Patents by Inventor Tadayuki Niibe

Tadayuki Niibe 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: 11179082
    Abstract: A driving assistance device (1) includes: a somatic nervous system activity detector (11) detecting a somatic nervous system activity, which is a physical activity, of a driver in association with steering of a vehicle; an autonomic nervous system activity detector (12) detecting an autonomic nervous system activity, which is a mental activity, of the driver in association with the steering of the vehicle; a somatic nervous system activity controller (perception amount controller (2)) which is operable to control the somatic nervous system activity; an autonomic nervous system activity controller (sound effect generator (3)) which is operable to control the autonomic nervous system activity; and a psychosomatic state controller (balance controller (14)). The psychosomatic state controller causes the somatic nervous system activity controller and the autonomic nervous system activity controller to operate such that the two activities shift to the same side with respect to increase and decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Yamada, Kazuhiro Takemura, Tadayuki Niibe
  • Patent number: 10737633
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle; a lateral input amount setting unit that sets, based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, a lateral input amount in which a physical amount relating to at least one of a movement of the vehicle in a width direction and a movement of the vehicle in a turning direction is a parameter; an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more integer-order adjustment wave sounds having an integer-order frequency component, based on the lateral input amount; and a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more integer-order adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20200207281
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle; a lateral input amount setting unit that sets, based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, a lateral input amount in which a physical amount relating to at least one of a movement of the vehicle in a width direction and a movement of the vehicle in a turning direction is a parameter; an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more integer-order adjustment wave sounds having an integer-order frequency component, based on the lateral input amount; and a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more integer-order adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20200054263
    Abstract: A driving assistance device (1) includes: a somatic nervous system activity detector (11) detecting a somatic nervous system activity, which is a physical activity, of a driver in association with steering of a vehicle; an autonomic nervous system activity detector (12) detecting an autonomic nervous system activity, which is a mental activity, of the driver in association with the steering of the vehicle; a somatic nervous system activity controller (perception amount controller (2)) which is operable to control the somatic nervous system activity; an autonomic nervous system activity controller (sound effect generator (3)) which is operable to control the autonomic nervous system activity; and a psychosomatic state controller (balance controller (14)). The psychosomatic state controller causes the somatic nervous system activity controller and the autonomic nervous system activity controller to operate such that the two activities shift to the same side with respect to increase and decrease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki YAMADA, Kazuhiro TAKEMURA, Tadayuki NIIBE
  • Patent number: 10471957
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a plurality of operation devices, a plurality of reaction applying devices, a plurality of driving devices, and control device. The control device is capable of controlling the plurality of reaction applying devices and the plurality of driving devices. When the occupant operates preceding operation devices and subsequently operates subsequent operation devices different from the preceding operation devices, the control device causes a reactive perception quantity that is perceived by the occupant when the occupant starts operating the subsequent operation devices to substantially match a reactive perception quantity that is perceived by the occupant when the occupant finishes operating the preceding operation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada, Kazuhiro Takemura
  • Patent number: 10418022
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus generates a sound effect of an engine based on a vibration sound database including a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component and a plurality of adjustment wave sounds having a frequency component other than the fundamental frequency component. The vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes the fundamental wave sound with the adjustment wave sounds based on the running state of the vehicle, and a visual guidance direction setting unit that sets a visual guidance direction at which a vehicle occupant shoots a look. The sound effect generation unit causes output characteristics of a sound effect in the visual guidance direction to increase more than output characteristics of a sound effect in a direction other than the visual guidance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10343670
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a plurality of operation devices receive operations from an occupant; a plurality of driving devices operate a vehicle with operation quantities applied to the plurality of operation devices; and a control device controls the plurality of driving devices. The control device includes: first and second operating characteristics; and correction device. When the occupant operates the second operation devices during execution of operation of the first operation devices, the correction device corrects the second operating characteristics such that the second operation force at the second response start point is equivalent to the first operation force of the first operation devices obtained when the operation of the second operation devices is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada, Kazuhiro Takemura
  • Patent number: 10290297
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus generates a sound effect of an engine based on a vibration sound database including a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component and a plurality of adjustment wave sounds having a frequency component other than the fundamental frequency component. The vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, a risk degree determining unit that is capable of determining a risk degree of the vehicle based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, and a sound effect generation unit that, when the risk degree determining unit determines a risk degree which is a predetermined value or more, synthesizes the fundamental wave sound with one or more discordant adjustment wave sounds having a discordant frequency component other than an integer-order frequency component and a half-order frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10170098
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle; a lateral input amount setting unit that sets, based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, a lateral input amount in which a physical amount relating to at least one of a movement of the vehicle in a width direction and a movement of the vehicle in a turning direction is a parameter; an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more half-order adjustment wave sounds having a half-order frequency component, based on the lateral input amount; and a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more half-order adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180366103
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle; a lateral input amount setting unit that sets, based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, a lateral input amount in which a physical amount relating to at least one of a movement of the vehicle in a width direction and a movement of the vehicle in a turning direction is a parameter; an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more half-order adjustment wave sounds having a half-order frequency component, based on the lateral input amount; and a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more half-order adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA
  • Patent number: 10134382
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more adjustment wave sounds having a half-order frequency component or an integer-order frequency component, a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more adjustment wave sounds selected by the adjustment wave sound selector, and an inhibition condition determining unit that can determine a condition that correspondence between an amount of an operation performed by a vehicle occupant and a behavior of the vehicle is inhibited. When the inhibition condition determining unit determines the condition that the correspondence between the amount of the operation and the behavior of the vehicle is inhibited, the adjustment wave sound selector reduces the output characteristics of the adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki Niibe, Naoki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20180277091
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus generates a sound effect of an engine based on a vibration sound database including a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component and a plurality of adjustment wave sounds having a frequency component other than the fundamental frequency component. The vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes the fundamental wave sound with the adjustment wave sounds based on the running state of the vehicle, and a visual guidance direction setting unit that sets a visual guidance direction at which a vehicle occupant shoots a look. The sound effect generation unit causes output characteristics of a sound effect in the visual guidance direction to increase more than output characteristics of a sound effect in a direction other than the visual guidance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20180268805
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus generates a sound effect of an engine based on a vibration sound database including a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component and a plurality of adjustment wave sounds having a frequency component other than the fundamental frequency component. The vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, a risk degree determining unit that is capable of determining a risk degree of the vehicle based on the running state detected by the running state detecting unit, and a sound effect generation unit that, when the risk degree determining unit determines a risk degree which is a predetermined value or more, synthesizes the fundamental wave sound with one or more discordant adjustment wave sounds having a discordant frequency component other than an integer-order frequency component and a half-order frequency component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20180268804
    Abstract: A vehicle sound effect generation apparatus includes a running state detecting unit that detects a running state of a vehicle, an adjustment wave sound selector that selects one or more adjustment wave sounds having a half-order frequency component or an integer-order frequency component, a sound effect generation unit that synthesizes a fundamental wave sound having a fundamental frequency component with the one or more adjustment wave sounds selected by the adjustment wave sound selector, and an inhibition condition determining unit that can determine a condition that correspondence between an amount of an operation performed by a vehicle occupant and a behavior of the vehicle is inhibited. When the inhibition condition determining unit determines the condition that the correspondence between the amount of the operation and the behavior of the vehicle is inhibited, the adjustment wave sound selector reduces the output characteristics of the adjustment wave sounds selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20170334443
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a plurality of operation devices, a plurality of reaction applying devices, a plurality of driving devices, and control device. The control device is capable of controlling the plurality of reaction applying devices and the plurality of driving devices. When the occupant operates preceding operation devices and subsequently operates subsequent operation devices different from the preceding operation devices, the control device causes a reactive perception quantity that is perceived by the occupant when the occupant starts operating the subsequent operation devices to substantially match a reactive perception quantity that is perceived by the occupant when the occupant finishes operating the preceding operation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA, Kazuhiro TAKEMURA
  • Publication number: 20170334438
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: a plurality of operation devices receive operations from an occupant; a plurality of driving devices operate a vehicle with operation quantities applied to the plurality of operation devices; and a control device controls the plurality of driving devices. The control device includes: first and second operating characteristics; and correction device. When the occupant operates the second operation devices during execution of operation of the first operation devices, the correction device corrects the second operating characteristics such that the second operation force at the second response start point is equivalent to the first operation force of the first operation devices obtained when the operation of the second operation devices is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadayuki NIIBE, Naoki YAMADA, Kazuhiro TAKEMURA
  • Publication number: 20090248257
    Abstract: An egress-start determining device determines a start of egress of a passenger seated in a seat of a vehicle. A completion determining device determines completion of a driver's head moving out of a door opening of the vehicle after the start of egress of the passenger. A seat-sitting-face height adjusting device adjusts a height of a sitting face of the seat in such a manner that the height is adjusted to a first height during a time from the start of egress of the passenger to the completion of the driver's head moving out of the door opening of the vehicle, and the height is adjusted to a second height after the completion of the driver's head moving out of the door opening of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoko Hoshino, Hiroki Uemura, Yoshihisa Okamoto, Tadayuki Niibe, Yusaku Takeda
  • Patent number: 5680097
    Abstract: When information of an obstacle is not outputted from a radar device, a presumption device presumes at least a present value of a distance between a vehicle and the obstacle based on information in a memory part obtained until the time, and a contact-possibility judgment device judges a possibility of contact of the vehicle with the obstacle based on the information from the presumption device. A detection device is provided for detecting conditions at the time when the information of the obstacle is not outputted from the radar device, for example, a relation of relative position of the obstacle to the vehicle. Further, a restriction device is provided for restricting the presumption by the presumption device according to the relation of relative position. Thus, a possibility of contact of the vehicle with the obstacle running forward of the vehicle is appropriately judged and mis-operations of an alarm, an automatic braking and the like are prevented, while ensuring running safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Uemura, Tadayuki Niibe, Ayumu Doi, Tohru Yoshioka, Ken-ichi Okuda, Yasunori Yamamoto, Satoshi Morioka, Tomohiko Adachi
  • Patent number: 5585798
    Abstract: An obstacle detection system for an automotive vehicle detects obstacles ahead of the vehicle and finds the dynamic relativity between the vehicle and each of the obstacles. Based on the dynamic relativity, information relating to a danger level between the vehicle and each obstacle is operated on so as to make a danger judgement. A frequency, at which the operations on the information relating to danger level are made, is increasingly or decreasingly varied according to the danger levels of the obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshioka, Hiroki Uemura, Tadayuki Niibe, Ayumu Doi, Kenichi Okuda, Yasunori Yamamoto, Tomohiko Adachi, Naotsugu Masuda
  • Patent number: 5530651
    Abstract: The vehicle is provided with a radar unit for detecting an obstacle existing ahead in the course of the running way along which the vehicle is running. When the radar unit detects a variation in its detectable region, such as a detectable distance or a detectable area range in left and right directions, from the detectable region to be detectable during ordinary running, a safety unit such as an alarm unit or an automatic brake unit is operated. A control logic for operating a collision-avoiding system for avoiding a collision with the obstacle existing ahead, such as an alarm unit or an automatic brake unit, is altered to a safe side on which safety in driving the vehicle is improved, when the detectable region is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Uemura, Tetsuro Butsuen, Tohru Yoshioka, Ayumu Doi, Naotsugu Masuda, Kenichi Okuda, Tadayuki Niibe, Yasunori Yamamoto, Satoshi Morioka, Tomohiko Adachi