward of the vehicle, a grille which is disposed on a front surface of the vehicle so as to be inclined while rising toward the rear and attached to the vehicle in a state where an upper end portion of the grille is forwardly advanceable, and an actuator mechanism which causes, when the collision prediction unit predicts the collision of the vehicle with the pedestrian, the grille to be moved in such a manner that the upper end portion of the grille is advanced forward by a forward advancing amount greater than that of a lower end portion of the grille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro Narita
  • Patent number: 10589702
    Abstract: An object is identified by an on-board camera and a relative speed of the vehicle and the object is acquired. If the object is a two-wheel vehicle and the relative speed is lower than the vehicle speed, the relative speed is set as a collision speed. If the object is an object other than a two-wheel vehicle, the vehicle speed is set as the collision speed. Using the set collision speed, an effective mass is computed and collision determination is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro Narita
  • Publication number: 20200023807
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection apparatus includes a collision prediction unit which predicts a collision of a vehicle with a pedestrian existing forward of the vehicle, a grille which is disposed on a front surface of the vehicle so as to be inclined while rising toward the rear and attached to the vehicle in a state where an upper end portion of the grille is forwardly advanceable, and an actuator mechanism which causes, when the collision prediction unit predicts the collision of the vehicle with the pedestrian, the grille to be moved in such a manner that the upper end portion of the grille is advanced forward by a forward advancing amount greater than that of a lower end portion of the grille.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Sotaro NARITA
  • Patent number: 9994192
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes: a hinge base; a first arm that has a rear end portion coupled to the hinge base, and that has a front portion disposed offset toward the vehicle width direction inner side with respect to the rear end portion; a second arm that is coupled to the front portion of the first arm so as to be capable of swinging, and that moves the hood toward a vehicle upper side; an actuator that spans between the first arm and the second arm, and that lifts the hood from a closed position to a lifted position; and a link mechanism that includes a first link and a second link. A coupling location of the hinge base to the first link is disposed further to the vehicle width direction inner side than a coupling location of the hinge base to the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Yoshinori Uozumi
  • Publication number: 20180037180
    Abstract: An object is identified by an on-board camera and a relative speed of the vehicle and the object is acquired. If the object is a two-wheel vehicle and the relative speed is lower than the vehicle speed, the relative speed is set as a collision speed. If the object is an object other than a two-wheel vehicle, the vehicle speed is set as the collision speed. Using the set collision speed, an effective mass is computed and collision determination is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro NARITA
  • Patent number: 9764711
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes: a hinge base that is fixed to a vehicle body; a first arm that is pivotably connected to the hinge base; and a second arm that is fixed to a vehicle rear side end portion of a front hood and is pivotably connected to the first arm. Further, the vehicle pop-up hood device includes: an actuator that is provided between the first arm and the second arm, and that, by being operated, pivots the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a connecting portion that, at a time of completion of operation of the actuator, is set in an operating state in which the connecting portion restricts movement of the second arm with respect to the hinge base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Yoshinori Uozumi
  • Patent number: 9751493
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes a hinge base, a first arm that is coupled to the hinge base via first pin, a second arm that is coupled to the first arm via a second pin, and an actuator that is coupled to the first arm via a first coupling shaft and coupled to the second arm via a second coupling shaft. The first coupling shaft, the second coupling shaft, and the second pin are disposed at a vehicle front side and a vehicle width direction inner side with respect to the first pin. The actuator is disposed at an incline toward the vehicle width direction inner side on progression toward the vehicle front side in vehicle plan view, and respective axial lines of the first coupling shaft, the second coupling shaft, and the second pin are orthogonal to the actuator in vehicle plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro Narita
  • Publication number: 20170136985
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes: a hinge base that is fixed to a vehicle body; a first arm that is pivotably connected to the hinge base; and a second arm that is fixed to a vehicle rear side end portion of a front hood and is pivotably connected to the first arm. Further, the vehicle pop-up hood device includes: an actuator that is provided between the first arm and the second arm, and that, by being operated, pivots the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a connecting portion that, at a time of completion of operation of the actuator, is set in an operating state in which the connecting portion restricts movement of the second arm with respect to the hinge base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro NARITA, Yoshinori UOZUMI
  • Patent number: 9610913
    Abstract: In a vehicle bumper structure including a pressure tube-type pedestrian collision detection sensor according to technology disclosed herein, the vehicle bumper structure includes a bumper reinforcement, a pressure tube-type pedestrian collision detection sensor, and an upper absorber. The upper absorber includes an absorber main body, an absorber upper end portion that is integrally provided to the vehicle upper side of the absorber main body, and includes a projecting portion projecting toward the vehicle front-rear direction inner side with respect to the absorber main body at the vehicle upper side of the bumper reinforcement, and a groove portion that is formed at a vehicle front-rear direction inner side portion of the absorber main body, that is disposed adjacent to the vehicle lower side of the absorber upper end portion, that is open toward the vehicle front-rear direction inner side or the vehicle lower side, and that retains a pressure tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro Narita
  • Publication number: 20170057458
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes: a hinge base; a first arm that has a rear end portion coupled to the hinge base, and that has a front portion disposed offset toward the vehicle width direction inner side with respect to the rear end portion; a second arm that is coupled to the front portion of the first arm so as to be capable of swinging, and that moves the hood toward a vehicle upper side; an actuator that spans between the first arm and the second arm, and that lifts the hood from a closed position to a lifted position; and a link mechanism that includes a first link and a second link. A coupling location of the hinge base to the first link is disposed further to the vehicle width direction inner side than a coupling location of the hinge base to the first arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro NARITA, Yoshinori UOZUMI
  • Publication number: 20170057457
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device actuator includes a main body section; a cylinder that covers a portion on one axial direction side of the main body section, that is moved toward the one axial direction side of the main body section by generated gas to lift a hood of a vehicle to a lifted position, and that is configured so as to be capable of moving to a retention position; a sealing member that is formed in a ring shape and that forms a seal between the main body section and a general face; a retention member that abuts on an inner peripheral face of the cylinder and retains the cylinder at the retention position; and an enlarged diameter face that is disposed at a radial direction outer side of the main body section with respect to the sealing member at the lifted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro NARITA, Joji AOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170050610
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device includes a hinge base, a first arm that is coupled to the hinge base via first pin, a second arm that is coupled to the first arm via a second pin, and an actuator that is coupled to the first arm via a first coupling shaft and coupled to the second arm via a second coupling shaft. The first coupling shaft, the second coupling shaft, and the second pin are disposed at a vehicle front side and a vehicle width direction inner side with respect to the first pin. The actuator is disposed at an incline toward the vehicle width direction inner side on progression toward the vehicle front side in vehicle plan view, and respective axial lines of the first coupling shaft, the second coupling shaft, and the second pin are orthogonal to the actuator in vehicle plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sotaro NARITA
  • Patent number: 9573560
    Abstract: A vehicle pop-up hood device actuator includes a main body section; a cylinder that covers a portion on one axial direction side of the main body section, that is moved toward the one axial direction side of the main body section by generated gas to lift a hood of a vehicle to a lifted position, and that is configured so as to be capable of moving to a retention position; a sealing member that is formed in a ring shape and that forms a seal between the main body section and a general face; a retention member that abuts on an inner peripheral face of the cylinder and retains the cylinder at the retention position; and an enlarged diameter face that is disposed at a radial direction outer side of the main body section with respect to the sealing member at the lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Joji Aoyama
  • Patent number: 9352715
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper including a pedestrian collision detection apparatus includes: a chamber member, a pressure detector, a collision determination unit, an absorber, and a bumper cover. The chamber member is disposed in a vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction thereof and is adjacent to an outer side surface of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle front-rear direction, the bumper reinforcement is disposed in the vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction thereof and inside of the chamber member functions as a pressure chamber. The pressure detector outputs a signal corresponding to a change in pressure of the pressure chamber. The bumper cover is provided on the outside of the chamber member and the absorber in the vehicle front-rear direction and includes a projected portion projected from an opposite wall that faces the chamber member to the chamber member side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Youichi Matsunaga, Naoki Goda
  • Publication number: 20160039376
    Abstract: In a vehicle bumper structure including a pressure tube-type pedestrian collision detection sensor according to technology disclosed herein, the vehicle bumper structure includes a bumper reinforcement, a pressure tube-type pedestrian collision detection sensor, and an upper absorber. The upper absorber includes an absorber main body, an absorber upper end portion that is integrally provided to the vehicle upper side of the absorber main body, and includes a projecting portion projecting toward the vehicle front-rear direction inner side with respect to the absorber main body at the vehicle upper side of the bumper reinforcement, and a groove portion that is formed at a vehicle front-rear direction inner side portion of the absorber main body, that is disposed adjacent to the vehicle lower side of the absorber upper end portion, that is open toward the vehicle front-rear direction inner side or the vehicle lower side, and that retains a pressure tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Sotaro NARITA
  • Publication number: 20150274109
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper including a pedestrian collision detection apparatus includes: a chamber member, a pressure detector, a collision determination unit, an absorber, and a bumper cover. The chamber member is disposed in a vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction thereof and is adjacent to an outer side surface of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle front-rear direction, the bumper reinforcement is disposed in the vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction thereof and inside of the chamber member functions as a pressure chamber. The pressure detector outputs a signal corresponding to a change in pressure of the pressure chamber. The bumper cover is provided on the outside of the chamber member and the absorber in the vehicle front-rear direction and includes a projected portion projected from an opposite wall that faces the chamber member to the chamber member side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Youichi Matsunaga, Naoki Goda
  • Patent number: 8978486
    Abstract: A collision detecting device and a collision detecting method are provided that enable accurate detection of a collision based on pressure change in a pressure chamber. A collision body discriminating system (10) is provided with: a chamber member (18) elongated in the vehicle width direction, having a pressure chamber (24) therein and provided in front of a bumper reinforcement (14); an absorber (20) elongated in the vehicle width direction and provided in front of the bumper reinforcement (14); a pressure sensor (22) for outputting a signal corresponding to a change in the pressure in the pressure chamber (24); and an ECU (26) for discriminating a collision body on the basis of a signal from the pressure sensor (22). The chamber member (18) and the absorber (20) are arranged in a vertical relationship with a gap (C) therebetween, and this allows the chamber member (18) and the absorber (20) to deform independently of each other when the collision body collides with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Sotaro Narita, Takatoshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8104563
    Abstract: In a hood airbag device for use in a vehicle, left and right bag-expansion openings are formed at the rear end portion of the outer hood panel in a hood width direction, and the deployment positions of corresponding left and right airbags are controlled or restrained by the bag-expansion openings, respectively. Further, the hood-center side ends (60L?) of the left air bag (60L) and the hood-center side ends (60R?) of the right air bag (60R) are adapted to press against each other when they are deployed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the airbags from being raised up by a wind pressure or the like and to quickly deploy the airbags over a broad extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Takayuki Takimoto
  • Publication number: 20110232396
    Abstract: A collision detecting device and a collision detecting method are provided that enable accurate detection of a collision based on pressure change in a pressure chamber. A collision body discriminating system (10) is provided with: a chamber member (18) elongated in the vehicle width direction, having a pressure chamber (24) therein and provided in front of a bumper reinforcement (14); an absorber (20) elongated in the vehicle width direction and provided in front of the bumper reinforcement (14); a pressure sensor (22) for outputting a signal corresponding to a change in the pressure in the pressure chamber (24); and an ECU (26) for discriminating a collision body on the basis of a signal from the pressure sensor (22). The chamber member (18) and the absorber (20) are arranged in a vertical relationship with a gap (C) therebetween, and this allows the chamber member (18) and the absorber (20) to deform independently of each other when the collision body collides with the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Sotaro Narita, Takatoshi Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20100230944
    Abstract: In a hood airbag device for use in a vehicle, left and right bag-expansion openings are formed at the rear end portion of the outer hood panel in a hood width direction, and the deployment positions of corresponding left and right airbags are controlled or restrained by the bag-expansion openings, respectively. Further, the hood-center side ends (60L?) of the left air bag (60L) and the hood-center side ends (60R?) of the right air bag (60R) are adapted to press against each other when they are deployed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the airbags from being raised up by a wind pressure or the like and to quickly deploy the airbags over a broad extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Sotaro Narita, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Takayuki Takimoto