Patents by Inventor Takashi Sugano

Takashi Sugano 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: 11738754
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system includes a travel route generation system that acquires travel road information and obstacle information acquired by sensor(s), and generates the target travel route, on which a host vehicle travels, on a travel road. When the host vehicle changes lanes, the system acquires information on three peripheral vehicles, which exist near the host vehicle, on a change destination lane from the obstacle information, sets a target space, to which the host vehicle 1 should move, between two each of the three peripheral vehicles on the change destination lane based on this information on the three peripheral vehicles, predicts a change in size of each of the target spaces, and generates the target travel route, on which the host vehicle travels during the lane change, on the basis of this predicted change in the size of each of the target spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Sugano
  • Patent number: 11541751
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system sets a target time period based on physical abnormality of a driver; sets an allowable lateral acceleration, based on the abnormality; estimates a time period required to reach each of a plurality of stop point candidates; estimates a lateral acceleration to be generated during traveling of a vehicle to each of the candidates; sets a stop point; and controls the vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the lateral acceleration estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the allowable lateral acceleration, and the required time period estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the target time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20220371625
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus operates in various modes, e.g., a normal mode in which plural travel functions of a vehicle are controlled by plural driving functions of a driver; an automatic mode in which all driving functions are performed by the vehicle; an optimization mode in which, when a temporary reduction of driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, physical stimulation and/or information that makes the driver recognize the temporary reduction of the driving performance is provided to the driver; and an assistance mode in which, when a chronic reduction of the driving performance of any of the plural driving functions of the driver is detected, information on assistance with execution of the driving performance is provided to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro TOCHIOKA, Yasunori YAMAMOTO, Yohei IWASHITA, Yoshitaka FUJIHARA, Takashi SUGANO
  • Patent number: 11458975
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system includes a travel route generation system that acquires travel road information and obstacle information acquired by sensors and the like and generates the target travel route, on which a host vehicle travels, on a travel road. In the case where the host vehicle changes lanes, the system acquires information on the two peripheral vehicles, which exist near the host vehicle, on the change destination lane from the obstacle information, sets a target space, to which the host vehicle 1 should move, between the two peripheral vehicles on the change destination lane on the basis of this information on the two peripheral vehicles, predicts a future position of the target space on the basis of a moving speed of the target space, and generates the target travel route, on which the host vehicle travels during the lane change, on the basis of this predicted future position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Sugano
  • Patent number: 11427205
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; sets a stop point; and controls a vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to: calculate, with respect to each of a plurality of stop point candidates, a first index value which increases with an increase in a lateral acceleration, a second index value which increases with an increase in rear-end collision risk, a third index value based on the detected abnormality, and a gross index value, wherein the gross index value is obtained by subjecting the first, second, and third index values to weighting, and summing the resulting weighted index values; and then set one of candidates which is smallest in terms of the gross index value, as the stop point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Patent number: 11281314
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for variable capacitance detection may provide various circuits to generate control and/or output signals, measure an elapsed time based on the control and/or output signals, and compute a capacitance value based on the elapsed time, wherein the capacitance value is directly proportional to the elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Takashi Sugano
  • Patent number: 11235762
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; sets a target time period based on the detected abnormality; detects a plurality of stop point candidates in a traveling direction of a vehicle; estimates a time period required to reach each of the candidates; a estimates a rear-end collision risk which is a risk that, when assuming that the vehicle stops at each of the candidates, the vehicle will be rear-ended by a following vehicle; and a sets a stop point, wherein the system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the required time period estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the target time period and which is lowest in terms of the rear-end collision risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Patent number: 11203336
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system sets an allowable lateral acceleration, based on a physical abnormality of a driver; detects a plurality of stop point candidates in a traveling direction of a vehicle; estimates a lateral acceleration to be generated during traveling of the vehicle to each of the candidates; estimates a rear-end collision risk that the vehicle will be rear-ended by a following vehicle; sets a stop point; and controls the vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the lateral acceleration estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the allowable lateral acceleration and which is lowest in terms of the rear-end collision risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20210309262
    Abstract: An automated driving control system includes: a steering pressure sensor that detects holding of a steering by the driver; an accelerator sensor that detects an operation of an accelerator pedal by the driver; and an ECU configured to execute control for making a vehicle drive automatically. In the case where the steering pressure sensor detects holding of the steering by the driver and the accelerator sensor detects the operation of the accelerator pedal by the driver while the vehicle is made to drive automatically, the ECU cancels the automated driving of the vehicle, and controls the vehicle at least according to the operation of the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20210309246
    Abstract: An automated driving control system has: a steering pressure sensor that detects a holding state of the steering by the driver; a steering vibrator that vibrates the steering; and an ECU configured to execute control for making a vehicle drive automatically in response to an automated driving request made by the driver and to execute control for the steering vibrator. The ECU is configured to control the steering vibrator so as to vibrate the steering in the case where the vehicle is not in the state capable of performing the automated driving at the time when the driver makes the automated driving request and where the steering pressure sensor detects that the driver is about to release the steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20210253105
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system includes a travel route generation system that acquires travel road information and obstacle information acquired by sensors and the like and generates the target travel route, on which a host vehicle travels, on a travel road. In the case where the host vehicle changes lanes, the system acquires information on the two peripheral vehicles, which exist near the host vehicle, on the change destination lane from the obstacle information, sets a target space, to which the host vehicle 1 should move, between the two peripheral vehicles on the change destination lane on the basis of this information on the two peripheral vehicles, predicts a future position of the target space on the basis of a moving speed of the target space, and generates the target travel route, on which the host vehicle travels during the lane change, on the basis of this predicted future position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20210253106
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system includes a travel route generation system that acquires travel road information and obstacle information acquired by sensor(s), and generates the target travel route, on which a host vehicle travels, on a travel road. When the host vehicle changes lanes, the system acquires information on three peripheral vehicles, which exist near the host vehicle, on a change destination lane from the obstacle information, sets a target space, to which the host vehicle 1 should move, between two each of the three peripheral vehicles on the change destination lane based on this information on the three peripheral vehicles, predicts a change in size of each of the target spaces, and generates the target travel route, on which the host vehicle travels during the lane change, on the basis of this predicted change in the size of each of the target spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20210255631
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system including a travel route generation system has an ECU that acquires travel road information and obstacle information acquired by a camera, a radar, and the like and generates the target travel route, on which the vehicle 1 travels, on a travel road. The ECU generates a guide line on the basis of the travel road information, generates an avoidance line on the basis of the obstacle information, and generates the target travel route on the basis of the guide line and the avoidance line. The guide line is a reference travel line for guiding a vehicle on the travel road. The avoidance line is a travel line for the vehicle to avoid an obstacle. Then, the ECU sets a first calculation cycle for generating the guide line to be longer than a second calculation cycle for generating the avoidance line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20210165508
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for variable capacitance detection may provide various circuits to generate control and/or output signals, measure an elapsed time based on the control and/or output signals, and compute a capacitance value based on the elapsed time, wherein the capacitance value is directly proportional to the elapsed time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Takashi SUGANO
  • Publication number: 20200070850
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; detects a plurality of stop point candidates in a traveling direction of the vehicle; estimates a time period required to reach each of the candidates; estimates a waiting time period which is a time period from a time when the vehicle reaches each of the stop point candidates through until a rescue operation for the driver is started; sets a stop point; and controls the vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The vehicle stop support system sets, as the stop point, one of the plurality of stop point candidates which is smallest in terms of a sum of the required time period and the waiting time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20200070824
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; sets a target time period based on the detected abnormality; detects a plurality of stop point candidates in a traveling direction of a vehicle; estimates a time period required to reach each of the candidates; a estimates a rear-end collision risk which is a risk that, when assuming that the vehicle stops at each of the candidates, the vehicle will be rear-ended by a following vehicle; and a sets a stop point, wherein the system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the required time period estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the target time period and which is lowest in terms of the rear-end collision risk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20200070841
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; sets a target time period based on the detected abnormality; detects a plurality of stop point candidates which exist in a traveling direction of a vehicle; estimates a time period required to reach each of the stop point candidates; and sets a stop point, wherein the system is operable to set the stop point from one or more of the plurality of stop point candidates each satisfying a condition that the required time estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the target time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi SUGANO, Takuya YAMASHITA, Takesato FUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20200070843
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system detects a physical abnormality of a driver; sets a stop point; and controls a vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to: calculate, with respect to each of a plurality of stop point candidates, a first index value which increases with an increase in a lateral acceleration, a second index value which increases with an increase in rear-end collision risk, a third index value based on the detected abnormality, and a gross index value, wherein the gross index value is obtained by subjecting the first, second, and third index values to weighting, and summing the resulting weighted index values; and then set one of candidates which is smallest in terms of the gross index value, as the stop point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20200070842
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system sets a target time period based on physical abnormality of a driver; sets an allowable lateral acceleration, based on the abnormality; estimates a time period required to reach each of a plurality of stop point candidates; estimates a lateral acceleration to be generated during traveling of a vehicle to each of the candidates; sets a stop point; and controls the vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the lateral acceleration estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the allowable lateral acceleration, and the required time period estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the target time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima
  • Publication number: 20200070825
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle stop support system for supporting vehicle stop in an emergency condition. The vehicle stop support system sets an allowable lateral acceleration, based on a physical abnormality of a driver; detects a plurality of stop point candidates in a traveling direction of a vehicle; estimates a lateral acceleration to be generated during traveling of the vehicle to each of the candidates; estimates a rear-end collision risk that the vehicle will be rear-ended by a following vehicle; sets a stop point; and controls the vehicle to travel to the stop point and stop at the stop point. The system is operable to set, as the stop point, one of the candidates which satisfies a condition that the lateral acceleration estimated with respect thereto is equal to or less than the allowable lateral acceleration and which is lowest in terms of the rear-end collision risk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Sugano, Takuya Yamashita, Takesato Fushima